dodgeboy77

Okay, so it's a little mystery, not a big spooky Halloween mystery.

I was wandering around Home Depot the yesterday and noticed a boxed Ridgid table saw setting in front of the store that was priced at $499. It was on the floor all by itself. I figured it was a left-over TS3660 like I bought last Spring and looked at it to see if that was the case. It turned out it was the granite top R4511 hybrid.

I recall that when I bought my 3660 (which I love, BTW), the granite model was just arriving and was at least $600, IIRC. Out of curiosity, I checked HD's web site tonight for prices and they still have the TS3660 listed but no longer the R4511. Ridgid has the R4511 on their site but when I typed my zip code in to check for local dealers they didn't list HD, but a bunch of other stores.

Does anyone know if Home Depot dropped the granite R4511 and is clearancing it out for $499? Or did they just lower the price and their web site doesn't list the saw for some reason. Either way, it could be a nice deal for someone.

Bill

Kenbo

I had heard, (but as of yet I haven't confirmed it) that the granite top table saw has a recall notice out due to arbour failure during stacked dado blade use. Maybe that is the reason. Again, I am stressing that I have not confirmed this recall.
Ken

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Kenbo

Okay, after posting my "rumour" I decided to look it up. Here's a link about the recall. http://www.ridgid.com/Download/R4511_PR.pdf
I'm sorry if I am hi jacking your thread, but this may be a reason for the lower price and I'm sure that people would want to know.
Ken

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Old Skhool

They've hit an all time low if they are selling these saws knowing that they are not only defective, but dangerous. Hope someone doesn't get hurt.

dodgeboy77

Well maybe that solves the mystery. If I stop at that particular Home Depot in the next few days and if that saw is still there, I'll check it's date code and if it has an "Arbor Inspected" sticker.

It seemed from the recall notice that not all of the saws were defective. I would hope that HD is not selling the ones that were subject to recall.

I wonder whether HD has stopped selling the saws since the recall? As I mentioned earlier, Ridgid still offers them on their web site.

Bill

clarionflyer

Wow, that's a pretty big deal. I've heard of a lot of tablesaw problems (including bent arbors), but that's the first I've heard of failures. Man, that blade could go through your head, through the roof, couple trees, and land a few counties away!

sh2005

The recall was for a particular production batch, while the saws that you would find at the stores are most likely coming from a much later production batch. I recently bought one which was from a later batch, and the price listed at that time was $600.
As for the recall, I believe Ridgid has serviced all the saws whose owners had contacted Ridgid about it. To me, it seems the price change is more due to competition than the recall.

dodgeboy77

I was back at that Home Depot where I'd seen the Ridgid 4511 saw. It had been moved back to the tool department and it's date code was 0922. The saws affected by the recall ran a date code range from 0829 to 0837.

It would seem that HD is within bounds on selling a newer saw than the recalled units. I double checked and the price was $499. That's a lot of saw for the money, being a granite topped hybrid and all.

Bill

dbhost

Please read the recall notice before blaming them. A problem was found with early production models, RIDGID found the problem, provided a fix, and has been notifying owners through all normal recall means. They were NOT forced into this by the government. Ridigid is doing the right hting.

And no I am not a Ridgid Table Saw owner...

Any complex machine is best not purchased during its first year production run. Better to let someone else be the beta testers.... Table saws included...

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-- Trying to follow the example of the master...

Old Skhool

No problem reading here. Dodgeboy posted about a mystery price drop on the granite top saw at H.D. Kenbo brought up a rumor, then verified it and posted the link which included the dates of manufacture of the recalled saws. Then he went on to say " this may be a reason for the lower price, and I'm sure people would want to know." The date of the mystery saw was unknown at this point, when I made the comment: "They've hit an all time low if they are selling these saws knowing that they are not only defective, but dangerous. Hope someone doesn't get hurt." It was later confirmed the the mystery saw was not included in the recall. What did I miss?

On a second note, I have a concern with the use of granite for the top of a table saw. Maybe H.D.'s lawyers, or others involved had the same concern. Could this be the real reason for the price reduction? Fullfill the contract, avoid lawsuits, and maximize profits, then redesign the saw with a proper top as quickly as possible. At all costs avoid the public perception "lemon", or showing any fault by tagging the saw as a closeout. They likely are in litigation with the 3 parties who had the tops explode. If I owned one, I would pull it off and have a 1/4 steel plate bonded to the underside, just like on our kitchen counter with the cantalevered breakfast bar.

red

What's your issue with a granite top for the saw? I happen to own that saw and there is nothing wrong with the granite as a top.

And as for the recall, it was a quick 45 minute fix (arbor change out) at no cost to me.

Red

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Old Skhool

Red, I grew up around tools and construction. My father born in 1927 was a bricklayer after serving in WWII. He started with nothing, but built his first house brick by brick and completed it by age 24.(Fully paid for) He and my grandfather and two others went into the business of custom building houses. I grew up around construction, went to college and took engineering couses and industrial technology courses, finally deciding to teach woodworking and earned my degree and became an industrial arts teacher. Besides teaching woodworking, I've worked in a saw mill, worked construction, and had a little business doing custom woodworking(mostly cabinet work). My great grandfather was a cooper, I guess I've sawdust in my veins. Point is I've been around and seen too many accidents, their aftermaths, and even a death. Then all the stories... I take safety very seriously. (Fortunately I never had any of my students seriously hurt)

In terms of the granite saw top, I see many advantages including a dead flat surface, little to no maintenance, significant weight to absorb vibration...and also see a lot of people that seem to be very pleased with the saw in general. My concern is that the top could have a crack, is subject to constant vibration, and there are always dadoes that come apart, blades that are not tigtened properly, moulding heads, wobble type dadoes... Then there will be people that want to add a different fence and drill holes and install threaded inserts like the factory did, possibly weakening the table, attaching extention tables The shipping, stacking, trucking, bumping, dropping of the saw before delivery. The owner moving the saw, kids/adults sitting on the saw, the hammer that was dropped...the trunnion being bolted to the stamped cabinet instead of being rigidly bolted to the top... Maybe seeing granite counters crack, or the way the workers have to be so careful with them, simply carrying them wrong can be a disaster. I know the tops are much thicker on the saws, I just have an uneasy feeling about the tops. I could very easily be wrong, and I hope I am. If it is an improvement, maybe I'm just too old school to see it.

iamwelty2

Just bought the saw. Listed at $499 and I had a 10% coupon also... so it was almost free... the guy said they had been selling the saw at $699... It is my understanding that the recall issues have been resolved, but the saw is being discontinued primarily because of the shipping cost... the saw is so heavy that it cost much more to ship versus the lighter competion. I don't know it it's true or not. Hopefully, I haven't dug myself a hole... initially I was ready to pull the trigger on the Ridgid 3660, but that was discontinued also... SIGH. Was hoping to hear comments from users of the saw that have had one for a while...

dodgeboy77

<<....but the saw is being discontinued primarily because of the shipping cost... the saw is so heavy that it cost much more to ship versus the lighter competion.>>

iamwelty2 - I think you solved the mystery! That makes sense about the weight. On top of that the competition - Lowe's - doesn't seem to be handling any contractors saws since they clearanced out their Deltas (at least in my area). Possibly both big box stores are only selling job site saws and smaller now?

At any rate, good luck with the new saw! You got a heck of a good deal on a nice piece of machinery.

Bill

woodnthings

Why go to granite over cast iron? I wish I could get into the heads of the engineering guys and the marketing guys and ask that question.
How much research/ abuse did they do before deciding. On some of my cast iron tops the material is only 1/4" thick/thin! I wonder about the granite tops? I have those Dupont Zodiac countertops in my home, retailed at $130 per sq ft, supposed to be stronger than granite, more scratch resistant, that's for certain. Why not use a synthetic product like that instead of the granite? I wonder about the increased weight for shipping and does that increase the price point? Is the granite so much cheaper that it offsets the shipping increase? Just wondering.... bill

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If you're not making dust, you're gathering it. After I reread my own posts, I agree with myself even more.

iamwelty2

Well, I believe when they introduced the saw they had it listed on the website with a shipping cost of over $400 dollars... so the price of cast iron would have to be pretty high. But nobody ever called me a genius... I am just putting my R4511 together now and am amazed at the weight of the pieces and the steel shipping cage that it was packaged in... it would have to add tremendously to the cost of the saw and with a number of people having problems with the use of granite on a table saw (right or wrong) I can anticipate why HD or Ridgid may be "cutting and running" (Pun) on the R4511... I hope I'm wrong and they are wanting to supply the public with a great saw at an incredible price...

dodgeboy77

I was cruising the Ridgid Forum, and sure enough, the granite topped R4511 is being discontinued. See http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29287 If you want one, find one now.

Apparently shipping costs were the reason for this, just as iamwelty2 said. The same basic saw is still available from other companies - Sears, for example.

The talk is that the R4511 will be replaced with a saw with a CI table.

Bill

Colt W. Knight

Home Depot is also putting the Rigid Jointers on clearence. I have the previous steel topped rigid table saw and I absolutely love that saw. The fence works amazing well and the herculift wheel system is an excellent feature. I didn't like the newer granite top saw fence nearly as much as the one that came with mine.

Old Skhool

Both Home Depot and Lowes in our area have dropped their "shop syle" machinery. All that is left are the cheap bench top tools, and only 1 or 2 jobsite portable table saws with stands. Cost cutting and lower quality can be seen throughout the stores. Home Depot has become "Home Cheapo", and Lowes is bent on out competing by following suit. Sad to see, but I guess that's where the profits are these days.

rrich

Well, look at it this way...

For every "contractor style saw" they probably sell 5 job site saws. And half of those job site saws get stolen so there is another two per contractor saw. The bottom line profit for either saw is about the same. If you were managing the business, which would you stock?

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Use the right tool for the job.

Rich (Tilting right)
Huntington Beach, California
Remember that when we have the "BIG ONE" everything east of the Rockies falls into the ocean.