Had to run to Home Depot last night to buy some jigsaw blades and wood and of course browse the power tools (The same way we all browse oil @ Walmart). Anyways, I bought a jigsaw off of Amazon (Skil) for $30, cause thats about all I needed. Its a 4.5 Amp. Looking at RIDGID products yesterday (mostly because I like the look of them), I notice that a Ridgid jigsaw, only a 3 amp, is $99. I never really thought of Ridgid as a high end brand, I normally think of Dewalt and Hitachi as higher end, but is Ridgid worth the money? Thanks!
RIDGID tools- Worth the money?
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My only experience has been with their trim router which is a very nice machine for the money in my opinion.
I have a 12 volt Lithium Ion drill and a osilatting sander. Both are excellent products with excellent storage cases. The drill came with two batteries and nice charger. I will buy this brand again as needed.
I don't really evaluate a company as being exclusively "high-end" because nowadays we are seeing the so-called high-end companies making low-quality stuff.
short history: RIDGID has been around forever, making pipe wrenches and threaders for the trade. high quality, last forever. some time back, them and HD worked out some sort of deal to increase market share with power tools ans such, even shop vacs.
in my experience (I have a RIDGID miter saw and extension table, table saw, shop vac and a 24V lithium ion set) they are really good. the 24V stuff, though apparently not offered any longer, has really taken a beating for the 7+years I've used it. I use the drill mostly and only recently has the chuck started being a little funny, but still works great.
the BEST part really IMO is the free lifetime parts and service. I've had my batteries replaced twice, no problem. as for the rest, never had to have anything fixed.
in my experience (I have a RIDGID miter saw and extension table, table saw, shop vac and a 24V lithium ion set) they are really good. the 24V stuff, though apparently not offered any longer, has really taken a beating for the 7+years I've used it. I use the drill mostly and only recently has the chuck started being a little funny, but still works great.
the BEST part really IMO is the free lifetime parts and service. I've had my batteries replaced twice, no problem. as for the rest, never had to have anything fixed.
Originally Posted By: dparm
I don't really evaluate a company as being exclusively "high-end" because nowadays we are seeing the so-called high-end companies making low-quality stuff.
+1
I think HILTI is having some stuff made in China.
RIGID use to be good. I do not know how they are now. I mostly remember them for their pipe threading machines.
I have a RIGID industrial vacuum that is 20+ years old, and it works fairly well. It is as good as or better than the 20+ year old Craftsman vacuums.
I don't really evaluate a company as being exclusively "high-end" because nowadays we are seeing the so-called high-end companies making low-quality stuff.
+1
I think HILTI is having some stuff made in China.
RIGID use to be good. I do not know how they are now. I mostly remember them for their pipe threading machines.
I have a RIGID industrial vacuum that is 20+ years old, and it works fairly well. It is as good as or better than the 20+ year old Craftsman vacuums.
Ridgid is now owned by TTI, a manufacturer headquartered in Hong Kong.
They are not what they used to be. No more Emerson motors, no more products made in the US. Ridgid gets cranked out of the same Chinese factories as Ryobi.
The upside is the excellent warranty, IF YOU REGISTER FOR IT. You have to register for the lifetime warranty, at which time they will give you a lifetime service agreement number (or LSA number). This number will be used to receive service or replacement of the registered tools when something breaks, and it will. They are quick to repair and replace defective products though.
They are not what they used to be. No more Emerson motors, no more products made in the US. Ridgid gets cranked out of the same Chinese factories as Ryobi.
The upside is the excellent warranty, IF YOU REGISTER FOR IT. You have to register for the lifetime warranty, at which time they will give you a lifetime service agreement number (or LSA number). This number will be used to receive service or replacement of the registered tools when something breaks, and it will. They are quick to repair and replace defective products though.
I am buying more and more Ridgid tools. Their power tools are really improving. I bought a good amount of the X4 18V last year and have been very happy with it. Also have their router which is very nice.
Not all of their stuff is good. Some of their sanders aren't great and as you should mention it, I don't like their jigsaw. Short stroke and not much power. Would only be nice if used in very confined space, like in a cabinet, but even then....
Not all of their stuff is good. Some of their sanders aren't great and as you should mention it, I don't like their jigsaw. Short stroke and not much power. Would only be nice if used in very confined space, like in a cabinet, but even then....
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
...cranked out of the same Chinese factories as Ryobi.
there are lots of chinese factories and they make good stuff and they make bad stuff.
every ryobi tool I've ever had was garbage that was made cheaply and broke quickly. my ridgid stuff is light years ahead of it in quality and durability.
...cranked out of the same Chinese factories as Ryobi.
there are lots of chinese factories and they make good stuff and they make bad stuff.
every ryobi tool I've ever had was garbage that was made cheaply and broke quickly. my ridgid stuff is light years ahead of it in quality and durability.
Originally Posted By: mpvue
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
...cranked out of the same Chinese factories as Ryobi.
there are lots of chinese factories and they make good stuff and they make bad stuff.
every ryobi tool I've ever had was garbage that was made cheaply and broke quickly. my ridgid stuff is light years ahead of it in quality and durability.
They are both TTI brands and even share some components (down to the part number). Having worked for a company that serviced both, I saw no appreciable difference between the two aside from the warranties. On more than one occasion brand new Ridgid tools were inoperable right out of the box.
However, Milwaukee, another TTI brand, actually DOES have it's manufacturing and parts separated from Ridgid/Ryobi. Milwaukee tools have part numbers that are specific to them, and their quality is significantly better than the other two. Milwaukee isn't nearly as generous with the warranty as Ridgid though, who will just keep sending you new tools and/or batteries as long as they keep breaking.
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
...cranked out of the same Chinese factories as Ryobi.
there are lots of chinese factories and they make good stuff and they make bad stuff.
every ryobi tool I've ever had was garbage that was made cheaply and broke quickly. my ridgid stuff is light years ahead of it in quality and durability.
They are both TTI brands and even share some components (down to the part number). Having worked for a company that serviced both, I saw no appreciable difference between the two aside from the warranties. On more than one occasion brand new Ridgid tools were inoperable right out of the box.
However, Milwaukee, another TTI brand, actually DOES have it's manufacturing and parts separated from Ridgid/Ryobi. Milwaukee tools have part numbers that are specific to them, and their quality is significantly better than the other two. Milwaukee isn't nearly as generous with the warranty as Ridgid though, who will just keep sending you new tools and/or batteries as long as they keep breaking.
Originally Posted By: Touring5
That said, I bought a Ridgid sump pump at HD and it lasted less than most others I've used.
A lot of their product lines are farmed out to other companies. The sump pump was probably made by Wayne Water Systems.
Some of their tile saws are made by Chervon, and Ridgid plumbing products (not pumps) are made by a separate entity called Ridge Tool. Ridge Tool products are actually decent, but that's probably because they are primarily marketed to pros.
That said, I bought a Ridgid sump pump at HD and it lasted less than most others I've used.
A lot of their product lines are farmed out to other companies. The sump pump was probably made by Wayne Water Systems.
Some of their tile saws are made by Chervon, and Ridgid plumbing products (not pumps) are made by a separate entity called Ridge Tool. Ridge Tool products are actually decent, but that's probably because they are primarily marketed to pros.
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