Ridgid R4330 Planer

[rcp612]

I've asked before about cutterhead locks and have accepted the answers I got to that post. It all started making sense to me.
Now along comes Ridgid with their new R4330 stating that they have eliminated the need of a cutterhead lock with a 4 post design. I know there are 4 post planers out there already so, what's up? Is this "new" ridgid the answer to my needs? The price is good, and I'm just a bout ready to pull the trigger. Please help me!

[ragswl4]

I've asked before about cutterhead locks and have accepted the answers I got to that post. It all started making sense to me.
Now along comes Ridgid with their new R4330 stating that they have eliminated the need of a cutterhead lock with a 4 post design. I know there are 4 post planers out there already so, what's up? Is this "new" ridgid the answer to my needs? The price is good, and I'm just a bout ready to pull the trigger. Please help me!

What's the return policy? If you can take it home, plane a board, get snipe and return it then its worth the risk.

Edit: On second thought, unless you are in a hurry I would wait for a few reviews before jumping.

[THyman]

The only other thing I see as different is the R4330 is a triple head but it does not include a stand. Any reviews out there would be great.

[LCHIEN]

most all the thickness planers I see have four posts.
even with the four posts there's still some play if the head is not "locked" to all four columns.
I still think the cutterhead lock is needed.

A "good price" is a sign that they'e cut some corners by eliminating some features.
I'd be wary.

[dwlind]

I read on another forum that while other planers do indeed have four posts, those posts are just columns and those planers employ 2 leadscrews (one on each side) to raise and lower the cutter head. The new planer from Ridgid uses 4 leadscrews ( one in each corner ) like the Dewalt planer that gets such glowing reviews. With a leadscrew in each corner the need for the cutter head lock is eliminated, or that's the thinking anyway.

Doug

[sweensdv]

The other planer that Ridgid offers consistently receives high marks when it comes to quality so it wouldn't make much sense for them to take any backward steps with this newer model. With the 90 day no questions asked return policy there is very little risk on your part if you pull the trigger on this planer. Go for it!

[LCHIEN]

I read on another forum that while other planers do indeed have four posts, those posts are just columns and those planers employ 2 leadscrews (one on each side) to raise and lower the cutter head. The new planer from Ridgid uses 4 leadscrews ( one in each corner ) like the Dewalt planer that gets such glowing reviews. With a leadscrew in each corner the need for the cutter head lock is eliminated, or that's the thinking anyway.

Doug

Seems to me that leadscrews have some mechanical backlash. Locking the head takes backplash out o the equation. Even if the snipe were 1/2 the backlash, a 10 mil backlash would lead to a 5 mil snipe which is quite visible when you hold it up to the light!

[mpc]

When I first read the description of this thing somewhere, my first thought was that Ridgid was trying to copy the key features of the Dewalt DW735 that does so well in reviews. There are mechanical things that can be done to minimize lash on screws & parts riding on them; it's similar to lashless gears (two thin gears side by side, acting as one, with a spring trying to turn them in opposite directions - makes the teeth expand to fully fill whatever they're meshed with, eliminating lash) so Ridgid might have a winner here. One of the Ridgid comments about dual-speeds for the cutter head was that there was no real benefit to the speeds - the resulting surface quality was almost identical. I agree with that on my Dewalt; I've never bothered changing the speeds once I did that test myself.

I already have the nice Dewalt (a refurb) otherwise I'd be looking seriously at this new Ridgid. Maybe Ridgid can figure out how to make long lasting knives unlike Dewalt...

mpc

[dwlind]

Seems to me that leadscrews have some mechanical backlash. Locking the head takes backplash out o the equation. Even if the snipe were 1/2 the backlash, a 10 mil backlash would lead to a 5 mil snipe which is quite visible when you hold it up to the light!

Loring,

I agree completely with your assessment. I work quite a bit with motors and lead screws and I know first hand the problems with backlash on those assemblies. That’s why I put the disclaimer in " that's the thinking anyway ". Just because they employ a design used in a very highly regarded planer, doesn't mean their version will be as successful.

[kevincan]

Has any one seen the replacement blades for this planer at their Borg. Mine has the new planer but the only blades they had are for the older 2 blade model. I tried searching on ridgidparts.com and did not find anything after searching for the part number for the replacement blades.

Kevin

[sweensdv]

........One of the Ridgid comments about dual-speeds for the cutter head was that there was no real benefit to the speeds - the resulting surface quality was almost identical. lt...
mpc

FWIW, the new Ridgid planer has only one speed.

[gwyneth]

American Woodworker (I think) had a review of planers within the past few months. The article explained that four lift screws achieve the same goal as a cutterhead lock and its list of models itemized both 2/4 screws and locks.

Whichever magazine it was, it reviewed two Ridgid models and both got very high marks (and if I'm remembering right, both had either lock or four screws). I'll see if I can find it.

[gwyneth]

I found the magazine. It's the October issue of American Woodworker, and the Ridgid R4330 got the "Editors' Choice" seal for planers that cost less than $400.

[aka4722]

I cannot find the new features on R4330. Based on the Finewoodworking review, the new model doesn't get the "Author's Choice"

[Nil]

Did anyone ever get the links to these reviews of the R4330? I'm stuck deciding between the TP1300LS and the R4330... I don't really need the stand so that isn't much of a consideration. I was just nervous about the removal of the cutterhead lock as it seemed to go back to the Ryobi Ap1300 to AP1301 downgrade...