Show Off Your Shop

[nevadatear]

Radial arm saws scare the .&)(!,;(@ out if me too. Now more than ever. Wont go near it. Still have PTSD when i hear randy turn it on. That piece of equip was responsible for me losing 1/2 my thumb 3 years ago. And i had been using it since childhood too. Thought i was was being careful, obviously not as i am reminded by my stump daily. Whoops, sorry about the hijack. I will find pics of the cool shop we used for our build

[CarlLaFong]

Radial arm saws, while handy, have been largely supplanted by the compound miter saw. You can still chop your thumb off, but it takes a bit more planning. A good sliding miter saw will do anything that a RAS will do.
I had trouble giving my old RAS away. Nobody really wants them anymore.

[GerryS]

Radial arm saws, while handy, have been largely supplanted by the compound miter saw. You can still chop your thumb off, but it takes a bit more planning. A good sliding miter saw will do anything that a RAS will do.
I had trouble giving my old RAS away. Nobody really wants them anymore.

I'd argue with that point.... Try ripping a board with a miter saw. The RAS is easier than my table saw....but yes, it's a bit scary...

[CarlLaFong]

There are always exceptions and those who point them out. I said LARGELY supplanted to cover the few exceptions.
I have always had a table saw, so I've never had the need to rip on a RAS. If I have to rip something in the field, I use a straight edge and a Skilsaw. I had a RAS, in my shop, for 5 or 6 years. Never used it once. If someone were to ask me what power tool to buy first, I would tell them to get the best table saw that they can afford.
Mine weighs 1300 pounds and cost.................a fair amount

[eamarquardt]

I love a good tussle so I'll throw in my two cents on RASs. They can and do bite. However, I've found a radial arm saw with a metal cutting abrasive blade to be a good way to cut "pie" sections out of square/rectangular tubing in preparation for bending it. I have done it on my compound miter saw but I hate to do so as it can't be good for the saw. Who cares if you're hard on an old radial arm, ha.

Cheers,

Gus

[CarlLaFong]

I have a 14" cutoff saw for metal. It's not real heavy duty, but, with patience, I have gnawed through some pretty thick stuff with it. I built a large barbeque grill last year and gave it a real workout.
I guess I should post pix of the shop, rather than continuing to hijack this thread

[eamarquardt]

Yeah but hijacking is fun and informative. There are pictures of part of my three car garage with room for no cars on pages 9 and 10 of my album. It's a lot worse than the picture the pictures paint. You can, though, walk up to any machine, turn it on, and use it. Also you can get to everything by moving only one thing. It doesn't count if you don't know you have it, can't get to it, can't find it, or can't get to it and use it.

Cheers,

Gus

[nevadatear]

Ultimate hijack

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1365788039.471199.jpg (85.21 KiB) Viewed 634 times

[CarlLaFong]

Video deleted. Scroll down for new one

[davidniebeling]

OK, here is the 25 cent tour of the shop, here at The Fongderosa
After viewing it, I find Photobucket only seems to allow a 10 minute video. Bummer, but this is most of the tour. There is a wood lathe, woodworkers bench, another drill press (doesn't everyone have 3 drill presses?), a drum sander, a Hawk scroll saw, the usual collection of hand and small power tools, another bench vise and another arc welder (for sale, also).
I thought a 1,000 sq/ft home shop would be more that I would ever need. If I wasn't such a tool junky I guess I would have been right

WOW, That's a lot of tools!!! Now I know who I can ask when I need to borrow an extra 9/16" socket!

[davidniebeling]

Ultimate hijack

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1365788039.471199.jpg

I don't know...seems like something is missing!!!

[CarlLaFong]

[/quote]
WOW, That's a lot of tools!!! Now I know who I can ask when I need to borrow an extra 9/16" socket![/quote]
One of the black, plastic bins is full of off shore sockets. Those are my loaners and the ones that I cut up or weld on for oddball situations

[Roo Dog]

Looking at these flash sheds has prompted me to have a major clean out.
I am a bit of a pack rat and don't tend to throw things out just in case. The things that would be handy if you actually had a use for them. There is even a good sized anchor amongst it all.
The trailer is now on the front lawn loaded with all manner of mysterious items, it is going to take a few trips to the dump to clear it all.
It is the first time I have seen the top of the work bench for a while. When I have finished the clean out I will post a picture, maybe.
Time is now 1600 hrs, time to sit on the veranda with a red and ponder the days activities and shed a tear for all the treasures I am throwing out.
The red I am currently drinking is best described as a thoughtful wine. The thought it brings to mind is why I am drinking this crap.

Take it easy.

RD.

[CarlLaFong]

For those who didn't get enough of my messy shop in the previous post, I uploaded the entire video to Youtube. This is the lost, final directors cut with six minutes of additional chaos, spider webs and sawdust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCqOjaMb ... e=youtu.be

[Roly Nelson]

Wow, I am surprised at the discontent with the RAS. I use my table saw to rip and cut material with the grain. However, whenever I need to cut across the grain, my trusty 8 inch radial arm saw is my saw of choice. There is no secret where the saw blade is going to end up when I pull the handle toward my body. When the work piece is firmly planted against the fence, how easy it is to monitor the final cut that is needed. Hands or fingers have no business being in line with the final cut, with this flesh-cutting monster. Just keep them out of the line of cut, and there will be no problems. I have been using these saws since I was an apprentice carpenter some 62 years ago, and so far, not even a nick on the skin. Now don't go into my shop tomorrow, I don't want to spoil my flawless record!
Roly, with still 4 fingers and 2 thumbs, and plan to keep it that way.