Tools & equipment that are fantastic.

[jjeff]

The Ridgid set of 18V cordless tools I bought back in about 2003 was ahead of its time. The drill, hammer drill, circular saw jigsaw, flashlight and sawzall have been bulletproof. Even the batteries, of which most brands were pretty crappy 20 years ago, held up pretty well over time. The lifetime battery warranty has been used to replace all the batteries over time but some lasted 15+ years and with newer batteries the tools are still holding their own in capabilities.

I now use both Ridgid 18V and Dewalt 20V stuff and have some newer Ridgid stuff too - a 16ga finish nailer and their class-leading 1/2" full size impact gun. I'm not saying these are necessarily better than other brands today, just that Ridgid was a leader 20 years ago and is still great.

I cordially disagree at least the 12v li ion stuff in particular the job max oscillating tool with interchangeable heads. I.e. ratchet, right angle drill, etc really a great concept when multiple close quarter tools were needed however. Even with the lifetime warranty, keeping in mind I bought it from a big box store (hd) the cheap batteries were garbage and the process to replace them was ridiculous imo still have it bought a corded one eventually so I could use the attachments. Left a permanent bad taste in my mouth for Ridgid and previously Milwaukee cordless tools. Corded tools however I own a few Ridgid and Milwaukee. Anyways lesson I've learned just cause it's a brand name tool compare model numbers of it. A lot of manufacturers cater to price points of big box stores but they can be completely different in quality of what's offered at more expensive places to buy it.

 

[WinterDeere]

The mention of Ridgid makes me chuckle. I bought a few Ridgid tools 20 years ago, expecting them to be junk, given they were essentially the Home Depot discount "store brand". But their largest ("6.5 hp" ) shop vac and RO sander have become two of my favorite and best tools of all time. I've owned a half dozen shop vacs, and probably nearly as many RO sanders over the years, and none have performed as well and consistently as these two examples from Ridgid.

Both of those tools are corded, and I can't speak to anything else they make, especially anything cordless. All of my other "Ridgid" tools are old plumbing equipment handed down from my grandfather's plumbing business, and I believe made by a completely different company, whose name was later bought to make the orange tools we know today.

 

[jjeff]

I really like my Ridgid (hd) bought corded belt sander, 1/2" corded drill, corded job max, 7" corded grinder bought super cheap at an auction, and I own two of there shop vacs. A lot of corporate conglomerates bought once well known u.s made qaulity companies for the name. They however definitely do manufacture some things right imo.

 

[Oaktree]

The mention of Ridgid makes me chuckle. I bought a few Ridgid tools 20 years ago, expecting them to be junk, given they were essentially the Home Depot discount "store brand". But their largest ("6.5 hp" ) shop vac and RO sander have become two of my favorite and best tools of all time.

I have a Ridgid cordless drill I bought maybe 15 years ago. Good drill, only downside is that it uses NiCad batteries, I've never seen any L-I replacement ones for it. Don't recall offhand if it's 12 or 18V.
I did pick up a couple spare batteries when I bought it, and they recharge fairly fast.

 

[Dftodd]

Quick story/experience with DeWalt. Bought a 18volt kit in 2006, included sawzall, circular saw, grinder, impact, hammer drill, flash light, small cordless vac. When I had a job where I used this stuff daily drilled thousands of holes in 3/16 steel angle, drove in 1000s of tapered semi self tappers, 1000s of 1/2"+ carriage bolts, and lags with an impact Almost 3 yrs after owning, the drill and impact were completely trashed, took it to the DeWalt factory store they completely rebuilt both free of charge. Still have one or two original nicad batteries that hold a charge (barely) and aren't really usable. In 2006 anyway DeWalt used smarter chargers than Milwaukee. Over more recent yrs went with newer 20volt stuff none of it has given me any problems and a lot of there bare tools can be bought at reasonable prices
For me anyway DeWalt is worth the extra cost mostly for the ease of mind and fact if I need it to do something requiring my DeWalt tools it's going to work.

I'm on 4.5 years on my dewalt made MAC impact guns. Have 1/4", 3/8, and 1/2".

The 1/2" has been thrashed hard and still running strong. The majority of it's life has been tightening and loosening 5/8 thru 7/8 bolts pretty much daily.

 

[jjeff]

Probably current or some former experienced carpenters will roll there eyes at this one got this Franklin brand stud finder as a gift (perhaps my wife was trying to politely tell me something) lol I don't think I've ever missed a stud or backing since. I despise using drywall anchors. One thing Ive practiced especially on personal building projects is to add extra backers where towel racks, stair railings, even tp holders will go etc. it's a great way to use up 16+" cutoffs and random leftover 2x. When I built my cabin it's probably 2x stronger with all the backers I nailed in lol.

 

[oosik]

For what I do, it would be - - hydraulic top link, dibble, pto chipper and grapple. The dibble, pictured below, is used for final alignment of implements when being connected to 3-point. This particular one is by Crescent.

 

[jjeff]

For what I do, it would be - - hydraulic top link, dibble, pto chipper and grapple. The dibble, pictured below, is used for final alignment of implements when being connected to 3-point. This particular one is by Crescent.
View attachment 785389

Retired steel worker gave me a couple of old ones, they are handy..

 

[ovrszd]

For what I do, it would be - - hydraulic top link, dibble, pto chipper and grapple. The dibble, pictured below, is used for final alignment of implements when being connected to 3-point. This particular one is by Crescent.
View attachment 785389

I need one of those in my tractor tool box. I'm gonna search for one. Thanks.

 

[oosik]

Like all other tractor implements - no used dibbles in this part of the world. Thirteen years ago I upgraded tractors. Got a brand new Kubota M6040. Ten years ago I upgraded rear blades. Got a brand new Rhino 950 - 8 foot. I advertised and sold my smaller, lighter Land Pride rear blade. I had two guys show up at basically the same time - both prepared with cash. They started a bidding war. I actually got $50 more than I asked. Sold it to the guy who first called me. It was ridiculous - wish I would have had half a dozen rear blades to sell. Could have sold them all - in less than a week.