I’m about to make three major purchases. All three, Ridgid tools from HD.
A 14″ bandsaw ($444). A 6 1/8″ jointer/planer ($499). And a 13″ benchtop planer ($397). I’ve read good stuff about the benchtop planer,(no snipe, quick blade change, good value) but haven’t seen anything on the jointer or bandsaw but they, too, seem like good values. Any comments will be much appreciated.
Discussion Forum
Get It All!
UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month.
Start Your Free TrialCategories
Discussion Forum
Digital Plans Library
Member exclusive! – Plans for everyone – from beginners to experts – right at your fingertips.
Highlights
-
Shape Your Skills
when you sign up for our emails
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. -
Shop Talk Live Podcast -
Our favorite articles and videos -
E-Learning Courses from Fine Woodworking
-
-
Replies
It would really depend on what kind of woodworking you do and where you want to go with it. If you are serious about woodworking then don't go anywhere near a homedepot for tools.
The tools your looking at are light duty, and would be fine if you want to do a few small projects a year, but if you want to build serious furniture you'll outgrow those tools quickly and will have to spend more to upgrade them. Plus the resale value on ridgid tools relatively poor. In the long run it's cheaper to buy quality tools once.
In the long run it's cheaper to buy quality tools once.
And how. If you're the average HO who isn't going to be using them day in and day out, and just wants something functional for weekend projects, they probably fit your bill. I'm like everyone else and would love to tell you to get a $2500 saw and a $4K bandsaw and nothing shy of an 8" jointer . . . but we all start somewhere, and invariably, that somewhere is a budget. As to the quality issue, I always, and I mean every single time, kick myself at some point down the road when I look for price rather than performance and buy based on that. I'm to the point now where if I want a tool, I research it, and more, and more, then save until I have the ducats for the one I really think I want.
Perhaps prudence would suggest to buy one of these items, give it a few weeks of test running and see what you think. How does it compare to expectations, how is the quality of cut, does it do what you need it to? Then if you're satisfied, you can go back. If not, then you don't have three headaches in front of you, just one to deal with.
Ridgid made their name in plumbing tools. They are very good at that. Their soiree into woodworking is still something of a recent thing - maybe ten years by now. They do look remarkably like Craftsman tools, and parts interchange on many models, if that relevant to you in any way." Exult O shores, and ring O bells! / But I with mournful tread, / Walk the deck my Captain lies, / Fallen cold and dead" - Whitman
"They (Ridgid) do look remarkably like Craftsman tools, and parts interchange on many models, if that relevant to you in any way."
Actually, it is relevant to me to the extent that I own and like Craftsman tools. I have no doubt that you are correct about one day wishing I had something better. I have yet to own anything that has stood up to comparison to something better over time. There are so many fine possibilities out there that one imagines Karl Marx spinning in his grave. What most concerns me is whether I might be selecting a tool(s) that might be outright objectionable rather than not quite as good as another. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I value words of experience rendered in such a generous manner.
bill
The reason that RIDGID power tools look like Craftsman power tools is that Emerson Electric who owns RIDGID made power tools for many years for Sears/Craftsman... also note that the RIDGID and many other imported bandsaws look like DELTA Clones.. Hmmmm maybe thats cause the DELTA is one of the Better 14 inch bandsaws out there ?? Maybe its time to join the Delta Club?? come on in and Welcome..LOL...
ToolDoc
Keep your receipts cause I think HD has a 1 year guarantee on all their tools.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_KatyPlaneWood
Bill, I just posted a reply to someone in the discusion Table Saw Recommendations (Message #33 I think) about the Ridgid 13" . It came from Home Depot here in Canada for $731 Can, all taxes included. It bought it mostly because it had all the features I need and came with extra knives, a dust hood for 2 1/2" or 4" hoses and a stand.
I did take a good look at the 2 speed Delta planer you mentioned and while it was a better price, it did not include a stand or dust hood. I also couldn't see any real difference in quality between the two cutting speeds that you could get from just taking a smaller cut on the final pass.
I probably would have been happy with Delta but the stand and dust hood included in the price tipped the scales for me.
JohnNext time you wave at me, use ALL your fingers. ;)
This tagline made from 100% recycled electrons.
And, according to the FW write up, the Ridgid had less "snipe" than the others tested, and the fastest blade change at five minutes. It's a winner in my book. Thanks,
bill
What type of wood was used in your comparison test for the 2-speed? This feature is most useful when dealing with highly figured woods.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Forestgirl, I saw the 2 speed demoed at a wood show here in Canada. They showed it on some local 'soft' maple boards around 10" wide that were very dry. They were marketing this feature more for the ability to remove greater thicknesses of wood rather than the resulting surface quality.
I couldn't really see much difference at all between the 13" Ridgid I bought, the 2 speed Delta 2000, or the 6 year old 12 1/2" Delta a friend owns when his blades are sharp except for the reduction of snipe the cutterhead lock feature provides.
I did see a difference in the next step up to an obscenely heavy 15" planer but a few light passes with a hand scraper would do the sameI acn tpye 300 wrds pr mniute. ;)
If they were emphasizing faster/greater wood removal, they didn't know bupkis about that planer. Dumb. Wonder if they actually worked for Delta? Sheeeesh.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
They worked for Summit Tools in Burnaby. It actually did remove a lot more material at the slower feed rate. He demo'ed it with a 10" piece of yellow cedar and it took off around a 1/10" per pass at the slower speed. At a more conservative thickness, the sales guy said it would be a better surface but only when the knives was fresh.
JohnIf a tree falls on a mime in the forest, does it make a sound and does anyone care?
Andrew.. thanks for your thoughts. Would you mind telling me what you would suggest I look at in the way of brand for comparable tools? I know you say the tools I am considering are "light duty" but are some others.. similarly sized and powered.. more durable? What I hope to do is learn to make something other than the cabinet goods I have focused on.
My recommendation for a new bandsaw in the 14" range would be a General 490 (made in Canada). it's actually a 15" machine, but has a solid cast iron frame which is much more substantial than any other 14" saw. you can check it out at http://www.general.ca/product/general/490an.html . since you said you didn't want to stick to cabinets, you should also be looking into some larger machines with increased resaw capacity and power as that will be necessary if you decide to cut your own veneers or get into curved work.
As far as jointers go, all of the 6" machines are made overseas as far as I know, and from what little I have observed about them, they are all so similar it makes little difference what brand you buy, just make sure that the tables are flat and everything runs smoothly. however, IMO an 8" machine is far more useful in a woodshop, and is worth the extra $. in the 8" category I would recommend the General 480 as it is an excellent machine, I have used one that has seen years of abuse in a high school shop, and to my surprise it was still in alignment and running like new. however I don't think you could go wrong buying one from any of the larger companies.
You have to be a very patient person to plane rough lumber to thickness with a benchtop planer, which is why I would recommend a floor model for anyone who plans to do a fair amount of thicknessing. they hog off a lot more wood and save time which you can spend building furniture.
If you are mechanically inclined and don't mind using a bit of elbow grease the best way to save money and get high quality is to buy used. most of the machines in my shop are high quality used machines. just to give you an example, my General 350 cabinet saw cost me $600, my 9" jointer cost me $400 and my 15" thickness planer cost me $300. these prices are all in Canadian $ BTW. the main draw back with used stuff is you have to be patient.
hope this helps
Ed, you mentioned that the blades for a large saw were too expensive. what you have to take into consideration is that a longer blade has more teeth, and will last proportionally longer than a shorter one. so while a blade may cost twice as much for a larger saw, that blade will also last at least twice as long.
Thanks, Andrew. I appreciate your advice and wish I had the mechanical knowledge and patience you have because buying used would open up any number of doors.
OK Bill, I combed through my mags and found the Wood bandsaw review. Rigid got dinged for "bogging down" and being hard to find the right feed-speed for. Doesn't look like it comes with a fence. Has that handy release lever though, cool.
The Grizzly has these advantages: 1 HP motor, nice extruded rip fence, ball-bearing blade guides, 2 speeds, $430 including shipping. I can testify to excellent customer service, and easy-to-order parts.
Planers: With the arrival of the Delta 13" 2-speed planer, the Rigid is eating dust in the "value" category for bench-top planers. For just a few more bucks than the Rigid, you can get the only (as far as I know) 2-speed benchtop. The Rigid is a good machine, but that Delta is the better long-run buy, IMO.
Jointers: IMO, this machine offers fewer differences than bandsaws and planers between the brands. You could bring it home from HD, check things out for flatness etc., and take it back if it's not acceptable. You'd save a bit of $$ with the Grizzly. It has a 1HP motor -- what about the Rigid? What's the cuts-per-minute spec for the Rigid? If one model offers signficantly more CPM, I'd definitely go for that one. Griz is 15,000 CPM.
Have fun, let us know what you do. Take a deep breath and say "ohhhhhhmmmmmmm."
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 1/15/2003 9:57:19 PM ET by forestgirl
forestgirl.. once again, thank you for going above and beyond by researching this issue. Another article, mentioned in response to my query, praised the Ridgid BS. Isn't it something how one editor's opinion differs so radically from anothers? I'll tell you something that has given me pause, however. It's all this "tweaking" that bandsaws apparantly need. I'm not much of a "tweaker" as tweakers go. I'm more of a "fire this thing up and blow chips". Maybe I should reconsider any immediate purchase of a BS.
bill
Bill, dear Bill. Having followed this thread and the "Grizzly" thread, what I would suggest you do is S-L-O-W D-O-W-N.
You urgent need to go out and scatter money to the winds acquiring a bunch of new and shiny tools is something I can understand. I've been a tool junkie for a very long time. But this acquisition bug you're feverishly suffering from is not going to benefit you. I'm willing to bet a box of chocolates and a gift certificate from Starbucks that if you vigorously pursue woodworking you are not going to be happy with at least one of the 3 purchases you are about to make.
In addition, if you don't like tweaking you're in for a rough ride. Proper tool set-up and maintenance are a huge part of producing quality woodworked pieces. The tiniest little variation off of 90 degrees, away from flat, or a straight line will magnify to horrendous proportions when spread out over a 3-foot long board or panel. The bandsaw is not the only tool that needs tweaking. The tablesaw can be a nightmare sometimes, the jointer just plain cantankerous, the router picky, the biscuit joiner maddening. My guess is that if you don't like "tweaking," limiting your new-tool set-up to one per month might keep you sane.
Figure out what tools you need to build your next project and buy those tools. The rest will still be at HD the next time you go. You need to have some $$ for accurate measuring and marking tools if you don't have them already. If you're starting out with cabinetry, you probably can get by without a bandsaw and a jointer.
Whatever -- I feel like I'm swimming upstream here, but again -- I understand the impulse. But that impulse is sweeping you away me thinks.
All the above said as an e-friend, not an e-critic.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 1/16/2003 12:52:46 AM ET by forestgirl
"I feel like I'm swimming upstream here, but again -- I understand the impulse. But that impulse is sweeping you away me thinks."
Forestgirl.. guess what? I am suddenly in a whole new frame of mind. The fever passed and I've stepped back to reconsider and ponder what to do. I had a meeting at a hotel today right next to the HD that has four Ridgid planers in stock. I didn't even feel tempted to turn right at the light. Came in to work instead. The reasons are as you so astutely point out. I have no immediate need of the BS, jointer or planer. It's just that I have the money, my wife gave me the green light.. and I was anxious to see new machines in my meagerly appointed shop. And, I admit that I wish I had slowed down.. asked.. looked around.. and bought a better saw than my Craftsman TS. It's okay, mind you, but I could have done better for the $800 I spent. Thanks for being a good buddy.
bill
Aw, shucks, I was looking forward to those chocolates!
A good move you're making, IMO. Make something cool with your tablesaw so we all can see it! I can send you plans for my McDonald-Douglas-inspired corner-clamping jigs, LOL!
In the meantime, keep an eye on the boards for what various people say about various brands of various tools. You'll see patterns appearing, things that are pretty consistent from one user to another, that will assist you in future choices.
Hope you have a great weekend, take your and yours out for dinner with some of that money you saved. Your wife should offer up a toast to your imminent sensibility!! (I have no idea if that phrase makes sense)
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 1/16/2003 10:06:03 PM ET by forestgirl
LOL.. the "money I saved" will still be spent, as intended, just not at the moment. Something strange: I also found myself today hesitating to buy out of fear. It's exactly like the fear I had about buying my TS, which, when overcome, transferred into a fear of buying all the plywood called for in my "Garage Workshop" plans from New Yankee Workshop. It's a fear that I'm in way over my head.
bill
Well, I haven't put my BA in psychology to work for awhile now, but being a graduate of the self-designed 12-step Program to Cure Impulsive Shopping, I'm taking an educated guess that the fear you're feeling may be related to the frenzy that possessed you yesterday. In addition to that is the fact that your decision about what to buy has been put off and there's uncertainty there.
Just think of that little fear-noise as a voice that's saying "Take your time, study this issue for awhile. The tools aren't going anywhere -- make an educated decision when the time is right." The time will be "right" when you have a need for a particular tool. Since most of us are barely past the mid-point of Project A when we start looking forward to Project B, there will always be time to order a tool, if the one you want has to be ordered.
When I get that severe tool-urge, I spend an hour or two with my stack of catalogs. It's amazing how much I've learned just looking through such catalogs as Lee Valley-Veritas, Garrett-Wade, Freud, CMT, Jesada and Iturra Designs (the list is endless). Occasionally, I spend $20 or $30 on one or two special measuring or marking tools that I know will improve my woodworking. That keeps the big bucks in the bank until I need a particular tool, and know which one I want.
Take that energy and put into a project -- it'll feel great. I still think your wife owes you a toast, LOL. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
The most durable Ridgid product I own is their calendar. I've had the same one since I was a teenager. Every six years or so I can re-use it.
I didn't buy it for the pictures. Really.
tony b.
This was meant for ALL, but ForestGirl was at the top of the list...and I neglected to change it.
Edited 1/17/2003 12:21:51 AM ET by YOTONYB
Toooo funny! (BTW, it's good to be at the top of somebody's list!)
Was that Sarge we were giving a hard time to about calendars and such?? I bet.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Terrific advice, as usual, forestgirl. (I feel like Smokey Bear calling you "forestgirl") I was telling another poster that it's all a confidence issue, as in, I ain't got any when it comes to buying real tools to work real wood. Everything to date has been sheet goods fashioned on the TS with biscuit and rabbet/dado joinery. I've only bought one piece of lumber; a 4/4 X 6" X 6' length of quartersawn red oak. (I had to ask the salesman what 4/4 meant). I bought that to practice on with my bench plane. It now looks like a rabid beaver tore into it.
I've made another decision. I'm not buying any more grown up tools until I learn how to do mortise and tenon joinery. I'm just getting way ahead of myself here. But that ain't unusual for me.
Thanks,
bill
Edited 1/17/2003 5:23:36 PM ET by bill
Bill,
Interesting you bring up M&T as a task you want to master..or at least develop some skill at. I have been looking at chisels trying to decide which ones. I bought a 1/2" Japanese chisel some time ago..and was kinda leaning that way. This past weekend I cut about a dozen (approx. 2.5x1.5x1.5)big M&T's for a bench I'm making for the lathe. The first Mortice took about 2.5 hours...the last two took about 15 minutes each..and fit well. Also, I learned along the way the length of the Japanese chisel is two small for my hands for big mortices. However, I love there size and balance for smaller work. This is a good learning experience that will help me decide appropriately.
I think its good that your cooling your heals a bit. I want a bandsaw and a joiner in the worst way...along with more and better hand tools..more clamps...more dust control...more etc. etc. etc. With any luck it'll never end. But, between the workbench and a couple of old stanleys and the cabinet saw..wood is being squared up poperly. If you haven't done it go to a hard wood supplier and roam around, also get to some wood working shows and watch some real craftspersons (PC).
".. If you haven't done it go to a hard wood supplier and roam around, also get to some wood working shows and watch some real craftspersons (PC). "
We have a great hardwood supplier here in Houston called "Hardwood Lumber Co." where they have four buildings full of various types of wood in various sizes and stages of milling. I've been there once and plan on spending much more time there. They let you wander around all you want and are very helpful, too.
The next wood working show in Houston is March 28th.. and I'm there!
Hi "Smokey." I'm back from a day of play (Friday). You have my admiration for tackling the M&T thing . I've not gotten to that yet.
If forestgirl is too unwieldy, you can shorten it to FG as many do, or write to Sarge and ask for permission to use "First Lady of the Forest." (My favorite of course, LOL) forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Until something comes along to replace mortise and tenon it appears I am just about obligated to learn it. I don't, however, plan to be drilling and chiseling mortises out. I want to investigate more civilized methods. Too bad you can't just biscuit join everything. I've gotten fairly decent at it.
I think its great what the internet offers us... I too find myself almost afraid to make a large purchase anymore unless I have dotted all my I's and crossed all my T's in detailed research.
I have to laugh, my wife has recently been thinking about buying her first sewing machine. Well, it came as quite a surprise to me to find out that sewing machines can cost anywhere from $200.00 all they way up to like $5-6k... UMMM EXCUSE ME, I thought *I* had the expensive hobbies... hehehe was even funnier to find out that if you look up above, you will see Fine woodworking(You are here), Fine Homebuilding(good resource too), Fine Cooking(do they list the phone number to the local Pizza Slut?), Fine Gardening(I gotz a mower, duz dat kownt?), and lastly THREADS(a forum for them sewin types).... I was bound and determined to weed through the sewing forums to help wiffy make an informed decision, and was happy/surprised to see taunton had a forum fur the wiff.... ANYWAYS, I dont think I ever really wanted to know what different stitches are, but the wiff does, and I like the fact that the internet makes it very easy to do research on different products.. Not to mention gives us the opportunity to price comparison shop and get the best deals as well...
Getting back to the matter at hand.... I recently purchased(havent received it yet), a Sunhill Jointer.. Thanks to many reviews by people from here, I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of this new 6" machine... http://www.sunhillmachinery.com... as for the planer, Indiana is having a wood working show at the state fairgrounds this weekend, I am looking forward to trying to get my best price on a Delta 2 Speed Planer(and some new blades for my TS)... as for the band saw... Welp thats a different story all together....
My father, one of the best wood/metal/wutevah crafters I know(I am not at ALL biased here /grin).. has on 2 occasions gone out and bought me tools for wood working... He bought me starter tools(usually on major sale), but I am one of those unappreciative types, and prefer to buy higher end/prolly never use all the benefits of/tool buyers... he bought me a 12" Jet band saw a few years back from the local Lowes who was selling their demo unit, dirt cheap.... anyways, so my pops bought it for me... Its a nice tool, but has kind of put me in a predicament.. I can not turn it into a resaw machine, it wont accept the riser block.. Hence I dont know whether to spend the money on more blades for it, or save my money to buy the band saw I want(something able to do some resawing).... anyways... I appreciate the saw, but I wish he woulda held off and done some research.... Hows that for an unappreciative son.. hehehe
What does all this have to do with your predicament? Check out the sunhill... I think its a great unit for the money(cost me $408.00 with shipping/handling included) comes with a 6" x 52" deck(which is about 4" longer than most of the other 6" decks out there), and comes with a free dust chute.... I think its a nice unit, and has received nothing but praise from those here on this site, and a few others I frequent...
"It's just that I have the money, my wife gave me the green light.."
Bahahaha...maybe you should ask her what to get!
How do the rest of us get Godiva chocolates and Breakfast Blend from you? All in favor?" Exult O shores, and ring O bells! / But I with mournful tread, / Walk the deck my Captain lies, / Fallen cold and dead" - Whitman
I agree with David in that my experience with a 6" Ridgid jointer was GREAT, and the only reason I upgraded was for wider and longer. The man who bought the Ridgid still thinks he has the better piece of equipment (considering cost).
Good Luck
Richard
Hello all
I am a pipefitter by trade. Ridgid is a good name, they make nothing but the best tools on the market (for piping). I grant you that thay have not been in woodworking for long, but many wood magazines that tested their equipment rated them pretty high on all their marking scales (ex.: Fine Woodworking rated the 13"planer and the 6" jointer very highly.)
I also own their planer. I think it's GREAT. It's far better than my old Dewalt. The change over for the blades is the quickest and easiest I've ever seen.
Ridgid is a good machine and a good name.
sincerely C.A.G.
Hah! Notice, Bill found a way to get out of that bet, clever guy, eh? If the rest of you trust me to send you chocolates, you're gonna be sad!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Bill,
I bought the Ridgid 14 inch band saw about 8 months ago and love it.
I based my decision on the review of 14 inch bandsaws in the first annual Tools and Shops issue of FWW.
The Ridgid 14 inch is a taiwanese-made clone of the Delta 14 inch saw, as most of them are.
It scored at the top or near the top in most of the comparison tests, including initial wheel coplanar alignment, ability to tension to 10,000 lbs, flatness of table, and ease of setup out of the box.
It was well packed, the instruction manual was well-written, and easy to set up, unlike any Craftsman machine you could ever buy.
The 14 inch band saw was right for me - I've used a tablesaw for a long time now but I've never had a bandsaw. You realize that there is a lot of tweaking and adjustment that you do with a bandsaw. Changing from a half inch blade to a quarter inch blade requires that you make something like 11? different adjustments - I stopped counting - to get it to track and cut correctly. Learning and getting skilled at all that tweaking and adjustment was not something I wanted to do on a gi-normous machine. I retired from the Navy after twenty years as a pilot and always used the machinery at the woodworking hobby shops on base wherever I was stationed, even overseas at NAF Atsugi, Japan. At the base that I live close to now, they have a 20 inch bandsaw. Is it a nice machine with a lot of capability? Yes. Would I want it in my basement shop? Probably not. It would take up too much space, I would have to get 220 wired in, the blades would be too expensive, it would be difficult to move, and it would be just too much of pain to keep tweaked and up to speed, unlike the nimble and versatile 14 inch saw.
If you want brand recognition, a very heavy and stable stand, Made in the USA, and hooking into a classic tradition, spend 850 instead of 450 and buy the Delta 14 inch. But if you have never owned a bandsaw and you do not depend on furniture making to make a living, I would stick with the 14 inch size and get a good bandsaw book.
If you buy the Ridgid, the blade that comes with it is FOD (Foreign Object and Debris - not good at all). Get rid of it and get two decent blades, recommend 1/4 an 1/2 inch. Hope this helps.
Now I'm sure a lot of folks from the Brushywood Country Club (from the movie Caddyshack) school of my-shop-has-bigger-tools-than-yours Fine Woodworking are going to jump in and tell you not to listen to me and to buy a 22 inch Grizzly. Ed
Ed.. you are a gem. You have a way of cutting through the chaff (the pilot in you) and getting right to the salient points. I truly appreciate your assessment and am happy to have it; not only because you say what I was hoping to hear.. but because you say it with such conviction and credibility. Thanks for helping me make my decision.
bill
Not to pick nits, but I don't think the Delta 14" is made in the USA. That's a little subterfuge on Delta's part. My Delta 14" BASE is made in the US, but the upper portion (saw) is made overseas.
Regards,
John
I was curious about that, John. Here's another question: Are all of the 14 inch bandsaw frames (for Delta and all the clones) actually made at the same foundry in Taiwan? They look awfully similar to me.
Here's another question for bandsaw wizards: For the home hobbiest woodworker, are roller bearings significantly better than cool blocks to warrant the upgrade? Highland Hardware's catalog tells me that I still want cool blocks from scrolling with narrow blades, but "bandrollers" make wider blades perform at their best . Obviously I'm still on the steep side of the bandsaw learning curve,....Any words of advice and experience much appreciated,... respectfully, Ed
Now isnt Ridgid known for like pipe threading pipe cutting type tools stuff the plumer uses?I bet its not much better than Crapsman.
You could probally get something good for about the same money.I like Delta & Powermatic but theres much better out there if you have the money.
Ron
Bill, I have had a Ridgid 6" jointer for two years now, and have been completely pleased with it, except for the fact that it's a 6" jointer and not an 8", 12" or 48" (ha, ha!) jointer with extra-long infeed/outfeed tables. I've had no problems of any sort -- well, at first I had some trouble with woodchip clogging, but that was solved by getting a real dust-collection system to replace my wimpy shop-vac.
So, in terms of quality -- and at least in regard to this particular tool from Ridgid -- I wouldn't worry if I were you. My jointer is a very solid, well-built piece of machinery that required almost no set-up tweaking. I don't own any other Ridgid products, so I can't comment on them -- but Home Depot is as good or better than other retailers at replacing or allowing you to return items you're not satisfied with. They've been no worse than companies that have sold me some of my higher-end tools.
Quality aside, of course, others have pointed out the value of saving your pennies and spending them later on a larger piece of equipment that will allow you to joint bigger pieces of lumber. On the other hand, still others will say that you should save your money and flatten really big planks by hand with a big jointer plane. Only you can decide what will work for you, and what's more important: getting started now or having a bigger machine later.
I consider myself to be a serious woodworker, and have successfully made well-fitted, squared-up bookcases and entertainment centers using pieces up to 75" long that were jointed and flattened with my 6" jointer. All it took was a little forethought, some care in the setup, and away I went. No matter how much equipment you buy, you'll always want something bigger and better -- and in the meantime, there will always be solutions and workarounds.
David
Look, I made a hat -- Where there never was a hat!
Thanks, David.. I really appreciate your aomments on your "real world" experience with the Ridgid jointer. And I agree with your assertion thad HD is great when it comes to satisfying customer complaints.
Bill,
You mentioned a sense of fear about the purchases. I suspect we all feel that, especially as we start out, and quite frankly, it still exists in me at some level today and everyday. " What don't I know" is a question I keep on asking myself. People on here are great at sharing their information and knowledge, however, most of it is in the form of conclusions. What we would like to say is, "Excuse me..could you please give me ten pages that encapsulates the last twenty years of your experiences and, with regard to that tool/equipment, please describe in detail your going in objectives, disappointments, surprises, workarounds...and how it has impacted the satisfaction level of your work....one last thing, please detail decisions you wish you had made".
For me, confidence and knowledge, many times, comes with sweat equity. Building the bookcases, cabinets, etc. helps but building the big heavy workbench really helped me develope the confidence. For one thing, buying big thick Maple at the Hardwood supplier taught me most of this is 7 1/2" wide...so much for 6" joiners. Also, putting 12/4x 7.5"x 7' stock through my 12 1/2 planer was not a lot of fun..and I kinda realized if I want to get away from plywood ya gotta have the equipment to handle good big pieces of lumber. Currently, I'm squaring up mostly with hand tools...I'm resawing with the cabinet saw...if I didn't have the workbench I could not do that. Anyhow, the point is a few experiences like that kinda open you eyes..its hard to put into words...but when you see a big piece of lumber gong through a 12 1/2" planer...its kina like seeing a VW pull a 30 trailor...you just know instinctively it dosen't belong there. good luck with your decisions
BG, you wrote, "For me, confidence and knowledge, many times, comes with sweat equity."
That's how it is for me, too. After I brought the TS home (in two huge boxes) and put it together I acquired a certain sense of competence. It also meant I had to overcome my fear and buy the $600 worth of plywood and other materials (including a plate joiner) to build my workshop cabs. And after that project came out 1000% better than I ever would have imagined, I had the confidence to buy more materials and build two desks, a closed door cabinet, and a bookcase. I am now at that juncture where I want to buy real wood and build real furniture. So I will need real tools and the whole enterprise has me suffering from "deer fever". I'm hesitating to pull the trigger again. It's good to know someone understands what I mean. It ain't easy for a big boy to admit being afraid.
bill
bill
I narrowed the planer search to Ridgid and Delta 2 speed.
The Delta won as I got it on sale Toolcrib $409. I wanted the extra goodies it had also. Both are excellent.
The jointer is fine, but too much money as you can get a longer table with General. The Sunhill has 52" table @ $325 plus $85 truck freight. I choose it. The Bridgewood and the Yorkcraft are excellent buys at much less, also.
The BS is fine, but it has a 3/4 HP motor. If you want a $400 BS, take FG's suggestion and get the new Grizzly with 1 HP and roller guides. Not to mention quick release tension and it comes with a fence. ( I use a point fence.. )
Shop and compare for your needs. Then go shop and compare some more. If you are not in immediate need as you stated, you are in excellent position to wait for a sale on the brand you decided fits your current and future needs.
Sounds like you're in the drivers seat with an OK from the cheif financial officer. Now....just drive!
Good Luck...
sarge..jt
Sarge.. good to hear from you. I hadn't seen your "handle" in these precincts for awhile and was beginning to wonder where you were. Thanks for the heads up on the tools. Now I remember that you got the Sunhill jointer recently, right?
And, yes, your recommendation on the BS from Grizzly makes eminent sense. I'm planning to order it and the other tools, when I first get a handle on joinery more sophisticated than rabbets, dados and biscuits. I'm currently investigating a dovetail jig and ways to M&T without straining the patience of Job. Thanks again, Sarge.
Oops, I think I see a spec of dust near your shop. LOL
bill
bill
You would probaly see more than a spec of dust. My company ask me to build a 40' parts counter for our new facility. (With a deadline..that creates vacuum) I've been working 10 to 14 hours a day with the first 30 feet. Then I get the pleasure of building the last 10' in a semi-circle. I'm still around, just haven't had time to get on-line.
Taking the day off to clean up the shop and rest. Yes, it got so dirty I had to stop and clean the d-mn thing up. Couldn't stand it anymore. he.... OK, OK.. the Felix syndrone. <G>
Have a good evening...
sarge..jt
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled