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In the 1920’s the Ridgid Tool Company got its start with a line of professional tools for plumbers. A simple pipe wrench was their first offering but over the years they have expanded into a wide variety of other tools as well. Now a part of Emerson Corporation, Ridgid Tools remained largely out of the public eye until their association with Home Depot began, as one of the world’s largest home improvement retailers many proprietary brands. The quality of Ridgid professional tools is incorporated into their consumer lines as well, and with the backing of giant Home Depot, Ridgid table saws are options for all amateur woodworkers and “do it yourselfers” Let’s look at a few of their top offerings.

The Ridgid TS3650 Table Saw

While the Ridgid TS3650 is at the lower end of available contractor saws in terms of price, many reviewers feel it is at the higher end in terms of features. For starters it features a 1.5 horsepower induction motor which means more stability and less vibration than competitive models with universal motors. In addition, in contrast to the standard “vee” belt found on other manufacturers’ models, theTS3650 uses a “poly-vee” belt where the interior grooves of the belt enable the use of machined pulleys. With some other contractor saws, owners add these features later but they are standard with the Ridgid TS3650.

As is the case with all contractor saws, the motor hangs off the back of the saw, making dust collection a bit of a problem, but the TS3650 has a conveniently located exhaust port than can be connected to a vacuum – preferably a Ridgid – for almost 100% dust free operation. The Rip Fence is sturdy and self storing and the blade lowers and tilts with a single control on the front of the unit.

Perhaps the most innovative feature of this table saw is its portability. At 287 pounds it’s not a saw you can easily load in the trunk of your car but the Herc U-Lift mobile base make it easy to move around the shop. Simply step on a pedal to raise the unit and let the scissor jack like wheel assembly do the rest. The 3650 has been replaced by a newer 3660 and Ridgid is introducing a granite top saw in this class as well, so finding a Ridgid TS3650 at a discounted price may be easier than you’d think.

The Ridgid TS2400LS Table Saw

The TS2400LS is somewhat like a bench top table saw on steroids. While it lacks the induction motor of its pricier cousin – the TS3650 – it offers enough features to make it an attractive option for the week end warrior woodworker or do it yourselfer. However, one of its greatest features – the fold down stand – makes it an option for commercial users as well.

The TS2400LS table saw mounts on a stand that folds down into a cart that lets you move the saw around just as though it were on a dolly. The wheels are large enough that you can easily move this saw around construction sites. Some contractors elect to use this model in their shops with add-on tables to allow for cutting larger pieces of wood, simply because it offers them that flexibility of being able to take it along on outdoor jobs. For the homeowner the stand enables easy storage and retrieval when space in the basement or garage is limited.

If you’ve had the unfortunate experience of tripping a circuit breaker when your older table saw amped up, you’ll appreciate the TS2400LS’s soft start 15 amp motor. While you will experience more vibration with this universal motor it is still powerful enough to handle almost anything you can feed it. The included rip fence and miter guide are self storing and a single control enables tilting the blade as well as raising and lowering it. The saw features a sliding extension table on the right hand size that will allow you to rip wood up to 2 feet wide. As is the case with its pricier TS3650 cousin, the TS2400LS features a dust ejection port that can be easily connected to a Shop Vac.

These Ridgid table saws are a good choice for anyone interested in general home improvement. If you’re starting a more advanced project, such as installing cove molding, you might want to consider looking into Ridgid’s line of compound miter saws. Both the MS1250LX and the MS1290LZ feature sliding fences and laser alignment systems that will allow you to get more precise miters than you can with a table saw.