I have recently come into an older Craftsman RAS without a table or clamps,
which I will be using for 90 degree crosscuts only. Since the table will
have to be rebuilt, I will need new table clamps. Sears does sell them, but
for about $15 each! I was wondering if anyone knows of a more economical
solution, or who else may sell something similar for less?

Thanks,
Barry K.

Barry Keane wrote:
I have recently come into an older Craftsman RAS without a table or
clamps, which I will be using for 90 degree crosscuts only. Since
the table will have to be rebuilt, I will need new table clamps.
Sears does sell them, but for about $15 each! I was wondering if
anyone knows of a more economical solution, or who else may sell
something similar for less?

Before you do anything else, check to see if it is eligible for
http://www.radialarmsawrecall.com/. If it is then you get a new table
with clamps for free.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

On Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:37:41 -0400, "Barry Keane"
wrote:

I have recently come into an older Craftsman RAS without a table or clamps,
which I will be using for 90 degree crosscuts only. Since the table will
have to be rebuilt, I will need new table clamps. Sears does sell them, but
for about $15 each! I was wondering if anyone knows of a more economical
solution, or who else may sell something similar for less?

I have long had a thought of designing a better set of clamps based on
a horizontal action toggle clamp. I've even gone so far as to purchase
a pair, but I've not gone any further with it. However, maybe that
idea will give you an idea.



--
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net
http://www.normstools.com

Proud participant of rec.woodworking since February, 1997

email addy de-spam-ified due to 1,000 spams per month.
If you can't figure out how to use it, I probably wouldn't
care to correspond with you anyway.

That is a great idea. I had the same one
I've already called the number on the website, hoping, like you had posted,
that I could get a whole new setup for nothing. However, when I called,
they said the saw was indeed a part of the recall, but parts were no longer
available. They did offer to give me $100 if I chose to dismantle the saw
and send them the motor (thus no longer posing a safety hazard). But since
the recall is related to making rip cuts, and I plan on only doing cross
cuts, I'll be keeping the saw. Hence my current position of trying to find
some table clamps. Any help you could give is really appreciated.

-Barry


"J. Clarke" wrote in message
...
Barry Keane wrote:
I have recently come into an older Craftsman RAS without a table or
clamps, which I will be using for 90 degree crosscuts only. Since
the table will have to be rebuilt, I will need new table clamps.
Sears does sell them, but for about $15 each! I was wondering if
anyone knows of a more economical solution, or who else may sell
something similar for less?

Before you do anything else, check to see if it is eligible for
http://www.radialarmsawrecall.com/. If it is then you get a new table
with clamps for free.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

Barry Keane wrote:
I have recently come into an older Craftsman RAS without a table or
clamps, which I will be using for 90 degree crosscuts only. Since
the table will have to be rebuilt, I will need new table clamps. Sears
does sell them, but for about $15 each! I was wondering if
anyone knows of a more economical solution, or who else may sell
something similar for less?
Thanks,
Barry K.


I've seen (and plan to use on my son's saw) a simple C clamp with one end
cut off then bolted to the steel undercarriage. Rod

Barry Keane wrote:
That is a great idea. I had the same one
I've already called the number on the website, hoping, like you had
posted, that I could get a whole new setup for nothing. However,
when I called, they said the saw was indeed a part of the recall,
but
parts were no longer available. They did offer to give me $100 if I
chose to dismantle the saw and send them the motor (thus no longer
posing a safety hazard). But since the recall is related to making
rip cuts, and I plan on only doing cross cuts, I'll be keeping the
saw. Hence my current position of trying to find some table clamps.
Any help you could give is really appreciated.

You might be able to cobble something up with some angle iron and
bolts. A couple of toggle clamps
http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2008/Main/367 should work but they
aren't a whole lot cheaper that the replacement parts.

A downside on the toggle clamps is that you'll likely need to readjust
them if you change the fence thickness.

A piece of 2x6 bolted to the back and some threaded rod might also
work.

Or drill through the table extensions and fence and put some threaded
inserts
http://www.rockler.com/search_result...hreaded+insert in
the table itself then bolt through from the back, but you'll have to
either slot the fence or remove the bolts completely to replace it.

-Barry


"J. Clarke" wrote in message
...
Barry Keane wrote:
I have recently come into an older Craftsman RAS without a table
or
clamps, which I will be using for 90 degree crosscuts only. Since
the table will have to be rebuilt, I will need new table clamps.
Sears does sell them, but for about $15 each! I was wondering if
anyone knows of a more economical solution, or who else may sell
something similar for less?

Before you do anything else, check to see if it is eligible for
http://www.radialarmsawrecall.com/. If it is then you get a new
table with clamps for free.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

"Rod & Betty Jo" wrote in message
...
Barry Keane wrote:
I have recently come into an older Craftsman RAS without a table or
clamps, which I will be using for 90 degree crosscuts only. Since
the table will have to be rebuilt, I will need new table clamps. Sears
does sell them, but for about $15 each! I was wondering if
anyone knows of a more economical solution, or who else may sell
something similar for less?
Thanks,
Barry K.


I've seen (and plan to use on my son's saw) a simple C clamp with one end
cut off then bolted to the steel undercarriage. Rod


Same here. I bought two cheap "C" clamps, cut off the screw part of the body
and welded it onto a 3/8ths bolt.
Greg

Thanks for all the feedback, folks. I really appreciate it!
Looks like a C clamp is the way to go. I just couldn't see spending $30
plus shipping when I knew something much more economical would work just as
well.

Thanks again,
-Barry


I've seen (and plan to use on my son's saw) a simple C clamp with one end
cut off then bolted to the steel undercarriage. Rod


Same here. I bought two cheap "C" clamps, cut off the screw part of the
body and welded it onto a 3/8ths bolt.
Greg

Barry, I don't know if you're interested, but I have a set of table clamps
from a Craftsman RAS that became surplus after I received the update kit
from Emerson. They're yours if you want them. Contact me at
tkt62athotmaildotcom.

Tom




"Barry Keane" wrote in message
. ..
Thanks for all the feedback, folks. I really appreciate it!
Looks like a C clamp is the way to go. I just couldn't see spending $30
plus shipping when I knew something much more economical would work just
as well.

Thanks again,
-Barry


I've seen (and plan to use on my son's saw) a simple C clamp with one
end cut off then bolted to the steel undercarriage. Rod


Same here. I bought two cheap "C" clamps, cut off the screw part of the
body and welded it onto a 3/8ths bolt.
Greg