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RIDGID 10 Inch Portable Table Saw with Stand R45101

RIDGID 10 Inch Portable Table Saw with Stand R4513

RIDGID 10 Inch Portable Table Saw with Stand R45101 – Tool Review

Note: This is a review for the R45101 table saw, not the R4513 saw, which look nearly identical and are often confused for each other. For more clarity on the differences between them, please see this Ridgid forum discussion.

As anyone who works on a lot of home DIY projects knows, there are essential tools. For anyone undertaking regular home projects, or for those who take them seriously, a table saw is one such tool.

When considering which table saw to buy, I considered the projects I had ahead of me: a kitchen remodel, installing bead board and chair rails, and a custom pergola with a swinging gate in the front yard. All of these required lots of project ripping precise cuts of wood through various stages of the project — from framing to finish — and in various parts of the house. With that in mind, I wanted three specific things:

With those desired attributes in mind, I settled on the Rigid 15-Amp 10 in. Heavy-Duty Portable Table Saw with Stand.  Purchase one here: Ridgid R45101 Heavy-Duty Portable Table Saw with Stand

Out of the Box

The saw arrives in a large box that, while heavy, is light enough for one person to carry. I easily lifted the box out of the truck and into the driveway, where I assembled it. The instructions are pretty straightforward, and are entirely familiar to anyone who’s assembled any tools or, even anything from Ikea; everything is labeled with a number and diagrams specify precisely how one is supposed to assemble the saw. Assembly in my driveway took less than half an hour.

The only thing that I found tricky to install was the blade guard which I found to be a bit finicky to fit into place for the first time. Once you’ve figured it out, however, it’s easy to remove and replace it.

Performance

I’m a fan of Ridgid products, and this table saw is no exception: it works really well.

First, it’s a table saw that is light enough to be truly portable. Picking it up or wheeling it from one job location to another was very easy. The table saw utility vehicle (TSUV) provides single-point release for a straightforward 1-step setup. It folds down easily into a fairly compact size, meaning it won’t clutter up your garage. At the same time, it’s compact while not sacrificing power: the 15 amp motor is sufficient to rip through project after project.

In testing this saw, I cut a variety of pieces of wood on it: some 2×4’s, some tongue and groove wainscoting, and some plywood. The blade, rotating at 4,400 RPM, cut through each with ease and precision, including when used to make angled cuts. I found the sliding rip fence to be secure and easy to use, and the push stick a handy addition that is both well designed and well stored, improving the safety of the product.

To that end, this saw is very safe. It boasts a few safety features worth mentioning. First, there is a power loss reset power switch, which prevents the table saw from turning back on in the event that power is restored after a power interruption. Second, the blade guard and riving knife are designed such that they can be installed tool free.

There were only two things that concerned me: first, the micro-adjust on the sliding rip fence slips every now and then, making it not always perfectly precise; second, the metal tape measure used on the rip fence is a bit loose, meaning I suspect it will get caught on a board or tool and rip or break off after long-term use. (However, through this testing, the tape did not break down and did not impede performance, and I was always able to adjust the measurement to be as precise as necessary for my purposes.)

Overall Impression

Overall, I think RIDGID 10 Inch Portable Table Saw with Stand R4513 is an excellent portable table saw, in keeping with Ridgid’s great product line. The performance of this table saw surpassed my expectations. It’s a solid workhorse of a table saw, one that far surpasses what I used when I started working on houses.

Specifications

The Ridgid R45101 Heavy-Duty Portable Table Saw with Stand sells online for $720.00.   Purchase one here: Ridgid-R45101-Heavy-Duty-Portable-Table

 

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