Radial Arm Saw – The Happy Chisel LLC

Radial Arm Saw Mortising Table Upgrade

The Happy Chisel LLC — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 04:51:22 +0000

After using my RAS mortising table for a couple years, I decided to make some much needed improvements. Work holding with external clamps was falling way short of my expectations and wasting too much time. My simple solution makes mortising faster, easier, and much better than before. The build video is on my Youtube Channel.

Infinity Tools Blade Review

The Happy Chisel LLC — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 07:14:53 +0000

I’ve been needing a good blade for my Radial Arm Saw, and this is it. Being a combo blade, I expected decent quality cuts, but nothing like this. Both crosscuts and rips are so smooth, the board almost feels like it has been waxed. Cherry wood is notorious for suffering blade burn, but this blade doesn’t leave a trace of burn on crosscuts or rips. This blade also does an outstanding job on my table saw. Check out the video to see what I’m talking about.

Radial Arm Saw Mortising Table

The Happy Chisel LLC — Sat, 27 May 2023 23:51:47 +0000

The mortising table I built for my Radial Arm Saw is working out way better than I had hoped. I’m making a batch of 5 identical products that require a combination of 50 slots and mortises of different widths and depths. Some had to be cut on the face of the boards so I mounted a support (shown in the above picture) that allowed me to clamp my boards vertically. The slots, like the mortises, stop short of the board edges. With the board mounted securely to the sliding table, plunge cutting with a spiral carbide bit is simple and accurate. No chance of the board getting squirrely. The setup was a breeze. I made the cuts faster, easier, and more accurately than I could have with any other tool in my shop.

When I brought this rusty old RAS home to restore, I wasn’t sure how much use I’d get out of it. I had hoped to add some redundancy to my shop. It always seems like as soon as I get my table saw setup for miters or dados, I’ll realize I need more boards cut than I have, and I’ll have to set it back for straight cuts. But now that the RAS is up and running, it’s quickly becoming an indispensable tool adding redundancy and capability that I didn’t have.

First Sawdust Since The Early 80’s

The Happy Chisel LLC — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 06:18:18 +0000

I tested my freshly reassembled vintage 1974 Sears Craftsman Radial Arm Saw today by making a sawdust collection box, and a shelf to go underneath. The saw performed well on all cuts: crosscuts, rips, and miters. After checking the sawdust dispersal pattern, I’ve decided to reposition the box a few inches to the left. I’ve also decided to square the sides and install a top. The dust is hitting the box back, shooting up and out past the mitered left side. I’m waiting on some dust collector fittings to arrive. Once I have it connected to the system, I’m hoping the downdraft will help contain some of the bounce out.

I put on a blade I had retired from my table saw to do the setup and testing. Once I get a new blade, I plan to design and build a project that will use all, or most of this saw’s capabilities. I have a drill chuck on the way that should give me drilling, routing, and milling capabilities. I suppose I could also throw a sanding spindle in the chuck. Maybe I’ll add some curves that require spindle sanding. Not sure how far I want to take the project. I’ll probably start with milled lumber and use a palm sander for the finish sanding.

I put a 48″ wide MDF table on the saw to give me plenty of work surface. The original table was smaller, maybe 30″ or 36″. Because of the extra width, the edges were drooping, so I added an adjustable table leveler to each side. This setup worked surprisingly well, allowing me to get the table dead flat, square to the blade, and parallel to the arm all the way across.

Vintage 1974 Craftsman 10″ Radial Arm Saw Project Update

The Happy Chisel LLC — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 05:06:39 +0000

The first time I turned on the saw, it spun up and seemed fine. I turned it off and then back on, but it ran slowly and made the room lights dim. I waited a few minutes, tried it again, and the same thing happened. After that, it wouldn’t spin up to speed anymore.

I tested the contactor, making sure the capacitor circuit was closed when the brake was engaged. The start capacitor had what looked like sawdust caked around where the leads connect, but no, it was crystalized electrolyte. I bought a new capacitor and now the motor purrs like a kitten! Getting closer to sawdust making time!