A radial arm saw is an old-fashioned woodworking tool that is still seen today. It is essentially a circular saw that is mounted on top of a horizontal arm and slides back and forth in action. Radial saws are mostly used for cutting wood and cutting long pieces of material to size; but many devices have blades that can rotate 90 degrees, making them a popular choice for splitting wood along the grain as well. They can also be adapted to perform traditional stationary woodworking operations, similar to table saws, miter saws, drum sanders, disc sanders, shapers and more.
Additionally, the heads tilt for bevel cutting, while the pivot arms rotate for miter cutting. There is also an important piece called the yoke, which holds the saw head (or motor) under the arm. Because of their versatility and manageability, they were a favorite staple for many home woodworkers.
One of the most popular radial arm saw brands is known as DeWalt and it has been around for quite some time. In its prime, it was the top choice for many home woodworking enthusiasts for several decades. Read on for some interesting facts about DeWalt 790 radial arm saws and a few other common brands they make.
DeWalt 790 Radial Arm Saw
The DeWalt 790 was invented over 98 years ago, in 1923, by an American inventor, entrepreneur, and founder of DeWalt Tool Co. named Raymond DeWalt, who was from Bridgeton, New Jersey. In his day, DeWalt Tool Co. was one of the leading manufacturers of premium radial arm saws. Unfortunately, the introduction of the electric miter saw in the 1970s led the company to stop manufacturing for the US market in 1985. Although there are several still in operation today, these circular arm saws are mostly replaced by miter saws, which are smaller and more precise. On the other hand, they are not completely obsolete yet, since they are very useful tools in the wood shop. And miter saws can’t rip cut.
The DeWalt Wonder Worker was the original radial arm saw, but many more were introduced in subsequent years. These include:
The DeWalt 1030
The DeWalt 730 10″
The DeWalt 740 10″ PowerShop
The DeWalt 790 12″ Deluxe
Additional brands:
Craftsman 10″ with LaserTrac
drawbacks
These outdated circular arm saws are still selling new today, but they have some drawbacks according to many woodworkers. Not only are they quite expensive, but they take up quite a bit of space compared to smaller miter saws. They are also not easy to transport. These factors can certainly influence a buyer’s decision.