I'm so happy, I could just....

4434 Views 40 Replies 17 Participants Last post by nEighter, Jun 28, 2009

Dan V.

Discussion Starter · Jun 26, 2009

Went to a tag sale a few weeks ago. It was one of those neighborhood ones where 6 or 7 families lug all their trash out into the driveway and try to sell it.

I was wandering around one of them with my son, who wanted me to buy him an old DeWalt combo kit. It had a sawzall, small CS, hammer drill and work light. Anyway, while negotiating for that, the guy mentions that he's got an old Craftsman Radial Arm Saw that he'll throw in if we haul it away. I've always wanted a RAS so we agree on $25.00 for the whole lot (Combo Kit & RAS). Off we go.

The RAS is one of those with an electronic display at the end of the arm, which doesn't work, of course. So, I start surfing the net to see if I can find a replacement. While I had no luck with that, (PartsDirect says it's discontinued; no replacement rec'd) I discovered that this particular model RAS was part of a recall that Emerson Electric (Mfg. for Sears) did because the blade guard was supposedly faulty. So I send my model# and contact info to EE and a couple of days ago, I received a new blade guard kit, which included a mighty fancy blade guard assembly, new handle with trigger, and a whole new 1" MDF table! All free!

Just got done putting it all together and slapping a new blade on. The thing works like a dream and looks almost new.

Oh, and the combo kit is fully functional, too! Just had to charge up all the batts. My son is happy, I'm happy.

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1 - 20 of 41 Posts

Leo G

· #2 · Jun 26, 2009

Good for you.

Every once in a while you get something from a tag sale that is worth more than you pay.

genecarp

· #3 · Jun 26, 2009

:clap::clap::clap:Enjoy it.G

Celtic

· #4 · Jun 26, 2009

Dan V. said:
Just got done putting it all together and slapping a new blade on. The thing works like a dream and looks almost new.

You do realize....we need PICTURES!!!!!!

:thumbup:

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Dan V.

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 26, 2009

Yikes, I never even thought of that! I'll run out to my barn/workshop and do that right now!

480sparky

· #6 · Jun 26, 2009

Celtic said:
You do realize....we need PICTURES!!!!!!

:thumbup:

Absolutely!

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Dan V.

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 27, 2009 (Edited)

Hopefully, these will be visible. :thumbup: Also, I forgot to mention that the combo kit came with one of those cheesy DeWalt radios. It'll be useful though because it can be used as a batt charger.

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3

Celtic

· #8 · Jun 27, 2009

Not as exciting as the OP's....and we seem to be in a holding pattern...soooooooo......

I need some mirrors...a total mish-mash to fill the void in a stairwell ~ I was thinking the yard sale thing...

Celtic

· #9 · Jun 27, 2009

Dan V. said:
Hopefully, these will be visible. :thumbup:

If any of them work ...that was some well spent money :thumbsup:

Thanks for the pix :clap:

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Dan V.

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 27, 2009

They all work great! I can't believe the guy let it all go for a measly $25.00! The only other investment I've made is new blades for all the saws.

katoman

· #11 · Jun 27, 2009

Wow! That's realy nice, and an unbelievable price. I've been trying to get parts for my tablesaw from Makita for two weeks now. They don't give a sh_t !!! Glad to hear there are still companies that care about their rep.:thumbup:

Gus Dering

· #12 · Jun 27, 2009

That is a cool deal.:thumbup:

I bought a sears RAS in 78 when I was in the USAF and living in the dorms.

My first shop was my dorm room.:thumbup:
Had to make different arrangements when I noticed I was making more dust than friends.

Be very careful ripping with that thing. Avoid it if you can. They love tossing wood out the wrong way. Wicked kick backs, I mean Wicked.

Someone told me that anyway..:whistling

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Celtic

· #13 · Jun 27, 2009

Dan V. said:
They all work great! I can't believe the guy let it all go for a measly $25.00! The only other investment I've made is new blades for all the saws.

:laughing:
The replacement blades cost more than the tools did ~ sweet deal for you.

Crock

· #14 · Jun 27, 2009

H3LLUVA DEAL!!!

Your post about Sears reminded me that a buddy of mine used to carry a five gallon bucket full of broken Stanely tape measures he would find on new home sites.

He said you could bring them in to any Sears store and get a free one no questions asked as long as you had a broken one. He would hand them out like they were candy.

Does anyone know if they still do this? I go through about 4 per year.

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Dan V.

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jun 27, 2009

The really interesting part about Emerson is that they don't even make saws anymore and haven't for some time. They primarily manufacture wet/dry vacs for the Ridgid and Craftsman brands.

http://www.emersontoolcompany.com/ourproducts.html

loneframer

· #16 · Jun 27, 2009

Gus Dering said:
That is a cool deal.:thumbup:

I bought a sears RAS in 78 when I was in the USAF and living in the dorms.
My first shop was my dorm room.:thumbup:
Had to make different arrangements when I noticed I was making more dust than friends.

Be very careful ripping with that thing. Avoid it if you can. They love tossing wood out the wrong way. Wicked kick backs, I mean Wicked.

Someone told me that anyway..:whistling

Yeah, I put a 2x4 into the back window of my Pops truck with one of those "kickbacks". Wicked is not the word and the noise will make you soil yourself.

That was almost 30 years ago and he still has the saw.

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Dan V.

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jun 27, 2009

Yep, I know all about the kickback on RAS's. I actually owned one many years ago when I lived on Long Island. Supposedly, the new height-adjustable pawls and riving knife are designed to make that problem go away. I'm sure I'll find out at some point.

Luckily, it has one of those removable keys for the power switch. My son, who is 14 and a budding builder himself, would love to give that saw a spin even though I've forbidden him to use it unless I'm right there with him.

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WarriorWithWood

· #18 · Jun 27, 2009

Dan V. said:
Luckily, it has one of those removable keys for the power switch. My son, who is 14 and a budding builder himself, would love to give that saw a spin even though I've forbidden him to use it unless I'm right there with him.

Let me say from experience, be careful they ALWAYS find a way. Teach him to use it safely and properly. This will take away most of the mystery and excitement of it.:thumbsup: Let me ask this, what do you want to do when something is forbidden?:whistling

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stp57

· #19 · Jun 27, 2009

Dan V. said:
Hopefully, these will be visible. :thumbup: Also, I forgot to mention that the combo kit came with one of those cheesy DeWalt radios. It'll be useful though because it can be used as a batt charger.

Great find Dan,
Years ago my wife just missed the deal of the century at a garage sale. This woman was pissed at her husband (probably got caught cheating) & was selling all of his power & hand tools for $1 each. She stated that she was looking forward to seeing him come get his tools & instead she would hand him $50 cash.
Everything good was wiped out by the time my wife got there.
Steve

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RobertCDF

· #20 · Jun 27, 2009

I had a tables saw toss a 12"x12"x 1/2" into my stomach when I was 16. That felt way good! I also had a little strip of composite fascia (about 3/8" x 3/8" x 3' long) kickback from a table saw go through my bosch radio, right through the screen and speaker.

I have never had the joy of using a RAS but I do want one... Although with my history of kickbacks maybe I should stay away from a RAS.

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