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9th July 2014, 03:22 PM #1GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jan 2009
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- Australia
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- 936
Suggested brands and models for RAS replacement
Suggested brands and models for RAS replacement. As the title says, anyone have suggestions to replace my old Sears Craftsman 10" radial arm saw.
I am trying to fix my old saw. One or more of the carriage bearings has failed and I am in the process of seeing if it is viable to fix or not.
If not, then I'd like to replace it.
So any suggested brands models, good bad indifferent to watch for.
I'm watching several Dewalts (DW125 and DW8001) on ebay.
Thanks in advance.
Lyle.
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12th July 2014, 07:56 PM #2Taking a break
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Melbourne
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- 34
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- 5,906
If your budget (and power supply) allows, look for Omga or an old Wadkin. Omga do make single phase, I think Wadkin are 3-phase only, but don't quote me on that.
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12th July 2014, 08:34 PM #3
I have two of the old DeWalts one circa 1972 vintage the other early 1980's but both the same model. One was in daily use with my father who was a house / light industrial builder for near 20 years then about 5 years in a truss plant & still going. The other came from a cabinet makers shop. Both well & truly earned their purchase prices which were quite exhorbitant at the time. Not the most precise saw for detail work when they are well & truly worn in though, but they can be adjusted.
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16th August 2014, 03:29 PM #4SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- May 2004
- Location
- Sth. Island, Oz.
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- 64
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- 739
Second hand Dewalts offer remarkable value for money in my opinion. They're designed for a 40 years plus lifespan in light commercial useage.
All day every day useage will of course shorten this life expectancy.
The benefits of a Radial Arm are many, but perhaps best expressed when used as a dedicated crosscutter: they don't rip anywhere near as efficiently as a tablesaw, let alone a bandsaw.
The most obvious benefit of buying second hand (apart from the savings) is that they are fully adjustable and rebuildable, allowing in fact for the wear and friction of years of useage. Often, all that is required is a thorough stripdown & clean with kerosene (many have been erroneously oiled) and dry, clean rags, and then a proper, by-the-book adjustment of all moving parts, a proper realignment, and a thorough lube with powdered graphite to get it running as smoothly or better than the day it left the showroom. The arm head bearings are washable, and easily adjusted. The motor bearings (sealed) are easily, but seldom need to be, replaced.
The 300mm machines are better, due to their greater capacities. An 8001 gives you about 500mm x 100mm, and an 8101 about 620mm x 100mm. Their chief advantage, however, is the ease of fitment of dado heads, which remarkably speeds up the process of trenching, rabbeting and tenoning. I think there's no better machine available for making traditional sash windows
Properly tuned and adjusted, an RAS will comprehensively outperform (in speed & accuracy) any commercial SCMS in all but basic "snip saw" duties.Sycophant to nobody!