Ridgid MS1290LZA Saw, 12-Inch Compound Sliding Miter with Laser

Ridgid MS1290LZA Saw, 12-Inch Compound Sliding Miter with Laser From Ridgid List Price: $973.50 Price: $569.00 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Ships from and sold by Amazon.com 5 new or used available from $449.99 Average customer review:  (13 customer reviews)

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #93244 in Home Improvement
• Brand: Ridgid
• Model: MS1290LZA

Features

• Blade Depth Adjustment ? tool-free adjustment gives the ability to make dado and rabbet cuts
• Quick Release Miter and Bevel Locks ? provides users with easy access to make quick angle adjustments
• Bevel Stop Pin ? quick action levered pin releases or bypasses bevel detent index points with one simple motion
• Large Expanded Table ? gives extra material support for the increased demands of a sliding miter saw
• Repeat-A-Cut Marking Surface ? allows user to mark fence for repetitive cuts

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Editorial Reviews

From the Manufacturer
Ridgid MS1290LZA 12-inch Compound Sliding Miter Saw with Laser features a Blade Depth Adjustment too-free adjustment gives the ability to make dead on drabbet cuts. The 15 amp heavy duty motor powers through the most difficult cuts, while the 2-1/2-inch dust port provides connection to standard dust collection systems to help keep work area clean. Quick release miter and bevel locks provides users with easy access to make quick angle adjustments. Bevel stop pin quick action levered pin releases or bypasses bevel detent index points with one simple motion. Work clamp with quick-release lever securely hold material in place. The dual bevel and extended miter range is 0 degrees to 47 degrees dual bevel, and 0 degrees to 60 degrees miter capacitates with crown molding stops to accommodate a wide variety of cuts. Repeat-A-Cut marking surface allows user to mark fence for repetitive cuts. Large Expanded table gives extra material support for the increased demands of a sliding miter saw. Zero clearance adjustable throat plate gives material maximum cut through support. Quick action Miter detent thumbwheel releases or bypasses miter detent index points with one simple motion. Specifications: Motor: 120 V, AC 15 amps, No Load Speed: 4,000 r/min. (RPM), Blade Arbor: 1 in., Blade Diameter 12 in., Weight: 70 lbs. Cutting Capacities: Baseboard against fence: 5 1/2 in., Max. Cross Cut: 13 1/2 in., 90° Cross Cut (nominal); 2 in. x 12 in. or 4 in. x 4 in., 45° Miter Cut (nominal): 2in. x 10 in., 45° bevel Cut (nominal) 2 in. x 12 in. Includes MS1290 Miter Saw , Exactline adjustable laser guide, carbide tipped blade, dust bag, dust guide, work clamp, blade wrench, hex keys, operator's manual.

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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful.
professional contractor recommends
By Joseph C. Moss
I do several jobs from framing to trimming and everything in between. I bought this saw from home depot for $549.00 and got a free Ridgid miter stand a ($179 value). I have used many other brands of saws, Makita is ranked comparible to the ridgid. I would recommend this saw if it is mainly used in a stationary spot where you don't mind getting saw dust everywhere. The thing ways a ton and when on the stand it barely fits through a 32" doorway. The dust bag is useless unless you use a vacuum. Going to rig a switch to my vacuum that turns on when my saw does that way I can do finish work without making a big mess. Other than that it cuts good and straight, degree marks are easy to read, and very comfortable to use.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful.
Derek
By D. Guy
I dont know what this guy is talking about. I use this saw almost every day, how can a fence on a $600 miter saw be crooked?
Read some proffesional reviews, they say the fit and finish are second to none. You probably need to have the blade aligned.
The dust collection is weak but they always are, my partners dewalt is the same way.
The only drawback to this saw is the weight. It is about 10 lbs heavier than the dewalt.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent shop saw
By Victor H. Agresti
Ridgid MS1290LZA 28523 Saw, 12-Inch Compound Sliding Miter with Laser

I bought one of these saws when it was first introduced and have used it in my shop for over a year, on dozens of jobs. It sits on a home-made stand.

Pros:

- The 1 3/16" diameter [sliding] rails are strong and stiff, so there is minimal blade deflection. See for yourself: compare this saw with comparable saws at Home Depot. Pull the handle all the way forward and down on any slider and move the handle repeatedly from left to right. You'll notice the blade barely moves from side to side on the Ridgid. Try this on sliders with 1" rails, (such as the DeWalt DW718) and the blade deflects side to side by as much as 1/4"; which would seriously compromise cutting accuracy. This test convinced me to only consider saws with 1 3/6" rails.

- Highly accurate cuts are the norm. E.g., it can shave 1/100" off a board or adjust in parts of a degree. The bevel and miter scale were adjusted perfectly to zero from the factory.

- The largest table of all sliders; excellent support for the piece you're cutting.

- 61 degree miter left or right, and 50 degree bevel left or right, is the best in the industry. Large handle on the miter gage is easy to set or move; stainless steel miter degree indicator has large numbers and ½ degree lines. Bevel angle is easy to adjust and lock in place.

- The included clamp is easy to tighten down on a board, or loosen, and fits on either side of the blade. Great safety feature when cutting small pieces, as it keeps your fingers away from the blade. Clamps are available as a "part", if you want a second one.

- All controls are accessible from the front of the saw, which helps makes it a great shop saw. Handle is designed for a right-handed person; you have to depress a safety button with your thumb, before the large on/off bar switch can be pulled in.

- Tool-free depth gage is easy to set; stays set until you release it and it works well.

- Very high fence (5.5") provides support for high crown or base molding, or other pieces. The fence top sections on both sides are adjustable from side to side, or they can be removed altogether.

- Powerful (15-amp) motor doesn't bog down.

- Includes a laser blade guide that mounts on the arbor. (Although a built-in adjustable laser would have been better.) Blade stops almost instantly when the on/off bar switch is released.

- 3.5" depth of cut with 13.5" crosscut capacity means you can cut a 4x4 or 2x12 in one pass.

- Polycarbonate blade guard works flawlessly and never gets in the way. Easy to hold the blade guard up with your right thumb, while gripping the handle, to pinpoint blade positioning.

- Warranty is the best in the industry.

Cons:

- Heavy at 68 lbs., and bulky; might need two people to lift into the bed of a truck. However, this isn't an issue if it's used as a shop saw and it's on a stand.

- Dust pickup is awful. I keep a 2.5" vacuum hose connected to the where the dust bag usually connects, and use two other dust pickup hoses near the table. Even though it's connected to a 3 HP dust collector, I doubt if half the dust is caught. After a big project, there is a lot of cleaning up to do, and while using the saw, I turn on an exhaust fan and wear a respirator.

Other:

- The early models of this saw came with a very thin kerf carbide blade that had a tendency to oscillate so badly it needed a blade stabilizer. Reviews of later editions of this saw don't mention that issue, so Ridgid must include a better blade now.

Summary:

Fine Woodworking's 2010 Tool Guide proclaims this model a best value and "ideal for use in a shop". Having used it in my shop for over a year now, I'd have to agree.

If this saw had decent dust pickup, I would have rated it at 5 stars.
See all 13 customer reviews...