Opinion of Rigid power tools

brdmkr · January 17, 2007, 09:57:09 PM

I am in need of a good reciprocating saw, and the Rigid warranty has really caught my eye. In fact, I could see several Rigid tools being added to my collection over the next year or so (I really like the looks of their router package that has a plunge and fixed based). Are they really well built or is the warranty more of a marketing ploy?

Kevin_H. · January 17, 2007, 11:45:56 PM

I dont think I will ever buy another ridgid, I have the TP1300 planer, one of the reasons I bought it was because of the lifetime warranty, After several years the feed rollers were worn down and a bearing was starting to make noise, it still worked but I figured I would send it in as it had a lifetime warranty.

The authorized ridgid repair place called me to tell me it would be 250 smackers to fix my planer, I said what about the warranty, I was told that the warranty did not cover wear parts, So much for that, just send it back, after all it was still working. Well what I got back was a box full of parts, they refused to put it back together since I wasnt going to spend any money to get it fixed.

I complained to ridgid but it got me nowhere.

TexasTimbers · January 18, 2007, 12:09:55 AM

I have avoided ridgid tools simply because I have been happy with Bosch, Hitachi, Porter Cable, Milwaukee, Makita and a few other brands, depending on the rating of the specific tool I want to buy. Almost every tool I have ever researched has that has gotten a review I liked has been made by one of the manufactirers I listed. I am looking at a Festool plunge system pretty hard.
FWIW, Ridgid id owned by Textrinix or something like that. They also own Ryobi and now Milwaukee unfortunately. They claim they aren't going to cheapen the Milwaukee line. We'll see.
But my suggestion is always the same when buying tools. No one brand makes the best of every tool. If you like a certain brand for whatever reason then buy their stock. If you want to buy the best particular tool in its category invest in some research. Superior features and performance will deliver quantity and quality over brand loyalty.
Ridgid does have a highly rated little belt sander I might get around to buying.

sawguy21 · January 18, 2007, 12:12:37 AM

I have no experience with their power tools but the hand tools such as pipe vises and cutters are simply the best.

beenthere · January 18, 2007, 12:28:55 AM

Might not be real important in the discussion, but the power tools are the Rigid brand name,
where the plumbing tools (pipe wrench, pipe cutter, threader, etc.) are Ridgid brand by Ridge Tool Co.

Confusing to me too.

blaze83 · January 18, 2007, 01:17:21 AM

I agree with Kevjay, by the best tool, not a brand. I have a rdgid portable table saw that has been abused and still runs well and cuts square... I really like the ridgid 12" sliding compound miter saw I have... like it better than the dewalt I use at work.. I've used the ridgid belt sander and also their laminate trim router. they are ok, I like the bosch belt sander and the porter cable trim router better. I can't get used to the way the moters slowly wind up to full power. I'm not sure what typ of reciprocating saw you're looking at but if I were to get a jig saw I'd buy a bosch and for a sawsall I get the Sawzall brand name, I've had both of mine for years and they still run great.

just my 2cents

steve

rebocardo · January 18, 2007, 03:25:09 AM

The DeWalt saw (about $100 Home Depot) has been pretty good for me, the Craftsman I had to replace under warranty once, when it broke the second time I tossed it.

Quartlow · January 18, 2007, 07:39:18 AM

If your talking jig saw, you can't beat the Bosch, I played with one at the Hartville hardware tool days. I didn't get as radical as the demonstrator though. He took that thing turned it on and slammed it down on a pine board and plunged the blade right through it. Then he locked it on Grabbed it by the cord spun it around and cut out a circle.
He tried it on a 2x4, that didn't quite work. he broke the blade but the tip of the blade was started out through the other side.

It's on my wish list ;D

Engineer · January 18, 2007, 09:15:16 AM

I have their TP1300 planer, and unlike Kevin, have had no problems and really like it. I also have their 5" random-orbit sander and a shop-vac. Like both of them as well.

As far as recip saws - I have two - a Ryobi 18V cordless and a Milwaukee Sawzall. I bought the Ryobi with the purpose of doing ONE job with it and anticipating that the job would kill it. Well, it didn't, it's still running strong and I use it a lot, everything from pruning to pallet dismantling to cutting PVC sewer pipe and nail-embedded wood. The Sawzall doesn't come out of the case very often. If I had to buy a brand new recip, I'd be looking at Bosch or Hitachi. You can't beat cordless, it's a pain to haul a cord around especially with a sawzall.

DanG · January 18, 2007, 09:24:25 AM

I've seen plenty of Ridgid power tools, but never saw the Rigid brand. A Google search turned up plenty of power tools by Ridge Tool Co., but nothing under the brand name "Rigid."

scsmith42 · January 18, 2007, 10:51:08 AM

I had an experience similar to Kevin's - problems with a Ridgid planer and they wanted to charge me for it. The planer had only planed a few boards too.

For pipe wrenches, etc, - Ridgid is the way to go.

For everything else - I'd buy whichever was best. I recently purchased a Makita jigsaw and it seems to work well (at least on aircraft aluminum). A Makita power nibbler died after about 50" of cutting 2024 .125 aluminum... but at least the dealer is replacing it with no hassles whatsoever.

Hard to go wrong with Bosch, Hitachi, Milwaukee, etc - all are great commercial grade tools. Dewalt constantly surprises me too - as I used to think that they were "consumer" grade but I hear and see very good feedback from their owners. My own Dewalt sliding compound miter saw has been a good one.

Kevjay hit the nail on the head though when he recommended researching the tool, not the brand.

Back to Ridgid, except for their pipe related tools they only got into the power tool business a few years back, so they don't have the history behind them as the other brands.

My 2 cents...

Scott

Tom · January 18, 2007, 11:12:19 AM

This may contain half-truths, but I was told, in a HomeDespot years ago, that Emerson was looking for a "good" name for their top line power tools and bought Ridgid for that purpose. The pipe company that everyone is familiar with was retained as a company/division called Pipe Fabricators.

This is the same tack that Black and Decker took when they were looking for a quality name for their tools and took over DeWalt.

Both B&D and Emerson suffered from a failing image. Renaming their product with an accepted brand was their solution to becoming top-runners again.

Ridgid and DeWalt had both run upon hard times and were ripe for the picking. PVC plumbing had devastated the plumbing market for Ridgid and DeWalt's high manufacturing prices and lack of exposure were keeping them out of the ever-growing home-owner market.

So, what it amounts to is that you really aren't working with those companies that were known for providing class tools and standing behind them. You are only working with their names. The companies you are dealing with are the same ones that had run into problems because of cheapened goods and difficult customer relations. It's smoke and mirrors.

Larry · January 18, 2007, 12:05:53 PM

Tom said it well...smoke and mirrors.

Of course I've found out the hard way over the years. Used and bought Porter-Cable tools when I first started out. I firmly believed they could do no wrong and built some of the best power tools money could buy. Bought a new PC plunge router few years ago without due diligence. What a piece of junk...it had to be engineered by some kid in grade school. Just plane cheap.

Another example is Delta tools. Bought by Rockwell sometime around 1970. Losing money, so rightfully Rockwell made some changes by value engineering. I'm restoring a 1974 Rockwell Unisaw...from personal experience Unisaws made prior or after Rockwell's ownership are higher quality.

brdmkr · January 18, 2007, 12:25:20 PM

Quote from: DanG on January 18, 2007, 09:24:25 AM
I've seen plenty of Ridgid power tools, but never saw the Rigid brand. A Google search turned up plenty of power tools by Ridge Tool Co., but nothing under the brand name "Rigid."

I spelled it wrong!

metalspinner · January 18, 2007, 12:41:10 PM

BTW,
The same company that bought Dewalt owns Delta/Portercable now. Well, as of about 3 years ago anyway. :

brdmkr · January 18, 2007, 02:25:25 PM

That company would be Black and Decker. I don't know how long ago they brought Dewalt, but B&D and Dewalt have been under the same umbrella for at least 10 years.

I have a few Dewalt tools and they have all been pretty good.

The next power tool purchase will be a reciprocating saw. I was considering the ridgid, as it SEEMS to feel pretty good in the hand. However, I may be better of really studying the tool reviews. I had not heard that the folks that make ridgid and ryobi had bought milwaukee. Maybe I shold buy the sawzall before they have a chance to change it. I have never heard anything other than good things about the sawzall, but it is a little more than I wanted to pay. I suppose that 40 - 50 bucks over the 20 year life of a tool doesn't make much difference.

rebocardo · January 18, 2007, 03:40:04 PM

Tom, good post, that pretty much sums up that market and everything else. Smoke and mirrors. When you buy a Volvo, you are buying a Ford, and pretty soon if you buy a Ford, you are buying a Toyota or when you buy a Kia you are buyig a Hyundai. It is so confusing ???

DR Buck · January 18, 2007, 03:45:15 PM

Back to the original question....... ;) No experience with Rigid other than walking past them at Home Depot.

I have an AC powered Dewalt reciprocating saw that I bought about 14 years ago. Built one house, and shed, disassembled a barn and remodeled a house with it. I've sawed through countless nails and other hardware, dropped it down ladders and off of roofs. And, it's still ticking! Works like it did when it was new. I've also abused a couple Dewalt battery operated screw guns. I beat one of them to death, the 2nd near death then rebuilt it. I use it as a backup now since I bought a new one when it was down and I didn't have time to fix it.

Dewalt also has a wonderful online parts/service web site. Wish everyone elses was as good.

DWM II · January 18, 2007, 07:34:40 PM

Thanks Tom, I never stop learning here. I bought a Rigid drill, skill saw combo that has been an irreplaceable tool since I've bought my property and built my house. But I got this brand because of the "lifetime gurat." but that sounds like bull now. Thankfully there has not been a problem with these tools in over four years and I would recommend them for home owners maybe not contractors.

Fla._Deadheader · January 18, 2007, 07:54:39 PM

We have a Makita "Sawzall". It's wore SLAP OUT. Y'all woodn't believe what that thing has cut. I'll STILL put it up against any sawzall out there, unless Ed has killed it since I moved ??? NEVER had to hood up on it ;D :D :D

Engineer · January 18, 2007, 08:10:38 PM

I've had several dofferent contractors in different trades working on parts of my house. Every one of them had one thing in common - Ryobi 18V cordless tools.

Larry · January 18, 2007, 08:30:05 PM

I took a look at Amazon.com just to see what is on the market...I can't even believe the amount of choices for a reciprocating saw. Any color that you could possibly want, angle heads, tails, or no tails. They even had a saw they call "Generic" and it was only $30. Wonder where the Generic tool company is? :D :D They had nice yellow reconditioned models with better specs than what I have now, and at about half of the price I paid 10 years ago.

Well, I guess enough of the useless dribble. I had a Milwaukee Sawsall that grew legs and walked off 10 years ago. I replaced it with the cheaper of the two PC saws on the market at the time. Both saws worked well. Of course you have to realize these saws are in there prime for remodeling projects...something I try to avoid. My saw only gets exercise maybe two or three times a year. Sometimes hard exercise though...I used the PC to cut railroad ties up on a deck project bout three years ago. Wasn't the tool of choice...just the only one on the job site.

DanG · January 18, 2007, 08:58:32 PM

I'm with ya on that, Larry! The recip is a destruction tool, not a construction tool. I originally bought my Ryobi to cut metal, and found out it sucked at it. It cut ok, though a bit crooked, but blade expenses about ate me up! It only uses about an inch of a six-inch blade, and burns that up pronto. Ya can't cut a straight line with one, either. I ain't had the thing out of its case in a year. :