Ridgid TS3650 Manchester CT
Ridgid TS3650
Source: TOOLS OF THE TRADE Magazine
Publication date: September 8, 2004
By Fred Tellier and Dave Waskowitz
Ridgid's TS3650 10-inch contractor saw caught our attention right out of the box. The castings for the heavy iron parts are very high quality and the extruded aluminum rails and fence seemed sturdy and promising. The instruction manual is well-written and easy to follow, too. Once we took the wrenches out, setup took about eight hours.
Since we're the woodworking team for our high-end remodeling company, we've got pretty high expectations for the tools we use. And while this saw needed some tuning up after we assembled it, we dialed it in very easily, and it maintained its accuracy throughout our 10-week test run.
Power. Before we started cutting, we noticed that the blade and trunnion mount are set forward on the saw, which gives a little more in-feed control for unwieldy stock, which we liked. Once we started cutting, we ran everything in the shop through the saw -- hardwoods, softwoods, and framing. The TS3650 ran confidently and smoothly in nearly every application; there was no blade burn and the motor hummed quietly all the way through tough cuts. The only time it balked was when we pushed cherry a little too quickly.
Adjustments. Both the blade height and bevel adjustment are easy to reach, turn, and lock into position. Unlike other saws we've used, there is plenty of room for your hands to fully revolve the large adjustment wheels.