Basics For A Home Based Wood working Shop



Posted: Monday, April 23, 2007

by
MN

In my estimation, one of the most rewarding hobbies is making sawdust. Really, I enjoy working in my garage-based woodworking shop best of all. When I am out in my shop making wood chips, I can just leave the world and all its troubles behind me. To be sure, I oftentimes catch myself singing above the buzz and hum of my tools.

One of the most anticipated tool additions to my shop was that of a radial arm saw. The versatility and ease of use made this tool one I did not want to live without. When it came time to pick one out, budget was a factor. But regardless of the budget, it is never my choice to settle for inferior tools. Your work is only as good as your tools, and settling for junk just to fill a space in the shop isn't an option. When you can also find a tool that offers some excellent versatility, and multifunctional operation, the space and money are well spent.

I like a radial arm saw because it is, in most cases, the safest and most versatile power saw that can be had. Got my first radial arm saw when I was still in college and, since that time, I have worn out and gone through two others. Before you jump to conclusions, radial arm saws do not wear out quickly. As a matter of fact, most brands are very durable. I would not say that my saws wore more than usual. To be truthful, my first saw, a DeWalt, was more or less destroyed by a friend! This friend borrowed my saw and, in transport, accidentally dropped it from the back of his pickup truck. Now, the first rule of thumb here is that you should never loan your tools out ... to anyone. Maybe allow someone to use a tool, in your shop and under close supervision of yourself. But, that having been said, a fall from the back of a truck is not good for any tool, most especially equipment as large as a radial arm saw.

But to get a better feel of the shop, it is now time to discuss what makes up a good shop. Truthfully, I do not have a great shop but it is adequate. I could always use more tools, especially of the power persuasion. But I have what might be considered the basics, a radial arm saw!

A radial-arm saw works best for crosscutting wood, but you can use it for ripping as well as long as you take it slowly and use precautions. With attachments attainable on some models, you can use a radial-arm saw as a router or a sander.

If, for some unknown reason, you had to pick only one stationary power tool for your workshop, a radial arm saw would be the wise choice. No other stationary power tool can perform as many chores. Wood working consists of six basic cuts; crosscutting, bevel crosscutting, ripping, bevel ripping, mitering and bevel mitering. The radial arm saw will make all of these cuts efficiently and precisely. With attachments and accessories the radial arm saw can also be used as a boring machine, router, sander (either drum or disk) and buffer/polisher. It can also do jointing and shaping chores, as well as make dadoes.

A radial-arm saw table is made of particleboard or plywood rather than metal because the saw blade must cut into the table slightly to cut boards completely. When the tabletop becomes shredded after years of use, you should replace it. The fence, usually a piece of 1x2, needs to be replaced more often.

When you have been woodworking for quite a few years it's easy to become a tool snob. Brand loyalty is as fierce in tools as it is in automobiles. Some of brand loyalty is based in fact, but a lot of it is based on nothing more then choosing a side and sticking with it. With a shop filled with Craftsman tools, both hand and power, I was a little guilty of that. So, if I tend to favor Craftsman, you are advised to take that with a grain of salt because there are good hand and power tools from several good companies.

When shopping for a radial arm saw, the first couple of pulls on the tranversing handle should feel solid, well built. Continue to turn the adjustments, and switch the levers. You should be surprised by a quality feel, not a tinny, plastic feel you would experience from the cheaper stuff. Look for the feel of a real tool, something that you would not be afraid to feed an expensive piece of cherry or oak into the throat of the beast.

Radial arm saws are handy in several different sizes, and the size refers to the size of blade the saw will accept. Common sizes include a 10- or 12-inch model, with the 10-inch model the most popular choice for most home workshops. Larger, 14-, 16- and 18-inch sizes are also findable for heavy-duty commercial work. The size of the blade determines the possible cutting-depth of the saw. A 10-inch saw blade cuts to a 3-inch depth. Most quality saws today have automatic blade brakes to slow and then quickly stop the saw once the motor has been turned off. Make certain whatever make or brand you decide to purchase that it has the mandatory brake stop.

Now, I am sure that by this time, there have been several detractors about radial arm saws. But, I have been using my saws for many, many years with absolutely no problems and, frankly, no accidents to myself. That is one of the most important reasons that I really like woodworking. I have built any number of projects, including a full blown, flyable airplane. And, without the old DeWalt, I am sure that would have been very difficult. Of course, many other kinds of power saws would have been alright but the radial arm saw was the best.

With a radial arm saw, the blade is out in the open where you can see it. With the saw blade installed properly, you can not only see the blade and how it is performing, but you can keep your fingers and hands out of harms way at all times. Of course, it is very imperative that you use adequate push sticks and sacrificial boards to push the stock into the cutting range of the blade.

In addition, make certain that the guide is always in good, square shape in order that the cut stock is square and smooth. On a radial arm saw, the guide is of 'throw away' wood stock and is easily replaced. Always make sure that your saw is true and square. Normally, it is quite easy to make adjustments and requires a small hex wrench to correct the trueness. A good cut always results if the saw is in perfect adjustment.

In closing, I would simply say that the radial arm saw is a combination of a normal table saw, turned up side down, and a cross cut saw. Almost any cut at any angle can be made with ease. Very complex cuts that would be very difficult with a table saw are usually quite easy with a radial arm saw.

The myriad of speciality attachments that are findable to the radial arm saw make it the first choice for a home shop. Visit the Internet to see examples of convenient radial arm saws from some of the major suppliers.

When you are ready to get started, visit your local hardware store, home service company or, at least, the Sears tool department in your neighborhood. Get that oft dreamed of home shop started now.

Contact me at drsmith7684@sbcglobal.net
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