I bought this table saw at Home Depot for $599. I did all the homework I could by reading reviews in newsgroups and blog postings. The web community seemed to think the saw was good for the money. The only future issues may be in the spare parts and the support department. The day the 10% off Home Depot coupon came in the mail is the day I drove down to get one. The saw would replace an old Craftsman table saw I owned for about 15 years.
Description:
This contractor saw is perfect for for residential or light contractor work. It is only sold at Home Depot stores under the RIDGID house brand. The TS3650 table saw is really made by the Emerson Electric under agreement with Home Depot.
Assembly:
The box took two people to load into my truck. It was large and weighed over 280 pounds. Once at home and having no one to assist, I decided to leave the box in the truck and take each part out as needed for assembly. In about 3.5 hours I had assembled a complete saw.
Motor:
The table saw comes with a 1.5hp TEFC (totally enclosed fan cooled) motor that draws 13 amps at 110 volts. The manual states it will draw 6.5 amps if wired for 220 volt operation. The motor is strong and has plenty of power. The blade and motor assembly are left tilt.
Blades:
The 40 tooth thin kerf carbide blade included with this table saw was okay i guess? Anyway I took it off and installed a much better Forest Woodworker II blade. The better blades are easier on the motor. Good blades also keep the wood from burning or otherwise marking up your wood.
Fence:
The rip fence is made of aluminum and rides on 2 rails. Capacity is 36" to the right and 12" to the left of the blade. I tested the fence for parallel lock-down and found it to be within 0.006" each time. That is 'thousands' of times better then the Craftsman saw this replaced.
Dust Collection:
The table saw is equipped with a 2" dust port. This is one area were improvement would have been welcome. A larger port such as a more sizable 4" would have allowed the finer dust to be sucked away. The 2" port just doesn't flow well enough. I end up having to open a second port on my dust collector to keep the air moving along.
Cast Iron Table:
The cast iron table on this saw is very flat. I tested it with my machinist straightedge and found no noticeable warping. Two cast iron wings are included with cutouts for clamps and jigs.
Summary:
I would recommend this saw for light duty work. If you work in a smaller shop and need it to be mobile you can't beat the Herc-U-Lift system. It fits completely within the base. One step and you are moving. Good deal for the price.
