When I think of Ridgid, the first thing that comes to mind is great value for money. But I'm not saying I have to settle for less, they're one of the last companies I know where you can really get a great product for not much money. I mean, have you ever used a tool and got a little pissed off and thought, "Man, I wish this thing had _______, would it be the perfect tool?" Well, I'm pretty sure Ridgid and you Just as frustrated, because their new Ridgid R4221 12-Inch Compound Sliding Miter Saw has almost every major feature you want in a miter saw, including the price.
Obviously, we're talking about a fully functional 12" dual-bevel compound sliding miter saw. Like all of its competitors, it has positive stops on all major miters and bevels, a 15 amp motor, 4,000 RPM idle speed, crown molding stops, dados deep stops and more. If you're reading reviews on 12-Inch Sliding Miter Saws, you know the features you should expect, and this unit has them all. So the question is, why buy this?
Well, because it has a few features that might surprise you no matter what your price point.
build quality
This saw is big at 64 pounds, get ready to drag this beast out of the box. A large portion of the weight comes from the large base and slides. It has a large footprint compared to some competitors, but this has always been Ridgid's MO with their full-size saws. So it was able to mill a lot of stock, but more on that later.
Given the size and weight of this thing, it took me about 10 minutes to decide that I needed to go straight to the nearest Home Depot and purchase Ridgid's MS-UV Miter Saw Utility Vehicle. Check it out at your local Home Depot and you'll see why it's one of PTR's premier booths.
elephant in the room
So I mounted the Ridgid R4221 on the MS-UV, plugged it in, and at this point I ran into some small issues that other users have also had. When I pulled the trigger, the saw kicked up hard, then as it accelerated, it ran erratically (pun intended), causing the blade to wobble quite a bit. The problem was caused by misaligned gears, and Ridgid realized that some damaged units had been sold to consumers.
Still, it seems to me that every company that mass-produces anything will have some issues from time to time. It's just a fact of life. The question is when this happens, do they stand up for their name and make the right choice?
Ridgid sent a new saw right away, no hassle on our side other than letting them know there was a problem.
feature
Miter and bevel capabilities
As promised, there are surprising features. First, it cuts a 70 degree bevel in both directions! If you install a lot of siding or trim, this should help with those small angles where you might have to go to the table saw or use a circular saw empty handed. This saw will cut a 14-1/2" wide 70 degree bevel in ½ x 6 cedar clapboard. It is ideal for siding and trim installations on 4.5 roof slopes.
The range is so wide that the sides of the base have to be unlocked and swung out. This is the industry leading line of miter joints. An added bonus is that when the supports are open, they create a generous 37" of material support. Pair it with MS-UV and your part has only a small gap and no supports.
Another added bonus of this miter capacity is that despite its size, it is easy to store. When folded down, the rails are only 20 degrees away from the body, so it doesn't take up too much room on your job site or on your trailer when you lock it down.
control
One of the things that makes this saw stand out is how easy it is to maneuver the controls. It has positive stops on bevels and the main angle of the bevel, but it can go around them too. With a quick tap of the bevel and bevel bypass levers, you can make major adjustments. Click it again and it will drop into the angle detent. It only took me a few minutes to move the saw quickly and confidently, ready for the next cut.
cutting capacity
If you're looking at a 12" push and pull saw, you may have to deal with a larger stock. The Ridgid R4221 crosscuts 16/4 board up to 15 ½ inches wide. At 45 degrees, you can be up to 12 inches wide. If angled to the left (away from the drive shaft), you can cut a 5-1/2" thick 45 degree bevel.
The motor is mounted at a 45 degree angle to provide additional clearance for these extreme capacities. The weight of the saw allows it to stay planted under wide, heavy planks that may require this angle. Extra-tall mitered fences also help with clamping large pieces. It's clear that Ridgid intends this saw for large cutting capacities.
braking time
Perhaps unsurprisingly, but still worth mentioning are the electric blade brakes. At this price point, it's one of those must-have features that Ridgid may have left out, but didn't. This is part of what makes this saw a complete tool. If you're going to build a saw with the cutting power that this saw has, you'll need a blade brake.
Pro Tip: When you cut a 16/4 stock, it leaves a lot of weight on the sides of the blade. A safe carpenter will not lift the blade until it has stopped, or you run the risk of binding the workpiece. At best, you'll have to re-cut the ends to be square, wasting stock. At worst, you'll get kicked hard and end up having to count to ten with your shoes off. Blade brakes keep you safe and efficient.
Additional features
Also in this nice category is an LED light that casts shadows on the saw kerf. Unlike a laser, you never have to adjust it. The dust collection port works reasonably well. With a standard 1-1/2" dust collection hose, I collected about 75% of the dust, which could have been better.
The included stock work clamps could also be better. There are no quick releases to make major adjustments. It has very thin threads, so if you switch between 2x and 4x material, it will take a long time to screw it up and down even a few inches. I prefer the clamp for their 10" MS255SR, which we think is one of the best we've seen on a miter saw. As long as we're comparing, I'd also like a Diablo blade in the 12" size.
ergonomics
For big saws, the ergonomics of the Ridgid R4221 12-Inch Miter Saw are well thought out. It has a nice balance and controls are intuitive. Everything from the bevel lock on the back of the saw to the LED light switch on the front of the trigger is easily accessible. I'm not tall, but I could easily adjust the controls with one hand and move them into place with the other. Of course, I don't want to move around at all, but the design makes sense.
In ergonomics, little things kill. There's nowhere to wrap the rope, so you'll just have to find something to wrap it around. I also wish there was some sort of faster release for the fence extension. Since you can achieve extreme miter angles, they sometimes get in the way and you have to unscrew the set screw to pop them out.
Performance
strength
A 6-foot power cord powers the 15-amp motor to provide all the power you need. I've used this saw over and over to inspect clumps of 4x material and never had any complaints.
accuracy
When it comes to the accuracy of a sliding miter saw, you're really talking about head deflection. That is, how far did I deviate from my intended angle when I pulled the saw out to the end of the rail?
This would expose a cheap saw as the rails would bend and wobble with only the weight of the motor and rotating mass. Now I've seen people put a 50 lb bag of flakes on their Festool Kapex just to prove it, but I haven't gotten that far. I have used a digital goniometer in normal use and found the deflection to be about 0.01 degrees for a 45 degree chamfer. In other words, good enough for me. This might not be good enough if you're doing high end crown molding, but for framing applications and most finishing jobs it's excellent.
Out of the box the Ridgid R4221 is close to square, but with a few minor tweaks it can easily become a very tight square. I'm not going crazy here as most people don't use a 12" miter saw for fine joinery.
value
That's amazing when you're looking at everything for $350. Yes, we had some gear issues at first, but with Ridgid's lifetime service warranty (more importantly, local service centers located at Home Depot, so you can actually use the damn warranty), the risk is minimal, and It pays off a lot.
final thoughts
The Ridgid R4221 12-Inch Miter Saw is an extremely versatile saw that really does what it does. It is suitable for general woodworkers and all but the most discerning woodworkers. If you need a saw that is powerful, accurate, and high capacity without paying a lot, then this is the saw for you.
Ridgid R4221 12" Miter Saw Key Features
- Adjustable miter and bevel detents with bypass allow quick adjustments to most common angles
- LED cut line indicator and work light illuminate the job for increased visibility and accuracy of cuts
- Powerful 15 amp motor powers even the toughest materials
- Built-in dust collection port works with popular 1-1/4" wet/dry vacuum adapters
- Crown stopper mounting holes are compatible with stock stoppers and available RIDGID crown molding stoppers (not included)
- Blade brake stops the blade for faster transitions between cuts
- Positive bevel crowns stop at the most common angles; around 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 33.9° and 45°
- Positive miter stops at the most common angles around 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, 45°, 60° and 67.5°
- 4,000 rpm
Ridgid R4221 12" Miter Saw Specifications
- Model: Ridgid R4221
- Power supply: 120V AC
- Motor: 15 amps
- No-load speed: 4000 RPM
- Blade Diameter: 12"
- Max Cross Cut 45 Dress Left: 2 x 12 or 4 x 6
- Maximum crosscut 90 degrees: 2 x 16 or 4 x 6
- Miter capacity: left and right 70 degrees
- Dust port: 1-1/2 in.
- Weight: 64 lbs
- Warranty: Lifetime Service Agreement
- Price: $499