Lets brain storm, repurpose this RAS

[Stale Trooper]

cgroscoe has a good idea there! but instead of rollers, how about ball bearing feet or casters inverted into the table top to allow fore & aft movement, as well as left & right? THis way you could 'free hand' your woodworking projects. Just a thought....

[papad50]

Hi I am new here but have been making home made tools for a long time if anyone is still thinking of using an old RAS I did that one once it was a great tool I could do alot of different things with it. Let me back up a bit I mounted a router to it and built a clamp on fence for straight lines dado's etc for free hand I just used a larger board so as not to get hands to close to the bit , you don't need rollers or any thing like that just use a piece of hdp (high density plastic) screwed down to a piece of plywood counter sink the screws and mount the board on the brace that the saw would have had a wooden table attached to it this works great as the hdp is very slick. you can then use the angle tilt to angle the router so a dado is at an angle to the piece you are working on great for custom shelves with angled sides etc. great tool .

[daveward]

I quoted you here just for reference...as the link you show requires a sign-in. Is there a way for you to link to or attach a picture of what you are referring to? Thanks.

here is what I am leaning toward......All MetalShaping

something like that. For now its sitting and waiting just like most of my many projects. LOL

[daveward]

I too have an old radial arm...in fact...I have access to two...one a fairly newer version of a Craftsman and the other a 220 14" monster that is rusting away in a field. Anyway...my wish is to have a milling machine. Someone mentioned the old saws might make great drill presses. What about a "simple" milling machine? Any ideas? Thanks.

[daveward]

An overarm router does make a lot of sense. I really like that suggestion too.

Hi I am new here but have been making home made tools for a long time if anyone is still thinking of using an old RAS I did that one once it was a great tool I could do alot of different things with it. Let me back up a bit I mounted a router to it and built a clamp on fence for straight lines dado's etc for free hand I just used a larger board so as not to get hands to close to the bit , you don't need rollers or any thing like that just use a piece of hdp (high density plastic) screwed down to a piece of plywood counter sink the screws and mount the board on the brace that the saw would have had a wooden table attached to it this works great as the hdp is very slick. you can then use the angle tilt to angle the router so a dado is at an angle to the piece you are working on great for custom shelves with angled sides etc. great tool .

[nonhog]

Its a tipping wheel. Hope this helps. My RAS parts are sitting waiting for me to work it out.

[daveward]

Thanks for the picture. I suppose I'll have to GOOGLE tipping wheel as I'm not familiar with that terminology. In the picture of the tipping wheel you shared the key it appears would be the rigidity (or lack of flex) both where that arm is bolted to the vertical RAS piece and the connection between the horizontal head piece and the vertical stand of the RAS. Jeezzzz...I hope I'm making myself clear here. I haven't studied the RAS enough to know...is the connection between the horizontal head piece and the vertical stand really flex free?

[nonhog]

...is the connection between the horizontal head piece and the vertical stand really flex free?

I suspect it would be, but really can't say for sure. I think (but could be wrong?) that the style of tipping wheel set up I would make would involve a go kart racing slick.(or skate board wheel) That would mean the flex would not be a huge deal.

[daveward]

I understand...thanks for the feedback!

[kbalch]

This thread has been moved to the Must Read subforum. Congrats (and thanks) to nonhog for making such a valuable contribution!