Craftsman Radial Arm Saw alignment

[Bill Tims]

I bought a used RAS and can't find any information on aligning the blade. Does anyone have any info on how to align the blade?


Bill Tims

[Bill White]

and, if it is the same (or close), I can send ya the copy of my manual.
The process is time consuming, but once set, I have had very good use from mine. I bought the silly thing in 1978, and still use it. (Finally bought a table saw last year.)
Ya gotta fax?
Bill

[Jeff Bratt]

Old Woodworking Machinery has lots of downloadable manuals listed...
http://www.owwm.com/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=222&tab=3

Also, there was a recall on many models of these saws. Check to see if yours is on the list - you could still get a new blade guard and table from Emerson Electric...
http://www.radialarmsawrecall.com/

[AL Ursich]

FREE.... :) I got one for a saw I bought used.

AL

[Brent Smith]

Hi Bill,

You might want to get this DVD. It has a PDF of Eakes RAS book on it. Probably the best source of info on setting up a RAS out there. It goes through step by step on a number of brands including Craftsman.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=60066&cat=51&ap=3

[Bill Tims]

In trying to collect the answers to the questions asked, I realized I had read the model number wrong (that's what happens when you try to read it upside down with reading glasses in bad light). When I got the right one, I went back to the Sears site and that lead me to www.managemyhome.com which had the manual on line for me to download and print. Now if I can just find the time and patience to actually align the thing, maybe I won't have so much trouble with it.


Thanks for all the help

[Rick Thom]

Bill, b4 you spend any time on it, check to see if it's on the recall list. If it is, they offer you 2 options.. $100 buy-out or the new safety package which consists of blade guard and MDF replacement table. If you go for the upgrade, you will have to go through all the set-up and alignment steps which takes time. They do give you a set of instructions with it, but the original manual is more thorough and better. I was thinking about ways to get a better set-up and I think a Wixey Digital Angle Gauge could be helpful in this process.. quicker and precise.
I've had my RAS since new in '79 but over the years it's done a lot of work, unfortunately not very precisely. It's sat unused for 5-6 years but every once in a while I think about giving it a good alignment and set-up but just never seem to get it done.