Hi,

I'm a starting woodworker. I've done a lot of research and I think
that there is a PM66 in my future. But right now I want to buy an
intermediate saw. Home Depot has Ridgid ZRTS3650 (new, not
refurbished) on sale for $399. That seems to be 1/8 the price of my
future saw so it seems that when I buy the real saw, this relatively
speaking won't seem like a waste of money.

So what do you think about this saw? When I search for it on the web,
I only get links to refurbished sales. Does that tell me that these
saws break a lot? If not this saw, which intermediate saw ($400)
would you recommend for a budding woodworker?

On Mar 7, 7:24*am, Aaron Fude wrote:
Hi,

I'm a starting woodworker. I've done a lot of research and I think
that there is a PM66 in my future. But right now I want to buy an
intermediate saw. Home Depot has Ridgid ZRTS3650 (new, not
refurbished) on sale for $399. That seems to be 1/8 the price of my
future saw so it seems that when I buy the real saw, this relatively
speaking won't seem like a waste of money.

So what do you think about this saw? When I search for it on the web,
I only get links to refurbished sales. Does that tell me that these
saws break a lot? If not this saw, which intermediate saw ($400)
would you recommend for a budding woodworker?

I have the Ridgid 3650 and have used it for maybe 3-4 years now. It
does everything I need. I use a Forrest WWII blade and a shop built
crosscut sled. I have a small shop so the built in mobile base is
great. My only complaint would be dust collection but no open base
type saw is going to do that well. If I had the shop space and the
budget I'd probably upgrade to a 3 HP cabinet saw but for the
forseeable future I'll do just fine with the 3650.

On Mar 7, 10:24 am, Aaron Fude wrote:
Hi,

I'm a starting woodworker. I've done a lot of research and I think
that there is a PM66 in my future. But right now I want to buy an
intermediate saw. Home Depot has Ridgid ZRTS3650 (new, not
refurbished) on sale for $399. That seems to be 1/8 the price of my
future saw so it seems that when I buy the real saw, this relatively
speaking won't seem like a waste of money.

They are clearing them out for the new model with riving knife.

So what do you think about this saw? When I search for it on the web,
I only get links to refurbished sales. Does that tell me that these
saws break a lot?

It says the only place to buy them new is HD, and they dump off the
refurbs to whoever will take em.

-Kevin

wrote:
I have the Ridgid 3650 and have used it for maybe 3-4 years now. It
does everything I need. I use a Forrest WWII blade and a shop built
crosscut sled. I have a small shop so the built in mobile base is
great. My only complaint would be dust collection but no open base
type saw is going to do that well. If I had the shop space and the
budget I'd probably upgrade to a 3 HP cabinet saw but for the
forseeable future I'll do just fine with the 3650.

Harbor Freight has a $5.00 sawdust collection bag that fits under an
open-base saw. I've got one and it catches A LOT (but, of course, not all)
the sawdust. And it IS really easy to install.

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpis...eyword=sawdust

On Mar 7, 10:24*am, Aaron Fude wrote:
Hi,

I'm a starting woodworker. I've done a lot of research and I think
that there is a PM66 in my future. But right now I want to buy an
intermediate saw. Home Depot has Ridgid ZRTS3650 (new, not
refurbished) on sale for $399. That seems to be 1/8 the price of my
future saw so it seems that when I buy the real saw, this relatively
speaking won't seem like a waste of money.

So what do you think about this saw? When I search for it on the web,
I only get links to refurbished sales. Does that tell me that these
saws break a lot? If not this saw, which intermediate saw ($400)
would you recommend for a budding woodworker?

If you want to have some real fun, try Ridgid's new granite topped
hybrid saw. It's a couple hundred bucks more, but is interesting and
well made. It's also heavy as hell. Assembled weight is about 450
pounds. Each extension wing weighs about 55 pounds, versus 40 pounds
or less for cast iron topped saws.

Steel City also has a granite topped hybrid, and Craftsman is rumored
to have one coming out in late Spring, but both of those are going to
cost more than the Ridgid.

On Sat, 7 Mar 2009 09:22:14 -0800 (PST), wrote:

On Mar 7, 10:24 am, Aaron Fude wrote:
Hi,

I'm a starting woodworker. I've done a lot of research and I think
that there is a PM66 in my future. But right now I want to buy an
intermediate saw. Home Depot has Ridgid ZRTS3650 (new, not
refurbished) on sale for $399. That seems to be 1/8 the price of my
future saw so it seems that when I buy the real saw, this relatively
speaking won't seem like a waste of money.

They are clearing them out for the new model with riving knife.

So what do you think about this saw? When I search for it on the web,
I only get links to refurbished sales. Does that tell me that these
saws break a lot?

It says the only place to buy them new is HD, and they dump off the
refurbs to whoever will take em.

-Kevin


....I say get it now 'cause that's a good saw! I've used one in a site
application where it was abused to the max and it still performed
well...the fence is outstanding. In fact, I was so impressed with
that performance that I bought the TS2400 for my personal use, mainly
for finish work on site and I'm not complaining, nice portable
machine. My ultimate reference is my PM66 in the shop at home...you
absolutely won't go wrong there...

cg

On Mar 7, 11:24*am, Aaron Fude wrote:
Hi,

I'm a starting woodworker. I've done a lot of research and I think
that there is a PM66 in my future. But right now I want to buy an
intermediate saw. Home Depot has Ridgid ZRTS3650 (new, not
refurbished) on sale for $399. That seems to be 1/8 the price of my
future saw so it seems that when I buy the real saw, this relatively
speaking won't seem like a waste of money.


I have a TS3650, and absolutely love it. It's solid; accurate, and a
joy to use. Have had no problems with it whatsoever in the ~4 years
I've had it.

Have used a couple of top of the line cabinet saws in the past and
sure it's not *quite* the same; but for my money the 3650 is a no-
brainer - go for it!