Replies

1. 
   ~~BobL | Dec 08, 2003 05:51pm | #1

   I bought it.  So far I think its a great saw.  The ergonomics is nice.  A lot better than the 10" Hitachi I have.   As for the lazer guide, this is my observation.  To mount the lazer to the saw you have to replace the collar that holds the blade on the arbor.  They give you the lazer, which will now be the new collar, as well as a new bolt to hold the lazer to the arbor.  Really easy and clear to understand.  However, when the lazer is mounted to arbor the actual "eye" that projects the lazer beam when the saw blade is spinning is about 1/16th off the blade.  When you go to make your cut and pull the trigger the blade starts to spin the lazer is now a dashed line that you are supposed to line up on the line that you are going to cut.  As the blade comes down the lazer will move to the left of the line you are cutting on.  However, because the lazer unit is mounted 1/16th off the blade the cut is 1/16th off on the long side of the line that you want to cut.  Now keep in mind that this is with the stock blade that comes with the saw and might change with a blade that doesn't have as much of a kurf to it.

   Thanks,
   Barney

2. 
   glatt | Dec 08, 2003 08:24pm | #2

   The latest issue of Fine Woodworking had a small paragraph about the future of Ridgid Tools.  It seems Ridge tools will no longer make any of its own tools.    In the future, it will license the Ridgid name to cheap Asian tool companies to make tools for them.  They are attempting to get into a lower cost tool market.  They are also going to stop their exclusive arrangement with Home Depot, so you wil start to see Ridgid tools sold at other stores.  I imagine the quality of Ridgid tools will only go downhill from here, so buy any Ridgid tools now, before the quality drops on you.

1. 
   JohnSprung | Dec 09, 2003 03:58am | #3

   > so buy any Ridgid tools now, before the quality drops on you.

   Or don't buy them before the models are discontinued and replacement parts get scarce.....

   -- J.S.

3. 
   ravenwind | Dec 09, 2003 07:53am | #4

     Hi /dont buy the ridgid chop saw any size! spend the extra $ 20, 30, 40, 60, 70, 100 or 300.00 dollars more and get one with a good everything on it. my friends guard needs to be held up with a string or tape  and they all seem to be the same design on them all. dont buy one unless its a reconditioned one and you get it real cheep.   DeWalt, bosch, delta,  porter cable or hitachi would be a great choice. And the guys at woodworkers warehouse said they will be getting an after market laser to mount on any saw soon so you can get one that might not work anyway. I still like a pencil and reading glasses.                    

                                                        dogboy

1. 
   jc21 | Dec 09, 2003 07:41pm | #5

   Re Woodworker's Warehouse  http://www.woodworkerswarehouse.com  Sad to see them going out of business but there might be some good deals.

   Edited 12/9/2003 11:42:38 AM ET by jc

1. 
   ravenwind | Dec 10, 2003 07:24am | #6

   wow! I was in another town about 100miles from my hometown store last weekend and saw a store with out of business sale and thought it was just that store. It sucks because there the only ones arround here to get router bits (1/2 in) and nice  ones. H D doesnt have s--t.

1. 
   BobKovacs | Dec 10, 2003 11:14pm | #7

   Just another case of HD, Lowes, and internet mailorder houses like Amazon putting the local vendor out of business....

2. 
   LarryG | Dec 11, 2003 02:06am | #8

   I've been using CMT products and think there some of the best I've ever used try the web page http://www.sommerfeldtools.com and pretty fast delivery

1. 
   CarpenterJC | Dec 12, 2003 08:25am | #9

   Just an observation...but..what does it say about all of us so called "professionals" when we use a laser to cut a straight line?..for Me no thanks on the laser..I"ll stick to My older Hitachi compound saw and My watchful eye and finesse.

2. 
   JDRHI | Dec 12, 2003 04:50pm | #10

   Just an observation...but..what does it say about all of us so called "professionals" when we use an electric miter saw to cut a straight line?..for Me no thanks on the Hitachi..I"ll stick to My older Stanley box saw and My watchful eye and finesse.J. D. Reynolds

   Home Improvements

   "DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"

4. 
   JDRHI | Dec 12, 2003 04:53pm | #11

   I`ve got a Ridgid table saw that I`m very happy with, but I`d be leary about buying any other Ridgid power tools at this time. It`ll be a few years before I considered purchasing another....once they`ve either established themselves, or gone under.

   J. D. Reynolds

   Home Improvements

   "DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"