I am planing to go buy a new 12in sliding compound miter saw this week, and this weekend I went to take a look at what was on the market. Now I have to admit I am a big fan of DeWalt, but the Ridgid saw looked to be a very nice saw. The Ridgid has features I like a lot like Exactline laser, It will miter up to a 62 deg angle and bevel up to 47 deg. All of these features I really like and are not available on the Dewalt, but the thing is I have never own any Ridgid tools and have never heard anything about them good or bad.
If anybody could let me know if they have this saw or could let me know what they think of the ridgid brand It would be of great help.
Thanks for the help
Replies
I haven't owned one, but hear mostly good about them online here. From what I've seen in the stores, there isn't much to criticize.
The features are an added benefit.
both are owned by larger multinational companies. B&D for Dewalt and Emerson for Rigid
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"Emerson for Rigid'You must have way to many piffin screws on t he brain <G>.Rigid was power tools was "partnershiped" with Techtronic Industries (TTI) with TTI doing all of the design and manufacturing.TTI also owns Ryobi and this year bought Milwaukee Electric.
Is emerson out of the equation? I know that Rigid's motors used to be built by Emerson. TTI came into the picture and got rid of the life time warranty. Caught lots of flack for that and now is bringing/has brought back the lifetime warranty.
My question is who makes the motors now, is it still Emerson ( owned by TTI) or is TTI totally seperate?
Who knows?Now Emerson still makes the Rigid wet dry vac's as they still make then for Craftsman. And of course they still make the Rigid plumbing tools.Now one of the TTI groups make Dirt Devil and Royal vacs so it might even be that Emerson supplies the motors for those.However, afaik, Emerson Motors only make induction motors. So either the vac motors where made by the wet dry group or they outsourced them.And as for all of the hand power tools (drills routers, CS, MS) I am under the impression that Emerson never made those and they where always outsourced, but under direct Emerson control. But that is only an impression.But Emerson is a big company and has lots of different groupd and division. They make a lot of OEM equipment applicance such motors and controls, the make industrial equipment.And they make alot of consumer equipment such as InSinkerators, White-Rogers. And even hand tools - Robo-Grip pliers and from their website "Largest screwdriver manufacturer in the world"Knaack¯ and WeatherguardTM are also their products.
The first Rigid TS I saw had an Emerson motror, and the word around was that Emerson owned Rigid. That may have changed by now, who knows
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Both are true.For years (15, 20 25 ?) Emerson made the stationary woodworking tools for Craftsman. RAS, TS, drill presses.Then a few years ago Emerson adn Sears went different direction. And they made very similar equipement for HD under the Ridgid name. The earlier TS, for example, looke very similar to the Craftsman.Emerson has long owned Ridge Tool company which made and still does make the Ridgid plumbing tools.I am not sure what Emerson had to with the Ridgid hand power tools. I don't think that they every manufactured them. Don't know if they designed and speced them or maybe just a purchasing agent for HD.Then about 2 years ago Emerson "partnershiped" or "licensed" TTI to use the Ridgid name for ww tools.
Some people will knock Rigid solely because it's sold at HD. I have a Rigid table saw and it has been relaible. I wore out a Rigid planer in less than a year, and got a free replacement. That one lasted about a year. However, most of the reviews I have read, and the comments here, are that Rigid is a decent line.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
When ever I see a saw ad with a laser line, it appears to be 1/16" or 3/32" or wider.
What side or center do you use to determine where to cut. My Dewalt compound miter doesn't have a laser and I don't think it needs it. I always bring the blade down to verify where it will cut before I turn it on.
While I am on lasers, I got the Laser Level from Sears that can be used on a camera tripod to pull a ceiling line for a drop ceiling perimeter grid. By the time it gets to the end of a 20' room [advertised range up to 30' I think], the beam is 3/8" wide. I like to generally work tighter than that.
with the laser you would have to establish where the blade cuts in relation to the laser. the problem with some lasers is you have make sure that the laser is perfectly aligned with the blade or your cuts may be off. That I've heard is the problem with cheaper saws. I don't know how the better saws like Hitachi or Rigid fair with their lasers.
Your method is the way will get accurate cuts every time, especially with a SMS where you can make your tik mark anywhere along your stock.
I agree. With my Rigid 10" miter saw with laser, the laser is accurate only when the blade is fully upright when you turn it on. As you bring it down to the wood, the line moves away from the cut point. But as long as I know it is accurate when I start the blade, I'm fine.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Hitachi slider.
-zen
I have the 12" compound mitre saw and it works fine although if the scm was available when i bought i think if i had enough work for it i wood of bought the scms instead.
In addition i have the contractor table saw and stand, 14" band saw .small laminate router, spindle sander ,thickness planer,6" jointer,& the 1mpact driver all have worked fine so far TII manufactures these under license from Ridgid
you have 90 days to try out or return to point of purchase
I have had the Ridgid portable table saw for about 5 years now. It is a great saw - well designed stand as well.
Have had the portable thickness planer for about 2 years. Have been happy with it, though I haven't given it a lot of use.
Got the four piece 18 volt Ridgid cordless set a few years back as well. Seems to be pretty decent stuff. Got the Bosch cordless shortly after to mainley for the jigsaw and use them most of the time, so not a lot of use of the Ridgid to comment on longevity.
All and all I think Ridgid is making some pretty decent tools - as are most manufacturers these days. Buy something that feels right and has the features you want, you should be fine.
Bosch. The upfront bevel control is the single greatest invention in miter box history. Cutting a 1-2 degree bevel on all miter cuts ensures tight miters. With the upfront control it is super easy.
I have my doubts about any saw with a laser. They are inaccurate, and totally useless in sunlight. Another example of trying to replace skill with technology. Learn your saw, and you will know exactly where the blade will cut.
One more thing. Bigger is not always better. I wouldn't buy any 12" saw. Too much blade wobble. If Bosch made an 8 1/4 I would have bought it. My 10" is OK, but my friends 12" is horrible.
I have to agree with you that bigger is not better. I work in a cabinet shop where we have a Dewalt 12" SCMS, a Dewalt 12" CMS and a Hitachi 10" SCMS. The Hitachi is our workhorse. Always dead on, not too much blade wobble. The 12" Fixed head is the next on to turn to, and we only use the 12" SCMS for cutting up nailer stock. And these are not bouncing around in the back of my truck every day. Get a Hitachi in a 10' SCMS and you'll be happy, unless you are using the saw for production framing. Then the Dewalt 12" SCMS is the ideal saw.Jeremy