Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Power Tools). This thread is read-only.
This is my first post here. Hello all.
So I have a the Ridgid jobsite saw that is on the folding stand (R4513 I believe). Until now, I have been really happy with it–It seemed to have a high degree of accuracy and portability / space saving ability. I would consider myself an avid DIY’er with a budding interest in woodworking and cabinet making. Anyway, I am currently building a vanity to go in a bathroom I am renovating in my house. Over the weekend the blade height adjustment wheel on my saw was getting quite hard to rotate, and while I was trying to lower the blade it stopped and it appears to have stripped or something as now I cannot move the blade, but the adjustment wheel moves. I only use this saw when the whether is warm, when I am done, I vacuum it, and I store it in a garage so there is NO rust on it. Given my limited use of the saw, I do not think the blade height adjustment should break…ever. I believe there is a design flaw here as the knob to move the metal gearing in saw is plastic.
I have the saw registered under the lifetime service agreement, but the Home Depot here told me the earliest I could expect them to be done repairing the saw is 5 weeks! To me, that is an unreasonable amount of time. I want to get the saw fixed, sell it, and buy a new saw, and I would like suggestions from this group.
I am considering the DeWalt jobsite saw, Hitachi, Bosch, and the Delta Hybrid saw that is sold at Lowe’s.
I am leaning towards the DeWalt, as reviewers really like the rip fence…its size is a plus as it is portable and negative as it has such a small work surface. A part of me wants to get the Delta, but of course then, I don’t have a portable saw, and it is really big for a garage workshop.
Thank you in advance for your responses, and I am interested to hear your advice.
Collegedave
Welcome, collegedave!
Not knowing the exact Dewalt model you are referring to, I can’t say much, but I have really been impressed with the quality and features of the DWE7480 we have been selling in the store where I work
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If you are getting into woodworking and will want to use a dado blade I do not think the DWE7480 will take a dado blade.
Rfwjr, thanks for catching that! I’m not sure if it will take a dado stack but if not I would also avoid it. Dado stack is definitely the easiest way to cut many joints!
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I like the compact Dewalt saws but only their 7491 accepts a dado stack. You could likely use a router to supplement that weakness otherwise.
True, although having used both I definitely vote for dado stack capability.
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Are you looking for portability? If so any hybrid saw should do the trick. Grizzly, Jet, Powermatic, and SawStop also have Hybrid saws. Might be worth looking into if you want a more premium option.