New Old Rigid TS3612

[bing!]

I borrowed the wife's mini-van to check out and possibly pick up a BT3000 off Craigslist that was listed for $ 150. That morning, a new listing came up for a Rigid TS3612 for $ 250. I called, haggled a bit, got a little off the saw and went for a look see. Well, she was good as new. No rust on the table, and just a little saw dust inside the chassis.

I was torn between getting the BT3000 for $ 150 and the Rigid for a discounted $ 325. I gandered the cast iron machined table and extensions, Emerson Electric USA motor and a Freud blade. Ooooooh. 36 inch fence, micro adjustments via trunions and precision machined mitre slide. Uuunh.

I don't really need this much saw It weighs a ton. But me thinks she'll hold her value well Ok, I'll take it!

She is not whole at the moment. I disassembled the rails, extensions and the stand for transport. Just put her back up the stand. I will hold assembly until I go thru the manual. It was pretty simple taking her apart but I want to clean her a little, lube and recalibrating all the rails and stuff. I think it weighs about 150 pounds

Now all I need is a router Can I still hang around here even though I didnt get the BT3K

[sweensdv]

You will love that saw once you get it up and running. I can't quite tell by your pictures but did it not come with the Herc-u-lift mobile base?

[Sawatzky]

I have the new version of that saw (TS3650) and love it. I had a BT3100 before I got the Ridgid and will say that the Ridgid is a much better saw. You will love the saw!

[bing!]

You will love that saw once you get it up and running. I can't quite tell by your pictures but did it not come with the Herc-u-lift mobile base?

No. I didnt realize that until I read the manual. It has two fixed wheels on one side and a caster that is attached to an eccentric lever. When the lever is flipped, the caster lifts the saw on the wheeled side allowing the operator to push the saw by tilting it to the wheeled side. Flipping back the lever settle the saw on four adjustable leg ends. Not as great as the Herc system, but she'll do

[toolguy1000]

at the risk of offending all the bt3 owners here, welcome to the majors! its a great saw and it will serve you well for many years to come. best of all, the older, gray ridgid stationary power tools came with lifetime guarantees that attached to the tool, not the owner. for $225, you also got a lifetime guarantee.

[Hoover]

As an owner of a BT3000, while I love my saw, I'd say you made a good choice. Be sure to take some pictures, once it is set up. Good find!!

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Well I finished setting her back up in my garage. The good news is that she runs well, silent compared to my old Ryobi BT15 on a stand. I can't believe that a more powerful saw could be so silent

The bad news is two fold. I disassembled the saw where I bought it for transport. After assembly, I am left with an extra washer and nut I followed the directions for assembly, cleaned everything, but I can't figure out where it goes. I hate extra parts, specially at the car shop She runs fine despite the extra pieces. The second bad news is that its not a TS3612 I assumed it was when I did research based on a picture on Craigslist. When I saw the saw, it looked the same, didn't bother to check the model number. Doh!
Its a TS2424, one model lower. I don't know if its a good deal as I thought it was, but she is still more saw than I need.

I'll post a pic later. For now, I am going to rest.

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[bing!]

Here it eeess! What I thought was a TS3612, but is actually a TS2424.

[toolguy1000]

the only material differences between the 2424 and the 3612 were the mobile base features (what you have vs. the herc-u-lift of the 3612), the arbor alignment feature (the 2424 uses a PALS type adjustmennt feature vs. an eccentric lever on the 3612) and the fence (the 3612 has a differently shaped front rail that accomodates a similarly configured fence which has a shoe that conforms to the shape of the 3612 front rail, which also offers 36" right rip capacity vs. the 2424s 24" right rip capacity). both are dual voltage motors and the 2424 is a very good tool with a lifetime guarantee. i am particularly jealous of the webbed extension wings as they provide great flexibilty for clamping jigs, featherboards, etc. congrats again on a really great purchase.

[sweensdv]

If you want the extra rip capacity that the 3612 offers over the 2424 just move the whole rail system over to the right. You will lose the ability to use the fence on the LH side of the blade but how often do you need that feature anyways?