When considering tools, I always look for the biggest bang for my buck. That is, I like for my tools to serve multiple purposes, work on multiple materials, etc. My go-to miter saw for the past several years has been a trusty DeWalt 12โ saw, which will cut just about anything. Stepping down from this giant to the more portable Ridgid 10โณ Dual Bevel Compound Miter Saw was definitely a change for me, yet a surprisingly welcome one. Ridgid has once again worked hard to incorporate the newest designs and technology into this saw. Letโs take a few minutes to see if this saw is right for your job site.
Bevel Vs Miter
Before we get too deep into the review, I think itโs important to touch on the difference between โbevelโ and โmiterโ cuts in order to understand the full capabilities of the Ridgid 10โณ Dual Bevel Compound Miter Saw. The simple version is that miter cuts change the horizontal angle while bevel cuts change the vertical cutting angle. Doing both at the same time gives you a compound cut.
First Impressions
- Setup: Setup is straightforward, with very little assembly required out of the box. The saw comes with a multipurpose, wide-tooth blade, which is easy to install with simple hand tools.
- Initial Quality: Both the metal and plastic pieces of the saw are of excellent quality. I donโt have any concerns at the outset.
- Portability: An additional carrying handle on the rear of the saw arm makes moving the saw a breeze.
- Trigger Safety: The trigger switch features a standard safety that gives it a separate action to avoid accidental startup.
With minimal storage space in my work trailer, I choose to stow my saw with the saw arm and blade beveled to the maximum distance. This decreases the overall height of the saw and allows it to sit comfortably on the shelf. Some accessories are easily removable, such as the adjustable fences and the friction pad. I usually store these separately as the saw doesnโt bevel down completely with the fences in place.
Putting It To The Test
The Right Tool For The Job
Ridgid advertises their 10โ saw as able to โhandle any job thrown its wayโ. While there are some capacity limitations to that claim, Ridgid has a good reason to boast โ thereโs no belt driving the blade. With a direct drive, you wonโt see the slight hesitation or power loss over time that you do with a belt that loosens.
Having used a 12โ saw on my job sites for as long as I can remember, I had no qualms about throwing the Ridgid unit to the test right away on a deck project that I was in the middle of. I can say that, for its size, this saw has some serious power thanks to the direct drive. With the 15-amp driving 4000 RPM, it cuts effortlessly through a variety of materials, including treated lumber and PVC for pre-fabricated railings.
The saw is capable of cross-cutting a 4 x 4 in a single pass, but itโs a close shave. Thatโs something to keep in mind as your workday progresses and sawdust builds up.
Pro Tip: Watch the amount of sawdust that builds up on the rails and around the saw over the course of the day. When youโre cutting close to the maximum capacity, it can block the blade from going all the way back or dropping all the way down. Just give it a quick wipe down to avoid any issues.
Additional Field Notes
The Ridgid 10โณ Dual Bevel Compound Miter Saw includes a standard bag that attaches to the dust collection port for the smaller jobs. For larger jobs, most standard wet-dry vacuums will fit into the dust collection port as well. Dust collection is about as good as you can expect on a miter saw, but better if you connect a vac.
The detent ensures that the saw stays locked in place while you make miter cuts. There are some cheap saws out there that you can knock out of angle. While I didnโt expect Ridgid to fail in this category, itโs nice to confirm its success.
The saw also comes with a removable friction pad to hold stock in place, although I find it only has an effect on the lightest pieces of trim. While this isnโt a big deal as a job site saw, youโre much better off using the saw in conjunction with a stand that supports and levels the material over a longer distance for serious carpentry.
Ridgid goes with a shadow cut line indicator, which is the preference among most of the Pro Tool Reviews team. Thereโs no calibration to worry about since the shadow doesnโt lie about the bladeโs position.
Price and Recommendations
At $349, the Ridgid R4210 settles in nicely to Ridgidโs line of affordable, capable tools aimed at Pros.ย I find that finish carpentry fits really well into the Ridgidโs wheelhouse. This saw cuts beautifully through all types of trim with incredible precision. Ridgid includes instructions for zeroing in the saw before use, however, my cuts were accurate at a 32ndย of an inch, right out of the box.
This precision, coupled with the ability to bevel up to 70ห, makes this saw ideal for joining all types of trim, especially crown molding. The saw features all of the regular stops ranging from 0 to 67.5ห, both left and right.
The Bottom Line
I really like what Ridgid has done in the 10โณ miter saw class. The construction is nice and it boasts a large amount of power for such a compact unit. For the serious woodworker, trim carpenter, or anyone looking to cut smaller material, this saw definitely merits a second look. At 47 pounds, itโs very portable and it couples nicely with Ridgidโs rolling stand. This makes for a nice combination on any job site or workshop.
As I talked about previously, you need to know your limitations with a 10โณ saw; if you plan for this saw for your โend all, be allโ miter saw, you might be disappointed. While Iโm not quite ready to give up my 12โ model, the 10โณ Ridgid R4210 will stay on the trailer for my trim work and small jobs.
Ridgid 10โณ Dual Bevel Compound Miter Saw Features
- Adjustable miter and bevel detents with bypass allow for quick adjustments to the most common angles
- LED cut line indication and work light illuminate work to improve visibility and accuracy of cut
- 15 Amp motor powers through even the most difficult materials
- Built-in-dust collection port works with common 1-1/4 in. wet/dry vacuum adapters
- Crown stop mounting holes are compatible with common stops and available Ridgid crown molding stops (sold separately)
- Positive bevel crown molding stops at the most common angles: 0, 15, 22.5, 33.9 and 45ยฐ left and right
- 0 โ 70ยฐ miter capacity with positive stops at the most common angles: 0, 15, 22.5, 31.6, 45, 60 and 67.5ยฐ left and right
- 4000 RPM for powerful performance
- 6 ft. cord
Ridgid 10โณ Dual Bevel Compound Miter Saw Specs
- Model Number: R4210
- Miter Saw Type: Dual Bevel Sliding Compound
- 45ยบ Capacity: 2 x 8
- 90ยบ Capacity: 2 x 12 or 4 x 4
- Depth: 33โณ
- Height: 28.25โณ
- Width: 23.5โณ
- Table Length: 18โณ
- Table Width: 23.5โณ
- Weight: 47 lbs
- Cord Length: 6โฒ
- Voltage: 120V
- Warranty: Lifetime Service Agreement
- MSRP: $349
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