Getting started in woodworking (for personal enjoyment) and looking for some advice on stationary tools i.e. 14″ bandsaw, 6″ jointer and a 12 or 13″ planer. I’d appreciate any comments from you folks who have experience/opinions on the Ridgid tools. They’re in the ballpark for me financially and wonder if they would be good for a novice like myself or if I should save a few more pennies and set my sights a bit higher.
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Replies
I don't own any Ridgid tools but one thing to keep in mind when you buy any tool - Can you get parts if you need them? I own a 12" Delta Bandsaw. The thrust bearing needed replacing and I was able to go down to the dealer near my house and pick it up. I wish I would have gotten a 14" or bigger bandsaw now. If you are going to resaw lumber get the biggest bandsaw you can afford. That's my hindsight.
rigid is Kinda the new Sears..
they build tools that are strickly low price and then offer the "lifetime" warrantee..
well some may have had reasonable luck with Sears tools in the past.. I'm certainly not one of them..
My choice woulsd still be Grizzley..
they are butt simple honest tools that are cheaper than Rigid..
Doug W.
I wasn't going to respond to this post this since everyone has their own opinion on the "best" power tools, but Frenchy's put down of Ridgid runs so totally contrary to my own experience with Ridgid tools that I felt obligated to speak up.
Ridgid has almost all of their stationary tools made in Taiwan or China, but they have probably the best quality control of any of the importers, certainly better than Grizzly.
They would seem to have at least one or two designers on their staff that are real woodworkers since all of the changes they incorporate into the basically standard machines are true improvements and not just gimmicks dreamed up by marketing people.
Their thickness planer was designed from the ground up as a new machine and it is very well made and in many ways the best machine of it's type, although the new DeWalt raises the bar considerably.
I have had to order parts from them a few times to repair shipping damage and their speed and level of service were on a par with the best I have ever received.
John W.
Opinions on tool companies are so subjective, I agree. I put Rigid and Ryobi in the same class. Junk. However, I am a tool snob, I must admit.
From a beginner standpoint, it is hard to go wrong with Rigid or . The poster will use them and form his own opinions. If he likes them, then thats all that matters. I find that one often buys junk, and grows out of it, graduating and appreciating better tools as one's skill level's increase.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
Thanks to all for your comments.
Doug
I have the newer Rigid 1550 drill press. It was designed for WW's. Take a look at it and you will see why. As long as you don't need the few extra inches of throat capacity, this is a one of the better presses for WW'ers.
Have a neighbor that has the planer. Puts an average of 500 linear ft. a day through as he builds outdoor furniture for a living. He's had it 3 years. No hassle, no sweat and one of the smoothest height adjusters out there.
I think the BS is under-powered and have not used the planer and TS, so cannot comment. I don't find it fair to judge a product line over-all. You have to look at the individual model. I have heard people speak negatively of Ridgid and after being asked if they had used a particular model, the answer was no. My standard answer is, "then how do you know"? Usually no more said.
Every company has hits and misses. That includes Delta, Power-matic, Jet, Grizzley, General, etc., etc. And I repeat every company has their hits and misses. Do your home-work and check the tools individually in the Ridgid or any other line.
Good Luck...
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Boris, it's using words like "junk" that diminish your valuable experience into unenlightening verbage :+( Obviously, you understand your own prejudice, as the phrase "tool snob" illustrates. There's nothing wrong with being a tool snob, but potificating that any "class" of tools below that which you buy and use doesn't much help the tool-hunter who has a more modest budget, less ambitious intentions as a woodworker, or both.forestgirl Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
FG:
I said Rigid is junk, because in my opinion it is. And I also lumped Ryobi into that same class. I use tools every day in my job building homes. The stuff I work with in the field on site has to be sturdy, travel well in a truck without recalibration, and accurate. Rigid didn't make it. Neither does Ryobi. I am sorry if you were offended.
Now for the details, since you apparently want some more:
I actually own or have owned and use or used the following Ridgid and Ryobi tools in my 35 years of homebuilding: Rigid Contractors Saw, Rigid Planer; Ryobi Radial Arm; Ryobi Planer; Ryobi Joiner. I have separate stationary shop equipment, of a higher end, which does not leave the shop.
The Rigid brand were, without exception, horrible tools, with burrs on castings, parts that didn't fit, the set up time out of the box was triple those of other manufacturers (missing parts, broken parts, over/under sized castings, non-existent customer service). To add insult, they do not travel well and do not hold up to commercial work with idiots operating them.
The Rigid Contractors Saw was especially bad. It could not be transported in a truck around the block without having to be completely re-calibrated, the fence was super-sloppy, and the trunions needed adjustment weekly. It lasted only a single summer and was quickly sold to a sucker. Sears, Bosch, Makita and my current Delta Contractors saws smoke that Rigid. In fact, I can't think of a worse Contractors Saw.
I still own the Ryobi Radial Arm which, while a piece of junk, is fine for on site work of absolutely no precision and is very dangerous. I also still own the Ryobi 10 inch planer which is noisy and imprecise piece of junk, but for homebuilding on site works for me. I hate both of them however, and constantly wish they would break.
I think it is a dis-service for me to recommend these tools to some unsuspecting newbie to woodworking, when fine companies like Delta, Powermatic, General, and Porter Cable exist out there. They also offer a cheaper line of products which while not a $300 table saw, is much less expensive than their standard line of products.
So there you have it, the full story.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
FYI - I read recently that Rigid/Emerson will no longer be building these tools. They are being sub-contracted to the same company that makes or owns(?) Ryobi. Also HD will no longer have exclusive distribution on the line. HD will remain the exclusive homecenter, but other contractor oriented outlets will soon be carrying them.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Ryobi and Rigid now have joined forces? That is a marriage made in heaven for the low end tool junkies. God, thats like Hundi and Yugo making cars together.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
Boris, dear, I'm not offended, nor do I crave details. I have no doubt whatsoever that Rigid woodworking tools aren't made to a level of quality to survive, let alone perform excellently, in the rough and tumble world of a full-time professional contractor. But there are other factors in the equation, not the least of which is the possiblility, though far-fetched in your eyes I'm sure, that the line has actually improved over the years. Another factor is the use to which the tools would be put by the people who are asking about them. Someone who works a grand total of 4 to 10 hours a week in the shop isn't going to need the same quality of tools you do. They may want the same quality, and if they can afford it, more power to them, but many, many of us have to shave pennies when making these tool decisions.
Personally, the only tools they make I'd keep if they were given to me are the planer and the drill press. Oh, and I'd probably think twice about sticking my nose up at their new version of the "real" contractor saw. But there are others out there I'd rather have.forestgirl Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I just think the line is junk and just doesn't hold up. For table saws, I would pick the cheapie Delta CS, or even a Sears over Rigid. After that, Grizzly, Jet or WoodTek (the China Clones). Indeed, I loved my little Makita portable and it lasted 8 years being knocked around in a pickup and abused by illegal alliens before giving up the ghost. This was a fine saw, very economical, and very sturdy. I have a little Bosch now. Rigid would just be my absolute last choice in tools.Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
I purchased the new "portable" table saw and am happy in some areas, but dissapointed in others. The removable splitter/blade guard is nice, but sometimes a pain. I like the fact that everything can be stored on the body, but the cord holder could use some work and it is difficult to remove the splitter/guard from it's little home without having to remove the fence and the miter guage.
As for the fence, it is the most accurate I have seen on a portable, the Makita and Delta are wretched. the table was perfectly flat (i returned two Delta's that had bowed tables) and the sliding extension is much better than DeWalt's, although it took a while to get it set accurately.
My biggest complaint is the short arbor screw. It makes it difficult to use stacked dados and on multiple occasions I have dropped the nut into the dust collection bin, which works great at its job, but is too small to fit your hand into while a blade is on the arbor.
My last comment is the "portablility" of it. Yes the stand is great, but it is large, akward, and as a whole the saw/stand is really heavy (don't try lifting it into your tailgate unless you enjoy poping Alieve for the next week). I found it is easier to put the handle side against the tailgate and then lift and slide and manuver it into the bed.
If I could make the choice again, I would probably go with the Bosch. I am a huge Bosch fan (except for the miter saws see my post) and it has similar accessories that the Ridgid has.
As far as working on the job site, it hasn't given me one bit of trouble, and for a biginner I would suggest it.
Jim
P.S. I have been looking at planners and jointers and so far Ridgid is my tight bugget pick, with DeWalts in a close 2nd.
I just think the line is junk and just doesn't hold up.
My local HD, one of the highest selling stores in the chain, agrees. They have only one or two Rigid tools left, marked down to a clearance price. Portable Rigid tools appear to have been replaced by Ryobi and stationary tool inventory is pretty much all low to middle range Delta.
The local tool repair shop is gonna be pissed. At least a third of the tools in for repair there at any given time are Rigid.
Dick,
Two points:
1. Home Depot is not agreeing with you about the quality of Ridgid tools, the current line of tools is being discontinued and they are clearing out their inventory of the old machines. In fact Home Depot is going to be carrying the new line of Ridgid tools when they become available.
2. I wouldn't be surprised if the local tool repair shop is seeing a lot of Ridgid tools if they're in the same town as one of the largest Home Depots. There are probably fifty times more Ridgid tools in the area than any other single brand so of course the repair shops are going to see a lot more Ridgid tools even if their reliability was better than average.
I'm sure the local garages are seeing a lot more Fords in for repair than they are Peugeots, but that doesn't mean Peugeots are more reliable than Fords.
John W.
2. I wouldn't be surprised if the local tool repair shop is seeing a lot of Ridgid tools if they're in the same town as one of the largest Home Depots. There are probably fifty times more Ridgid tools in the area than any other single brand so of course the repair shops are going to see a lot more Ridgid tools even if their reliability was better than average. ..................
I'd disagree with that. This particular repair shop is the regional warranty depot for virtually every name brand tool manufacturer. The numbers of Rigid tools on the repair shop shelves is disproportionate given that HD has only been open here five or so years selling a dozen other brands and had the Rigid line for sale for perhaps half that while Sears, lumber yards and hardware and tool stores have thirty and more years history selling that same dozen other brands into the same market.
I've only one bit of experience with Rigid tools; mitre saws that were used in a demanding industrial environment. The Rigid versions might go up to three months before replacement but Makitas would last up to two years. I've no other experience because they just don't turn up on jobsites, and I've personally had my fill of consumer grade tools so I don't buy them. No doubt Rigid is a very satisfying purchase for some folks though. There is no point in buying more tool than you need.
John W.
I like Home depot,, I buy a lot of stuff there and I'm certain that evan the most avid Home depot ex. would admit that they do sometimes have problems.. (any company can and will)
I know that Rigid makes some wonderfull tools, it's just my experiance that their power tools seem to be aimed at the easy to please home do-it-yourselfer.. (after all that really is their market..) (can't fault them for hitting their target)
Quality does seem to take a place behind cost and those that I know that have bought Rigid for daily use seem to agree with me. I only know of two owners of Rigid planers and both had trouble with theirs., Maybe not terribly accurite but certainly is valid..
As for quality control, neither you nor I are experts at that field.. my experiance has been so good that I buy many tools from Grizzley and am Happy with those I buy..
Now I'd be willing to admit that maybe I'm just lucky,... Except those who have owned Grizzley seem to agree with me on that score.
by the way Not every power tool I own is from Grizzley there are certain tools that others make that are definately better and if we were discussing any of those I'd be glad to share my experiance with them..
In the end, it comes down to simple logic.. Do you accept that Rigid working within the corporate structor of Emmersion electric and Home Depot can produce and market something cheaper than Grizzley can..
It costs around 30 million dollars a year to sponser a NASCAR front running team.. plus another 90 to 100 million dollars in direct advertizing costs. Rigid is picking up part of that tab..
I don't see the same expenses structure at Grizzley
Well John I guess you haven't delt with them for service or parts lately.
From all the reports I've read since they out sourced their manufactureing , service & parts, the service & parts responce stinks.
You need to check out the Ridgid forum.
I have no ridgid tools but from the dis-satisfaction over parts & service that I have read on the Ridgid forum I'll stay as far away from them I can.
I do not & will not have a Ridgid tool in my shop untill they get this mess straightened out.
Sucking.......Whoosh.......Yowl........Whoosh.........Thrump Puddytat up the DC.
Original-Bart,
Where is the "Ridgid Forum"?
John W.
http://www.ridgid.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?category=2Sucking.......Whoosh.......Yowl........Whoosh.........Thrump.
Rigid's planer is an excellent machine for your use. I have a friend who has one and planes quartersawn oak with it for house projects. He used to work in a cabinet shop, so has some experience with tools. Reports in the forums are very positive for the Rigid 13" planer.
That being said, you can get an even better planer for a little more (can't you always?!) -- the new DeWalt 13", 3-blade, 2-speed. But I'm sure you'd be happy with the Rigid. I get the distinct impression that Rigid's planer is the best big tool they make.
Their bandsaw doesn't get quite such rave reviews -- underpowered for starters. A new Grizzly 0555 would be a good bet there. Jet and Delta are pricier, but better saws.
The 6" jointer? Hmmmmm, hard to go too wrong with a jointer, but I haven't heard much about the Rigid. If Grizzly's 6" jointer is as good as their 8", it's an excellent machine.
I would not buy a Grizzly bench-top planer.
forestgirl Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Hey there FG I have the G1017 as with most bench top planers the adjustment is very important. I just finished planing some 9' Poplar boards the other day & they turned out perfect. I
I found this article some time ago & it makes all the difference.
http://www.woodisourart.com/
to simhttp://www.woodisourart.com/http://www.woodisourart.com/plify the setup of the DeWalt Planer in such a way as to Sucking.......Whoosh.......Yowl........Whoosh.........Thrump Puddytat up the DC..
Hmmmmmm, I see a pretty turned bowl. More specific link please?? Mr. OB, are you the Bart of Puget Sound island fame? If so, I have a question about my Grizzly bandsaw I'd like to ask you. Please email me if you might help!forestgirl Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Depends on what you're gonna use it for, eh?
I like Grizzly and Jet (better) for the money.
But I also have a Rigid contractor's saw. Why? The saw lives outside on a covered workdeck and is made of high-speed plastic. No 3hp cast-iron behemoth, but with a narrow-kerf blade I can bury that blade all day without complaint. It's easy to true, doesn't get out of true...even in wet weather...had a fence as accurate as a Unisaw...and I have zero complaints. A 300-dollar saw.
I have the ridgid 13" planer and I have had no problems at all. I am by no means a pro. at this stuff but it has done a good job for me the last 2 yrs. Bob
Asking for advice on which tool to buy is sure to open a can of worms - everybody has an opinion. :+) I am fairly new to woodworking and, like you, wasn't sure which way to turn - nobody wants to toss money away - but it's important to separate the emotionally charged opinions from those based on a solid foundation of experience. I have a close friend who is a luthier with a clientele of well known musicians such as Charlie Daniels, The Marshall Tucker Band, Mark Farner etc. Needless to say, I place a good deal of value on his opinions as well as being able to see the tools in action in his shop. After years of experience he has settled on the Ridgid 6" jointer as the best jointer for the money for his needs. And he has had very positive experiences with their customer service in the past. Before purchasing mine I spent some time at his shop checking it out and arrived at the same conclusion he had. I have had mine now for a bit over a year and am quite pleased with it's performance. The fence is rock solid, holds it's position well yet is easy to change when necessary, adjusting the tables is easy an accurate with the wheels and it has plenty of power to do it's job well. The footprint is about the same as any of the other 6" jointers I looked into as is the weight.
6" does has some limitations - if you are interested in building larger pieces of furniture saving for an 8" or larger would be a wise choice. The worst mistakes I have ever made with tools was buying something that was adequate for my needs at that time but didn't take into account what my future interests might be. (a 9" bandsaw comes to mind ... sigh). You'll get lots of advice but you have to decide what it is that you envision yourself doing in woodworking and how much use each tool will get. There are generally several different ways to do a job ... some folks will use power tools and some hand tools. Power tools are repeatable and generally faster and more accurate but don't discount hand tools - look at furniture made in the 17th-19th centuries that was done without the benefit of our present day tool arsenals. And there is a certain satisfaction that comes with shaping wood by hand - it's a personal choice. Try to avoid getting caught up in the tool collecting frenzy of which I do not believe any of us are immune. Tools are just that ... a means to an end. It's not the tool but the craftsman that makes a masterpiece.
Good luck,
Ken
I have the TS3612 tablesaw which has performed flawlessly. The blade guard is easily removed for various types of cuts and then easily replaced. Setting up the saw was straightforward and the packaging was much better than my Delta jointer. I am fully satisfied with my saw.
I too have a 3612 and it's been great. I also have the planer and jointer and I can say they have been treating me well with no complaints.
Michael
I'm guessing that the 3612 has been replaced by the 3650 that's on the Ridgid site. Any of you 3612 users know how the 3650 compares with your saw's?
I have no experience with the 3650. I've heard on the Ridgid forum that it's pretty well received.
Michael
I'm not a Rigid TS owner, but when I looked at the 3650 the other day at HD, I was immediately struck by how much better the fence seems than the older model.forestgirl Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
It's difficult to make a broad base statement about the quality of all Ridgid tools and have it be useful to a particular tool. Every model is different, and in many cases made in different factories, and put together by different engineering teams, etc. It's also difficult to decipher the valuable information from the "less" valuable information based on a group of opinions, because we don't really know how or why that opinion was developed. We don't know the experience level of the person stating an opinion, and sometimes even an opinion based on usage experience, doesn't necessarily make it accurate and objective.
When a person posts about "loving" their new table saw, we've learned how they feel about it, but not necessarily why. Even if we know why, do we have confidence in their ability to discern the subtle differences from the other choices that were within a similar price range. We live at a time when literally all major tool manufacturers can put out a saw that will spin a blade with reasonable precision and reliability, so why would you "love" one over another? The subtle differences boil down to fence, wing material, miter gauge, material choices, thickness and tolerance of materials, quality of machining, accessories, distribution, and warranty just to name a few. As an example, in recent cases of people buying a new Ridgid 3650 - often this person is upgrading from a tired old benchtop model, or is purchasing for the first time. They buy the 3650 and love it and are happy because it spins the blade and cuts straight as expected. They post about their experience..."I love it!"...all is well. Does this opinion carry signicant objectivity that you're comfortable using as a guide for your table saw purchase? Would they have been as happy with a Craftsman, Jet, Delta, General, PM, Bridgewood, or Grizzly in the same price range? Quite possibly. It's likely that they "love" having a new saw. I'd rather see an informed opinion from a veteran user of a PM66 or Unisaw to judge the differences in saws that are NOT an upgrade to them. It's all relative.
The reason for this long rant is (...too much coffee) to encourage people to research as much as they possibly can. Take opinions and reviews into consideration, but with discerning reservation. Learn the models, prices, features, and distribution philosophy by heart for every tool within your broad price range. Then make an informed decision based on what you've learned. Don't let marketing and hype sway you. The goal should be to buy the best tool you can afford that suits your needs.
My opinion of Ridgid tools? FWIW - I'm only familiar with a fraction of the tools they put their name on, so I can only comment on a few of the WWing specific tools (TS, jointer, planer, DP, BS) - okay in many cases (probably a step up from Craftsman and Ryboi), but not usually the best choice compared some of the other good value names out there.
Scotty,
Well thought out and well said..
I might add that "reviews" of various models by magazines can be decieving.. sometimes the advertizing budget influeances things and sometimes a pesonal preferance can sway the review.
To be fair, would I have been as happy with Brand X if I hadn't bought Grizzley? I don't know and since I buy tools for use rather than to compare them I'll never really know.. (ask me in ten years) But by then they probably won't make this model anymore..
Doug,
I have had a Rigid table saw which has worked well for me. The fence is very accurate and has "t" slots that hold 1/4" hex bolts for jigs and auxiliary fences. The splitter and guard assemble is the weak part. I just removed them and built splitters into shop made table inserts and fabricated a large blade guard with integral dust collection. I 'm very happy with the saw. Didn't cost an arm and a leg either. I wouldn't have room for a big cabinet saw. I have been contemplating how I would add an outfeed table, and low and behold the editors of Wood Magazine built one for the Ridgid which is detailed in a "Best Ever Workshop Solutions" on the news stands now.
Good shopping.
My Ridgid 3612 Table saw is great. Although I only use it part time, I have been woodworking for over 50 years - maybe not as many trees as some of the carpenters who don't like Ridgid, but I appreciate the accurate and stable alignment, and the fact that it is worth setting the rip fence to 1/128 inch for tight tenons. (Yes, I do get repeatable cuts around .01 inches).
The 3612 was built by Emerson (the same as my Craftsman Radial Arm Saw, and many of the Craftsman table saws that were rated much better by someone here!). The 3650 has replaced the 3612, with more of it made overseas, but they seem to have kept a lot of the good features like the rip fence.
I also have the Ridgid jointer. It has not needed alignment after a couple years planing hundreds of bf of hardwood. The blades are easily aligned after sharpening. Very smooth cuts with sharp blades. I wish it were 8 inches rather than 6, but that takes a lot more money.
I have a Delta planer, and have used the Ridgid planer, and wish I had the Ridgid.
I bought a Delta band saw (the 9 inch toy one), and sold it to buy a 14 inch Jet. Nice unit, but when someone offered to buy it, I jumped and took a step up for less money with the Grizzly 14 inch - The G0555 is made from the same castings as the Jet, costs less money, has more features, and works great.
Thanks Charlie. I appreciate your comments.
Oops... I just noticed that you didn't ask about the table saw, but asked about a bandsaw. If you are thinking of making furniture, cabinets, boxes, etc. then the table saw is by far the most important tool. I didn't have a bandsaw for the first 48 years of woodworking, and now that I have it, I enjoy it a lot, but I still think a precision saw, like a table saw, is critical - should be first on the list. And make sure it has a good fence, solid smooth (cast iron) table, etc. And I consider my investment in a $100 blade money well spent.
I second JimW's positive comments about the TS2400 in reply .27
I bought mine about 2 years ago (factory reconditioned) at HD and love it.
I needed the portability of the wheeled stand.
I am really happy with the fence. So much nicer than the makita benchtop.
Someday the motor (direct drive) may get sloppy but after a couple years, I am still a happy camper with this saw.
Bill
I've been using the Oscillating Spindle/Belt Sander purchased from Home Depot for about 2 years now. Even though I'm on my 3rd one I love this tool because it is so suited to the type of work I do. The only problem I've had is that the idler pulley bearings get fried after about 6 months of hard use. I just pack up the whole machine and take it back to Home Depot and get a new one without much hassle. A little inconvient but I get a new tool every now and then.
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