CW wrote:
Everything on it works just fine and quite safely. My father had one when I
was a teenager. I used it more than he did. Had about every accessory that
could be had. Just have to be smarter than the machine.

I have to agree. It's all what you've become comfortable with
(hopefully, you never get TOO comfortable with ANY power tool).

I've been woodworking for going on 40 years now. Using my dad's old
Craftsman table saw VERY occasionally until I got my own RAS around
1973. Done damn near everything with that RAS including attempting to
use that Crapsman RAS Planer attachment (anyone want one?g)

Finally bought a Jet cabinet saw last year and, quite honestly, I
started out somewhat fearful of it. With age comes knowledge and,
presumably, some additional common sense they say.

Let's just say that this past year saw me using that table saw with a
great deal more trepidation than I ever exhibited with the RAS. Looking
back, I have no doubt that if it were the RAS were the latest
acquisition, the RAS would be the one I'd worry about.

Not a bad thing, I made damn sure the cabinet saw and its Excalibur
fence was adjusted dead bang on. No problems, no missing digits, no
close calls. I still watch what I'm doing and hit the off button the
second I get that sixth sense call of "do you REALLY think this is a
good idea." Cultivate that feeling, welcome it and, above all, LISTEN
to it. You too can enjoy woodworking and a full complement of fingers,
etc. if you do.


"charlie b" wrote in message
...
Was the RAS the precursor of the ShopSmith? Seems
like a damn dangerous woodworking Swiss Army Pocket
Knife - rip saw, cross cut saw, dado, rabbet, drill, boring
machine, horizontal mortiser - PLANER? Bit too crazy and
scary for me.

Well, yeah, when you think about it is, but in practice, on a properly
aligned RAS, it's fairly safe if you just take little nibbles. Bottom
line though - as someone else mentioned - is that it does a really
crappy job. Take a nice jointer plane, beat the crap out of the blade
with a ball peen hammer and surface the wood. The results will be
similarg