Ridgid Brand Tools

[rScotty]

My buddy has some Ridgid tools he wants to sell. Compressors and things. They look good, but I don't know anything about them. Most of my stuff is SnapO or Milwaukee. Any opinions?
rScotty

 

[George2615]

I have used Ridgid tools at work for years and have a few at home. The older ridgid tools are a quality tool. Contractors we deal with have also used them for many years.
Now I see that Home Depot sells them. I haven't bought any ridgid tools from HD so I don't know where they are made or if they are the same quality as the Ridgid tools I grew up using.

 

[Fifelaker]

I have a few Ridged tools from the Depot. I have used the miter saw a lot 20-25 decks and a few garages. Still works like new. A coil nailer for 8 or 9 roofs still works like new. A friend has a compressor and drill press that are going strong also. I believe they have a lifetime warrantee. Some of the Milwaukee stuff is now made in China.

 

[mark02tj]

Growing up (many years ago!) I always associated "Rigid tools" with plumbing tools - pipe wrenches, threading machines, etc. Not to mention that Rigid had GREAT calendars that were very much in demand!! :thumbsup: But now I see that they sell cordless drills, saws, etc.

I was at Home Depot a few weeks ago looking at combo sets of drills, circular saw, recip saw and flashlights. They have a really nice set there for $499. Turns out that all of the components - including the batteries - have a lifetime warranty!! You just have to register the purchase on their website. If you have a claim then you file it online and then exchange the defective item at Home Depot. Pretty nice!!

The day I was at Home Depot the "factory rep" for Rigid was in the tool department. Turns out that Rigid and Milwaukee are owned by the same folks now. I asked him about the Rigid tools and his response was that, while Rigid makes a really nice tool, he was partial to Milwaukee. I asked about the Milwaukee warranty and it was only a year. I'm not sure what to make of that!!

But, to answer your question, Rigid makes high quality stuff.

 

[brin]

I just bought a Ridgid cordless drill at HD....I got the lifetime guarantee...The reason I bought it was I watched an appliance repairman I know using his and got to talking to him about it because it was so handy and powerful...He told me he had the lifetime guarantee and so far Ridgid has replace his drill once and batteries twice...He loved it...so I bought one...$99.00 at HD/

 

[3930dave]

As long as you remember to register, Rigid has a great warranty on drills/drivers.

I and a buddy both bought the 18v drill and impact driver set a few winters back from HD for something like $160. The original batteries didn't last, mine and his have been replaced once free. He puts his tools through more than I do, all 4 are standing up well. Great $ value, and good tools, the impact driver has decent torque vs. price. Original batteries had a known life-span issue, the last set of batteries are standing up well so far.

Hard to get away from off-shore production these days.... I talked with a mechanic who was not impressed by a Snap-On cordless tool (likely a driver, maybe a drill) as less than 2 years after he bought it, they could not supply a battery - They'd changed Chinese suppliers, and dropped the model. I like Snap On for other things, not sure I'd buy their cordless products though.

Rgds, D.

 

[DXN1EL]

I know the Ridgid bench vise are German made 75,000 psi tensile strength forged steel. That what I have on the "to buy" list.

 

[Arc weld]

Emerson Electric owns Ridgid or at least used to. Ridgid is the Snap-On when it comes to pipe tools. Ridgid was none too happy when they were basically forced to put their name on power tools to be sold at Home Depot. The power tools may be good or they may not be but I would bet they are made in China, unlike their contractor tools for the pipe trades. Like Snap-On, they had the best calenders but weren't politically correct for the masses. To heck with the power tools, I think there should be a massive protest to bring back the Ridgid and Snap-On calenders. :cool2:

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Emerson Electric owns Ridgid or at least used to. Ridgid is the Snap-On when it comes to pipe tools. Ridgid was none too happy when they were basically forced to put their name on power tools to be sold at Home Depot. The power tools may be good or they may not be but I would bet they are made in China, unlike their contractor tools for the pipe trades. Like Snap-On, they had the best calenders but weren't politically correct for the masses. To heck with the power tools, I think there should be a massive protest to bring back the Ridgid and Snap-On calenders. :cool2:

And Stihl calendars too.

 

[ultrarunner]

I have several Milwaukee power tools and don't plan to buy anymore. Had a battery go out on a combo set... they said it was abused... the set was a gift for my niece and spent 99% of the time in her bedroom... said the battery had water damage... my Milwaukee drill kept on my truck was 3 years old and the stopped working... the trigger switch went bad and then I learned that switch had been discontinued...

Might consider Rigid if they stand behind their warranty...

I have never had a bad Bosch or Makita...

 

[Arc weld]

There used to Ridgid bumper stickers that said, "Keep your Ridgid tools is working order"....

The calenders sure helped.

 

[mikehaugen]

Many of the older ridgid power tools were made by metabo. German made and excellent tools. I have a 1/2" hammer drill and angle grider from that era. I also have some cordless tools with bad batteries, I wish I had been a little more responsible and registered them. They are decent tools and I will probably replace the batteries.

 

[bullbreaker]

I have close to 12 older Rigid pipe wrenches from largest to smallest. Of the new stuff I have their frameing nail 21 degree ,3 1/2 inch air gun which has never giving me a lick of trouble. I really like it got it on special and it came in KUBOTA ORANGE ! I just use it it for personal estate use not a contractor (everyday).

 

[3930dave]

I have several Milwaukee power tools and don't plan to buy anymore. Had a battery go out on a combo set... they said it was abused... the set was a gift for my niece and spent 99% of the time in her bedroom... said the battery had water damage... my Milwaukee drill kept on my truck was 3 years old and the stopped working... the trigger switch went bad and then I learned that switch had been discontinued...

Might consider Rigid if they stand behind their warranty...

I have never had a bad Bosch or Makita...

Unless your niece was living on a leaky submarine, you raise a great point about "warranties".

Rgds, D.

 

[BXpanded]

Milwaukee, Ryobi and Ridgid power tools along with other brands such as Homelite, are owned by TTI Group. The company has an official address in Hong Kong, but they also have a good sized facility in South Carolina and another in Milwaukee. The CEO is an American and lives in SC. The Hong Kong thing is likely a result of our ridiculous corporate tax structure.
They still do most of the development of Milwaukee brand in Milwaukee. Most of the Ridgid and Ryobi development is done in SC or China. Almost all of the tools are built in China.
The Milwaukee stuff is considered the premium brand and sometimes gets better motors, etc., than do the other 2 marques. All of the power tools are actually pretty good, and are a good value from what I've seen. The Ridgid and Ryobi power tools are only available from Home Depot. I don't believe the Ridgid pipe wrenches are affiliated with the power tools anymore.
TTI has focused hard on the Milwaukee cordless tools over the last year. They've apparently come up with some very good stuff. They had record sales last year.

 

[ultrarunner]

Unless your niece was living on a leaky submarine, you raise a great point about "warranties".

Rgds, D.

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

 

[3930dave]

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

Bet I know who her favourite uncle is !

I probably need to chase down some good sarcasm smileys..... last I knew, women didn't serve on subs, but that may have changed by now....

While companies have to guard against blatant abuse, the old bait and switch game on warranties is pretty irksome.

I'm sure she'll have fun with that set.

Rgds, D.

 

[s219]

And Stihl calendars too.

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

 

[ultrarunner]

I think the most fun is now her Dad has to ask her if he can borrow her cordless drill driver!

Bet I know who her favourite uncle is !

I probably need to chase down some good sarcasm smileys..... last I knew, women didn't serve on subs, but that may have changed by now....

While companies have to guard against blatant abuse, the old bait and switch game on warranties is pretty irksome.

I'm sure she'll have fun with that set.

Rgds, D.

 

[300UGUY]

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.