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Billy
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 975 Southeast Oklahoma
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2004-08-08          92971


Has anyone heard any good/bad about the RIDGID brand cordless tools?

I picked up the 4 combo pack yesterday at Home Depot. Comes with a 3 year warranty and 90 day satisfaction guarantee.




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grinder
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 677 central Maine
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2004-08-09          93004


There are some web pages out there that talk about home depot policy's.interesting reading.
It has been my experience that H.D. buy's products to thier
spec's so that they can undersell the competition. Did you notice that they don't sell all brands like sears?
Ryobi and Ridgid seem to be the most promoted. Why? profit
I suspect?
For homeowner use they are probably fine.
If you want something to last I would look at Makita,or Bosch.
"There ain't no free lunch" ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2004-08-09          93007


I can't honestly judge any brand of cordless tools except those I own. After being in the furniture and cabinet business for nearly 35 yrs. I bought one. I had never owned a cordless power tool. When they first came into the market I tried one out, I can't remember the brand, it did'nt have enough power to do anything so I had just ignored them all this while. We're in the midst of puting up a couple steel buildings this summer, I'd noticed that all the pole barn builders were using them to screw the tin on, so I did a little research. John Deere has them on sale I think thru the end of Aug., so I bought the kit with the drill a circular saw, batteries, flashlight and the charger. I kind of chuckled at that little circular saw, but to the carpenter's and my total amazment it sliced thru white oak planks like they were cardboard. He won't even use his Skilsaw because the little Deere just seems to never give up. The drill runs the screws into the oak nailers like ther's nothing to it. I think the kit comes with a five year warranty too. I don't know anything about Rigid, bit the Deere kit deserves a look. Frank. ....


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echo10mp
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 32 Arkansas
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2004-08-12          93342


Guys, I can tell you a little about tools. I worked for a big one for 18 years. The Rigid and Craftsman brands are made by other tool manufacturers. B&D, Ryobi etc. They give the specs and the tool guys bid on the item based on volume and capacity at the plants. Sometimes it is cheaper to give a price break to keep the line operating at full capacity. Some of the off brands you see are just Chinese junk. My advise is stick to the brands. You can always get service and they usually back up the product. They know word of mouth can help or hurt them. For heavy duty work look at DeWalt, Makita or Milwaukee. For medium duty try B&D FireStorm. For real light duty you should go with the Ryobi or Makita or B&D. Remember the heavier duty items use higher voltage batteries and they can get heavy if you are using them and are not a body builder. I found it is better for light duty drilling to use a 9.6 volt. If you are going to drill into metal or hard woods for a long time go for the 12 volt or the 14.4. The 18 and 24 volt are great but overkill for most of us.

John ....


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dsg
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 528 Franklin, Maine
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2004-08-12          93354


I repair power tools part time for one of the local Machine shops. As previously mentioned, stick with the name brands Milwaukee,DeWalt,Makita in that order (IMHO).
most others are throw-away tools, Ryobi being the worst and I cannot comment on the Rigid as I have never worked on one.

David ....


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grinder
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 677 central Maine
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2004-08-13          93390


Great info!
Thanks for the post. ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2004-08-13          93393


No, I don't own any Deere stock but the Deere cordless tools I mentioned in a prior post we've been using steady for almost two weeks now. We're on our second pole shed now and we've never pluged in a circular saw yet, that little 18 volt Deere circular saw makes the energizer rabbit look like a wimp. I have no idea who makes them for Deere, but thier power is unbelievable. Frank. ....


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kubotaguy
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 360 Shepherdstown, WV
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2004-08-13          93398


My brother does sheet metal work and uses a cordless drill constantly all day long. He has tried a various assortment of the cordless tools and has always come back to the 9.6 volt Makita with the orange battery pack and the 12 volt DeWalt. He has also talked with several other people who make their living with the cordless tools and Makita and DeWalt seem to be the winners. He was telling me that certain BD batteries are interchangeable with DeWalt batteries. ....


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yooperpete
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1413 Northern Michigan
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2004-08-13          93404


B&D owns DeWalt. DeWalt is their construction/industrial grade of tools. ....


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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2004-11-24          100919


Ever noticed at Home Depot how much space is devoted to RIDGID tools? Reason is Home Depot owns RIDGID. A manager there told me they have owned it for many years--something like 10-15. ....


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HuckMeat
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 121 Colorado
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2005-03-04          107230


I've been using dewalt with pretty good experience, but some of their corded tools are not as impressive or long lasting as I thought they should be.

I use the dewalt 18 volt set - All work pretty good, but I still pull out a corded circular saw when cutting longs cuts in OSB (at least for 3/4 OSB) and I use a corded hammerdrill, as the battery pack drill gets tired after one hole.

But, the best, most favorite tool I've ever owned, which continues to amaze me: The dewalt 18v hex shank chuck impact driver. I've never used such an amazing tool for fasteners (drywall screws, lags, deck screws, anything you can turn). The short overall profile, speed, "feel" and torque is amazing. I'd give away the dewalt radio, saw, jigsaw, drill, flashlight, as long as I got to keep the impact driver.

My brother swears by the Makita impact driver. His is a fair bit lighter, with a 9.6 battery pack.
The neat thing about the impact drivers, is you can reach tough places, and when you are on a ladder, reaching behind your neck, and can't really apply the driving force, you don't need to anyway. The "ratcheting thud" of the impact driver just helps it find home. ....


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ncrunch32
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 762 Kingston, NY
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2005-03-04          107237


I have a Dewalt 12V cordless drill. It has been great for all my uses around the home. It originally came with 2 batteries, and now after a couple of years it seems they have lost some power. So I bought a new "XRP" battery ($50) which seemed expensive - but I am really happy with it. It seems to hold the charge indefinitely and is extremely powerful.

One thing I have had trouble with is the battery charger. I thought these chargers were supposed to time the charge and then maintain the charge. (At least that's what the manual stated.) Well I discovered that if I left the battery in the charger too long the battery actually lost the charge. I started having to watch the clock and manually pull the battery off the charger after a couple of hours.

So I bought a new charger for about $90 and had the same problem. So I returned the new charger and still watch the clock when I charge my batteries. Anyone out there ever experience this problem with Dewalt chargers? Is there something I am missing here? ....


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Justus
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 179 Justus, Pa.
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2005-03-04          107240


I have both the Dewalt and Ridgid 14.4 volt drills. I have the Dewalt a lot longer than the Ridgid but so far I have no problem with either. I'm changing the subject slightly here but I have a Ridgid table saw that I love. I came close to buying the Dewalt table saw at the time but I'm glad I got the Ridgid instead. I could have gotten the Dewalt for a hundred dollars less than the Ridgid due to a relative's discount but still chose the Ridgid. That was a little over a year ago and they were offering lifetime warranties with any Ridgid product purchased before February (2004) if I remember correctly. I often think how glad I am that I went with the Ridgid. It has a solid fence, the table is larger and framework a lot more solid. I agree with the comment that Ryobis aren't the best. I own own one of those too and consider it far from a quality item. Just my 2 cents. ....


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s chrand
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 77 Mid-Michigan
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2005-03-04          107241


An easy way to control how long the battery charges is to use one of those timers, like for turning your house lights on and off when you're on vacation, and just set it to go off in an hour when you plug a dead battery in. ....


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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2005-03-04          107252


I've got an ancient DeWalt 7.2V drill/driver and a couple of batteries. The charger has red and green lights on it, and I've left batteries in there for weeks at a time. When the green light comes on it seems to go into a maintenance mode. Never had a problem with them overcharging. This drill has been real good to me, but it was a little underpowered for some stuff. At Christmas I was given a 14.4V Craftsman set. It seems OK but if it were me I would have chosen DeWalt again. ....


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brokenarrow
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1288 Wisconsin
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2005-03-04          107283


Being the cheap ass I am, I wait for the sales on craftsmen.
I had a 18volt for 4 years, light and drill kit. Un beleivable how long it hold a charge. Will drill 75+
31/2" screws and never slow down. One battery finally died. I am real hard on tools so I was not disapointed.
For $79 I bought a new 19+ volt drill and light craftsmen.
2 batterys quick charger and case. Here is my take on it.
Cordless tools are like computer (recently anyway) If you spend $250+ on a brand name tool and there is an advance in technology that does not use that system you are screwed! Your stuck with it, old outdated tech. Although it may still work fine you may end up buying a new set of tools just for the new line. Anouther reason I dont buy the named cordless tools is for the fact that no matter what you buy the battery will go dead. Dead is dead and you have to replace it or the tool. For what alot of named battery's cost I can buy a brand new tool in a craftsmen name. usually get a higher volt tool also for the same price. Thats my thinking anyway and for recharged tools I think it makes sense. For corded tools recently I have decided to buy nothing but the top names.

Hardwood!!!!! a green cordless set of tools? LOL
When is JD going to come out with thier own line of gasolene? Dye it green and sell it for $3 a gallon.
....


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denwood
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 542 Quarryville PA
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2005-03-04          107286


With tools and most other things, I always (within reason) try to buy what I consider the best to be had. That way if the tool fails or does not live up to expectations, I can blame the company and not myself for being a cheap ass and saving a few dollars. Nothing is worse than buyers remorse because you went cheap. I had always bought Milwaukee. One reason was the lifetime warranty. Most people do not know it existed but it did. I say did because they just changed it late last year. corporate just emailed me and let me know anything older than that will retain the lifetime but new will only get 5 years. Great, now I must search for older Milwaukees to on ebay and auctions to fill my needs. Kind of like craftsmen hand tools, they are worth as much broken as new since you can just get a new one if it breaks. Milwaukee doesn't give new, just fixes the old one.
I stupidly bought a 5 piece 18v cordless set of Dewalt. Now I have no warranty and a lesser quaity tool to boot. I liked the design and features of dewalt better but now regret it due to poor quality. Kind of like chevy. ....


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brokenarrow
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1288 Wisconsin
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2005-03-05          107323


Denwood
I hear what you are saying and agree with your thinking.
If your a contractor and use them everyday. If your like most of us though and use your cordless on a few big projects a year and on and off on smaller jobs thru the year, I have to disagree. I have had more power from my creftsmen then anyone could ever need and the battery life is awesome. Think about that five yr warrenty your talkin about. It dont warrent the battery I would bet (Just a guess) and for the tools? Hmmm Think about what was available for a selection 5 years ago? Why would you want a five year old over priced under powered cordless tool. The advances in these tools are like computers!!!! Next year there will be anouther type with more power or torque or something new that will require a different set of battery systems. If you bought a re-chargable light maybe a drill and trim saw 5 yrs ago (remember those under powered short lasting batteried and bulky saws) And paid preimium price for a name brand like 200 more than a non name for the combo! What would you think now? Anouther $500 for a set with all the new power and selection?
Dont get me wrong, I know what most of you are saying and I agree with most of it especially with corded tools. But unless you are a contractor and use it for a living every day, I think craftsmen makes a decent cordless that will last you (till you want a upgrade)for half the money.
IMO save the money and every few years buy new technology with more power and a brand new warrenty. To be honest with you my shop had a 4 year old cordless drill. At the time it was top of the line. Last year my 19.2 volt craftsmen would kick the crap out of that milwaukee that was old tech and out dated (in power and battery life!). I can buy 2 craftsmen for what that milwaukee was at the time.
Hey thoug to each to own ya know and you wont go wrong with a top name. I also have a firestorm 14 volt (something like that) I bought it in a hurry when I forgot mine at home on a weekend building project up north. If any of you want it send me the shipping cost and I will send it to you. Its a peice of garbage unless your using 1" screws and dry wall for material. ....


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Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee
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2005-03-05          107325


I have owned and had very good luck with my 14.4 volt DeWalt cordless drill/driver. Still on the orginal battery. ....


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denwood
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 542 Quarryville PA
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2005-03-05          107328


Broken, I can see your point about cordless, but most of my tools are corded, so we do agree. It was my contractor partner that stirred me to buy the dewalt kit. Their 18 volt cordless was without par. in features, 3 speeds, hammer, 1/2 inch cap. and in a lot of our rentals, power can be out during rehab. I am in no way a contractor, my wood tools get used a lot less than yours but it is so convenient not to need an extention cord. I especially liked the lifetime warranty because I am not a contractor and in 10 years I will use it less than a contrator in 6 months. Milwaukee wrote me a couple emails about their warranty and said most breakdowns happen in the first 2 years and almost none after 5 years. For a contractor that is fine. They price jobs knowing tools will need replaced. Mine are mostly for my own enjoyment. My only milwaukee cordless is a 12 volt 3/8 drill. It did break, gear box stripped and they fixed it for free. It is about 10 years old now and the original batteries are as good as my dewalt that is only 2 years old. I noticed a rapid decline in charge held in dewalt after 1 year and my partner has broken several of his dewalts, now in trash with no warranty. One thing that really bothered me about the dewalt drill is the variable speed feature. It says right in the owners manual "NOTE: Continuous use in variable speed range is not recommended. It may damage the switch and should be avoided." It recommends using variable speed only for starting holes or fasteners. Why can't they just make a quality switch that can be used at any speed at any time. I don't recall any corded say that or even my Milwaukee cordless. I don't just want to run wide open all the time, and I sure don't want this junk to break with no warranty. I know I should have gone Milwaukee or even craftsman but that word makes me shudder when it refers to power tools. Please don't take offense to that broken, but I have always considered craftsman a tiny step above chinese, but for cordless you may have a point. ....


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brokenarrow
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1288 Wisconsin
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2005-03-06          107390


I agree with your very last statement Denwood. Only thing is that with hand tools you cant get a better buy 100 warrenty. I dont like the back lash in the ratchets though but for 95% of the jobs they are fine. I have a craftsment circular saw for the last 14 years still running but as soon as I used a makita profesional (on my last building project (the garage) I was convinced and saw the light. I then went out and bought a dewalt corded saw. BIG mistake, its definately NO MAKITA.
No offesnse took, this is a great topic where everyone expresses their likes and dislikes. A fool would think that a cheaper tool would be as good as a tool that is 3 times the price along with the fact that profesionals use them. Fact is though that many many folks never build anything as complicated as a large dog house. For those folks to have a $220 circular saw is ridiculous. Those are the same folks that owe 200K on their home that is worth 220K But they have all the most expensive toys and dont care. LOL ....


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beverett
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 6 Maine
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2005-08-19          115119


Rigid has become one of the better tools out there. Better bearings less chuck movement side to side on there drils and better warrantees. Excellent outlet of stores with home depot. They also have a better battery charger and warrantee here as well.
....


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Peters
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 3034 Northern AL
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2005-08-19          115126


Sears was having Ryobi make their cordless drills. I don't know who is making the Ridgid drills.
I also have a Ridgid table saw which I believe is good quality. It has had 5 years of steady use. Craftman professional was selling the same saw. I did see it branded with another name, which was a quality maker but can not recall now. When Home Depot bought Ridgid they only made had tools and most were for plumbing. The only other ridgid tools I have owned are the pipe cutters, benders and flaring tools.
I think any of the manufactures can have a clunker in the pot. For example no one has mentioned Porter Cable which has a good reputation. I have a 6" sander that has many hours of use with no problems. I also have a hammer drill that was repaired once. The used Hilti was a suburb drill which I am sorry I sold. ....


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