Delta 36-650C or Ridgid 3650 or????
Fiddler
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
I am a first time forum poster. I hope I do everything correctly and I recieve responses. Kindly forgive my spelling mistakes and I promise never to mispell the same word the same way twice.
I have fiddled around my home workshop for about 30 years. Projects have ranged from a bench hook to an entertainment unit – and all the jigs in between. I am planning to build some furniture in the foreseeable future – cabinets, tables, chairs etc. I am contemplating the purchase of my “retirement” contractor style TS and would appreciate some feedback on the Delta 36-650C and the Ridgid 3650. Any comments about either of these two saws or recomendations for any other TS in the $600 to $800 price range will be appreciated.
Replies
If you are in the $600-$800 range, you might wat to look at the sawstop contractors saw they are getting ready to release.
http://www.sawstop.com/products-contractor-saw.htm
Wood just ran a review on contractor saws and the Ridgid came out on top. Their top on price was $700 though.
I bought the ridgid and am happy with it, but if I was in the market now, I would be looking seriously at the Sawstop.
Thanks Rick.
I own the Ridgid TS3650. Bought it from Home Depot.
I like the saw very much. The table is all cast iron (including the extension wings), which is nice for a "contractor" style saw. The blade that came with it is junk. It wobbled quite a bit. Stabilizers helped, but I ended up just getting a better Freud blade. Dust port works quite well connected to a shop vac.
Check the site for previous posts on this saw, though. There was a manufacturing defect in some of the arbors which caused a problem with using stacked dado heads. The company replaced my arbor for free, but I had to take much of the saw apart and drive it to a service center an hour away. It was an inconvenience, but the saw works great and will last me many years.
Also check out John White's review of the saw in FWW a couple of months ago. He gave it a great review. Plan to spend a weekend assembling it, though. It comes in two boxes at Home Depot. Make sure they give you both boxes!!
Good luck!
The blade that came with it is junk...
Mine was fine.. I have several 'GOOD' blades but never bothered to put them on the Ridgid..
Well, the blade is not a smooth cutting as my expensive blade but does more than just OK..
Sorry you got a bad one! Dang... don't that get to ya?
Thanks for the info. Do you know the FWW issue number John White's article was in?
I've got the Rigid and am very happy with it. The mobile base was a big selling point for me since my shop isn't huge. Heck, in any size shop it's convenient to have mobile tools. I've also got their planer and jointer and no complaints their either. Rigid tools have a very "solid" feel and are the best in their price range in my opinion. The surfveys I've seen say the same.
Thanks Boardman. How long have you had your saw and have you had any arbor problems or service issues?
About 8 months, and this far no issues with the arbor, and it's used daily. And I'm not the best at maintenance either. The plastic fence lock handle is junk - dropped the fence and it broke. But I ordered a new one and it came in 3-4 days.
One thing though...the assembly instructions were apparently written by someone who has never assembled one. But common sense tells you what to do.
No, but I believe it was in December. You can probably find it at your local library.- Toolfreak
Shinny are you in Canada and quoting Canadian currency? The 3650 in the states is ~ $600USD, the Delta 36-650 is not available as the same version they have in Canada. The 650"C" comes with cast iron wings....in the states it had stamped steel, but has been replaced with the 36-675 that offers an upgraded T2 steel fence. The 650 was around $500 here....the 36-680 with cast iron wings and T2 fence is ~ $580 in the states....nice deal IMO.
Both are good contractor saws...neither offers the best of everything. If I'm not mistaken the Ridgid is more expensive in Canada relative to the exchange rate....? It has a great built in mobile base if that's important to you. It also has a serpentine belt drive which is quieter and less prone to vibration than a standard v-belt. Many people are pleased with the fence, but I'm not a big fan of the plastic handle, nor the fact that it can be locked down out of parallel if you don't give it a little push forward. I'd rather see steel rails and fence tube anyway....I'm more confident that they'll hold up better over time.
If you are in Canada, you should check out the General International 50-175 or 50-185 (Canadian company and very highly rated saw), or the Canwood from House of Tools.
Welcome to the forum, Shinny! "I promise never to mispell the same word the same way twice." I love it!
re: the Canada question, it'd be great if you could update your profile with your location. Click on the "My Forums" button and go to "My Profile." They ask impertinent questions, but your location is helpful to all when we're answering questions.
re: the table saw, if you can afford to get one with cast iron wings and a bit bigger motor than a 1.5HP, it'll keep you happy much longer! I'll wait to see what the scoop is on Canada vs. USA.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Shinny, what's the price on the General contractor saw with cast iron up in your area? It's a beautiful saw with a great fence!
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
I can get a floor model for $899. What do you think?
I would get the General over the Rigid (for sure!) and probably over the Delta too. I have a friend who got one last summer, it set up perfectly and looks and handles like a quality saw. Others' reports here have been overwhelmingly positive on the General. The fence is either a Biesemeyer or a clone, can't remember, but quite nice. Were I choosing a contractors saw in that price range, I'd get the Grizzly with cast iron wings and 2HP motor, but that's not an option for you, right?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Forest Girl,
looked at the Grizzley on the link you provided (thanks) and it looks very interesting. I don't know if the Grizzly is available in Canada. I haven't seen it in any stores. Shipping costs and perhaps duty could be big factors though if I brought it in from the good old USA.
Grizzly isn't sold in any retail stores, only through their catalog, and at the three showrooms they have in the US. One of the intriguing things about that saw is how much it looks like the General that my friend has. His has what is probably a bit better fence though, or at least a more tradition one.
Keep us posted on your progress! forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Grizzz... I haven't seen it in any stores.. You won't I think! Just ship direct! GOOD Stuff in general.. Not perfect but more en' good stuff!
I would get the General over the Rigid (for sure!)
Contractors or Cabinet..??
I DO NOT knock a General.. Rigig is local and A GOOD SAW...
Edit:
Grizz is really nice too!
Edited 5/27/2005 1:41 pm ET by Will George
The most common price in my area on the GI185 is $949 Canadian. One is currently available at $899. The Delta 36-650 is priced from $599 to $799 canadian and availability at $599 is abundant. The Ridgid 3650 is priced at $799.
Ahhh, I finally took the time to look at the 36-650C. Steel extension wings. They're fine if you can't afford to go for cast iron, but otherwise, go for the cast iron. My used Jet saw came with steel wings. I found a pair of CI wings a couple years later, and WOW what a difference.
You also get a 2HP motor with the General, 1.5HP with the Delta; and a Biesemeyer (or clone) fence.
I know $$ is a finite resource, but if there's any way to do it, I think you'd be way happier with the General. I think the miter gauge is even better, LOL!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
I liked your comment about the mitre gauge LOL. In Canada the 650C does come with CI wings. In the USA you get a steel of a deal though!
Ah! Well, in that case.....forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Forestgirl,
That is right, the General does have a 2 HP motor. It does have a nice fence. It does have cast iron wings. It does have a heavy cast iron miter slid.
But when you lower the blade it heels to the right 10/1000th of an inch! Yes, I am laughing!
The Ridgid 3650 is priced at $799 RIP OFF!
By the way I love my Ridgid saw...
Edited 5/27/2005 2:00 pm ET by Will George
I see you are in Canada? I think.. ??? Why not support your country.. General HAS GREAT Stuff!
Not as good as USA made but... LOL
Just jokin' ya
Edited 5/25/2005 5:37 pm ET by Will George
Will,
Support Canada? NOt as good as the U.S.? Heck, they are all made in China (Free or Communist, take your pick).
LOL!
Hell I support China!
I got two little granddaughters adopted from China.. I babysit..
They are my sweethearts! I LOVE then like my own! Especially the one that smiles at me! LOL..
Hay! Everyplace makes good stuff and BAD stuff.. Including the good old USA!
I have been in factories in China.. The folks work hard! The specifications of the work from the engineers.. Not the folks makin' it!
I probably could knock China, but I was not. I was making a joke or a point about someone who suggested that buying a General was supporting Canada. Since Genral is built in China, like just about every other tablesaw out there, you are not supporting Canada very much. Just making a bit of levity.
I think the General Fence is made in Canada. So there you go!
You are right that the General fence is made in Canada, but the GI contractor and cabinet saws are made in Taiwan...the new 50-220 hybrid is made in China as far as I know. For those who may not know....General and General International are two different lines owned by the same Canadian company. General machines are made in Canada are are considered top notch by many wwers and institutions...while the GI machines are very good, but are more value oriented and are made overseas. I wish more companies would make the same distinction!
Taiwan. Like I said, "Made in China . . . free or otherwise". LOL!
Maybe the reference to "free China" dates me.
And I can't spell Taiwan unless I see it spelled for me and then even then it looks wrong, so . . . Free China. LOL!
Check out the latest issue of WOOD magazine. They just did a review of medium-priced table saws. The RIDGID TS3650 is in there and was their top pick. I'm very happy I bought mine. Click the link below....
http://www.woodmagazine.com/wood/woodmall/templates/woodMallReviewPage.jhtml?tool=woodmall/toolreview/163mid_price_tablesaws
I read that and my only gripe is the $700 cut off. I would like to see that at the $800 - $850 end.
Maybe another review of Top End Contractor saws in the $700 - $900 price range?
Its just that when you get to the $900 range you start getting into cabinet sw prices.
I think If I was spending $850 for a contractor saw, I would add $50 - $100 and buy the Grizzly 1023S or 1023S110 and get a 2 or 3hp cabinet saw.1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go 4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
$700 - $900 price range? Get a grizz and put wheel on it!
I have the 650C and am very happy with it. Like most saws in that price range there are things you will want to fix, such as replacing the blade, and perhaps the mitre gauge. That is fairly standard though with any of the saws you will likely consider. Somebody once posted and said that the 650C has an advantage in that the distance between the blade and the front of the saw is greater than the Ridgid or some other saws. I've never compared it but that would certainly be an important factor.
If you spend a little more, the General will give you a much better fence. Beware of one thing though, General and General International are well known for good saws but lousy manuals. If you've never put a saw together or are not mechanically inclined, it might be frustrating. The Delta comes with an excellent manual. I've found that when I first began with this being my first table saw, I really appreciated that manual. Actually, I was comparing the General and Delta side by side and although I really liked that General fence, I went with the Delta because the manual was so clear. That wont be an issue with my next saw (if I never need another one) but it was then.
maybe look into the new craftsmans... i have read posts of folks picking those up anywhere from 630-800ish..
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