Ridgid R4330 – 13 inch Thickness Planer
Tool: Ridgid R4330 – 13″ Thickness Planer
With the task of milling a thousand feet of trim on a chilly December day I decided my thickness planer wasn’t cutting it so I picked up the Ridgid R4330 13″ Thickness Planer at my local Depot and set about milling a batch of Mahogany 1 x 6 into 9/16″ x 2 5/8″ pieces.
Rating: 
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Description:
This 13″ Thickness Planer uses a 3-blade cutterhead and features multiple depth presets for repeated cuts at common sizes. Powered by a 120V / 15 Amp Motor with Overload Protection and Dual-Edge, Quick Change Blades this planer also features a Precision Lead-Screw system eliminating the need for a cutterhead locking system.
Experience:
After attaching the rear assembly I plugged it in and fed it wood. The results were smooth, as expected from the first few hundred feet under new blades. End snipe occurred at both ends but was limited to about 2 1/2″ and barely noticeable on the leading edge. Raising and lowering the blade is smooth and easy. A turn toward you raises the blade which must be opposite from my DEWALT DW734 because it’s counter-intuitive for me. The cut-depth indicator is more accurate than the Dewalt.
Comments:
I have several Ridgid tools now. Although the funny looking orange brand seems a bit on the heavy side, they are well thought out and include features I have wanted on my everyday tools. I especially like my discontinued RIDGID 24V XLi 4-Piece Cordless Combo Kit which includes fast recharging, remaining charge indicators on the batteries, ease of blade/bit changing and sufficient power.
In the month since I purchased this planer I have sent thousands of feet through it. The only complaint I have regards the dust diverter attached on the back side by two thumb-screws. It’s a removable permanent attachment that when left on prevents the outfeed table from folding up resulting in a larger footprint in the shop and creating one more tool I have to break-down for transport and reassemble at the site. For the benefits of it’s smooth operation, ease of depth setting, presets, cut indicator, width and price I am happy with it so far. (Not sure if this one is a powerhouse; it seems a bit whimpier than the Dewalt but the price was right and I wanted to give the orange guys a try on this one due to their one-step-ahead designs.)
Links:
Product page at Ridgid.com
Filed under: Planers | Tagged: Ridgid, Thickness Planer
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