Wood related scrounges without wood

After seeing the odd Radial Arm here and there over the years in someone's shop or garage, I only recently learned of their potential. I had mistakenly assumed that it was just another version of a miter saw. Well, it is...but it's a lot more too.

 

Agreed. Because of their bulkiness and ummmm… potentially dangerous kickback, they fell out of favor quickly when miter saws came out. But they’re still versatile. Mine has an arbor where I can even mount a drill chuck to, or a router bit, or whatever I can dream up. I just used mine this morning notching out this trim board:

 

I used mine as a lathe for several projects back in the day when I couldn’t justify a lathe.
If you wanna tame down the kickback potential get a zero or negative hook blade. Why they sold them with aggressive crosscut blades I’ll never understand. Doesn’t cure all the evil but makes a world of difference.

 

That's pretty wild I'd have to rig up some sort of tailstock mounted to a board to support the other end of the workpiece, but I can see myself having fun with that.

If I ever need to use this saw a lot that's what I'll have to buy for it. I think I used it 4-5 times in as many years.

 

Never used a tailstock, or lathe tools for that matter. Cuts perfect circles using a 1/2” dowel to spin a square board on the table. Just lower the carbide blade one tooth for every rotation. Don’t try it with a steel toothed blade,,,it might work or you may die LOL. I’ve cut perfect circles in 3” thick cherry using that method.
Did build a jig for it that spun a workpiece under the blade. Used a dado blade. Made a handle that looked much like a motorcycle grip but with an arc to it and thumb protector. There’s not much they can’t do if you really have the will to do it, or you’re too cheap to buy a lathe.

ps by one tooth I mean just the carbide cutting edge, not the entire tooth. 1/16” or so,,,maybe as much as 1/8” if you’re feeling brave.

 

I've heard stories of the radial arm saw that they used to have at work...the story goes that it chucked a board at the boss, who just happened to be in the area at the time, and that was the last straw...a long history of slinging boards across the shop, ended in the dumpster
We do have a really nice table saw as a result though

 

They certainly come with a Darwin inspired learning curve. By the time you’ve made your third mistake and are still living you’re a pro.
As I said it’s all in the blade. For reasons I’ll never understand in this lifetime they all came with some of the worst tooth configurations possible.

 

A factory here in town has been putting these 6, 8, and sometimes 10’ pallets out to the curb for years. Yesterday I grabbed a couple more. While I was loading up one of the employees came out and offered me a few more that were still inside the building. I had to politely decline as I was on my way to work at the moment. He said he’d leave them out for me to take at my leisure anyway At the very least I can salvage the 2x4’s from them.


They make an awesome roof, tying in the end pallets too. Secure a tarp over the top and call it good.

 

Its hard to say no to big pallets. Im seeing pallets pens just like Joe makes, but yours are perfect too. Another good grab,

 

I was at the department of public works this morning filling up a few buckets with taxpayer funded compost, when I spotted a pile of pallets at the curb across the street. A hardwood mix of oak, ash, sugar maple, cherry, and tulip poplar! Some of the nicer pieces I’ll save for projects, but the rest will be cut shorter and added to this year’s burning inventory.

 

Great find. What do you think they were used for?

I always liked finding beefy hardwood pallets at the supply house. A few cuts with the cordless saw and they were ready for the insert.

 

They were outside a machine shop that makes springs and various stamped parts out of thin sheet metal. The pallets most likely were made to ship the rolls of raw sheet metal to the shop. The angled wedges kept them from rolling off the pallets. Definitely some nice material as far as pallet wood goes.

 

One of my old suppliers was for the gutter industry and would get small pallets for the rolls of aluminum for a seamless gutter machine. Oak and/or sugar maple 2x4 and 1x6 full sized. They were small too so easily loaded onto my truck. I used to love going there. Years later they were not for the taking.

 

where I work we have a crew that does standing seam metal roofs and we order the rolls of metal never gave it a thought about the pallets being hardwood and keeping them for fires
Hate to say it they end up going into the dumpster for trash
I will have to start saving them

 

John D is just starting down the rabbit hole; identifying types of wood in pallet during drive by is expert/master level

 

Depends how fast I'm going, although I ALWAYS brake for a potential wood score.

 

My travels this morning took me a mile from the shop where I got those pallets, so yeah. More today If not for 4 oak rounds already in the bed from yesterday, I could’ve grabbed everything they had out to the curb today.

 

Im seeing some decent future firewood there. I recall the oak ones I cut did not burn well as it wasn't dry enough. Full sized 2x4 IIRC. I doubt they dry the wood when pallets are assembled.

 

First order of business is to build a bigger, better, more solid workbench where I can work on saws without being cramped. The oak here is perfect for that. But yeah the poplar, red maple and sycamore will be stove fuel

 

Do you pull the nails before burning? I've done it both ways.