My First Gloat - and it's older than me

[Shawn Honeychurch]

Gotta Love It, hunting down tools older than myself. :eek:

1955 DeWalt MBF RAS. - $220.00 :D

I had DeWalt/B&D 7740 RAS, but it was loose and under powered. Been searching Craigslist and such for ages for an MBF but these things are never available on the island (Vancouver Island, BC, CANADA).

Finally found one in Victoria, in great shape, minimal use, that's the original maple cutting deck and most of those cuts on it are from me using over the past week. It's as tight and smooth and true as it was fresh from the factory. I drove down on a beautiful sunny day and picked it up from a great gent named Bob, who was also selling a beautiful old Delta Unisaw, with the 3HP baldor motor.

Well the MBF even without any cleaning or tuning cuts as well as or better than any other saw I have ever owned or used. I will do a complete tear down and rebuild this coming winter, more for fun and learning than need, heck I might even get crazy and repaint it.

88461 88462 88463

I love my saw.
Shawn

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I was just wishing I could find something like that. Nice score and gloat!

[Joe Jensen]

Nice find and a worthy gloat..joe

[Alex Shanku]

Great saw!! Blows my craftsman out of the water!!

Might want to swap that blade out for something with less hook angle.

Sweet deal!

[J. Z. Guest]

Looks great. It seems like your anti-kickback pawls are aimed the wrong way, if you ever intend to use them. (one pic suggests that maybe you do intend to rip on it now and again :eek: )

[Bob Aquino]

I don't think I would touch the finish on that saw, looks like the original spatter paint. If it is running as nicely as you say it is, might be better off just cleaning, lubing and adjusting it and leaving it be. Congrats by the way. Thats a big YOU SUCK.

[Rob Russell]

I don't think I would touch the finish on that saw, looks like the original spatter paint. If it is running as nicely as you say it is, might be better off just cleaning, lubing and adjusting it and leaving it be.

+1

I wouldn't repaint that - I had one of those that I gave to a friend and it had the same spatter coating.

[Orlando Gonzalez]

Nice find. I also got one that I paid $80 for off CL and use it for cross cutting applications. I also wouldn't paint it. I had to paint mine because it needed it. I would verify that the motor bearings and the start cap are good. Would also check out the roller bearrings and clean out the ways if necessary. Otherwise, just clean it up with Simple Green or a similar product.

Like Alex said change out the blade to a Forrest WWI for RAS (need to call Forrest and ask for Charles since the blade needs to be special ordered) or get a Freud LU83008 TK 8" 40T combination blade, which I'm using now, works well. Stay with an 8" or 8-1/2" blade, they don't strain the 3/4HP motor. For dado blades I got the Freud SD208 8" dado stack and the SD206 6" dado stacks. I'm using the 6" on the RAS and the 8" on the TS. I found that the 8" dado blade was a bit strainful on the 3/4HP motor. However, like I said before, the regular TK 8" or 8-1/2" blades don't strain the motor.

Take a look at the DeWalt RAS Forum and the FAQs as well. They have good info there about your MBF. I would also consider getting Wally Kunkel's "Mastering the Radial Arm Saw" for alignment, use, and instructions on building a top notch table for it. Google "Mr. Sawdust" and you'll find it.

Good luck. You'll have fun with it.

Regards

Orlando

[Peter Quinn]

Congrats Shawn! Nice saw. That's the one my grand father had, the one I grew up on. Don't think I'd have the heart to repaint it. Don't think I'll ever have the nerve to rip on one either.

I'm using a 1951 DeWalt GR-41 long arm (24" cross cut, 14" blade). That old iron is seriously nice to work with. I have no problems with climbing or jerking, very smooth saws. People say the SCMS has replaced the RAS? Maybe the craftsman RAS, but I've yet to see a SCMS that can break down lumber and sheet goods like a well tuned Dewalt!

Next time a guy tells you his SCMS has replaced the RAS hand him a rough slab of 12/4 white oak and see how that goes!

[John Thompson]

Very nice find, Shawn.. I used the basic same saw in HS shop in 1962 if I remember the dates correctly. If I were in need of a RAS... an early DeWalt would be one of the few that would get the call.

They can keep all the current RAS's that are still on the market. But the DW was a heavy-weight contender in the day when RAS's were common.

Sarge..

[David DeCristoforo]

Sweeeeet. The ones with the red knobs are very hard to find in such good condition. If you overhaul the saw, be very careful with the knobs... don't drop them on the concrete floor or anything. The old bakelite tends to be brittle and can break easily. The red knobs are very hard to replace.

[Jim Becker]

If I had to have a RAS...that's an example of something that I'd love to own! Congratulations on a very nice find!

[Mike Spanbauer]

Grats! They are sweet saws. Have 2 mbc's myself. Amazingly powerful for the motor hp rating (although they were conservative in those days... might be a 7hp craftsman these days :p)

mike

[Shawn Honeychurch]

Wow:

Lots of good info here, thanks all.
I am planning on getting one of the Forrest WWI blades as it was previously recommended to me as well. Though I have to ask, WHY? The existing blade cuts great, is very controllable and makes a beautiful clean cut. So, why do I need to get a RAS specific blade, when my Grandpa taught me to use a RAS he would just grab the blade of off his TS and use that.

Thanks for the point on the pawls Jeremy, I'll get that set right tonight. And "NO" I do not plan to rip usi9ng the MBF, I have done so before on other RAS's when I had no other option, but I did not like doing it, and it never felt really safe to me, fir ripping I'll stick to my Delta TS.

The roller bearings and ways are smooth and clean, the motor starts smooth and quiet and purrs like a kitten, and does not bog down when cutting, my 7740 would bog down frequently even on small cuts, but this thing is a champ, that said I will be careful not to abuse it.

I am already a part of the DeWalt RAS forum and OMMW, and Wally's book was ordered last week.

I am going to do some measuring tonight and see if a Freud SD608 dial a width dado might fit on it. That would be a sweet and easy to use setup.

Thanks for the warning David, I got the feeling using those knobs that they might be brittle, so I will be careful.

No insult to anyone intended, but I have used many SCMS before and compared to this RAS they all feel like kids toys. This saw is a keeper, my 5 year old daughter already wants to learn how to use it. :D

Shawn

[David DeCristoforo]

Don't overlook Wolfe Machinery. They have been rebuilding DeWalts forever and are the best source of parts on the planet....

http://www.wolfemachinery.com/

[Bart Leetch]

Don't fix it if it ain't broken. You could make it worse than it is & leave the paint alone if its reasonably good. Other than that congratulations.

[Steve Flavin001]

Ever watch Antique Roadshow? The finish is best left as is, if possible, and not only for original appearance, but dramatically maintains value down the road.

Congratulations.

[Shawn Honeychurch]

I'm not worried about value down the road, I will be taking this to the grave with me.

My daughter wants it to be either black with flames, or pink with ponies.

Me, I want black with bronze detailing.

[Mike Spanbauer]

Black with polished aluminum / nickle is what I'll be rebuilding one of my saws to. That with the red handled accents should be a striking machine in addition to improving an already impressive performer.

mike

[Shawn Honeychurch]

'll be looking for pics of that when it's done Mike. Sounds sweet.

[Simon Dupay]

Nice score! IMO Dewalt made the BEST RAS ever. (I even like them more then a Northfield RAS.)

[Dan O'Connor]

This is a case where you might hear, "It ran great until I gave it the comprehensive tune-up."

Don't do anything except alignment and cleaning the ways and rollerhead bearings if it runs as you say. Jon Eakes book is the best for alignment that I read. The Mr. Sawdust book is better for use and history but Eakes is great for alignment.

And don't paint it.

[Al Rose]

Great score! I have one just like it and I love it. I'm always finding new things to do with it. From the looks of it, just a good wipe down is all it needs.

Al

[Shawn Honeychurch]

I am still wondering why I should get a RAS specific blade, the current one is great, why replace it?????

[Chris Padilla]

Shawn,

This SMC...we know it all here. Just do as we say and get the RAS blade! ;)

:D :D

Oh, nice find. :)

[George Sanders]

Don't ya love old arn!? Great find, and a plug and play user too. Just clean, align, and USE IT!

[Shawn Honeychurch]

Shawn,

This SMC...we know it all here. Just do as we say and get the RAS blade! ;)


I have read enough of your posts to respect that comment without question, still I would like to know the reason behind it, assuming of course you actually know why....

[Alan Turner]

Shawn,
A negative hook angle blade will reduce the tendency of a RAS or SCMS to self feed. I think this is the information you were looking for.

[bob gugerty]

Very nice find hopefuly you will get years of enjoyment from it

bob

[Al Rose]

If anyone is interested in a Dewalt MBF, this one just came up on e-bay.



http://cgi.ebay.com/AMF-DeWalt-Radial-Arm-Saw-Model-MBF_W0QQitemZ230252665524QQihZ013QQcategoryZ20791Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Shawn Honeychurch]

Shawn,
A negative hook angle blade will reduce the tendency of a RAS or SCMS to self feed. I think this is the information you were looking for.

Ah Ha;

So that is why my current blade wants to run towards me unless I have the rolled head adjusted with a fair amount of tension on it. OK, that makes sense. I am going to get a Forrest WWI for RAS blade.

Thanks for the info.

[Greg Narozniak]

Don't overlook Wolfe Machinery. They have been rebuilding DeWalts forever and are the best source of parts on the planet....

http://www.wolfemachinery.com/

That is where I had my MBF motor bearings replaced. They installed a new power cord while they were in there. That along with a new set of carriage bearings was a little over a hundred dollars and the saw purrrs like new.

Nice find!

[Joe Jensen]

Ah Ha;

So that is why my current blade wants to run towards me unless I have the rolled head adjusted with a fair amount of tension on it. OK, that makes sense. I am going to get a Forrest WWI for RAS blade.

Thanks for the info.

I have a Dewalt 14" RAS and Forrest recommended a Duraline High AT as the best blade for that saw if only doing crosscuts. This blade has a negative 5 degree hook angle and works beautifully. Talk to them before ordering the WWI

[Chris Padilla]

Ah Ha;

So that is why my current blade wants to run towards me unless I have the rolled head adjusted with a fair amount of tension on it. OK, that makes sense. I am going to get a Forrest WWI for RAS blade.

Thanks for the info.

Never doubt The SMC! ;)

[Shawn Honeychurch]

Never doubt The SMC! ;)

Yes, Obi Wan.