The 13″ Ridgid thickness planer is a new addition to the OPC workshop, and it fills a huge void in our tool arsenal. This planer enables me to process rough-cut boards and true-up lumber before starting a woodworking project. It can handle stock up to 13″ wide and 6-1/8″ thick, and the resulting finish requires very little sanding afterward. Best of all, it’s about $100 – $200 cheaper than comparable models!Ridgid provided the R4331 Thickness planer for review, and I’ve already put it to good use... 

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From my own DIY exploits and hanging with pro contractors it has become very apparent how important it is to have the best possible battery for your cordless tools. Batteries impact tool performance, runtime, productivity and even future purchases. Just about everyone owns a cordless drill/driver, and more and more manufacturers are offering cordless versions of traditionally corded tools. Before you jump head-first into the world of cordless tools, here are some questions you need to ask yourself. Are You Ready for a Committed Relationship? Unfortunately,... 

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If you read press releases or simply watch commercials around the holidays, you know that just about every tool manufacturer makes some sort of “best in class” statement regarding their product. Consumers don’t know who to believe anymore, and besides, what does marketing hype actually mean for the contractors and DIYers in the field? Who really has the best tool for the job? To dig deeper, we’ve pitted five popular drill/drivers against each other to find out who has the smallest, lightest and longest lasting product... 

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Over the past year we’ve become fans of Home Depot’s Ridgid brand, primarily for handheld power tools (under the “Fuego” brand), and especially for cordless drill drivers. Home Depot licenses the Ridgid and Ryobi brands to several manufacturers for development. The lion’s share of portable handheld tools from both brands are developed by a company called TTI, with the division responsible for Ryobi/Ridgid headquartered in North Carolina. TTI also owns Milwaukee (purchased seven years ago), with the division... 

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The Ridgid R3250 Circular Saw is unique among circular saws in that it has two blades that spin in opposite directions. This affords some great advantages like easy plunge cuts and being able to cut forwards and backwards. The twin blades also reduce kickback, and enable you to cut a variety of materials. Despite its amazing versatility, the R3250 can only cut 1-1/32” deep. This is on par with competitors, but means you can’t get rid of your other circ saw. Read on for our review. For even more pictures check out our Facebook album.Twinblade... 

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