Ridgid 6-1/2-Inch Circular Saws Northampton MA

Source: TOOLS OF THE TRADE Magazine
Publication date: March 15, 2007

By Section Editor: Michael Springer

Ridgid 6-1/2-Inch Circular Saw

In my snowboard manufacturing shop, we use a circular saw primarily for cross-cutting hardwood lumber to rough lengths prior to laminating it into blocks. This operation is all about speed. With thousands of feet of lumber in 16-foot lengths delivered at once, we really need to move through the stacks to keep up production; we gang-cut the material about 1-3/4 inch deep while it's still in a stack.

When the Ridgid Fuego 6-1/2-inch compact framing saw was introduced boasting a lighter weight and a dramatic increase in cutting speed, I knew I had to test its claims myself. I was pleased to find that compared to my 7-1/4-inch saw, the Fuego cut through poplar and ash like it was on fire while its lighter weight virtually eliminated my arm fatigue.

What's Different

The Fuego has features borrowed from cordless circular saws; in fact, it shares a platform with the newest Ridgid 18- and 24-volt models. The saw uses a 6-1/2-inch thin-kerf blade that spins at 6,100 rpm instead of the 5,500 to 5,800 rpm common to 7-1/4-inch saws. This smaller blade is driven by a smaller, lighter motor. Ridgid replaced the standard metal shoe with a super-tough fiber composite and the blade guards are made from lightweight magnesium.

The smaller-diameter motor's center is closer to the base, which allows you to still get a vertical cut depth of 2...

Click here to read full article from Tools of the Trade