Cordless drill heads up

[wroughtn_harv]

I don't know if any of you are planning on Santa bringing you a cordless drill or cordless tool combo pack in about ten days. But if you are I was reading the fine print on Home Depot's ad on their new Rigid line the other day.

They are offering free battery packs for life on sets sold until the end of this month. If you have any experience with cordless stuff you know that's the biggest pain in the butt part of cordless technology. None of them have batteries that do what they're supposed to as long as they're supposed.

The Rigid tools I touch tested seemed heavier. I don't know if that's weight added to infer value or if they're made of cheaper but heavier stuff. I'm sticking with my Panasonic's because they're not only light but kick some kind of butt.

 

[gws]

Considering battery packs run $40-80/pack. Batteries for life might not be a bad deal. I usually have to replace battery every couple of years.

 

[fivestring]

"Batteries for life might not be a bad deal. I usually have to replace battery every couple of years."

Ditto here, Gary. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

$44.00 for 14.4 Ryobi battery pack. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[thcri]

My son just bought the Ridgid Tool Pak from Home Depot about a month ago. He is on his second set of batteries already. He is not impressed with the Ridgid system at all. I can't tell you why but he just isn't. His big concern is the batteries.

murph

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I like Rigids commercial here talking about their new tool line. The best part that gets me is the fact they say the best part of their tools is the Pro's that swear by them. Rigid makes some nice tools but just entered the powered hand tool market about 2 months ago. I have not seen any other construction crew using Rigid hand tools other then plumbers using the original Rigid tools that made them. These new tools are just that, New. And while they have a great promotion with the lifetime warranty on the tools, what happens if the tools flop and they discontinue them. Will they still warranty them and continue making battery packs if they no longer make the tools? Rigid jumped in the market with both feet but they should have started slowly and built up some trust first before hoping their name will sell the tools on its own. I will not get rid of my DeWalt tools for Rigid till Rigid proves it will be around in this market for a while and has great tools that will out perform my DeWalts. I also know that a lot of other contractors feel the same as we do and will stick to their brands for now.

So far Rigid is selling to homeowners biting on their lifetime Warranty promotion and that is it. For a contractor to consider switching over, they would want to replace all their tools so they can interchange batteries. That is a huge expense to most outfits where you are talking thousands of dollars of cordless tools. I wish Rigid luck as we do like their line of plumbing tools but think they made a big mistake the way they entered this market segment. Later.

 

[centex]

The warranty on the Rigid Tools portable tools will be changing from a lifetime warranty to a 90 day satifaction guarantee and a 3 year limited warranty. Also the stationary woodworking tools that they made will now be made overseas by by One World Technologies which is part of a Hong Hong based company, Techtronic Industries. This company also owns Ryobi Power Tools in North America and builds some power tools for Sears.

 

[TresCrows]

I have a DeWalt. Thye offered the guys at work a half price deal if you turned in any kind of battery powered drill to them. I have had mine now nearly 5 years. Still on the original two packs that came with it. It has been used much. Other guys have Craftsman and B&D etc. They do not hold up. The DeWalts we all bought are still going strong. J

 

[AndyM]

When Black and Decker first came out with their "higher grade" Dewalt line, I was very skeptical. I figured it was the same cheap B&W stuff in a fancier yellow package, but since that time I have bought several Dewalt tools and found there is a difference between the two brands.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I have B&D, Dewalt and hope the Ridgid Line is sucessful. Looks very well built.

 

[PineRidge]

My experience is with the Makita line. I have owned my drill for over 5 years with the very same battery pack. I only own one set. I learned a long time ago that with nicads you need to totally discharge the pack before a recharge or you will build up a memory that will ruin the battery. As long as it keeps plugging away I won't even be replacing the battery.