RAS "built" into bench, ideas please.

[Noel Hegan]

Hi, my DeWalt RAS has been sitting on a bench for a few years now (one of those situations where temporary, like a few weeks, somehow turned into permanent) and it's about time it was located into the bench so I have more free space.
Rather than go ahead and simply have it sitting on a sub shelf below the main bench surface and the table flush I was just wondering how others have done it Haven't found too many pictures on the net so any suggestions or ideas or pictures would be very much appreciated.

[John Williamson]

Here's mine. It shares a common table with the miter saw. T-Tracks on the tables for stops.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n274/jwpwaw/Main11.jpg

[Brent Smith]

Hi Noel,

I built mine into a bench based on the NYW Miter Saw bench.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=99055&thumb=1&d=1224595757

[Rick Potter]

I put mine ON the bench with the chop saw to the right at the same level and fence depth. I then built a four foot extension to the left of the RAS that is only six inches deep, and has stops and measuring tape built in. The idea is that six inches of depth is plenty, and holds anything the RAS can cut, but also frees up the bench for offcuts, tools etc. You get double duty out of the space, and the saw is at a more user friendly height for me (6' 1").

The extension also serves the chop saw at the right side of the RAS. To use the whole extension and stops for the chop saw I just pull the RAS out (like I was cutting), and long moldings can slide through BEHIND the RAS blade.

Your results may vary.

Rick Potter

[Noel Hegan]

Thanks Rick, John (waaay too clean a shop, nice set up) and Brent. Brent would be possible to post a larger picture (the link leads to a thumbnail size picture) and maybe something showing the detail behind the saw? That's the exact arrangement I had in mind. Forgot about Norm, off to check it out.TIA.

[Brent Smith]

Sorry Noel, that's the only pic I have of my bench. I don't have a camera , those were taken by a friend. If you have any questions I'll try to answer them for you.

[Noel Hegan]

No worries Brent, I can get some detail by enlarging the picture. Many thanks.

[Jeff Miller]

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/woodfarmer/Twelve%20inch%20RAS/12ras026.jpg



http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/woodfarmer/Twelve%20inch%20RAS/12ras003.jpg


http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/woodfarmer/Twelve%20inch%20RAS/12ras012.jpg




JEFF:D

[John Bailey]

Here's DeWalt's answer. This is the 1954 brochure and if you go to page 20, they offer free plans for their workbench based around the radial arm saw.

http://home.comcast.net/~greg.bruce/1954_AMF_Dewalt_Brochure-01.pdf (http://home.comcast.net/%7Egreg.bruce/1954_AMF_Dewalt_Brochure-01.pdf)

John

[jerry nazard]

John,

Thank you for posting that DeWalt link. Super fun read!

Have a great Thanksgiving!!

-Jerry

[Kent Parker]

Noel,

My RAS was originally my fathers purchased about 45 years ago and is still ticking!. He had originally mounted it on a 4 x 4 stand with wheels as a moveable saw.

I've since mounted in fixed and had added a longer support table and a fence with stop for repeditive cuts. I've recently added the hood for connecting to my dust collection system with a bottom draw. As odd as it looks its very effective with directional partitions inside. It gets about 85-90% of the dust!

The last photo is my technique for cutting a tenon on an laminated curve.

Cheers,

KP

[Brian Effinger]

That's an interesting link, John. It seems those old DeWalt RAS's were "do-it-all" machines.

Here's DeWalt's answer. This is the 1954 brochure and if you go to page 20, they offer free plans for their workbench based around the radial arm saw.

http://home.comcast.net/~greg.bruce/1954_AMF_Dewalt_Brochure-01.pdf (http://home.comcast.net/%7Egreg.bruce/1954_AMF_Dewalt_Brochure-01.pdf)

John

[Jim Kountz]

Here's mine. It shares a common table with the miter saw. T-Tracks on the tables for stops.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n274/jwpwaw/Main11.jpg

Holy cow, how did you get the local hospital to allow you to set up shop in it??:D:D
That some tidy workshop there John!

[Rod Sheridan]

John, thanks for posting that, although I'm not sure I'd want to use the shaper or surfacer options!

I wonder how many people lost fingers doing some of those operations?

It's funny to see the "shaper cutter" with the insert knives. Talk about no chip limitation, it certainly wouldn't win a "MAN" designation today.

Thanks again John for posting that brochure, I really enjoyed it.

Regards, Rod.