Tool Purchase – Too Many Choices
I potentially have an option to by some new tools including a table saw, band saw, and jointer. Because Home Depot is so close by, I am considering the Ridgid TS3650, BS1400, and JP0610. The TS and BS would effectively replace my existing ryobi tools while the jointer would be a welcomed addition.
After searching online for opinions and reviews, I have learned and summarized the following about each:
TS3650:
* Arbor issue – due to inaccurate milling by Ridgid, an area is narrower on the arbor near the shoulder resulting in a stacked dabo set running out of alignment. Apparently, this defect is being replaced for free.
* The fence is apparently made out of aluminum and the handle is plastic so longevity is severly questioned.
* The TS was apparently reviewed by Wood magazine and ranked #1 in the June issue. I have yet to confirm this info.
BS1400:
* Only 3/4 HP motor as compared to competition that comes w/ 1HP.
* Lots of hype about the discontinuation of this model and essentially all large tools by Ridgid. IS THIS TRUE?
JS0610:
* Overall, positive feedback. The only point was would it be worth going up to an 8″ immediately? The Grizley has a comparable model but the availability is certainly a drawback for me. I have several furniture projects on my list, such as a dining room table.
I would like to hear everyone’s opinions, especially regarding the BS and JO since I did not find “much” recent feedback. Thanks in advance.
Z
Replies
I am not a fan of the Ridgid machines. There are, I think, many other, better choices.
Machine choice is a frequent topic of discussion around here. If you do a search of past threads, you'll have enough reading to keep you busy for days.
********************************************************
"I tend to live in the past because most of my life is there."
-- Herb Caen (1916-1997)
I have the Rigid jointer, and for the money seems very good to me. Holding up well, and have ran a couple hundred board feet through it so far. As far as the bandsaw, HP shouldn't be to much of an issue, if your not in a production enviro, and in no big hurry. I use the Grizzly 0555 with a 1 HP motor, and riser, and it resaws everything I've thrown at it, with plenty to spare. Again, if your in no big hurry, whats the diff if it takes 1 min. or 1 1/2 min. to resaw a board. My personal experience with HD has always been positive, although others may disagree. Best Luck in whatever decision you decide to make.
Grizzly has a sale on their 8" jointer for under $600, you might want to consider that and save yourself the upgrade later.
Thanks for the feedback Ing. What type of wood do you normally resaw? You reminded me of another question I forgot.I have not been able to determine if the Ridgid BS allows for a riser to increase the throat width. Anyone know?Thanks again Ing. Z
Most of the wood I've resawn has been Jatoba (brazilian cherry), although a mix of many others, including Oak, Bloodwood, Mahogany and Tiger Wood. Not sure, but I'm sure I've read somewhere there is a riser avail. for Rigid BS.
Buy the very best you can afford...I'd suggest you skip the TS for now and buy a better BS (18") and go directly to an 8" jointer. The BS can fill in as a TS but not the other way around. The 8" jointer can handle longer stock, for the table you want to build or say the workbench you'll need to build someday.
Hope this helps.
Good point benchdog! Z
Anyone know if Ridgid is still supporting their BS/TS/large power tools? Are any more being manufactured?Z
Zombeerose,
What do you mean? Did Ridgid say they are no longer manufacturing them? I haven't heard anything like that, but maybe I just missed it????Fill me in.
I own and use a few Ridgid tools and they have been very good. I have the TS2400 Benctop table saw, which is terrific. It is like the little brother of the TS3650. It has the same fence (essentially) as the TS3650. There is no worry about the fence's longevity. It locks down very tightly, slides smoothly, and has a fine adjuster.
I have Ridgid shop vacs, which are great. I also had a Ridgid jigsaw, which is pretty good, though not as good as the Festool.
I can't comment from personal experience on the Ridgid band saw, since I own a Jet 14". But I have heard very good comments about it from other users. Same goes for the Ridgid jointer.
I will caution you AGAINST a Grizzly. I bought the Grizzly G7943 benchtop drill press a while back. It is supposed to be their best model, but I have had several problems with it from the day it arrived -- missing parts, crushed parts, and other elements that simply did not hold up well, even in light use. When I complained about the crushed hood, all they did was send me a new one. But I had to take the entire machine apart to fix this, so I did not do it. Because Grizzly is mail order, if you have a problem you're in for a big hassle. I'm saying this as a general caution.
With any tool, if it is a really close call between Grizzly and Ridgid, I would go with the Ridgid. Of course, Grizzly makes some machines that Ridgid does not make (like an 8" jointer). In those cases, I would find a comparable Jet, Delta, or Powermatic model at a local tool store. Not that those other brands are guaranteed to be problem-free, but you can at least return them if something is wrong.
And when you are comparing prices, remember to always figure in the shipping.
Edited 6/17/2005 4:52 pm ET by Matthew Schenker
Thanks for the feedback Matt. I too have a couple Ridgid tools and have had a good experience with them. However, I have also had a decent experience with the array of ryobi tools I own but I know their are much "better" comparable models out there that for one, offer much for power.You certainly make a point about mail order machines/parts. I always have difficulty ordering something that I can't actually "see" first hand hence my apprehension about grizzly.Thanks again. Z
You seem to have a penchant for buying high-quality tools in a gradual, step-wise, fashion; Ryobi, then Ridgid, then what? Rojek?
I am one of those dinosaurs who believes good tools are worth waiting for until I have saved enough money to buy tools of unquestionable quality, rather than buy successively better tools and spending my money two or three times - eating the depreciation each time I decide to trade up.
I worked for decades with only the most basic tools until I could afford lifetime purchases, and I admit that I don't understand the propensity of so many to purchase stop-gap or disposable tools; I don't know whether this practice stems from the false belief that quality work cannot be performed without a full array of power tools, or it is a result of generations of pervasive marketing practices that tell us repeatedy that there's something OK, or even virtuous, about the seemingly insatiable need for immediate gratification.
In any case, I would counsel you to consider your tool purchases carefully, buying only what you need for the task at hand, and buying tools of unquestionable quality that will offer a lifetime of regret-free service.
Resist the forces of the dark side, Luke...
-Jazzdogg-
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.
jazz,
"It's a poor workman, who blames his tools."
Never been able to figure if this means that a good workman could do good work with inferior tools, or if he'd never be caught with shoddy tools in his hands. Mebbe both?
"Never been able to figure if this means that a good workman could do good work with inferior tools, or if he'd never be caught with shoddy tools in his hands. Mebbe both?"
Joinerswork,
I don't know about you, but I've managed to do work that was quite acceptable with tools that, I learned later in my career, were marginal at best; not easily or quickly, mind you, but acceptably.
That being said, I've also managed to achieve some incredibly stupid screw-ups using industrial quality tools of the highest caliber; unfortunately, terrific tools don't eliminate the possibility of extraordinary brain farts!
God's way of bringing a little (sometimes a lot of) humility into my life when I've needed it most!-Jazzdogg-
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.
jazz,
"God's way of bringing a little (sometimes a lot of) humility into my life when I've needed it most!"
Yeah, but I don't think I need it EVERY DAY!!
Cheers,
Ray
I have the 2424 ridgid table saw and am happy with it. The arbor issue was an issue on earlier runs of the machine and the issue has been fixed by ridgid on the current crop. If you get one with the issue they will fix it for free.
The bandsaw used to have a riser block option but no longer does.
I know a number of people who have Grizzly tools and find them great.
What you go for also has to do with what power you have available. If I had had it (220v) and the extra couple of hundred dollars, I would have gone with the grizzly cabinet saw - 3hp motor and better saw.
As mentioned by others, Grizzly has a sale on a good 8" jointer now.
Drill Press - I would go with Ridgid - seems like a good one.
Bandsaw - I have done some looking for one myself and am will be ordering the Grizzly.
Do a search here and in Tool Talk on the tool type and you will get a large number of hits - when you look for Bandsaw info - look up Bandsaw and Band Saw - some people spell it one way and others the other.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled