A radial arm saw is a great tool that you can use if it is determined accurately or precisely.
Instead of moving the wood with a straight saw, the ruling arm saw allows you to move the saw with a piece of dry wood.
Using these saws is not very different from the others, but there are a few things you should know.
Founded in the early 1920’s by Raymond dewalt, a radial arm saw is a woodworking machine designed for cutting and shaping wooden tools.
Install a circular saw blade placed radially on a stable platform. There is a handle on the side, as well as a guard to protect the worker from injury during use. How to use a radial arm saw safely.
What Is A Radial Arm Saw?
There are few flexible woodworking machines as the radial arm detects when you consider the number of tasks I can perform.
Once you have added one to your woodworking toolbox, you may find it to be your go-to tool for many tasks.
In conferences with limited space, it can represent several tools for using space.
The radial arm uses an unusual design of stationary power tools since the entire car unit with the blade mounted on the upper arm travels in stock during the shortcuts, rather than the stock being pulled by a standing iron like a saw table.
During cutting and splitting and other operations, it works best as a table saw, the stock is pulled by a temporary saw cord closed in place
Complete Guide & Safety Tips For Using A Radial Arm Saw
As with all tools, be sure to read and understand the instructions associated with your tool before you start using your radial arm saw.
Ensuring that your saw is properly set according to the manufacturer’s specifications will not only teach you the features of the saw but also how to use it safely. Each method will require specific information.
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Adjustments
Be sure the saws starting point is completely behind the fence. This will keep the blade from coming in to contact with the lumber before you intend for it to.
Check all of the knobs to be sure they are locked in the correct positions.
You should never use tools to tighten knobs unless the machine was designed to do that.
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Set The Table
Most radial arm saws have a wooden tabletop that can be replaced. Before you start cutting make sure the table is set at the correct height.
Bringing the table low enough to set the angle of the saw for cutting will save you a lot of hassle later on.
Once the table is low enough to set the angle, you can bring the table back up to where it should be.
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Measure Materials
It stands to reason that you need to make measurements before you start working.
With a radial saw, you need to be sure you use a square or protractor to get the marks of the angles correctly.
Since your saw will cut precisely, having imprecise measurements will force you to recut.
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Start Your Cut
With the blade running, lower the saw to the starting cut position. Bring it down slowly so you can get the accurate cut you need.
Pull the saw through the wood until the cut has been made entirely. If you need to raise the saw to reset the angle, make sure you raise it by the handle.
Allowing the saw to snap back into place without guiding it can cause damage to the saw, and will require more.
Safety Rules For Using A Radial Arm Saw
- Follow the 3” rule; always keep your fingers at least 3” from the blade.
- Keep a balanced stance at the saw.
- Never clear small pieces with your hand while the blade is moving.
- Do not operate the saw unless the blade guards are properly attached and adjusted.
- If additional guards are needed, discuss this with the Shop Leader and make arrangements to get them. Never touch the blade when it is rotating, even if the saw is turned off.
- A three-foot perimeter around the saw should be kept clear of people, debris and sawdust that might impair traction or footing to avoid slips and falls.
- Safety glasses with side shields or a face shield in combination with safety glasses and hearing protection must be worn.
- Wear a dust mask if dust is generated and not captured by the dust collection system.
- Remove loose fitting clothing, jewelry, and tie back long hair.
- Give the work your undivided attention.
- Do not cut pressure treated, wet, or reclaimed wood on this saw.
- Approach your work in the CLUB Shop and on the saw with a safe attitude!
- Make sure that the blade is installed on the arbor so that the teeth below the guard point towards the rear of the saw.
- Make all adjustments to the miter angle, bevel angle, fence stops, and fence position before starting the saw.
- Never adjust the miter angle while the saw running.
- Never adjust the bevel angle while the saw is running.
- Adjust the position of the blade cover so that the bottom of the cover is parallel with the table.
- Do not rip stock using this saw.
- Never place your hand in the line of cut of the saw blade.
- Ensure that the Onida dust collector is running and that the blast gate to the saw is open before starting the saw. Close the blast gate when you are finished using the saw and turn off the Onida dust collector if no one else is using it.
- Only start the saw with the saw at the rear of the table. The blade must not be in contact with the work piece.
- Hold the saw handle with one hand and use your thumb to push the start switch.
- Always hold the work piece tight against the fence before pulling the saw blade through it.
- Either hold the left-hand side of the work piece with the left hand and pull the saw with the right hand, or hold the right-hand side of the work piece with the right hand and pull the blade Valley Woodworkers of West Virginia –Rockwell Radial Arm Saw Safety Rules PPH April 15, 2014 through the work piece with the left hand.
- Do not operate the saw cross handed.
- If the left-hand fence stop is used, the work piece must be held with the left hand. If the right hand fence stop is used, the work piece must be held with the right hand.
- Pull the blade through the work piece at a moderate feed rate. Feeding too fast may cause the blade to bind, the work piece to have tear out or excessive machine marks. Feeding too slow will cause the blade to heat up and burn the work piece. If the blade binds in the work piece, turn off the saw and work the blade out of the work piece.
- Always return the saw to the rear of the table after finishing the cut.
- Do not start the saw with the blade in front of the work piece and then push the blade through the work piece. The thrust created by the blade tends to lift the board from the table when the blade is pushed into the work piece.
- Push the saw to the rear of the table before removing the work piece from the table, placing a work piece on the table, or starting or stopping the saw.
- Do not leave the saw, and keep personnel away from the area until the blade stops.
- If the work is too large for one person to handle, get help holding the stock or use a stock support.
- Lockout/Tag out the Saw before changing the blade or performing any other maintenance operation. All blade changes must be done under the direction of the Shop Leader.
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