Rigid table saw

[robinson46176]

I think I have mentioned how much I love my TS3650 Rigid table saw as a stand alone saw. I was first attracted to it visually at "the big orange box" but then I am attracted visually to a lot of things I never consider following up on.
One day I walked over to the TS3650 and just flipped up the fence lock and slid the fence back and forth a little. Whoa... That was nice... The more I looked the more I like it.
I was impressed then.
I was impressed when I put it together.
I have been impressed all of the time I have been using it.
-
I was in Home Depot the other day and I saw the new "replacement" for the TS3650 (I forget its number) so while I am not "in the market" I walked over to look it over. It is the granite topped model and the granite top looks very nice but I have reservations about it. Mostly I wonder if it will chip out at the "T" slots for the miter gauge. I sometimes fumble a board and if the miter gauge was extended out the front and got hit I could see the edges of the slots getting damaged. Also you can't use any magnetic attachments.
Now about the fence I love so much... AAAARRRRRGGGGGG!!!!
They have replaced it and I found the new one HORRIBLE!!! What on earth were they thinking??? What a sloppy, cheesy piece of crap.

[beeg]

BUT it has a GRANITE TOP.

[ryanbp01]

BUT it has a GRANITE TOP.

And you could use it to make fudge on!:D
BPR

[Ed in Tampa]

Farmer
I too am very impressed with the TS3650, in fact I would go so far as saying it is probably the best contractor saw out there.
The new saw the R4511 with granite top is still something to think about.

Many say it is being made by Steel City but I think the facts will support that is being made by a company in China that might also make Steel City or it could be both have granite supplied by same supplier.

I'm not sure why the move to granite but Steel City did it first and now it appears more will jump aboard. The jury remains out.

Advantages - No rust, very little chance of warpage, you can always make fudge.

Disadvantage - chipping, breakage as you mentioned, can't use the new magnetic accessories that are coming out.

End result this new saw will hurt competition. Products like the Sears zipcode saws, Steel City and most other hybreds will face real problems since this saw is selling for less than $600. Incidentally the TS3650 if you can find them are clearanced out at $399 and less.

As to the fence it is basically the Delta T2 fence that has been shown to do the job and is only shunned by the the "fine wood working" tool collectors. I do agree the TS3650 fence was a superior fence.

The best thing about Ridgid saws is they long realized the weak point in the table saw, be it contractor, hybred, or cabinet is the structure that supports the arbor between the trunions. Most other manufactures use multipiece structures made of trunion followers, tube/rails/bars, and casting to hold the arbor. On Ridgid this all is a one piece casting that prevents blade racking when the blade is tilted to cut bevels. For years trunion placement has been faulted as the cause of the problem known as "blade heeling" (blade goes out of parallel with miter slot when the blade is tilted). However the problem has always been racking in the arbor support and not where the trunions were mounted (cabinet or table). In fact I believe table mounted trunnions while harder to adjust are far superior to cabinet mounted trunions where cabinet flex can and does effect blade alignment.

Only a few high end saws have similar structure. Notice the newest Delta ads about their new Unisaw.

[eartigas]

There must be a connection somewhere since Steel City sells a thickness planner now (with helical cutterhead) that is identical to the Ridgid I have, but gray-ish. (Popular WW add)

As I have seen with some Grizzly tools that look identical to other brands, the whole issue is that there are a few factories in China and Taiwan manufacturing for everybody, they put your brand name and add a few cosmetic changes...if needed.

Globalization...

[JPG]

There must be a connection somewhere since Steel City sells a thickness planner now (with helical cutterhead) that is identical to the Ridgid I have, but gray-ish. (Popular WW add)

As I have seen with some Grizzly tools that look identical to other brands, the whole issue is that there are a few factories in China and Taiwan manufacturing for everybody, they put your brand name and add a few cosmetic changes...if needed.

Globalization...

NO! Not Globalization, diminishing number of sources!(Due to "economies of scale"). I call It SHORT SIGHTED(Common problem of Bean Counters)! The small number of suppliers in addition to wage/safety/health 'advantages' can also reap the economy of scale 'benefit'.

Consumer GAINS? Probably NOT!:( Observation: Sometimes the price drops, but usually with a corresponding(but greater) decrease in both quality and support(think repair parts).

END BI..uh...RANT.