Popular Woodworking 2002-06 № 128, страница 10
West Penn HARDWOODS, INC. Satisfaction Guaranteed • No Minimum Orders Quarter-Sawn White Oak • High Figure Curly Maple Now Also Exotic Species: Bloodwood, Bubinga, Jatoba, Spanish Cedar Padauk, Purpleheart, Zebrawood and more NEW: European Steamed Beech ALL CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED Call for free catalog and pricing. TOLL FREE (888) 636-WOOD (9663) CIRCLE NO. 121 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD. Letters Radial Arm Saw Users Speak Up The Radial Arm Saw Actually Has Benefits Over the Table Saw Your senior editor's comments on radial arm saws, although he did state that they were his opinions, makes me question whether he has ever used a radial arm saw (see Q & A, page 12, April 2002). My Sears radial arm saw has a kit added that makes it almost impossible to get your fingers near the saw blade. My radial arm saw is equipped with an anti-kickback system that is always in effect during ripping. Can you say that for the table saw? With the radial arm saw you easily can see where the blade is relative to your cut-line before starting your cut. Can you do that with the table saw? With a table saw you always have to move the wood when cutting. On a radial arm saw you move the wood only when ripping. As to the workable area of the tabletop, the table saw needs more area because you are always moving the workpiece. As to having an adjustable fence, this feature on a table saw has given rise to very expensive adjustable fence designs to keep from binding the wood when cutting. If your table saw doesn't have a good fence that keeps the wood parallel to the saw blade, the work can bind. In addition, when crosscutting on the table saw, the wood is held perpendicular to the blade by only a very short fence. On the radial arm saw, it's located by a fence that runs the full length of the table plus any overhang built in. In addition, the rotation of the blade holds the work against the fence. Wilbert Freid Sarasota, Florida Editor's note: We realize there are diehard radial arm saw users out there, but we continue to insist that for the home workshop, the table saw is a far safer, accurate and efficient machine. And in commercial woodworking shops, most radial arms saws are relegated to cross-cutting rough lumber. 8 Popular Woodworking June 2002 Add Storage for Sheet Goods to the $30 Lumber Rack The "$30 Lumber Rack" (April 2002, page 76) is a tremendous idea for wood storage. I like the ability to change the configuration of the rack at any time. In fact, I ran out and picked up the material right away so I could get my shop organized. I ran my vertical supports from ceiling to floor. One suggestion I would like to make for others: Instead of placing the verticals on the wall, I spaced them about 7" from the wall. I bolted them to the joists above and the cement floor below using standard 90° brackets found in the building section of my local home supply store. I drilled into the floor using a hammer drill and used Tapcon threaded concrete screws to anchor the brackets. The 7" space behind is for sheet goods storage. Thanks again for a great, simple solution to wood storage. Michael Mathews Jackson, Michigan Thicker Plane Irons Don't Always Work in All Hand Planes After reading your article about tuning and using hand planes (April 2002, page 48), I have the following comment. I agree that buying an old relic plane and restoring it to a use-able condition is both thrifty and rewarding. continued on page 12 WRITE TO US Popular Woodworking welcomes letters from readers with questions or comments about the magazine or woodworking in general.We try to respond to all correspondence. Published letters may be edited for length or style.All letters become the property of Popular Woodworking. How to send your letter: • E-mail: popwood@fwpubs.com • Fax:513-531-0919 • Mail carrier: Letters • Popular Woodworking 1507 Dana Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45207 |
