CMan 22116 or Ridgid R4511....about to change an order...help!

[George Farra]

All

Some many have seen my "on the fence" thread about the Ridgid 4511. Its decision time, I can eother keep my Ridgid at $365 delivered. I am going to add a T2 fence to the Ridgid so with upgrades its gonna cost me $550.

CMan 22116, new zipcode saw, similar to SC 35900. After rebates (Cman Club, bing.com, gift card) I'm looking at approx $560 delivered.

I'm almost certain that this saw is a step up from the Ridgid 4511......Thoughts....go with the Craftsman?

TIA

George

[Chris Harry]

Ive looked at the Cman at Sears, and I have a Ridgid 4511.

The granite looks to be exactly the same between the two.

Obviously the fence is much better on the Cman, but the Cman doesnt come with the mobile base if that is important to you.

I didnt get a look INSIDE the Cman, so I dont know if the full cabinet is functional or just for looks.

The one I saw at Sears had the different size riving knives resting on the table, so Im wondering if they are included (much like the SC saw, but not the Ridgid). Thats another $$$ difference right there.

I love my Ridgid, but I have upgraded the fence (twice!), so if I were able to get the Cman for 569 it would be a close decision. I need to have my saw mobile, so the Cman would probably be out (unless I wanted an aftermarket mobile base, but the HercULift on the Ridgid is SO nice), but your case might be different.

Good luck.

-Chris

[George Farra]

Chris

Thank you for your reply. Mobility is important, but I'm okay putting it on a mobile base if I need to. I do agree that the herculift is a real gem on the Ridgid saw.

If the fence system was more robust it would be a no brainer....the CMan appears to come with SC industrial fence which has gotten a lot of possitive feedback

Thanks

George

[Chris Harry]

I actually built extended rails for the stock Ridgid fence.

I dont think the problem is the fence itself, as much as it is the 2 piece front rail setup. Once I built a single piece (longer) rail and adjusted the fence to it, it was actually pretty decent. Add some sacrifical faces to the fence and you would be good to go.

Ive moved onto an Incra TS setup, which would put even the C-man fence to shame :) but obviously I paid for that privelage.

Are there any less expensive fence options, other than the Delta T2? If you got the Ridgid for 380 or so you are still looking at almost 200 difference for the Cman. I know a few Lowes stores even had the T2 on clearance for 85 bux at one point. That would be ideal.

[Dave Gaul]

I dunno about the Cman... but the 4511 comes with a Lifetime Service Agreement, provided that you register with Ridgid... LIFETIME!!! Big deciding factor for me! Well, the $299 tag helped alot too!

[scott spencer]

The 22116 has a 1-3/4hp motor vs 1-1/2...doubt if that'll make much difference, but it's a difference. I'd be very surprised if the guts weren't essentially identical. The fence looks like a simpler version of the SC Industrial fence.

The pics I've seen look more like the same enclosure as the Steel City 35920/35930 and 22124.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/hewood/sawparts/22116.jpg

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/ProductImages/steelcity/359200.jpg

The 35900 has a steel door:
http://www.canadianwoodworking.com/Newsletters/Jan2009/35900G.jpg

[Myk Rian]

I have a SC 35720 and love it. Only difference between it and the C-man you're looking at is the granite top, and maybe a riving knife.
http://www.routerforums.com/attachments/axlmyks-stuff/12406-steel-city-pics-100_2715s.jpg

[Greg Wittler]

Personally I would go with the Craftsman. I would have wanted to add my Incra fence and i would want a mobility kit with an extension. I also like how the enclosed cabinet goes all the way to the floor. If I hadn't got a nice bonus at the end of the year and bought a GrizzG0691, I probably would have bought the Rigid for $299 but would have bummed if after purchasing, I saw a CMan for under $600.

Greg

[glenn bradley]

The Sears site doesn't find a 22116(?). It finds the 22114 and the usual suspects. Anyone got a link?

[Chris Harry]

The Sears site doesn't find a 22116(?). It finds the 22114 and the usual suspects. Anyone got a link?


http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00922116000P?keyword=22116

[scott spencer]

The Sears site doesn't find a 22116(?). It finds the 22114 and the usual suspects. Anyone got a link?

Sears website is amazingly inconsistent, other than it's consistently slow and cumbersome. Over the past few days, I've been trying to compare and buy some clothing items...you filter it down to the selections you want to see, but if you open one to look at it, you can't get back to the list without losing all the filter settings. :( The pricing seems to vary as much as Amazon too....oh well. (rant off :rolleyes:)