Replies

1. 
   Don01 | Mar 30, 2009 12:31am | #1

   Well Chris I guess those of who have the Rigid must have made a good choice then 'cause the Steel City advantage is stated on their web page:
   "Where the designers are actually woodworkers themselves. And where quality rules the day, not sales gimmicks."

   I have a very old and tired Delta and a Rigid. I do not think much of the Rigid head locking mechanism. Very unreliable. In order to adjust it enough to get it to hold you can barely set and release it.
   The old Delta has nothing similar and does a far better job of holding the setting.
   I got both of my planers at estate sales prices so I didn't pay a lot for either. The Rigid retails for around CAD$500.00 at Home Depot. I think there is better value on the market.

   This Rigid clone appears to have the carbide inserts rather than HSS blades which will certainly put the price up there for this class of portable machine.

   Don

2. 
   ctsjr | Mar 30, 2009 12:43am | #2

   I just went to the SC website, and it DOES look exactly like my Ridgid planer! Interesting. Does Ridgid actually make the tool or does someone make it for both of 'em? Tom

   "Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
3. 
   JohnWW | Mar 30, 2009 01:00am | #3

   The new Steel City machine is definitely the old Ridgid planer. Ridgid has introduced a new planer and I suspect that they sold the old design to Steel City. I compared the two machines side by side just about a month ago, the only difference was that the Steel City machine had a carbide insert head.

   The old Ridgid machine was an excellent planer, I bought one, paying full price, at a local Home Depot, for the FWW shop.

   John White
   Shop Manager for FWW, 1999-2007

1. 
   ctsjr | Mar 30, 2009 05:52am | #4

   Thanks, John for the confirmation. I've enjoyed my Ridgid planer (I wish it had a carbide insert rotary head cutter!) And thanks for sticking around here on Knots--I appreciate your posts. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

1. 
   Ckenney | Mar 30, 2009 03:24pm | #5

   Now the question, can we retrofit the Steel City carbide cutter heads into our Ridgid units. (And, of course, how much?)http://acornhouse.wordpress.com/
   a hobbyist's journey

1. 
   ctsjr | Mar 30, 2009 04:02pm | #6

   Methinks I'll call SC and ask 'em. Another question: do we go to SC for support and parts? Or do we still go through Ridgid? Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Mar 30, 2009 08:08pm | #8

   As John White mentioned.. this is the same planer basically (bearing are different) as the original Ridgid planer. HD's new ones are a step down from the basic, solid design of the older ones if you compare. So.. the design is tried and true as can be attested to by those that have the older style Ridgid planers as John White.

   The planers are being made in Steel City's China plant and use their engineering and technology on the cutter-head. As far as retro-fitting their cutter-head to the old Ridgid planer.. the bearing size my have been modified to accept the new cutter-heads. But.. but... in the words of Scott Box (president of Steel City who I just got off the phone with).... "We are working on it Now as we speak"... and should have a definite answer in time of the Las Vegas WW Show this summer...

   If anything happens sooner than then.... the word will go out.... trust me on that. :>)

   Sarge..

2. 
   ctsjr | Mar 30, 2009 08:47pm | #9

   Thanks, Sarge. It would be a great upgrade if it doesn't break the bank. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

3. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Mar 30, 2009 11:36pm | #10

   You're welcome Tom. A Happy Meal at Macky D's at the moment would break the bank at my house until I officially retire in October. But.. the clock is ticking.... :>)

   Regards...

   Sarge..

4. 
   ctsjr | Mar 31, 2009 04:40am | #11

   LOL! We must bank at the same place! Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

4. 
   WillGeorge | Mar 30, 2009 07:46pm | #7

   like my Ridgid planer..

   AND I have it and the original Ridgid TS.. They are NOT junk. Far From It.. In my opinion.

   OK, so I want better.. Not sure I NEED it!

   Just me...

   EDIT: I was thinking you typed Planner NOT Jointer! MY DW735.. 13-inch thickness planer IS THE BEST I can afford! Never had the Ridgid one.. My mistake on words seen!

   
   

   ---

   Edited 3/30/2009 12:51 pm by WillGeorge

5. 
   hdgis1 | Apr 01, 2009 02:47am | #12

   Anybody care to discuss the ethics of "borrowing" someone else's design? hehe

   Chris