Recently moved to a new home and finally have the time and space to try
doing some woodworking projects. Someone I spoke to about tools (he
happens to do a lot of woodworking) suggested that with limited space,
if I had to limit myself to one tool, he would get a radial arm saw. He
said that you can most everything you need with that tool.

Any comments about that? I have some room in the garage but not
extensive and just starting out I don't want to sink a ton of money into
it. I am thinking - look for a used radial arm saw, and then getting a
router.

I would appreciate any discussion, counter arguments/suggestions and any
advice on getting started (ie good books, magazines...)

Thanks,

Fred

Fred,

If I were you, I would go with a good Table Saw first. Much more versatile
than a Radial Arm Saw in my opinion.

philly
"FGG" wrote in message
...
Recently moved to a new home and finally have the time and space to try
doing some woodworking projects. Someone I spoke to about tools (he
happens to do a lot of woodworking) suggested that with limited space,
if I had to limit myself to one tool, he would get a radial arm saw. He
said that you can most everything you need with that tool.

Any comments about that? I have some room in the garage but not
extensive and just starting out I don't want to sink a ton of money into
it. I am thinking - look for a used radial arm saw, and then getting a
router.

I would appreciate any discussion, counter arguments/suggestions and any
advice on getting started (ie good books, magazines...)

Thanks,

Fred

Have you ever used a RAS?

In article , FGG
wrote:

I would appreciate any discussion, counter arguments/suggestions and any
advice on getting started (ie good books, magazines...)

In my limited space I would have in hindsight invested in a good
circular saw, band saw and router first. I've used a RAS and they scare
me, but they are very versatile but can be somewhat fussy to set up.

As for books, hie thee to your local library and peruse the stacks. For
magazines, I'd suggest buying a few off the newsstand and getting a
sense of how they fit with what you want to do. I currently subscribe
to Fine Woodworking, Workbench, Shopnotes and Woodsmith.

djb

FGG wrote:

Recently moved to a new home and finally have the time and space to try
doing some woodworking projects. Someone I spoke to about tools (he
happens to do a lot of woodworking) suggested that with limited space,
if I had to limit myself to one tool, he would get a radial arm saw. He
said that you can most everything you need with that tool.

Any comments about that? I have some room in the garage but not
extensive and just starting out I don't want to sink a ton of money into
it. I am thinking - look for a used radial arm saw, and then getting a
router.

I would appreciate any discussion, counter arguments/suggestions and any
advice on getting started (ie good books, magazines...)

Thanks,

Fred
Having started with a very old and very used radial arm saw (and made
some decent furniture with it) and since replaced it with a very good
Dewalt Compound Sliding Miter Saw I would say there is no contest
between the two - go with a Compound Miter Saw instead of a Radial Arm
Saw. A miter saw is very easy to move on or off your bench top so if
you have limited room then you can use the same bench for multiple
purposes whereas the RAS is pretty much a fixed piece of equipment.

However, instead of either CMS or RAS, I would start with a good 10 inch
table saw if you want to do serious woodworking. You can do so much
more with a table saw with a lot more precision than with a CMS or RAS.
If you have the floor space (mobile bases are good if you can't keep
your set up permanent) I would strongly recommend a table saw.

TWS

FGG wrote:
Recently moved to a new home and finally have the time and space to try
doing some woodworking projects. Someone I spoke to about tools (he
happens to do a lot of woodworking) suggested that with limited space,
if I had to limit myself to one tool, he would get a radial arm saw. He
said that you can most everything you need with that tool.

Any comments about that? I have some room in the garage but not
extensive and just starting out I don't want to sink a ton of money into
it. I am thinking - look for a used radial arm saw, and then getting a
router.

I would appreciate any discussion, counter arguments/suggestions and any
advice on getting started (ie good books, magazines...)

Thanks,

Fred
When I built my house, needed to determine most useful tool....bought a
10" radial arm saw, dado & molding head, (all from Sears 1977), was able
to make just about everything needed.....also handy for framing
(similiar to miter saw now)..

Ed A.

On a limited space budget (like I had when I started), I'd look into
these (depending on the project list):

* router
* circular saw
* hand tools (hammer, drill, chisels, planes, etc)
* band saw or scroll saw
* mini lathe (optional)

You can do a lot with that combination, and none of those really need
"elbow room".

After that, start on the big tools - table saw, planer, jointer, lathe.

As for the RAS, I think compound miter saws have essentially replaced
them these days. Smaller, more accurate, easier to use and maintain,
safer.

FGG wrote in news:3cOdnXPqrOgJjdzcRVn-
:

Recently moved to a new home and finally have the time and space to try
doing some woodworking projects. Someone I spoke to about tools (he
happens to do a lot of woodworking) suggested that with limited space,
if I had to limit myself to one tool, he would get a radial arm saw. He
said that you can most everything you need with that tool.

HE could do almost everything HE needs with a radial arm saw. That's very
different than YOU doing what YOU need with a radial arm saw.

Most of the functionality of the RAS has been replaced, in today's shops,
by a compound miter saw, and, perhaps, a table saw. Safer, more
consistent, usually more versatile.

That still doesn't say what you need, or where you should start. Without a
whole lot more information, you get the standard set of recommendations.

Find an adult ed or community college program, and take at least one class
there. It's cheap. The people are absolutely the best in the world (well,
they are a lot like you, anyways.) You get to use their tools. They teach
you the parts you don't know, or forgot from shop class oh those many years
before. They point you to the places to buy things cheap. They post
notices about used tools. They swap 'learning experiences', so you don't
have to learn the hard way, at least not so often. They offer first aid
when you screw up. They sometimes bite their tongues when they see your
project completed. Not always, though. They commiserate when your home
projects turn into the long, hard, winding road. Sometimes, if you're
really lucky, they come over and help save your backside.

At least they do for me, and I, for one, am grateful to have these folks as
my friends. I hope you are so fortunate.

Patriarch

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 22:24:20 -0400, FGG
wrote:

Recently moved to a new home and finally have the time and space to try
doing some woodworking projects. Someone I spoke to about tools (he
happens to do a lot of woodworking) suggested that with limited space,
if I had to limit myself to one tool, he would get a radial arm saw. He
said that you can most everything you need with that tool.

Any comments about that? I have some room in the garage but not
extensive and just starting out I don't want to sink a ton of money into
it. I am thinking - look for a used radial arm saw, and then getting a
router.

I would appreciate any discussion, counter arguments/suggestions and any
advice on getting started (ie good books, magazines...)

Thanks,

Fred



the heart of a cabinet shop is the table saw.
the heart of a furniture shop is the band saw.
the heart of a framers kit is the skilsaw.
the radial arm saw is *almost* obsolete.

FGG wrote:

Recently moved to a new home and finally have the time and
space to try doing some woodworking projects. Someone I spoke
to about tools (he happens to do a lot of woodworking)
suggested that with limited space, if I had to limit myself to
one tool, he would get a radial arm saw. He said that you can
most everything you need with that tool.

Any comments about that? I have some room in the garage but
not extensive and just starting out I don't want to sink a ton
of money into it. I am thinking - look for a used radial arm
saw, and then getting a router.

I would appreciate any discussion, counter
arguments/suggestions and any advice on getting started (ie
good books, magazines...)

Fred...

I started out with a 10" radial arm saw, a 12" band saw, and a
full-size drill press - and waited about five years to buy a good
table saw. Somewhere in between I added a 6" jointer to the shop.
I've never owned a miter saw.

My suggestion would be to start with the best 10" table saw you
can afford. Follow that with a good router and band saw, then add
a drill press, jointer, and a planer.

The radial arm saw is more flexible than the table saw; but I
never liked ripping on the RAS (felt really unsafe) - and I never
got the precision and repeatability from the RAS that I get from
my table saw.

The band saw allows cutting (and sanding!) curves - which neither
RAS nor TS do. The drill press provides huge precision advantages
in hole placement and squareness, and can be used with a
mortising attachment and sanding drums. Jointer and planer
provide major control over quality of parts.

I'd also suggest a Kreg pocket hole drilling jig. I know and like
the guy (whose name is Craig) who invented it; and dragged my
feet for years because I felt it was overpriced. Stupid me - it's
one of the most used tools in my shop. Bite the bullet and buy
one, you won't regret it.

Get paper catalogs from Lee Valley Tools, Grizzly Tool, and
McFeely's. Just looking at the pictures and reading descriptions
seems to help in developing "process think" abilities. Ask your
woodworking acquaintance to let you watch him work in his shop.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto, Iowa USA

FGG wrote:
Recently moved to a new home and finally have the time and space to try
doing some woodworking projects. Someone I spoke to about tools (he
happens to do a lot of woodworking) suggested that with limited space,
if I had to limit myself to one tool, he would get a radial arm saw. He
said that you can most everything you need with that tool.


My very first "big" tool was a Craftsman RAS. At the time I didn't know any
better but I now do most of my cutting on a table saw. I still have the RAS but
it mostly just collects dust.

Aside from the RAS being picky to set up, I've known it to bind; something that
has never happened with my table saw. Also, ripping operations on the RAS were
a bit scary. It's also quite a bit noisier. YMMV.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN


http://www.mortimerschnerd.com

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 22:24:20 -0400, FGG
wrote:

Recently moved to a new home and finally have the time and space to try
doing some woodworking projects.

What sort of thing ? Freee-standing furniture, or house trim ?

if I had to limit myself to one tool, he would get a radial arm saw.

IMHO, no way.

RAS are just about usable if they're 20 years old, well made and in
good condition. Even then they're not safe for ripping, and if they're
anything other than perfect they're a nightmare to use, with a
tendency to inaccuracy.

I don't know an affordable modern RAS that couldn't better be replaced
by spending the same considerable cost on other machines instead.


I would _definitely_ start with a table saw. At low cost, the Ryobi
3100 is well thought of and it seems very similar to the Axminster BTS
10 that I started with (and I'd recommend if you're in the UK). Above
that there's a bit of a gap where more money doesn't buy much more,
then you start to get into the serious machines. Although buying old
£2000 industrial machines for £500 is my favoured suggestion.

If you're going to be doing house trim, get some sort of compound
mitre saw - prefereably one that slides and has a depth stop so you
can use it to cut dados. They don't have the reach of the RAS, but for
narrower timber they perform the same operations.

I'd also suggest a cheap 1/4" router, followed up by a good 1/2"
router when you want to start using it in a table. The cheap router
will still be useful when you want something lightweight and portable.
--
Smert' spamionam

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 22:24:20 -0400, FGG
wrote:


Any comments about that? I have some room in the garage but not
extensive and just starting out I don't want to sink a ton of money into
it. I am thinking - look for a used radial arm saw, and then getting a
router.

If your end goal is fine furniture using a lot of hand tools, start
with a good 14" band saw.

For everything else, and most general woodworking, a good 10" table
saw, such as a Delta, Jet, General International, or Powermatic
contractors saw is the centerpiece of a starter shop. Grizzly can
work out OK, but you might be better off with the support of a good
local dealer right now. The beauty of either of these saws is resale
value. Down the road, you may decide to upgrade, or you may not
continue. GOOD contractor's saws can return a significant portion of
the original price. If you can find a good condition used model,
you'll do even better.

Don't cheap out on the router, either. Since you're probably going to
have one router for a while, I suggest the Bosch, Porter Cable, or
DeWalt kits that include both a fixed and plunge base and variable
speed motor. Either of the three will run you about $200 for the kit.
All three are well-respected, and all three can be your only router
for a long time.

The RAS is pretty much obsolete, and can are seriously "buyer-beware".
They are not all created or maintained equally. G

Barry

A table saw is so important in a shop, although you need space to work
and perhaps one fitted on wheels so you can roll it out the way. A
bandsaw is generally more useful than a radial arm saw. You need to
think about the kinds of projects you plan to build.

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 22:24:20 -0400, FGG
wrote:

Recently moved to a new home and finally have the time and space to try
doing some woodworking projects. Someone I spoke to about tools (he
happens to do a lot of woodworking) suggested that with limited space,
if I had to limit myself to one tool, he would get a radial arm saw. He
said that you can most everything you need with that tool.

Any comments about that? I have some room in the garage but not
extensive and just starting out I don't want to sink a ton of money into
it. I am thinking - look for a used radial arm saw, and then getting a
router.

I would appreciate any discussion, counter arguments/suggestions and any
advice on getting started (ie good books, magazines...)

Thanks,

Fred

FGG wrote in message ...
Recently moved to a new home and finally have the time and space to try
doing some woodworking projects. Someone I spoke to about tools (he
happens to do a lot of woodworking) suggested that with limited space,
if I had to limit myself to one tool, he would get a radial arm saw. He
said that you can most everything you need with that tool.

Any comments about that? I have some room in the garage but not
extensive and just starting out I don't want to sink a ton of money into
it. I am thinking - look for a used radial arm saw, and then getting a
router.

I would appreciate any discussion, counter arguments/suggestions and any
advice on getting started (ie good books, magazines...)

Thanks,

Fred
Fred,
A Radial Arm Saw(RAS) is the most dangerous power tool in a small shop
and caused the worst injuries according to a FWW study some years
back. It was the first tool I got rid of after I purchased a table saw
and jointer.
Start out with tools where the cutting edge does not move like a
router table, band saw, table saw, hand sander. Buy lumber
pre-finished and you can get by without a jointer. I would not get a
hand circular-saw to start out with, maybe a saber saw, it is to
dangerous for beginners.
Take some classes, join a WW club, be really nice to someone with a
lot of tools.
Jack, 40 years of WW.
Start cheap, it makes you appreciate the good stuff.

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 22:24:20 -0400, FGG wrote:
Recently moved to a new home and finally have the time and space to try
doing some woodworking projects. Someone I spoke to about tools (he
happens to do a lot of woodworking) suggested that with limited space,
if I had to limit myself to one tool, he would get a radial arm saw. He
said that you can most everything you need with that tool.


Yes, you can, but you still need to feed wood through it.

It is MUCH harder to make a good RAS than it is to make a good table
saw. You have a heavy motor mounted on a cantelever arm, which just
BEGS to fall out of alignment.

An RAS is also much harder to get into alignment. A good RAS will cost
you more than a good TS or a good BS.

While some guys swear by their RAS, I've found ripping to be WELL
outside my comfort zone. OTOH, I love it for crosscuts and mitres.

If I had to choose, rather than inherit, I'd have a TS with an SCMS. If
I was allowed just one, I'd choose a TS.

I wouldn't buy any RAS made nowadays that was cheaper than the
12-inchers the Big Box stores have. You can buy two contractors saws
for what that'd cost you, or even better, a contractor saw and a band
saw.

here would be my suggestion in order cheekyortant
1: a good Table saw (the $99 Delta at home depot dosen't count)

2: a random orbit sander, I have the cheepy Rybi and it works great, (got it
as a temp until I could get better and haven't needed to)

3: a dual base router, don't look at anything that dosen't have 1/2 collet,
the skill dual base for $100 looks like a good beginers model, WOOD ranked
it very high, and make sure it has a locking spindle, the 2 wrench models
are pain

4: compund mitter saw
FGG wrote:

Recently moved to a new home and finally have the time and space to try
doing some woodworking projects. Someone I spoke to about tools (he
happens to do a lot of woodworking) suggested that with limited space,
if I had to limit myself to one tool, he would get a radial arm saw. He
said that you can most everything you need with that tool.

Any comments about that? I have some room in the garage but not
extensive and just starting out I don't want to sink a ton of money into
it. I am thinking - look for a used radial arm saw, and then getting a
router.

I would appreciate any discussion, counter arguments/suggestions and any
advice on getting started (ie good books, magazines...)

Thanks,

Fred

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 22:24:20 -0400, FGG
wrote:

Recently moved to a new home and finally have the time and space to try
doing some woodworking projects. Someone I spoke to about tools (he
happens to do a lot of woodworking) suggested that with limited space,
if I had to limit myself to one tool, he would get a radial arm saw. He
said that you can most everything you need with that tool.

Any comments about that? I have some room in the garage but not
extensive and just starting out I don't want to sink a ton of money into
it. I am thinking - look for a used radial arm saw, and then getting a
router.

I would appreciate any discussion, counter arguments/suggestions and any
advice on getting started (ie good books, magazines...)

Thanks,

Fred
[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[
Looking back 40+ years to the early 60's and I was in the same
boat...(kind of nice boat however because the house was a lot better
then the appartment)...

I DID buy a Radial Arm saw as my first "machine" and to be honest I
did some pretty good work using it... but it required a lot of
"tuning" to keep everything "set"... I still use the saw as a cut
off saw in my current shop and it has not been moved off a 90 degree
cut in years...

It did not take me very long to buy a Table Saw and a then a Jointer &
Band Saw ... but my point is that the Radial Arm saw will work,
although I always hated ripping on it...

Bob Griffiths

On Fri, 10 Sep 2004 14:07:02 -0400, Bob G.
wrote:

I still use the saw as a cut
off saw in my current shop and it has not been moved off a 90 degree
cut in years...

A workshop near me has a long bench with three identical DeWalt RAS
mounted on it. One fixed at 90°, one at 45° and one at 45° vertically.
If you never change the settings, they're not so bad.

--
Smert' spamionam

I'd probably go with either a table saw or bandsaw if doing the "one-tool-
first" route -- depends on what you want to do w/ it. If furniture/etc w/
mainly "straight lines", table saw; otherwise bandsaw, since you can (to a
limited extent) do most of of the same things you'd do on a table saw, plus
cut curves/resaw/etc. It's just not always as fast/powerful/simple. Then
for 2nd or 3rd tool, I'd probably do a router... but that's just my .01
worth (pay it only half mind).

On Fri, 10 Sep 2004 11:38:43 GMT, Phisherman wrote:

A table saw is so important in a shop, although you need space to work
and perhaps one fitted on wheels so you can roll it out the way.

Or make a melamine or hardwood top to fit over the saw and turn it
into additional bench space.

Barry