Ridgid Brand Tools

[CNC Dan]

I just went to Home Depot and bought her a new $70 battery... she is 12 years old.

There are places that will replace the NiCad cells in the pack for about half the cost of a new pack. And the cells are better quality too.

 

[3930dave]

There are some good nicd rebuilders around, and they usually have upgrade options for capacity.

I'd have concerns with rebuilt Lithium packs, as the safety protection is much more critical.

Rgds, D.

 

[mikehaugen]

I hate to be a downer, but I am not to happy with the Ridgid warranty. I bought a Ridgid shop vac from HD. A few weeks later, it quit. HD will not take it back. The local warranty center for Ridgid is not authorized to fix it. About the only thing they will fix is the drills. He doesn't have any ability to get Ridgid to do anything, in fact he asked me to do whatever I could to make noise there, as he had other customers that couldn't get different tools fixed. The shop does warranty work for all the brands. I tried to call the 1-800 number, but I just get referred to the local guy, who tells me he can't do anything. I threw the vac in the trash, I simply don't buy ridgid stuff anymore. I think HF has a better warranty, at least you can take stuff back to their store, and get it exchanged or money back. Any warranty that requires you to go to a 3rd party, IMHO, worthless.

I had good luck with their warranty about six years ago. I bought a new-looking stainless tub shop vac from a garage sale. The guy didn't even clean it out and their was pretty hair still in it. I imagine urine as well because the bottom of the tub had holes corroded in it. I emailed ridgid about the warranty since on their parts website they wanted as much for the tub as a new vacuum. Obviously didn't have it registered or have a receipt, just gave them model and serial number and I had a new tub on my porch in about 4 days. Things could have changed since then of course.

 

[CNC Dan]

There are some good nicd rebuilders around, and they usually have upgrade options for capacity.

I'd have concerns with rebuilt Lithium packs, as the safety protection is much more critical.

Rgds, D.

That's very true. I didn't realize that they were Li batteries.

 

[tamu94]

I hate to be a downer, but I am not to happy with the Ridgid warranty. I bought a Ridgid shop vac from HD. A few weeks later, it quit. HD will not take it back. The local warranty center for Ridgid is not authorized to fix it. About the only thing they will fix is the drills. He doesn't have any ability to get Ridgid to do anything, in fact he asked me to do whatever I could to make noise there, as he had other customers that couldn't get different tools fixed. The shop does warranty work for all the brands. I tried to call the 1-800 number, but I just get referred to the local guy, who tells me he can't do anything. I threw the vac in the trash, I simply don't buy ridgid stuff anymore. I think HF has a better warranty, at least you can take stuff back to their store, and get it exchanged or money back. Any warranty that requires you to go to a 3rd party, IMHO, worthless.

They changed filter size a few years ago and mine required an adapter. I called Ridgid and they answered right away. I had the adapter for free that week in the mail.

Make sure you register your tools or you will not get the Ridgid lifetime warranty.

All of my hand held power tools are Ridgid. They get a lot of use and I have not had any problems.

 

[3930dave]

That's very true. I didn't realize that they were Li batteries.

Just guessing that a recent Milwaukee combo set would be Li, would have to check with UR.

I liked NiCd for it's stable chemistry, sort of old-tractor like. Li is half way into super-car territory, in comparison.

Rgds, D.

 

[ultrarunner]

Yes... Lithium for the Milwaukee set I gave my niece...

 

[3930dave]

Yes... Lithium for the Milwaukee set I gave my niece...

Around 3-4 years ago, the Li packs in the Ridgid 18v tools were known to die early - both mine and my buddy's were replaced under warranty around the same time. As per a recent post, Ridgid and Milwaukee are under the same conglomerate..... quite possibly both types of tools were rolling out of the same complex in China, or at least using the same battery supplier at the time.

While Milwaukee is already perceived as a "name" brand, it is possible that the Ridgid warranty support was better (on nominally the same batteries), as the corp has a priority on building that brand name ?

It is often interesting (and valuable) to discern a products family tree. A Camry used to be one of the best deals going, (Eng. vs. $ wise) as that platform was just a de-contented Lexus. Contrasted with say.... what GM did with a Cimarron....

If I could get close to Milwaukee's (perceived) quality, at a Ridgid price, that fits my budget/needs well - and has, with a drill and impact driver.

Rgds, D.

 

[flusher]

My Rigid floor type drill press has been spinning bits for the past 8 years without a hiccup.

 

[ultrarunner]

It was one of the 18v battery packs...

 

[ultrarunner]

I could be wrong but is seems like Makita and a few others still design and make their tools?

I was told the reason the switch was no longer available for my Milwaukee hand held plumbing snake is because Milwaukee change suppliers and that was it.

 

[3930dave]

I could be wrong but is seems like Makita and a few others still design and make their tools?

I was told the reason the switch was no longer available for my Milwaukee hand held plumbing snake is because Milwaukee change suppliers and that was it.

Lack of accountability seems pretty pervasive today.....

If Milwaukee won't take responsibility for the continuity of "their" parts, who will ? Their former suppliers ? A mid-level or better company that won't support parts on a relatively new tool will lose my business for a very long time.

Actually, that raises an interesting point.... as these big Brand names (some anyway, if not all) are just playing off their suppliers to drive their component prices into the ground, what is to stop these former suppliers from fulfilling old Milwaukee PN's via the internet ?

If the supplier has already lost the OEMs business, they only have parts revenue to gain. It's not like Milwaukee (or anybody else) has the option of suing a PRC based company.

Hmmm..... Rgds, D.

 

[buck boost]

My power tool list hierarchy goes like this: (favorite to least favorite)

(cordless of course)

Milwaukee
Makita
Dewalt
Ridgid

In my honest opinion, Milwaukee is throwing out the best power tools for money today. The M12 and M18 line are outstanding. At least all the examples I have used. The m18 drill/drivers and impacts along with the m12 drill/drivers and impacts are excellent. And I'm referring to the batteries and chargers as well. The Mil compact bandsaw (not the sub-compact) is also an outstanding tool. the Mil SDS+ hammerdrill is also a super time saver on construction sites.

Makita is a close second, but not as innovative like Mil. I was hooking up a 800 amp service and a 600 amp generator a while back, and the shop brought me out cable cutters good for up to 600 mcm, just as a demo. They worked great. Makita or dewalt doesn't even have anything to offer that compares (that I know of). Makita in general seem to be a pinch more ergonomic than Mil though.

As far a contractor quality, ridgid power tools are not up to snuff IMHO. My shop brought me out a new (two years ago now) a five piece bag of the latest x4 LI-ON stuff(18v). The recip saw works okay, impact good, drill is junk, flashlight is junk. The baby circular saw I think has only gotten used once or twice, but worked. I have had multiple battery failures, and charger failures. Home Depot is whiney and slow getting out replacements. I'm actually down one battery right now, I just had another ridgid battery failure.

Just as a side note, as a commercial/industrial electrician, power tools get beat on. I'm trying to make money with them, so that is just how it is. And to me, if a particular tool can't perform, it is worthless, despite even a lifetime warranty.

So for home owners, or light duty work, Ridgid power tools might just do the trick. But in heavy commercial/industrial construction/service, I recommend something else.

 

[buck boost]

Also, I have heard great things about Hilti and Bosch cordless stuff. I don't have any personal experience with those though.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
Just as a side note, as a commercial/industrial electrician, power tools get beat on. I'm trying to make money with them, so that is just how it is. And to me, if a particular tool can't perform, it is worthless, despite even a lifetime warranty.

So for home owners, or light duty work, Ridgid power tools might just do the trick. But in heavy commercial/industrial construction/service, I recommend something else.

Time is $$. If I'm up on a roof and the tool cr%ps out a good warranty is not worth much.
Glad to read your comments on Ridgid. I just had a Lowes contractor praise his Ridgid tools. They always replace batteries etc.
I've had a couple of Milwaukee cordless tools for over a decade. I have gotten absolutely no customer service from them. They have never failed.

I would rather have a tool that doesn't NEED repair than one that is repaired with a lifetime warranty that is hard to get honored.

 

[ultrarunner]

Milwaukee was always my favorite going back to my first sawzall in the early 80's and then added drills, etc.

It's only the last 2 years I have crossed them off my buy list... two separate warranty issues and one a few months out of warranty with no repair part available.

Never had a Bosch or Makita warranty or recall.

I have had Milwaukee recalls for power cords...

 

[Highgear]

Ridgid pipe wrenches have a great warr., the company I worked for threw out 4 - broken aluminum pipe wrenches . Picked them out of the trash and down to the local dealer - they set 4- new ones on the counter and I was on my way !

 

[sparc]

You can still buy Stihl calendars -- I have one in my workshop every year.

The RIDGID calander is still available too.

ridgid.com/us/en/ridgid-calendar

Emerson still owns RIDGID and makes the line of plumbing tools and their
line of shop-vacs that they have for years. Not sure if they still make the
Craftsman line of vacs for Sears but they used to at one time.

They have licensed the Ridgid name to be used on the power tools that TTI sells.
Other than that they have litle to do with the line of portable, cordless, or stationary
power tools. They used to make the stationary power tools such as bandsaws, table saws,
wood lathe, etc but they stopped and turned that over to TTI about 11 years ago.

Milwaukee corded power tools used to be my favorite. Now not so much since
production went overseas. I have a couple Milwaukee corded tools from the 80s and 90s
that won't die. My 1/2" HoleShooter model 0234-1 drill motor being one of them. That is a
great design drill and very heavy duty.

 

[tommygun]

a couple years ago i bought a ridgid 2 piece combo set. registered for the lifetime warranty. about 6 months later battery failed at that time i had to send battery to repair center,battery was replaced with no problem.recently other original battery failed this time was able to take to HD for replacement. there was amixup in paperwork but HD eventually got it taken care of and i got up graded battery.went to ridgid website to register battery got message they no longer lifetime warranty battery instead they give 3 yr warranty. i dont use these tools all that hard but up to this point the tools themselves have worked fine.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Ridgid is a good brand in my mind but I know our new Milwaukee M12 grease gun is made in China so I think what we remember about a tool company from yesterday year may not apply tomorrow.

I am fine with China tools if they are quality. The M12 grease gun got used for the first time yesterday and it worked, gets good reviews for the most part and only time will tell of its quality.

Going forward those who do not use China made tools will not be doing much if they have to buy new tools I expect.