Radial Arm Saw

I currently have my father's Craftsman 9" Radial Arm Saw.  I think he purchased it in 1970 and if I recall right it was on sale for $150 plus another $50 for stand.  The saw came with an accessory attachment package (disc sander, plane and drill chuck) and he added a brake ($6), 6" dado blades.  He made shelves for the stand and used and an old vacuum cleaner for dust control.  

It was his go to saw for most wood working projects.  He had it setup in basement room turned into a shop.  In 1973, he build a 2 car garage and the saw moved to the garage.  The disc sander and dado blades were periodically used, but the RPM of motor of the saw was too fast for the disc sander, plane and drill chuck.  

I was giving the saw in 1992 when I build my home in Idaho.  It is also my go to saw for most wood working projects.  

Sear's Craftsman 9" Radial Arm Saw

The 9" Radial Arm Saw model 113.29350 provides 1.75 Hp power with 3450 RPM using 120V and 9.5 amps.  They suggest using a 15 amp breaker.  The motor is direct drive without belts, pulleys or gears.  The ball bearing motor has a thermal sensor to prevent overheating damage.  The saw blade arbor is 5/8" and the back accessory arbor is 3/8".   The saw carriage rolls on built in hard steel rails designed for accurate cutting and low wear.  List price was $170 when purchased new. 

Safety

1. All saws will cut and they do not care if it is wood or you.

2. If it does not look safe it is not.

3. Canada Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has good safety bulletin for radial arm saws.  

Thought and Hacks

1. Make push blocks for ripping wood.

2. Oil bearings.  The manual indicates bearings are sealed but after 50 years the bearings need oiled.

3. My favorite blade is a Vermont American Krome King Combination crosscut/rip blade (#25215 9").  They are not in stock at the sites listed on the VermontAmerican.com site but are available on eBay.com.  Other companies make expensive 9" crosscut/rip combination carbide tipped blades.  

4. The original open end wrench for changing blade broke so an open end wrench needs to be used.

5. Over tighten blade guard otherwise it will fall forward.