I remember my first table saw. It was a Delta benchtop model that made all kinds of noise, had a 12 inch rip capacity and could barely hold a setting. I built some projects with it, and it was a definite step up from trying to cut everything with a circular saw.

Once I reached the capacity of that saw (which took no time at all), I stepped up to the saw I have – my Ridgid 3612.  It has been my trusty companion for the past 14 years, and we have built a ton of projects together. I’ve ripped and crosscut with it. Cut box joints. Dadoes and grooves. We’ve been inseparable, and it works well in my shop.

I’m beginning to wonder, however, if perhaps it might be time to upgrade the saw. There are some features of the saw that definitely mark it as dated. For instance, it has an old-style splitter instead of a riving knife. While I haven’t had a lot of issues with kickback, it has happened. I know that the new style riving knife design shortens the distance between the back edge of the blade and the splitter, reducing the likelihood that a kickback will happen. Plus, the fact that the riving knife rises and falls with the blade means that I can leave it in for non-through cuts (grooves and the like), meaning it will spend less time off the saw.

The newer saws also have shied away from the old-style open contractor style bases. My 3612 is wide open, and it took some wrangling to fit a dust chute onto the saw to control the dust that falls out from the cuts. The motor also sits out of the back, leaving a gaping hole where dust can still pour out from.  Newer designs – known as hybrid saws – have enclosed cabinets and much better dust collection, meaning less vacuuming after a session with the saw. Plus, with the motor inside the footprint of the saw’s cabinet, I can wheel the saw closer to my bench to serve as an outfeed table.

So, I’m looking. The saw will definitely have to have a mobile base – that’s non-negotiable. And, it has to be able to spin a dado stack, which eliminates many of the portable jobsite saws. I also don’t think I need to go to 220 volts for the saw. That would make for a pretty expensive wiring job, and I have been managing with a 110 volt model for the past 14 years with few issues.

Honestly, I am looking very closely at another Ridgid saw. The current offering, the R4512, is a hybrid model complete with a mobile base, excellent dust collection and some very good reviews. However, I have looked at a few other models. I’m not sure where this is going to take me, or if I will even pull the trigger after doing a more thorough evaluation, but I will certainly be doing my homework on this one.

After all, I plan on getting at least another 14 years out of this sucker!

Remember a few weeks ago, when I was lamenting the lack of a panel saw for my Dutch tool chest? Well, I’ve got that handled now…

That’s because this arrived from the folks at Pax Saws. They sent over one of their 22″ crosscut saws for the tool box to help round out my tool collection, and I have got to tell you, this is a very cool saw.

First, I like the look and the feel of the handle. It’s a two-toned beech model, and it comes to the hand comfortably – far better than many of the other saws I have held over the years. The blade is a sweet piece of steel, the plate true and the teeth very sharp.

Plus, with its smaller size, it will easily fit into my tool chest, something I was able to accomplish with a few pieces of pine and a couple of screws.

But, how does it cut? An excellent question, since even the prettiest saw isn’t worth a darn if it won’t cut. To check it out, I grabbed a piece of oak, and struck a line down it.

The saw cut beautifully, with that rhythm you grow accustomed to hearing when someone is using a well-tuned saw. Now, I was trying to cut this on a surface that was too high, so the blade did wander on me. Which means, for sure, I’m going to have to build myself a lower saw bench. But, for the first cut with the saw, not too shabby…

It’s nice finally having the tool chest finished out – exactly one year to the date that I put the finish on it. If the tool chest serves me as well in the coming years as it has already, I’m going to enjoy my time with it.