I don't know about all of them but certainly some of them can bevel cut. I will try to describe a radial arm saw in the sort of detail that might make a little more sense to someone who has never seen one.
A radial arm saw is quite a tall machine something like a drill press with an overhead rail sticking out from a central column. The motor and saw are suspended from a carriage on that rail over a table. The motor can be rotated on the vertical axis to orient the blade at 90 degrees to the long axis of the rail and the carriage locked a fixed distance along the rail so that by sliding a board along the table from left to right you can rip along it's length. When the saw is oriented in the direction of the rail you can pull it back along the rail to cross cut through the stock laying on the table. By swinging the rail around the vertical axis of the support pillar you can select an angle to cross cut and by pivoting the saw and motor and carriage around the horizontal axis of the saw and motor assembly you can select a bevel angle for cross cutting or if locked at right angles to the rail a bevel angle for ripping. The first thing one will usually do is construct or acquire a long table to hold stock, usually an extension bolted to the original fixed table. I haven't used one much, last time was probably 35 years ago. Back then there were no blade guards. That may have changed. This means that you have the full exposed blade spinning above the table. This isn't too bad when cross cutting but, in my estimation it is a very high risk when ripping. Having said that, my table saw hasn't had a blade guard on it ever, back when I bought it they rarely did. Still, getting a hand between the blade and the stock would take some trouble but not with a radial arm saw. It is though a bit like worm drive versus direct drive circular saw preferences. Those who like their radial arm saws tend to really love them. With the advent of sliding miter saws, radial arm saws seem to have lost a lot of their popularity. I had carefully considered one before I bought my miter saw but wouldn't consider it now unless maybe as a dedicated function in a production shop or something like that. Dale Leavens, Cochrane Ontario Canada [EMAIL PROTECTED] Skype DaleLeavens Come and meet Aurora, Nakita and Nanook at our polar bear habitat. ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Schwery" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 8:02 PM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] radial arm saws? Can one bevel with a radial arm? earlier, Lenny McHugh, wrote: >Hi Ray and all, >An old friend the late Reggie Henry and his brother both totally blind >purchased one of the first Sears models. When Sears introduced that saw >they >thought it was unsafe for someone not trained. They had a training center >that you had to take a course before you could purchase the saw. >The instructor nearly flipped when the Henry brothers went in with their >guide dogs and canes. >When they finished the class the instructor got them aside and told them >that of everyone that had taken that class, they were the only people he >thought that truly could safely handle that piece of equipment. >When Reggie passed away his wife gave me all of his power tools. >unfortunately That saw was long time gone. >Lenny >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Ray Boyce" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[email protected]> >Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2007 3:48 PM >Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] radial arm saws? > > >Hi John >Radial Arm Saws > >A radial arm saw basically consists of a motor (rather like a handheld >circular saw) suspended from a long arm, in a yoke, which allows multiple >degrees >of rotation for the motor assembly. The motor assembly connects to the >overhead arm by a carriage assembly that traverses the arm's length when >manually >pulled by the operator. All parts of this assembly may be locked into >particular positions as desired by the user. To achieve a simple 90 degree >cross >cut the saw is pulled from back to front, through a slot in the fence. To >make a rip cut the motor head is rotated 90 degrees and positioned outside >the >fence parallel to it. > >Radial arm saws were first developed by Raymond E. Dewalt in 1922 and were >marketed under the name of the >Dewalt "Wonder-Worker". >Dewalt continued to manufacture radial arm saws until 1989 when they sold >the rights to The American Saw Company. > >Sears has sold their Craftsman brand since 1958, in fact there is a >recall >on the guard for some of the older models that even supplies you with a new >table. > >Delta entered the market in 1948 when they bought out Red Star Products, >producing 8" to 20" models. > >These versatile saws offer the capability of ripping and cross cutting as >well as miter, dado and rabbet cuts. With attachments they will also work >as >a >shaper or router in a pinch. Most home shops will have a 10" model, the >larger models are usually found in industrial settings. > >10" Model > >It cuts up to 2-3/4 inches deep at 90 degrees, 2-1/2 inches at a 45-degree >bevel, and crosscuts 16 inches at 90 degrees. >Name of Product: Ryobi Radial Arm Saws > >Units: About 145,000 > >Manufacturer: Ryobi Motor Products Corp. formerly of Anderson, S.C. >("RMP"); >Ryobi Electric Tool Manufacturing, Inc. formerly of Chandler, Ariz.; and >Ryobi >Limited, of Hiroshima, Japan. > >Hazard: Cracking of the plastic motor housing can cause the blade assembly >to fall during operation, posing a risk of laceration to the operator or >bystanders. >The detachment may occur unexpectedly and without warning. > >Incidents/Injuries: RMP has received five reports of detached blade >assemblies, including four reports of lacerated fingers to the saw >operators. > >Description and Models: The recall involves all RA200 and RA202 radial arm >saws. These are bench top models with 8 ¼-inch blades. Each unit has a data >plate >immediately behind the operator grip for the saw, which says "RYOBI 8 1/4" >Radial Arm Saw" and either "RA200" or "RA202." > >Sold at: Home and hardware stores nationwide from 1986 through 1997 for >between $200 and $300, and higher in some instances. > >Manufactured In: The United States and Japan > >Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using these radial arm saws and >contact Ryobi customer service to arrange to return part of the saw for a >payment >of $75. No repair is available. > >Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Ryobi Customer >Service >at (800) 525-2579 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET any day of the week, or >visit >the following Web site: www.ryobi.com > >Craftsman® radial arm saws for repair. These radial arm saws were sold >without a guard that covers the entire blade. Consumers have come into >contact with >the blade or have been hit by pieces of wood kicked back by the saws, >resulting in severe injuries. > >CPSC and Emerson have received about 300 reports of injuries while using >these saws. Injuries include hand and finger amputations; lacerated hands, >arms >and fingers; fractured hands and fingers; and facial injuries. > >Emerson is offering a free repair kit that provides a complete blade guard. >Consumers should stop using their Craftsman® radial arm saws immediately >and >call Emerson Tool Co. to determine if their saw is recalled and to ensure >that they have proper safety and use instructions. Consumers should have >the >model and serial numbers of their saw available when they call. > >The recalled Craftsman® 8-, 8¼-, 9- and 10-inch radial arm saws have a >model >number beginning with 113, usually located on the base of the saw. The >brand >name "Craftsman®" and store name "Sears" are written on the saws. > >Sears stores and catalogs sold the 8-, 9- and 10-inch saws from 1958 >through >1992. The 8¼-inch saws were sold from 1990 through 1995. The saws sold for >between $100 and $700, depending on the model, year purchased and >accessories. > >For older model saws and others that cannot accept the new guard, Emerson >will provide $100 for the return of the saw carriage. Consumers must >contact >Emerson >to receive a free repair kit or to return their saw carriage. Saws should >not be returned to Sears. > >Picture of Craftsman Radial Arm Saw > >The new guarding system provides a substantial safety improvement over >guarding systems manufactured before 1993. Even if consumers have purchased >a lower >guard for their saw, they should still replace it with the new guard >system. > >For more information, call Emerson at (800) 511-2628 anytime, or visit the >firm's web site at www.radialarmsawrecall.com. > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "John Schwery" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[email protected]> >Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2007 1:52 AM >Subject: [BlindHandyMan] radial arm saws? > > > > Ray, since Dale mentioned radial arm saws, can you find anything > > regarding size, type, features, functionality, etc? Thanks. > > > > > > John > > > > > > -- > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.9/623 - Release Date: > > 1/11/2007 > > 3:33 PM > > > > > > > > >-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.9/623 - Release Date: 1/11/2007 >3:33 PM > > > >To listen to the show archives go to link > http://acbradio.org/handyman.html >or >ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ > >The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. >http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday > >The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. >http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml > >Visit The Blind Handy Man Files Page To Review Contributions From Various >List Members At The Following address: >http://www.jaws-users.com/handyman/ > >Visit the new archives page at the following address >http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man >list >just send a blank message to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >To listen to the show archives go to link > http://acbradio.org/handyman.html >or >ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ > >The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. >http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday > >The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. >http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml > >Visit The Blind Handy Man Files Page To Review >Contributions From Various List Members At The Following address: >http://www.jaws-users.com/handyman/ > >Visit the new archives page at the following address >http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >For a complete list of email commands pertaining >to the Blind Handy Man list just send a blank message to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.9/623 >- Release Date: 1/11/2007 3:33 PM John -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.9/623 - Release Date: 1/11/2007 3:33 PM To listen to the show archives go to link http://acbradio.org/handyman.html or ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml Visit The Blind Handy Man Files Page To Review Contributions From Various List Members At The Following address: http://www.jaws-users.com/handyman/ Visit the new archives page at the following address http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man list just send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.410 / Virus Database: 268.16.9/623 - Release Date: 11/01/2007 To listen to the show archives go to link http://acbradio.org/handyman.html or ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml Visit The Blind Handy Man Files Page To Review Contributions From Various List Members At The Following address: http://www.jaws-users.com/handyman/ Visit the new archives page at the following address http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man list just send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! 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