Folks -
Well, even tho' the NEW SHO.... er, PATIO is still being fitted, the exodus
of tooling is well underway! I've had an old Craftsman RAS (one of the
recall ones) under wraps for some time... I would like to put in to use
beneath the lumber rack for rough cuts, saving my GOOD saw (Bosch 12" CSMS)
for the fine work...
My question is this... I have several sets of the craftsman TS/RAS molding
heads with the 3 interchangable cutters... Is it me or does using a molding
head on a RAS seem uniquely dangerous? And if it is okay, what precautions
should I take. It seems that light cuts, having a FIRM grip on the saw
handle and keeping one's own bad self WELL out of the line of fire would be
a given.
Since Sears says the cutter head is for use on a RAS, It got me to
thinking.... I'd appreciate tips from anyone that has done this set-up,
lived to tell about it, and can still count to 10.
TIA
John Moorhead
In article <[email protected]>, John <[email protected]> wrote:
>Well, if you do the math, tables saw injuries are still MORE common
>than RAS injuries even accounting for the numeric distributions
>
>Having said that, I would agree that moulding heads on a RAS are
>probably MORE hazardous than moulding heads on a tablesaw
I concur. And I'm a RAS fan; never have understood why some people seem to
think that they're the most dangerous power tool ever invented.
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
Get a copy of my NEW AND IMPROVED TrollFilter for NewsProxy/Nfilter
by sending email to autoresponder at filterinfo-at-milmac-dot-com
You must use your REAL email address to get a response.
"Rumpty" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Using a moulding head on the RAS is fine as long as you have a flat table,
> a
> properly aligned saw and follow some common sense procedures. One of the
> best books for moulding on the radial saw is the "How To Master The Radial
> saw" ByWally Kunkel available from http://mrsawdust.com
> Rumpty
I definitely agree on the flat table and its alignment. I use a RAS, mostly
for rough carpentry, and yes even ripping plywood. Mine setup has flat and
level table extensions (cabinets) for twelve feet on each end of the saw.
The saw and the feed side cabinet extension share a single long fence. The
long tables and long common fence greatly reduces problems, especially yaw
of the lumber.
Though bolted together, these still are three seperate pieces. Before cuts,
I use a cheap laser against the saw fence center to ensure that the tables
have not moved. It takes only seconds and pays off. I would also strongly
recomend not working with short pieces of lumber when ripping, shaping, etc,
even if that means some waste. Being able to keep your hands further away
from the blade is worth a lot. I use push sticks when I have to, but longer
lumber is easier and safer. For a while I had tension rollers to keep the
lumber flat on the table. They seemed to help some, but I decided they were
not worth the trouble of readjusting for each different thickness.
I have never had a problem with the saw, but clearly there are ways to make
it happen. Keep each end of the saw clear, so that if it binds and pitches
lumber across your garage, nothing and nobody is hurt. Keep the floor clear
so you can easily walk with the lumber.
The book is a good read. My local library has two of them.
Tom B
"srwood" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Yes. Use a router instead. Molding heads on radial arm saw are probably
> the most dangerous set up you can get. 42% of all serious woodworking
> injuries happen on table saws and 7% happen on radial arm saws. However
> table saws outnumber radial arm saws by 5:1.
My 40 year old Montgomery Ward RAS has a 20,000 rpm arbor shaft for shaper
blades. I love it, I love it, I love it!
It outperforms my recently purchased Craftsman TS in both quality of cut and
versatility. I make my rough cuts with my TS and my finish cuts with my
MonkeyWard.
So there!
>Having said that, I would agree that moulding heads on a RAS are
probably MORE hazardous than moulding heads on a tablesaw
On the TS your board needs to stand straight up against the fence (most of
the time) depending on your project and is hard to control, on the RAS the
board is always flat on the table and easy to control.
--
Rumpty
Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Well, if you do the math, tables saw injuries are still MORE common
> than RAS injuries even accounting for the numeric distributions
>
> Having said that, I would agree that moulding heads on a RAS are
> probably MORE hazardous than moulding heads on a tablesaw
>
> John
>
> On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 21:56:00 GMT, "srwood" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >Yes. Use a router instead. Molding heads on radial arm saw are probably
the
> >most dangerous set up you can get. 42% of all serious woodworking
injuries
> >happen on table saws and 7% happen on radial arm saws. However table saws
> >outnumber radial arm saws by 5:1. Most table saw injuries occur when a
dado
> >or molding head is put on a table saw. Put a molding head on a RAS along
> >with safety problems the Sears RAS has your asking for trouble. Sounds
like
> >a tool buying opportunity. Safety first. If you do it please be careful.
By
> >the way my information comes from an article "keeping ten fingers-injury
> >survey pinpoints hazards in the shop" by Paul Bertrelli
> >"John Moorhead" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:[email protected]...
> >> Folks -
> >>
> >> Well, even tho' the NEW SHO.... er, PATIO is still being fitted, the
> >> exodus of tooling is well underway! I've had an old Craftsman RAS (one
of
> >> the recall ones) under wraps for some time... I would like to put in to
> >> use beneath the lumber rack for rough cuts, saving my GOOD saw (Bosch
12"
> >> CSMS) for the fine work...
> >>
> >> My question is this... I have several sets of the craftsman TS/RAS
molding
> >> heads with the 3 interchangable cutters... Is it me or does using a
> >> molding head on a RAS seem uniquely dangerous? And if it is okay, what
> >> precautions should I take. It seems that light cuts, having a FIRM
grip
> >> on the saw handle and keeping one's own bad self WELL out of the line
of
> >> fire would be a given.
> >>
> >> Since Sears says the cutter head is for use on a RAS, It got me to
> >> thinking.... I'd appreciate tips from anyone that has done this
set-up,
> >> lived to tell about it, and can still count to 10.
> >>
> >> TIA
> >>
> >> John Moorhead
> >>
> >
>
>
>My question is this... I have several sets of the craftsman TS/RAS molding
>heads with the 3 interchangable cutters... Is it me or does using a molding
>head on a RAS seem uniquely dangerous? And if it is okay, what precautions
>should I take. It seems that light cuts, having a FIRM grip on the saw
>handle and keeping one's own bad self WELL out of the line of fire would be
>a given.
>
>Since Sears says the cutter head is for use on a RAS, It got me to
>thinking.... I'd appreciate tips from anyone that has done this set-up,
>lived to tell about it, and can still count to 10.
>
>TIA
>
>John Moorhead
Well, Dad trimmed out three houses in the 1960's using his Craftsman RAS and
his single blade molding head. My brother used the same setup to make all the
trim for two apartments he remodeled a few years ago. I have used a 3 blade
molder on my RAS. I prefer doing it on my Shopsmith in tablesaw mode though.
Dave Hall
Is it me or does using a molding
>head on a RAS seem uniquely dangerous?
>John Moorhead
>
=====================================
I have used them on both Table Saws and on RAS....and all I can say is
that no matter what saw I have used it SOUNDED...dangerous...
Give me a shaper or a Router anyday... at least I will save money on
Toilet paper...
Bob Griffiths.
In article <[email protected]>, "srwood"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Yes. Use a router instead. Molding heads on radial arm saw are probably the
>most dangerous set up you can get. 42% of all serious woodworking injuries
>happen on table saws and 7% happen on radial arm saws. However table saws
>outnumber radial arm saws by 5:1.
That of course suggests that radial arm saws are safer than table saws, since
the injury ratio is 6:1. <g>
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
Get a copy of my NEW AND IMPROVED TrollFilter for NewsProxy/Nfilter
by sending email to autoresponder at filterinfo-at-milmac-dot-com
You must use your REAL email address to get a response.
Well, if you do the math, tables saw injuries are still MORE common
than RAS injuries even accounting for the numeric distributions
Having said that, I would agree that moulding heads on a RAS are
probably MORE hazardous than moulding heads on a tablesaw
John
On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 21:56:00 GMT, "srwood" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Yes. Use a router instead. Molding heads on radial arm saw are probably the
>most dangerous set up you can get. 42% of all serious woodworking injuries
>happen on table saws and 7% happen on radial arm saws. However table saws
>outnumber radial arm saws by 5:1. Most table saw injuries occur when a dado
>or molding head is put on a table saw. Put a molding head on a RAS along
>with safety problems the Sears RAS has your asking for trouble. Sounds like
>a tool buying opportunity. Safety first. If you do it please be careful. By
>the way my information comes from an article "keeping ten fingers-injury
>survey pinpoints hazards in the shop" by Paul Bertrelli
>"John Moorhead" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Folks -
>>
>> Well, even tho' the NEW SHO.... er, PATIO is still being fitted, the
>> exodus of tooling is well underway! I've had an old Craftsman RAS (one of
>> the recall ones) under wraps for some time... I would like to put in to
>> use beneath the lumber rack for rough cuts, saving my GOOD saw (Bosch 12"
>> CSMS) for the fine work...
>>
>> My question is this... I have several sets of the craftsman TS/RAS molding
>> heads with the 3 interchangable cutters... Is it me or does using a
>> molding head on a RAS seem uniquely dangerous? And if it is okay, what
>> precautions should I take. It seems that light cuts, having a FIRM grip
>> on the saw handle and keeping one's own bad self WELL out of the line of
>> fire would be a given.
>>
>> Since Sears says the cutter head is for use on a RAS, It got me to
>> thinking.... I'd appreciate tips from anyone that has done this set-up,
>> lived to tell about it, and can still count to 10.
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> John Moorhead
>>
>
On Mon, 06 Dec 2004 18:26:03 GMT, Doug Miller <[email protected]>
wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, John <[email protected]> wrote:
>>Well, if you do the math, tables saw injuries are still MORE common
>>than RAS injuries even accounting for the numeric distributions
>>
>>Having said that, I would agree that moulding heads on a RAS are
>>probably MORE hazardous than moulding heads on a tablesaw
>
> I concur. And I'm a RAS fan; never have understood why some people seem to
> think that they're the most dangerous power tool ever invented.
SWMBO's uncle Swears by his RAS for ripping.
OTOH, I find ripping on a RAS to be outside my comfort zone, but
crosscutting a dream.
If your budget permits you want both. If not, whatever you learned on
will be best for you.
>Give me a shaper or a Router anyday..
Check out the drawing I just u/l to ABPW "RAS Moulding". A nice small
moulding made with two bits (worth $36 USD) on either a craftsman or delta
moulding head on the RAS. How would you make the same moulding with a
router? How much would the bit(s) cost for the router?
We make mouldings all the time on the RAS and we still have 10 fingers and
we don't carry extra rolls of TP in the men's room! ;-)
--
Rumpty
Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In article <[email protected]>, "John Moorhead" <[email protected]> wrote:
>My question is this... I have several sets of the craftsman TS/RAS molding
>heads with the 3 interchangable cutters... Is it me or does using a molding
>head on a RAS seem uniquely dangerous? And if it is okay, what precautions
>should I take. It seems that light cuts, having a FIRM grip on the saw
>handle and keeping one's own bad self WELL out of the line of fire would be
>a given.
>
>Since Sears says the cutter head is for use on a RAS, It got me to
>thinking.... I'd appreciate tips from anyone that has done this set-up,
>lived to tell about it, and can still count to 10.
Done that a couple of times when I was young and foolish... Perfectly safe IMO
for crosscuts. Rips are another matter: it's *very* difficult simultaneously
to hold the wood down against the table, *and* hold it back against the fence,
*and* feed it through the cutter. This problem is compounded when using narrow
stock that's likely to flutter. If it flutters, one of the cutters will catch
it and kick it back. DAMHIKT. Some sort of mechanical hold-down is a must.
Using a table saw is a better idea.
A router or a shaper is an even better idea.
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
Get a copy of my NEW AND IMPROVED TrollFilter for NewsProxy/Nfilter
by sending email to autoresponder at filterinfo-at-milmac-dot-com
You must use your REAL email address to get a response.
Yes. Use a router instead. Molding heads on radial arm saw are probably the
most dangerous set up you can get. 42% of all serious woodworking injuries
happen on table saws and 7% happen on radial arm saws. However table saws
outnumber radial arm saws by 5:1. Most table saw injuries occur when a dado
or molding head is put on a table saw. Put a molding head on a RAS along
with safety problems the Sears RAS has your asking for trouble. Sounds like
a tool buying opportunity. Safety first. If you do it please be careful. By
the way my information comes from an article "keeping ten fingers-injury
survey pinpoints hazards in the shop" by Paul Bertrelli
"John Moorhead" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Folks -
>
> Well, even tho' the NEW SHO.... er, PATIO is still being fitted, the
> exodus of tooling is well underway! I've had an old Craftsman RAS (one of
> the recall ones) under wraps for some time... I would like to put in to
> use beneath the lumber rack for rough cuts, saving my GOOD saw (Bosch 12"
> CSMS) for the fine work...
>
> My question is this... I have several sets of the craftsman TS/RAS molding
> heads with the 3 interchangable cutters... Is it me or does using a
> molding head on a RAS seem uniquely dangerous? And if it is okay, what
> precautions should I take. It seems that light cuts, having a FIRM grip
> on the saw handle and keeping one's own bad self WELL out of the line of
> fire would be a given.
>
> Since Sears says the cutter head is for use on a RAS, It got me to
> thinking.... I'd appreciate tips from anyone that has done this set-up,
> lived to tell about it, and can still count to 10.
>
> TIA
>
> John Moorhead
>
srwood wrote:
> Yes. Use a router instead. Molding heads on radial arm saw are probably
> the most dangerous set up you can get. 42% of all serious woodworking
> injuries happen on table saws and 7% happen on radial arm saws. However
> table saws outnumber radial arm saws by 5:1. Most table saw injuries occur
> when a dado or molding head is put on a table saw. Put a molding head on a
> RAS along with safety problems the Sears RAS has
What "safety problems" are these?
> your asking for trouble.
> Sounds like a tool buying opportunity. Safety first. If you do it please
> be careful. By the way my information comes from an article "keeping ten
> fingers-injury survey pinpoints hazards in the shop" by Paul Bertrelli
> "John Moorhead" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Folks -
>>
>> Well, even tho' the NEW SHO.... er, PATIO is still being fitted, the
>> exodus of tooling is well underway! I've had an old Craftsman RAS (one
>> of the recall ones) under wraps for some time... I would like to put in
>> to use beneath the lumber rack for rough cuts, saving my GOOD saw (Bosch
>> 12" CSMS) for the fine work...
>>
>> My question is this... I have several sets of the craftsman TS/RAS
>> molding
>> heads with the 3 interchangable cutters... Is it me or does using a
>> molding head on a RAS seem uniquely dangerous? And if it is okay, what
>> precautions should I take. It seems that light cuts, having a FIRM grip
>> on the saw handle and keeping one's own bad self WELL out of the line of
>> fire would be a given.
>>
>> Since Sears says the cutter head is for use on a RAS, It got me to
>> thinking.... I'd appreciate tips from anyone that has done this set-up,
>> lived to tell about it, and can still count to 10.
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> John Moorhead
>>
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
Using a moulding head on the RAS is fine as long as you have a flat table, a
properly aligned saw and follow some common sense procedures. One of the
best books for moulding on the radial saw is the "How To Master The Radial
saw" ByWally Kunkel available from http://mrsawdust.com
--
Rumpty
Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"John Moorhead" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Folks -
>
> Well, even tho' the NEW SHO.... er, PATIO is still being fitted, the
exodus
> of tooling is well underway! I've had an old Craftsman RAS (one of the
> recall ones) under wraps for some time... I would like to put in to use
> beneath the lumber rack for rough cuts, saving my GOOD saw (Bosch 12"
CSMS)
> for the fine work...
>
> My question is this... I have several sets of the craftsman TS/RAS molding
> heads with the 3 interchangable cutters... Is it me or does using a
molding
> head on a RAS seem uniquely dangerous? And if it is okay, what
precautions
> should I take. It seems that light cuts, having a FIRM grip on the saw
> handle and keeping one's own bad self WELL out of the line of fire would
be
> a given.
>
> Since Sears says the cutter head is for use on a RAS, It got me to
> thinking.... I'd appreciate tips from anyone that has done this set-up,
> lived to tell about it, and can still count to 10.
>
> TIA
>
> John Moorhead
>
>
>It seems that light cuts, having a FIRM grip on the saw handle
All moulding on the RAS is done with the saw head locked rip position and
the work is done as a rip operation.
--
Rumpty
Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"John Moorhead" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Folks -
>
> Well, even tho' the NEW SHO.... er, PATIO is still being fitted, the
exodus
> of tooling is well underway! I've had an old Craftsman RAS (one of the
> recall ones) under wraps for some time... I would like to put in to use
> beneath the lumber rack for rough cuts, saving my GOOD saw (Bosch 12"
CSMS)
> for the fine work...
>
> My question is this... I have several sets of the craftsman TS/RAS molding
> heads with the 3 interchangable cutters... Is it me or does using a
molding
> head on a RAS seem uniquely dangerous? And if it is okay, what
precautions
> should I take. It seems that light cuts, having a FIRM grip on the saw
> handle and keeping one's own bad self WELL out of the line of fire would
be
> a given.
>
> Since Sears says the cutter head is for use on a RAS, It got me to
> thinking.... I'd appreciate tips from anyone that has done this set-up,
> lived to tell about it, and can still count to 10.
>
> TIA
>
> John Moorhead
>
>
On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 20:54:33 GMT, "John Moorhead"
<[email protected]> wrote:
[snip]
>
>Since Sears says the cutter head is for use on a RAS, It got me to
>thinking.... I'd appreciate tips from anyone that has done this set-up,
>lived to tell about it, and can still count to 10.
>
If you do a google search in this forum for this topic you will find a
number of threads back and forth on this issue over the past few years.
Some people say they have done this for years w/o any problems and others
suggest doing this is akin to strolling in front of a local police station
in Baghdad waiting for the next bomber to come by. I've used the moulding
head on a Sears RAS a few times w/o incident. But it IS scary. Anyway,
Sears is well insured (and presently not in bankruptcy, w/ or w/o the Blue
Light people, so if you do have an accident, do it soon). FWIW. -- Igor
On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 17:08:26 -0500, Rumpty wrote:
>>It seems that light cuts, having a FIRM grip on the saw handle
>
> All moulding on the RAS is done with the saw head locked rip position and
> the work is done as a rip operation.
... and when using the dado/molding head behind the fence in the
horizontal plane, use the Searz (or proper fitting brand) dado/molding
head guard.
As always when ripping with the RAS, feed against the rotation of the
cutter and if passing the work under the cutter, set the guard hold down
and the antikickback pawls.
-Doug
On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 18:42:09 -0500, Bob G. wrote:
> I have used them on both Table Saws and on RAS....and all I can say is
> that no matter what saw I have used it SOUNDED...dangerous...
>
> Give me a shaper or a Router anyday... at least I will save money on
> Toilet paper...
My headphone style hearing protectors save a bunch on the TP bill ;-)
-Doug
>OTOH, I find ripping on a RAS to be outside my comfort zone, but
crosscutting a dream
Make yourself a 6' rip fence and a pushboard for narrow pieces and you love
ripping on the RAS!
--
Rumpty
Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"U-CDK_CHARLES\Charles" <"Charles Krug"@aol.com> wrote in message
news:Bj2td.831$x26.321@trndny03...
> On Mon, 06 Dec 2004 18:26:03 GMT, Doug Miller <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> > In article <[email protected]>, John
<[email protected]> wrote:
> >>Well, if you do the math, tables saw injuries are still MORE common
> >>than RAS injuries even accounting for the numeric distributions
> >>
> >>Having said that, I would agree that moulding heads on a RAS are
> >>probably MORE hazardous than moulding heads on a tablesaw
> >
> > I concur. And I'm a RAS fan; never have understood why some people seem
to
> > think that they're the most dangerous power tool ever invented.
>
> SWMBO's uncle Swears by his RAS for ripping.
>
> OTOH, I find ripping on a RAS to be outside my comfort zone, but
> crosscutting a dream.
>
> If your budget permits you want both. If not, whatever you learned on
> will be best for you.
>
Doug,
Take a look at the RAS moulding drawing I put on ABPW, this shows how we
make itsy, bitsy, teenie weenie moulding safely on the RAS.
--
Rumpty
Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Doug Miller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>, "John
Moorhead" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >My question is this... I have several sets of the craftsman TS/RAS
molding
> >heads with the 3 interchangable cutters... Is it me or does using a
molding
> >head on a RAS seem uniquely dangerous? And if it is okay, what
precautions
> >should I take. It seems that light cuts, having a FIRM grip on the saw
> >handle and keeping one's own bad self WELL out of the line of fire would
be
> >a given.
> >
> >Since Sears says the cutter head is for use on a RAS, It got me to
> >thinking.... I'd appreciate tips from anyone that has done this set-up,
> >lived to tell about it, and can still count to 10.
>
> Done that a couple of times when I was young and foolish... Perfectly safe
IMO
> for crosscuts. Rips are another matter: it's *very* difficult
simultaneously
> to hold the wood down against the table, *and* hold it back against the
fence,
> *and* feed it through the cutter. This problem is compounded when using
narrow
> stock that's likely to flutter. If it flutters, one of the cutters will
catch
> it and kick it back. DAMHIKT. Some sort of mechanical hold-down is a must.
>
> Using a table saw is a better idea.
>
> A router or a shaper is an even better idea.
>
>
> --
> Regards,
> Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
>
> Get a copy of my NEW AND IMPROVED TrollFilter for NewsProxy/Nfilter
> by sending email to autoresponder at filterinfo-at-milmac-dot-com
> You must use your REAL email address to get a response.
>
>