Radial Arm Saw

[Racinbob 11,079]

For years before our move to Florida my main saw was a radial arm and I never really saw the need for a table saw. The auction before the move saw 95% of my woodworking tools went bye-bye. The only saw I kept was a 12" Dewalt miter saw. In the 17 years down there I built my woodworking shop back with a table saw and other power tools but never a radial arm even though I wanted one. Now that we are back home I once again have a nice workshop and plenty of room. I looked around for a decent radial arm but didn't get real serious about it. In the back of my mind was this old Dewalt Model MBC. The serial # easily dates Dewalts in two year increments and this one was manufactured in 1954 or 1955. Based on the later serial # I'd guess it was 1955. Too bad because I was born in 1954. The history of this saw makes it far more valuable to me than any other saw I could buy.

 

My parents moved into an old (even at that time) 10 acre apple farm in 1954 when my mom was pregnant with me. Through the late 50's and 60's I remember watching my dad take one area of the old house at a time and do a complete remodel. He bought this saw around 1960 and he and a friend would carry it to the area next on the list. This is all cast iron and HEAVY. I remember him finally making the stand for it. You can see the arms that pull out allowing it to be moved around like a wheel barrow. Dads workshop was centered around this saw and as soon as I was old enough I was using it as well. Many 4-H woodworking projects were built using this saw. By that time the house was finished and dad had a heated workshop detached from the house. 

 

Fast forward to the early 2000's. Dads health was rapidly declining and he no longer could do much in his shop. We were living in Florida at the time so this saw went to my brother in law. He had a workshop attached to his garage and did mostly craft show stuff. Well, being 20 years older than me he's at the point where he can't use his shop anymore. He sold most of the tools but wouldn't sell this because of the history. He wanted to know if I wanted it. I couldn't get to his place fast enough. After all the decades I was surprised to find the stand still decent and was able to winch it into my trailer for the 55 mile trip home. It was impossible for my wife and I to lift this so I completely disassembled it and carried it down the stairs to me workshop. The wiring was pretty bad so the first thing I did was to completely rewire it. My brother in law said it bogged down real bad while cutting and I wanted to make sure it was OK before going further. Almost to my amazement it still runs like a swiss watch. Not bad for a motor over 65 years old. Knowing it was fine I proceeded to rebuild the table. The decades of use definitely showed. Once that was done I went through the 47 gazillion adjustments to get it as precise as it was new. I didn't want to do much to the stand other than tight things up. I remember watching in wonderment dad think it out and build it. 

 

 

One more thing. The discharge 90° on the blade guard was missing. I searched all over for a replacement but none were to be found. That hose that on there is a turbo intercooler hose and it fits like it was made for it. 

Edited May 3, 2022 by Racinbob

[WHX?? 48,815]

Looks too nice to even use!

Just be careful as you know how dangerous those things can be. 

Do they even make them anymore? 

Personally I will take my sliding miter saw and a saw buck any day just 'cause it's a bit more portable. 

Still your sentimental attachment... 

 

A good vid.... 

 

[Racinbob 11,079]

Yes, they can be dangerous but I don't wear ties 

That's a pretty cool video and he has some very valid points. Having a table saw, miter saw, router table etc. I won't be using it all that much but I like having it in my shop. Trust me, I won't be doing some of the things he shows. That plywood ripping was a new one to me and gives me chills.

 

[Snoopy11 5,714]

2 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

I don't wear ties

Or fingers... arms... etc... if I was using that...

 

Don

[JoeM 7,874]

And if you watch any old "Leave it to Beaver" programs, Ward had that model saw in his garage.

These pics are the ones of my Dad's. It was at my brothers in the old garage and looks pretty rough. It is up at my shop now. I don't use it but it is all I have left from the old man. 

[953 nut 55,226]

Your father's saw was built when quality was important, sad to see what DeWalt and others home shop tools became in the '70s and '80s.

           The tabletop you made is a work of art!                   Is the stand the same one your father had? Glad to see the saw found its way home to you.        

 

About fifteen years ago I purchased an entire woodworking shop from a man who needed to go into assisted living. Over the years I had small woodworking shops (first was six feet by eight feet) and the versatility of a radial arm saw was appealing so I had one. It wasn't great at anything but I didn't have room for a table saw and other large equipment. Now I have a good size shop and all of the woodworking tools I purchased from this gentleman are topnotch. Presently the only job the radial arm saw does is cut tenons. Although I have two table saws and a tenon jig I find that the radial arm saw is better suited to this task. 

Edited May 4, 2022 by 953 nut

[ebinmaine 67,487]

Beeeyooteefull job on that Bob. 

 

 

[Racinbob 11,079]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

Your father's saw was built when quality was important, sad to see what DeWalt and others home shop tools became in the '70s and '80s.

           The tabletop you made is a work of art!                   Is the stand the same one your father had? Glad t5o see the saw found its way home to you.        

 

About fifteen years ago I purchased an entire woodworking shop from a man who needed to go into assisted living. Over the years I had small woodworking shops (first was six feet by eight feet) and the versatility of a radial arm saw was appealing so I had one. It wasn't great at anything but I didn't have room for a table saw and other large equipment. Now I have a good size shop and all of the woodworking tools I purchased from this gentleman are topnotch. Presently the only job the radial arm saw does is cut tenons. Although I have two table saws and a tenon jig I find that the radial arm saw is better suited to this task. 

It's definitely a well built tool Richard. The age attests to that. The radial arm I had before the Florida thing was an older Craftsman. It was way better then the later versions but still not like this old Dewalt.

That stand was built by my dad in the early 60's. I remember watching him think out the design then building it. The 'outriggers' are obviously new wood because the originals lost the battle with time. 

I agree that a radial arm isn't the greatest at some tasks but my old Craftsman was all I had for many years and it did it all for me at the time. I may be a bit paranoid now though. During the 80's and 90's when I used it I never thought or even heard of the potential dangers other than the obvious rapidly spinning sharp thingy. Never had a problem. Now that I know of all the dangers..........

[ebinmaine 67,487]

7 hours ago, Racinbob said:

Now that I know of all the dangers

A carefully used saw by a properly trained person is rarely the issue. 

[953 nut 55,226]

14 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

A carefully used saw by a properly trained person is rarely the issue. 

Yes, that is true. The newer radial arm saws were made of lightweight materials and would never hold their adjustments like the older heavy duty saws. I bought a set of shaper heads for the radial arm saw and found that it was impossible to get a good cut with them, put them in a friend's table saw and they worked great. Versatile, yes; quality tool, not so much!

The "ripping a sheet of plywood" segment of the video     is the greatest exception to the rule, unsafe at any speed!

 

Edited May 4, 2022 by 953 nut

[Handy Don 12,217]

4 hours ago, 953 nut said:

The "ripping a sheet of plywood" sement of the video     is the greatest exception to the rule, unsafe at any speed!

 

Oh my eyes! I don't even want to visualize that. Egad, shivers up my spine.