For all you worm drive users out there (of which I am one) . I was checking out the tools section at HD today …… actually just killing time…. when I got to the circular saws they had a new worm drive from Rigid. I was amazed at the quality and design of it. Closest thing to the new Bosch that I have seen. Goes to 51.5 degrees on the bevel….. smooth adjustments on the table both for depth and for beveling. Rubber grips like the bosch and an integral saw hook . 15 amp motor and comes with a freud diablo framing blade. If it lasts this is one nice saw.
I might just have to get me one of these…….. at a hundred and seventy bucks it seems like an awfully good buy. Anybody have much Rigid stuff and if so how has it held up so far???
Mark
Replies
Just saw it the other day too. I might have considered it over my Skill but didn't have the chance to compare them at the time. It did seem to feel good in the hand. I would have a hard time giving my 77 up for any other saw now though without a job site comparison. I look forward to see others comments that have used it.
Scott T
I'd bet that it IS a Bosch, under different colors. Sears has a router kit right now that is a rebadged Bosch. Funny thing is, it's more expensive than the original. Say WHAT?
I may check it out - I need a new saw.
It is NOT a Bosch tool. I was told it is a Ridgid design from the ground up. I think I like the orange :-)
Sounds right up my alley, too. I'll be checking it out to replace my DeWalt hypoid saw soon. Funny though, I'm trying to do less framing!
ADH Carpentry & Woodwork
Quality, Craftsmanship, Detail
I'd wait for a tool review to come out if I was you :-) (wink wink) I have to say this very ambiguously, if I was going to buy a saw right now, I would not buy any saw that has been on the market longer than 3 months. hehehehe
Is there any way you could speak in less uncertain terms? Is the saw newer than 3 months the Ridgid? Or another saw?
well........ I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get one of these puppies........ It sure appears like a great saw.
Thanks for the replies all of you
Tell me the saw weighs 10 lbs and I'll buy one.... ;-) Matt
I can't be too clear. If I was to buy a saw tomorrow I would not buy a Bosch, Skil, DeWalt, Makita or Milwuakee inline saw.
I can comment on those saws if you want me to. I was able to test those saws against each other about a year ago. At that time my favorite saw was the DeWalt. We have a number of those saws and they just fall apart. We have 2 of the Bosch saws, one direct connect and one with a cord. Both haven't faired too well. In order for me to get either Bosch to bevel to 45 or beyond, I have to pound on it with my hammer. I do not own a Makita, but during the test I really liked that saw. If it had a rafter hook, I'd have bought it.
I do not yet own a Ridgid, but I will soon. That saw promises to kick the other saws around :-)
Prof,
Nice to hear from you havent seen you around in a while.
I grabbed that thing and couldnt lift it. I figure Ill have to stick to the Rockwell 315... I dont have to use a winder that often but thats painful. I would assume the other worms are pretty close in weight.
As for Ridgid, Im pleased with my 18v tools, the driver has 520ppsi compared to Dewalts 450, and a hammer drill built in for the same price, the trim saw rocks. The batteries are ready in 30 min, and you can charge 2 at a time. I havent dropped it, I try to keep it in my hands.
-zen
Zen,
I'm here everyday I just don't post unless something interests me enough to throw in my two cents.
Thanks for the comments on your Rigid tools as I have no experience with them so I have concerns about durability.
As Tim said .... he thought the Dewalt was a good saw but they ended up having durability issues. And the Bosch has the same issues that the Skils have had for years with the adjustments sticking.
I just want to make sure if I buy one of these that I won't have the same problem with it as the others.
As for weight it seems as light or lighter than the other worm drives so that isn't an issue for me. I have found that guys who seem to think they are heavy are trying to use them in the same manner as a sidewinder and that doesn't work. I just let the saw dangle until I am ready to make a cut and then I swing it up and set the front end on the piece to be cut...... then go ahead and make my cut. If you try to hold the saw straight out in a horizontal position then of course it is going to create a lot of torque on your wrist. But some folks are so used to sidewinders that they can't change their techniques.
Used to use sidewinders exclusively until I got the first wormie....... now I have one for those oddball cuts (the bevels tilt in opposite directions which can be handy) but I use the worm drives ninety five percent of the time.
Mark
What I really want to know is what kind of furniture are you making that you need a wormie? lol Do you lap the hand carved crown and cut both pieces at once?
or
Showing the young bucks up again?
-zen
Zen,
Got a kick out of your last comment. Actually furniture is more of a hobby for me although I do sell some pieces. I am a general contractor like a lot of other guys here so that is what pays the bills. Grew up as a fourth generation bricklayer and spent several years pouring concrete and excavating. Still do all of those things along with framing etc. I don't sub out much except for mechanicals and drywall paint etc.
I wish I could get it to the point where I could just build furniture full time but I don't see that in the cards right now (maybe not ever) . I do have a good time building though so it isn't like I hate my job. Just that I have a better time building furniture.
That new saw sure looks good and Tim has me just about convinced so..........
we'll see.....
Mark
Yes, I figured you let the 20 something crew handle the framing, you should be in the directors chair til its time to build the stairs and cabs... pretty good view on the back of the excavator as well.
What state and area are you in?
-zen
Just a question: why do you prefer the 315? That's the drop foot saw, right?
I'm a sidewinder user, myself (blame it on my dad - I watched him for hours when I was young, holding the other end of the board while he performed miracles with a little Skil sidewinder), and am currently using an old Craftsman industrial sidewinder. Picked up a 315 and have to spend some time going through it this winter - how motivated should I be to get it running?
Phoenix,
I use a 315 out of pure luck, I have read here that it was one of the best sidewinders made, mine is from the early 70's, and as you can see they are kind of hard to kill. I dont think it has lost any power, and it can keep up with all the saws they make today. The big difference is the saws today have a lot more extra features for the consumer, and composites. If you punch the saw name into a search you will come up with a ton of info to support the fact.
You just happened to ask a guy that reads all the reviews of tools, and JLC and FHB both had reviews of sidewinders in the last few months. My suggestion if you needed a new saw is to decide on the features that would best suit you, because I figure if it comes down to the top 4 of each review article, they are all great tools.
If I was buying right now... it would be a toss up, that Bosch is impressive, but some say there is to much flex in the base.
Specifically to answer your question about the 315, Im not sure about the Craftsman you use, but the 315 is worth having if it runs, its a tank, but because its older, it is all metal body, no break, spits some chips, but probably could cut through a car, Ive never slowed it down much, and Ive only ever replaced the cord.
-zen
Prof, sorry for hijacking your worm thread, if a wormie had been sitting there I would be a worm guy. Buy that thing and tell us about it in 3 mo.
I got one of these ridgid worm drives in for a review about a month ago, and funny enough, we were just talking about it today -- turns out that we probably won't review it in T&M like we thought. I sent one out to Larry Haun and while he said it was a pretty nice saw, it just didn't have anything spectacular or innovative about it that would warrant a review right now. But Larry did mention that the saw had a cool system on the front of the saw table: it was two 1/4" cuts that allow the user to make accurate 45 and 90 cuts without watching the blade. He also said the guard retracted very easily when making beveled cuts.
I personally found the depth adjustment to be pretty poor - I couldn't tell what depth I was at according to their marking system. I know that's not a big concern for the day to day worm driver--but coming from the east coast school of saws, I like to have a solid depth setting on my sidewinder.
I did like the sky hook, similar to the system on Bosch saws now. And the rest of the saw looked pretty nice to me, but I didn't give it much of a test--this is just going on Larry's word for the most part.
Just thought I would pass along what I know....
Justin Fink
FHB Editorial
I have a ridgid Cordless drill that I dropped off a fifteen foot scaffold onto concrete. The drill is still 100%.
Blair
I'm very jealous of your ridgid experience!
Dropped mine four feet from a ladder onto concrete and would not work again. Took it back under warranty and waited three months for it to come back! I couldn't wait after two weeks and bought a makita and now the ridgid is my shop drill/driver.
i had a rigid saw and a drill. The drill stopped working after three months for no apparent reason. the depth adjustment on the saw quit holding after one month i returned them both to HD and got a dewalt version of each. my dw drill has been dropped several times and just won't quit.the saw is super light and has a huge view of the blade. very pleased with these.I won't buy another rigid toolfor a long while.
JESUS WAS A FRAMER