How do you choose a radial arm saw?
Choosing a radial arm saw
Which radial arm saw you need depends on your wishes and the jobs you want do perform. Ask yourself the following:
- How often do you use the radial arm saw?
- Which cutting depth and cutting width do you need?
- Do you need a guide?
- Do you need a table extension?
- Do you need a pull function?
- Which saw blade do you use?
How often do you use the radial arm saw?
Which radial arm saw you need depends on your usage. Do you only use the radial arm saw a few times a year? The basic functions are good enough. If you use the radial arm saw on a daily basis for work, you'll probably have some requirements. Ask yourself whether you're a occasional handyman, devoted DIYer, or a professional. Then, choose the radial arm saw that best suits you.
Which cutting depth and cutting width do you need?
Only 1 size saw blade fits on a radial arm saw. The larger the saw blade, the higher and wide the material you want to cut through can be. That's why the cutting depth and width you need depends on the type of job. Do you want to cut through thick bars? Choose a radial arm saw with a cutting depth of at least 75mm. Do you want to cut through wide material? Choose a radial arm saw with a cutting width of at least 300mm.
Do you need a guide?
Some radial arm saws have a guide. This is useful, because it shows you how to make a straight cut. There are 2 types of guides, a laser guide and a shadow guide. With a laser guide, the radial arm saw shows the cut with a laser. In case of a shadow guide, a light shines onto the saw blade from the saw. This creates a shadow line. Both lines show you where to cut exactly. You do have to set up a laser guide again if you change the saw blade.
Do you need a table extension?
Table extension is a useful function if you work with large materials. You can make the table saw wider on the sides, which creates more work space. That way, you can get extra support for longer work pieces, like laminate and baseboards.
Do you need a pull function?
A radial arm saw with pull function if useful if you want to cut wide work pieces to size. In addition to moving it downwards, you can also pull this radial arm saw back and forth. That way, you can saw larger items, like wide planks.
Which saw blade do you use?
Only one size of saw blade fits on each radial arm saw. This means that a larger or smaller one won't fit. You can choose the quality of the saw blades. For example, some saw blades are suitable for different materials. Think of wood, metal, or plastic. You can also choose the number of teeth of the saw blade. The more teeth, the cleaner the result.
