Ridgid Tools: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- The Good, the bad and the ugly of Ridgid tools!
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57 seconds in the video and I've totally forgotten that a cartoon bear is telling me all this information. I'm listening to him and taking him seriously.
lmao, me too!!
As a remodeling professional, I've been using Ridgid cordless tools since 2006. Same tools, free battery replacements- I've saved hundreds of dollars. One drill died & was unfixable, & they sent me a brand new kit, with 2 batteries + charger. I use the authorized service center 2 towns away (Home Depot is not one here in CT). Has worked very well for me. I have bought new kits since & have built a nice collection of interchangeable batteries. You are without the battery for a couple weeks when turned in for replacement, but, having multiples is key. Yes, you need to be diligent about the po paperwork & regulations, but I've been very happy with them.
Same here.
I work as a tool tech at a Home Depot Too Rental Center. Bring the tool in, pay the $18.95 evaluation fee and we will look at it. If it is warrantied you get the $18.95 back. Right now I am working on a couple of tile saws that show up about every 8 months or so. The repairs are warrantied. The owner uses them "enthusiastically" Another customer brings in orbital sanders 6 at a time. They also get fixed under the warranty. I guess you need to find the right HD.
I just wrote a crazy long reply to someone above and hadn't noticed your post, but I am glad that I did. I just mention that the Tool Rental is where I go for repair work on my Ridgid stuff. Although, I do not remember paying any evaluation fee.
Management is key. Don't suppose your in upstate NY?
Ken Lilja yeah I know only used the LSA once on a brushed hammer drill took 3 weeks to get back but got it back and for a 4ah battery LSA everything was done over the phone love ridgid a warranty
i had a drill with LSA properly registered have the chuck freeze up, i took it to home depot tool repair, gave them my LSA paperwork, paid the 18.95 fee. got a call it was done, was told im not getting my 18.95 back because it was my fault i didnt "oil" the chuck. i had to go to corporate to get my money back. when i met with the store manager, even he said he had never oiled any of his chucks. they made it clear that they were refunding me as a courtesy, not because the repair guy made a mistake. thats fine. i only ship my ridgid tools to a regular ridgid repair shop. chuck is bad?....gets replaced no questions asked. the repair shop i send to has never given me a problem, even gone the extra mile. they once replaced the entire housing because the rubber grip had peeled off.
An experienced tool rental facility is the best place to ask who makes the most reliable tools?
Got both the 12v drill and impact drivers. Its hard to complain when you can buy a new one for $50. They can drive 4" deck screws and I'm not worried about dropping or getting them wet. Perfect for the tool belt in my opinion.
“Redgid” I see what you did there 😉
I agree that registering every tool and battery while keeping track of all the serial numbers is a PITA.You should also mention that Ridgid and Ryobi lithium batteries are compatible with the older tools that used NiCad. That is why I stay with these brands.
That 170$ set has served my dad well for years in a commercial/personal setting.
I added the 1/2" impact gun and it's all been great so far.
Sure there is better overall , and you'll have 20 different manufacturers , not to mention chargers and batteries if you buy every tool and want the best of each one.
I have Makita 18v, but I do have some Bosch cordless. I just bought an adapter and use my makita batteries with them.
I’m a plumbing contractor ridged makes the best sewer video inspection cameras on the market a lot of their plumbing tools and equipment are very nice .
Yes and I have used a Ridgid pipe threader for years! The thing is the Ridgid cordless tool line has nothing to do with the Ridgid plumbing tool line. The carpentry tools are just Ridgid branded Tools made by a Chinese manufacturer and not the same one as say an inspection camera or a pipe threader. They are good tools but not as high quality as there plumbing tools you would find in a store like Moore Supply a plumbing supply store.
I brought the Rigid R4512 Table saw after reading posts in a FB woodworking group. Excellent saw for the money and found the LSA easy to sign up for. Had a damaged rail, called LSA and had a new part within a few weeks. Lots of folks in the FB group had similar stories of success.
same here
If they send me replacement batteries for the rest of my days I'll be happy with the LSA. I've been impressed with my ridgid tools so far. Good video, thanks!
I’m a woodworker. I started with the Ridgid lunchbox planer. That’s a decent planer. I upgraded to a Felder Hammer A12 combo jointer/planer.
I got a bandsaw which never really worked despite 2 returns and attempts at service. Casting kept breaking, nothing could hold square, etc. Threw it in my truck and took it to he dump and gave up. Worst purchase ever. It was bad enough that i enjoyed dumping it.
I don’t trust their warranty, but I might finally buy some Ridgid tools again.
I got the drill press - I’ve been pretty happy with that. It’s nothing amazing but it’s solid. The Nova has been catching my eye, but so far have been faithful to the Ridgid.
I got the oscillating spindle sander / belt sander and that has been amazing. I love that sander. I modded it heavily for dust connecting a 6 inch hose into the back and adding
Anyone else snicker at 6:32 when he said its hard to beat a ridgid 10 inch.... No? Just me? Ok, nevermind...
I myself have a Ridgid 10". Servers me well :)
Actually, it's pretty easy as long as you have at least one hand connected to an arm!
I have a ridgid sliding 12"
Really though.
@@phxgen TMI
I have to push it around on a cart and it folds in half, is that TMI as well?
How 'bout the fact that my ridgid caulk gun provides over 750ft.lbs of push force?
I actually like the in handle battery it makes it a little shorter which makes it fit the smaller places, I got the Milwaukee m12’s they're great!
joe palm, as do I! In fact I have an M12 Fuel hammer drill and an M12 Fuel Hackzall sitting right next to me. The grip allows me to get a good purchase on the tool.
I don't have a problem with Rigid 12 volt batts actual I think most tool company's do a good job of place the batts out of the way of the gripping part nowadays
About the only bad battery design I can recall is the old makita 9 volt stick battery
Bunching up the batteries below the grip tends to keep the tool up right so unless you are in a weird angle it good
Ryobi kicks up the battery mount so the old style batt pack doesn't get in the way of the multi tool blade same with the RA grinder
I love the Milwaukee 12 volts. Especially with the bigger batteries. Makes it easier to stand them up
Terry, I agree! The M12 power tools have best in class power and torque, besting some other manufacturers lower end 18v and 20v tools.
Same here
I work in a tool rental department at Home Depot. Tool rental repairs Ridgid tools, as well as many others. The first thing you need to know is that not all Home Depot stores have a tool rental department at all, where repairs can be done locally, it depends on the local market to determine whether tool rental and repair would make money, or lose too much money. If the store doesn't have a tool rental department, they have to send the tool to the regional center, adding time to the repair process. I'd recommend finding a HD store that has a tool rental department. When you come in with a busted tool, we (the counter people like me) have no idea whether it is still under warranty or not, or whether the failure was a warranted tool failure, or customer abuse. Drop it off a 5 store building, it's not covered. Run over it with a 5 ton truck, it's not covered. The decision is made by the tool tech, who is generally there 9-5:30 M-F. The solution is, at least in my store, bring it in when the tool tech is there, he can probably tell you if you should drop it off for repair or pitch it. If you bring it in when the tool tech is not there to take a quick look at it, we charge about $20 to check the tool in, to cover the shop time for the tool tech to check it out. If it is a warranty repair, you get the $20 back. If it's not under warranty and you choose to have it repaired, the $20 is credited toward the repair. If we tell you that Ridgid says it's not under warranty, probably because you didn't register it, and the cost to fix it would be above the price of a new tool, you'll likely tell us to pitch it, and we keep the $20 to cover our costs to evaluate the situation. I don't think that is unfair. In tool rental and repair, we're not out to gouge a customer and piss them off. We're out to support our valuable customers. A customer is worth more to us than the price of a tool repair. But if you don't go to the trouble to register a Ridgid tool, we have no choice but to charge you for the repair.
Damn I want a Redgid shirt. I'll see my District Manager tomorrow, hopefully, and ask for one.
I switched to Ridgid line of cordless tools a year ago specifically for their Lifetime Service Agreement. I am a consumer not a professional and I occasionally use these tools. I switched from Makita because i was tired of buying replacement batteries for the ones that worn out. Let's face it, I am never going to break a Makita or Dewalt Tool because they are both reasonably well made and I don't use them enough to wear them out or mistreat them.
What I am after is the battery LSA (when purchased as part of a combo pack). When I spend $50 or $100 on batteries as part of a combo pack, I know that is money I am never going to have to spend again. For the batteries alone, switching made sense. If they end up fixing a worn out tool ... that is just icing on the cake. In addition to registering online ... a minor hassle. I also print out my receipts and keep them on my 'cloud' drive so I'll have them when the time comes to get new batteries. I am going to buy an adapter that will allow me to use my Ridgid batteries on my Makita tools.
I use the charger that came with my “starter kit” and I’m not sure what “issues” you have with them but in 2 yrs I’ve not had any problems whatsoever. And it’s used almost daily. As for warranties, I’ve not had any issues. Register the batteries and they’re covered for life. It literally takes 5 minutes online. The registration is also saved online. What’s the problem? While their tools may not be top of the line, and people do upgrade, there’s always an upgrade to something better. Trust me, I wish I could afford Jet or Sawstop, but Ridgid is a pretty decent tool. I think this review, in my opinion, is a little biased. Lol. I keep hearing a out these people that have problems with service or returns but I have yet to see actual proof of this. Maybe I’m the biased one, eh. Still a good video nonetheless.
I agree with all of your points.
I feel like this guy just makes a lot of stuff up in his head and try’s to pass it off as facts in his videos. He clearly didn’t know what he was talking about when he said their tile saws were “meh”. They’re some of the best out along with their tile blades. Are they the best, no, but they’re far from Meh. He’s probably never even used one before.
I added the 1/2" impact gun to my dad's set, it's pretty decent.
We don't want 100 different batteries.
Taylormade2350 EXACTLY.
he's talking about after your 3 year warranty runs out and all you have is the LSA....take it from another former fan, it ain't worth spit because of the subjective nature of the agreement....in the end the 'lifetime' you think you have ends with the warranty and is just an advertising gimick....a false one in my opinion as the value is greatly diminished
if you are a pro, go buy a pro tool....when the battery dies, get aftermarket ones cuz the tool will likely still be chugging along nicely....unlike this utuber, i can't think of any case where i'd recommend....overpriced for diyers, underperforming for pros
DIYer here! I bought the Ridgid Drill & Impact Driver Combo 3-4 years ago. Registered the tools and batteries right after purchasing them. One of the new batteries died and wouldn’t charge. Had a similar experience when I brought the battery to the local HD service center. They gave me a 800 number to call. I called them and gave them my info. I had a replacement battery sent to my house within a couple of weeks. The tools are great and the service has been good too. Sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience with them.
This was actually a VERY very good informative video, I loved all the details and points made. It would be amazing if you would do this exact same video format for the HART (Walmart) brand instead! Thanks for the informative video sir.
Great video, informative and interesting as always! My suggestion for a Good, Bad, and the Ugly, would be the new Craftsman line at Lowe's. Very curious to see how they're performing.
Got my gen4 brushed impact and drill combo for $99 and for that price it's a steal. Got it about a year ago. I am a diyer so theyre amazing for me.
Great review!! Totally fair. I was brand loyal to Ridgid for 15 years and completely missed out on some really innovative products by Ryobi, Milwaukee, etc. Ryobi caught my attention with their cordless bug/weed sprayer. Then after that changed my life, I began to research their product lineup and was shocked by how bland Ridgid’s lineup was in comparison.
Rigid is from my home town. North Ridgeville Ohio. Make your money Rigid!!!
I got my gen 5 kit with drill impact recip circular and flashlight all for $170 and that came with the cool base charger and 2 4 mah batteries. That was a steal in my book and im super pleased with them.
I bought the sander a few weeks ago for a project. Cant beat it for $50, but I have 2 6a and 2 3a batteries available. Th4 4 batteries I have run 7 tools with no issue. IAMN a pro, just a lowly homeowner and hobbyist
6in sander is fantastic, too. Best dust collection I have tried especially with a vacuum.
I used to work in the largest tool rental in my district for home depot so we did a lot of tool repairs. everytime a rigid tool came in that was under warranty we could not touch them we had to mail them to the RLC/RDC where they would mail it to rigid, and it would take weeks for it to come back best case scenario. worst case scenario it would take months! they could fix it in house for you but not under warranty.
I appreciate all that you do on your channel. I feel more informed.
Wish I'd seen some of this info about 6 years ago. When my current ridgid stuff dies.... I'll move to Makita.
I'm not feeling the 'love' from TTI in general.
I was kind of taken back to hear about the LSA. I bought the combo set, and registered everything, which didn't seem to be a big deal. Thus far they have replaced a charger, and two batteries that just died and wouldn't charge anymore.
How long you had them for?
I will be seeing how this works. I think I am just going to move to Makita and cut my losses...
Like to see a Bosch or Metabo(now that the merger is over) - Good, Bad, & Ugly
After 20 years my Ridgid Vacuum still sucks , bought a “shop vac” the deluxe normally $169.00 for $99.99 last year for table saw dust collection and it’s a piece of crap! It’s going away at the next garage sale.
Shop vacs are trash
You just confirmed my decision to stay with Milwaukee instead of switching things to Rigid like one of my coworkers did. My Milwaukee Surge hydraulic impact driver is excellent for quietness and still gets the job done. If I need a cheaper line of tools, I will just get the Hercules line.
I wouldn't
Professional flooring guy here. Ridgids tile saws are amazing. Granted it's no MK or Target saw, but. My brothers got a 10" one that's been used daily and is still going after almost 8 years. It's a beast.
I use the Rigid top toolbox. Holds my Bauer impact, battery, charger, impact sockets, and a jar of Goop. Pretty good deal for $16.
I wanf it for 16!
How did that come about
Bought a combo kit Black Friday 2018. Not a pro but for my needs they have served me well Also have their shop vac for 10 years. Going to hit HD this Black Friday in search for their multi tool.
Same here, one year ago black friday, lifetime batteries
I have about 100 various Ridgid tools most of which are registered, except for the few I purchased used. I have never once had any issues with the LSA. I drop them off at my local repair outlet and he calls about a week later to let me know it is ready for pickup. I would highly recommend the tools.
The Ridgid pack-out tote system is great. A heavyer grade of plastic makes them strong. They have a clever side latching system that latches one tote to the one on top. These latches are made of 3/16" steel wire with a heavy rubber boot on the middle section so they can be used as flip up handles that are comfortable in the hand. The latches fold into sides of the lower case so they are not flopping around when not in use. They have a basket unit I always place on the top of my stack to carry all the loose things I forget to put in the cases proper.
Two complaints. The slim case with the orange cups has a plastic insert in the lid to keep things in the cups. Remove the plastic insert and gain 30% more storage space. The other minus is the huge orange Ridgid logos on the sides. A bit of black spray paint fixed that.
Look for a great price for the triple stack on black friday or after christmas sale.
I have been using Ridgid half inch impact, small driver, small drill and Angle ratchet for almost two years as a mechanic, Im happy with them so far.
I dig their drills and 1/4 impacts. I'll take them over dewalt anyday
Couldn’t agree more
I absolutely love the in the handle 12v style tools so light and maneuverable.
You’re spot on about the “meh” on Ridgid stationary tools. Most of their tools are great, I own quite a few cordless and they all get it done, but that table saw is definitely “meh”. Actually meh may be a bit generous, that was a purchase I’m regretting at this point. I’m really liking this new series you came up with, keep up the good work,
What do you dislike? I have the same saw and it has performed flawlessly.
RNGPRODUCTS you may have just got lucky or maybe I’m just unlucky. My unit has 3 problems. The first is one of the miter slots is tapered which makes it tricky to hit that sweet spot for runners on cross cut sleds or other jigs. The second is my unit has blade shift when I raise and lower the blade, it doesn’t track vertically and leads to cuts out of square. It may be caused by shipping damage and the way these saws are packaged but only effects some units. This guy uploaded a video explaining this issue and a possible fix, which I’m planning on trying soon. ua-cam.com/video/fz1Z5LBJGng/v-deo.html and the last problem is the fence. The plastic guide allows for a lot of slop and if you’re not careful every time you lock down the fence it can kick itself out of alignment pretty easily. I’ve figured out a few ways to minimize this but it’s still very inconsistent. I am planning on upgrading to an aftermarket fence system soon though. But still having this many issues on one saw has made it hard for me to get the level of precision and repeatability I need out of a table saw.
@@JFKreations Sorry to hear all of the issues. That would be very annoying for sure! Was just surprised to hear. The overall opinion of this saw online is great! I would love to upgrade to a SawStop here in the future!
RNGPRODUCTS same here, a new sawstop would be fantastic! A bit out of budget though. But maybe with a few fixes my Ridgid saw can get it done for me. Might make a good video too. I’ve been looking at the Incra positioning system fence upgrade, expensive but way less $ than a new saw!
I have the Ridgid miter saw. It is wonderful. I have is calibrated to 1 thousandth of an inch. I also have it mounted on the Ridgid folding stand, which makes the DeWALT stand look like a joke. It's the best stand out there and I didn't get it because the saw is a Ridgid. It's the best design in my opinion. Here is the one thing with the miter saw. The rotating round base is true and level. The side outfeed sections are slightly lower than the main base on my saw. After speaking with Ridgid, they said these sides were within spec. So I resolved it by carefully adding blue painters tape to the side decks and made sure no strips overlapped. That got me the accuracy I wanted. I replace the tape as needed. Not real often. The 90 and 45 degree stops are dead on. I used a plastic drafting square to true it up. The light and laser are not super awesome but not bad. I got it before I was trying to do presission work and probably will upgrade one day but man, it's a workhorse with that stand. Money well spent!
The Ridgid portable tool box system is what everyone at my company uses. Nothing else holds up to being thrown in the back of a crew truck and then being dragged around a work site. DeWalt, Husky, Craftsman, none of them survive very long, and eventually every new guy ends up with a Ridgid setp. Mine even went over the truck tailgate at speed one day. It got banged up and had to be replaced, but it didn't open, didn't crack apart, and held all my tools as it slid down the road.
the packout system is great, I was surprised. I also love the 18v cordless router.
Can you do Bosch next they've had a lot of good deals lately and don't get much attention.
Personal professional opinion: they suck but their hammer drills are nice
When purchased from home depot the warranty process is streamlined. Home depot is always running sales and promos. Lifetime service guarantee is on point. I bought my table saw from home depot online so you dont even have to go to the store
I have a friend who almost had me wanting to swap from ryobi to rigid. His selling point was the life time warranty. Now that I have seen this video, I will stay with what I have. Not had any problems with the tools i have bought that are ryobi. I know that eventually they will die but I try to take care of them and not abuse them. Thanks for the information that you have provided in this video.
Stewart, bear in mind (oh Gawd, I did not realize I was gonna say that, until I said it), that many Ridgid owners have used the LSA and have had a good experience. I am one of them. In fact, when my old 14.4 brushed drill died, they actually upgraded me to a better, more modern model than I previously had. I have also received replacement batteries twice, without hassle.
There are a few keys to using the LSA:
1. Always register your new tools in a timely fashion. You mush also RE-register any LSA replacement items, or you will lose your coverage after a replacement
2. Always keep good records (personally, I screen-shot all steps of the registration process and keep those screenshots, just to be on the safe side). and:
3. This might be the toughest one: Be living fairly near to an authorized service center so it's not a huge hassle to drop-off and pick-up your items. This can be a bad thing, because there aren't a ton of authorized centers -- they may be several hours away from where you live. In that case, your only option is the expensive one, to mail your products to them. HOWEVER, if you live fairly near a large city, there's a good chance there's one or more very nearby. That can be checked here: www.ridgid.com/us/en/service-centers-repair (scroll to the bottom, enter your zip code).
Yeah, that can be a fair number of hoops to jump through. But I have never had ANY manufacturer-direct warranty-fulfillment process that was completely pain-free.
Also, and I can't confirm how true this is, or if it is a new thing since the Bear did this video, but as of this writing (2/11/2020) the Home Depot website has this page:
www.homedepot.com/c/SF_TH_PR_RIDGID_Power_Tools_Warranty
Whereon it states:
"ALREADY REGISTERED? Bring your registered RIDGID tools to any Home Depot Tool Rental Center for service or replacement. For batteries and chargers, call 877-655-5346 for RIDGID service or replacement."
If that's the case, it's a game changer for many people. It's so much easier to bring it to your local Home Depot than to drive/ship it off to the closest repair center. And it would eliminate my #3 point above.
And finally, I'd point this out: Consistent with the above quote, Ridgid now has a phone-based drop-shipping service for battery & charger replacement; once diagnosed over via their hotline, you don't have do anything else. NOICE!!
Here's where you get started, with your own Account and LSA Registrations.
register.ridgidpower.com/sign-in
Hope this helps somebody! Good luck, y'all!
If you're just a DIYer, Ryobi is just fine. As a plus they have a massive tool selection for that battery line. Unless you're a contractor using the tool hundreds of hours a year...most power tools last a really long time for the regular Joe.
Bear, excellent video and lots of research, it really is appreciated, i bought my first ridgid kit 2 years ago, maybe a few months more, i have used the warranty for my impacts without the lsa and they did me right, i called them, gave them the serial numbers and they told me my closer service center was actually 2 hours away but they also said take them to homedepot which is 5 mins from you to the tool rental and they'll take it from there, week and a half later hd called me and said your tools are fixed no charge at all, the only thing is you have to leave a $20 deposit for inspection and stuff but with warranty they also gave them back to me, i think, for me, they are great and served me well, i know like you saud they're not milwaukee, makita, etc., but they are good, thank you Bear and God bless you brother bear.
You can’t ask for more than that Ruben, thanks for sharing.
Ruben Cari, that’s interesting concerning you having to exercise the LSA on your first two Ridgid kits. I’m assuming when you say kit you mean Drill/Driver, Impact, Batteries and Charger. So you mean to tell me that you had problems with both of your impacts. I knew there was a reason why I was uncomfortable getting into the Ridgid platform...I thought it was just the fact that the tools looked weird, like space guns...but it’s really a quality issue, isn’t it?
I have 17 Milwaukee M12/M18 power tools. I’ve had one issue with a wobbly chuck. I called 1-800-sawdust. They immediately sent me an e-mail with a prepaid FedEx shipping label. Then they sent me a follow up e-mail regarding my experience. I rated them high, but included one item that I wasn’t clear on. They followed up with an e-mail within 12 hours concerning that question. That’s pretty good service if you ask me! None of this squirrelly maybe you’re covered, maybe your not crap. No LSA vs warranty crap. I’ll never do business with a company who may or may not cover their product or try to pull a fast one because of some small print legalize! Screw that noise!!
@@martylucas8557 thanks for your opinion marty, first of all i said kit only one, which i still have the lsa and i haven't had a problem with it at all, my other 2 impacts didn't get the lsa because i bought them separately and i didn't register them on time, yes my fault, but they still have the 3 year warranty and just like you i just had a wobble issue, nothing major like you, and like i said warranty company like milwaukee fixed it and i haven't got any more issues, I'm surprised to see your high rated better than anyone else milwaukee needed repair lol, bottom line is tools at some point break and might need repair and if it's not by consumer improper use and they still under warranty, have well the company honors that, in my case they did and I'm happy with the results and I'm happy you got your problems solved with your milwaukee impact
I recently got a ridgid kit for the new gen5x and I got the good charger I only got the new style with single tool purchases
Every Rigid multi head fits directly on my Ryobi, mostly because they have interchangeble parts! Brushes, motors, etc!
Same company makes Ryobi and rigid. Same tool, same parts, different price/marketing.
I have the Rigid 1250RV0 12 Gallon Motor-On-Bottom WetDry Vac that is an absolute MONSTER! It sucks up everything I throw at it. I use Rigid disposable bags, so after a couple of years, it still looks like new. The motor on the bottom is a game changer! No more aggravating tip-overs while pulling the unit by the hose. I will never go back to a Motor-On Top version.
I was sold on the Ridgid vacs as soon as we got our first one out of the box. It seemed like it was significantly quieter than the Craftsman or Shop Vac models we were using, and even a little quieter than my Porter Cable vac. We compared them with a 'meh' grade decibel meter and it showed a huge difference in sound level at the distance you'd typically be operating one from. Now every time I find a cheap Ridgid vac for sale in clean used condition, I grab it for friends who are still running noisy old Craftsman vacs that require ear plugs to run.
I have their pneumatic framing nailer. No complaints at all. Very well built!
The only Ridgid tool I can't recommend really is the cordless trim router. It works fine, no problem there; the issue is battery. It will toast a 4 AH battery in like 10-15 minutes flat. Just get a corded router.
Found your channel by accident. Wish I found it a year ago. Ive bought a ton of Ridgid. To late to return now. Got fooled again. Very enlightening.
I’ve heard of people dropping their tools off a roof and got replacements for it. I think it really depends on your HD?
I had good luck with SBD in the past. I was building a tree house for my son. I dropped a brushless porter cable drill about 10ft...it broke the torque collar from the drill itself. I called customer service. It was warrantied and sent me a label to attach to a box to mail in. They fixed it for free and sent it back. Never had to register for anything. I also purchased a combo kit and one of the batteries that came with it was bad out of the box. I called customer service, told them the issue. They asked for model and SN off the battery and sent me a new one immediately, no questions asked, and told me to dispose of the defected one.
I have ALL Ridgid tools and have been very pleased with them, except for the first "torpedo" battery types. The tile saw, I have owned for seven years and cut tons of tile. I am very impressed with their quality and warranty.
I own the portable table saw and miter saws, both of which have performed very well.
As for the LSA; I have had to replace two batteries, an orbital sander and one of three impact drivers. All these items were quickly replaced or repaired, without cost or any issue. Two of the items were over five years old, so I was given a new and current replacement.
2:08 I have medium hands wear medium/large depending on brand, due to this most tools are larger then ideal and guessing used to it as my m12 fuel tools fit my hand fine, had Bosch previously and but was fine to.
I had great service from ridgid from replace batteries to a new brushes on a hammer drill great service
Into this video for 5 and a half minutes,
and I JUST notice that Red the Bear's shirt
says "REDGID!"
Red, Jeff isn't paying you enough!
steve
I like how we talk about pro vs home tools. Seems like 95% of the workmen that I've dealt with use HF, Ryobi, Ridgid, or Kobalt... Sooometimes DeWalt. I worked for GC that used Makita, and he went under. 😂
IMHO that says a lot for Harbor Freight!
I've had Ridgid 14in pipe wrenches for 20 years! Best tools ever
Ridgid, before they were bought and resold, made most of the Craftsman woodworking stationary tools for Sears. Unlike Westinghouse, which made most of Sear's Kennmore apliances, Ridgid did not sell its tools under its own name. Then, Sears and Rigid parted ways and Rigid scrambled to create their own brand. Home Depot saw this as an opportunity to capture much of Sears' stationary tool customers and helped Ridgid recover from the loss of Sears as a customer. It's too bad that Ridgid no longer makes tools for the hobbyist woodworker. The tools they made for Craftsman were about best in class (not professional grade, but more than just decent).
Westinghouse is now slinging portable generators again.
Chinese junk.
I have one of the 12v 2-speed 3/8 drill/flashlight combo. I’ve had it for years. It’s my small job go to. Got my mom one for under the counter. Love them
I have owned ridgid tools fir 6 years and no issues with any if them weathrr uts 18v battery or if it 120v AC plug in. And I have bought kits bare tools and batteries abdvall are covered under my LSA
Back in March, I purchased the gen 5 octane 1/2 impact wrench and a 2 battery starter kit so I went online and registered it immediately for LSA. The impact wrench has worked great but last month when I went to register a new tool, I noticed that the impact and battery kit was approved for LSA but I never got the confirmation e-mails. I sent a ticket into Ridgid or TTI or whoever runs the LSA about not being notified and this was their response "Thank you for contacting us. Those emails are sent through an automated system and we do not have a way to resend those. Those emails are just to notify you that your items have been updated to the LSA. You can always see the status of your items and verify them through your Toolbox on the dashboard of the website." So if those 2 emails do contain information that will be needed in the future for service, I feel screwed out on it. This LSA is quickly turning me off of Ridgid, even though the tools are working really great.
If the lsa doesn’t seem like it’s going through after a month call
Them you’ll be on hold for a while but then they register over the phone they say sometimes it get back logged or issues with the registering. But on the phone after getting through it took 5 minutes.
Over the last year I replaced a set of Porter Cable 18 volt tools with Ridgid 18 volt. I like them. I agree that the LSA is a pain. I have listed every tool on line and have never heard back from the website. Over all I am happy with the tools. I completed a large remodel of my home, kitchen, 2 baths, bedroom, living room and dinning room remodel and had zero issues with the tools. As for my stationary tools well I did not buy Ridgid so I have no option there. Thanks for the info. Shine on.
When was the last time you logged in and check the status of those Ridgid tools. One guy just did the same thing, registered them but never heard back but saw they were on the site and thought all was good. Logged in a year later and poof they were all gone.
Never had a problem returning Ridgid tools for repair. I simply take them to Home Depot and they mail then in for me- eliminates the postage charge for me. Send my drill in twice for repair and had two batteries replaced for free. Guess I am ahead of the game with them. My only complaint is their weight. The tools are registered online so no need to keep receipts and once you setup an account. you just keep adding any new tools to that account. Their warranty is as good as any others so the LSA is just an added benefit.
Once again great video. The Bear was rockin that orange shirt.
I really like ridgid! Im an electrician and ridgid can push as hard as any other tool brand out there but youre backed with the lsa which does work if you register your tools. I just had my light cannon replaced by ridgid with my original burning out the leds. I think its the best light on the market in my opinion because its not too large and it provides alot of light but the downfall is the heat produced from the light. I didnt get the 10 000 hours out of the led but the ridgid lsa worked wonderful and they shipped me a brand new one to my door after the service centre said they wont repair but a replacement is on the way. I recommend ridgid to everyone.
Just bought an Octane Hammer Drill.
I have a Ridgid shop vac I have used and abused for at least a decade, and it still works perfectly. I'd buy it again if I ever needed to.
Had a huge swarm of bees under my house cladding a few years back; put the vacuum wand up against the entrance and let it run for 3 days 24 hours a day without stopping. Eventually it captured the entire hive. Didn't affect the thing in the slightest except it smelled like honey and death for a while.
Every brand seems to have their stand-out tool(s). For a lot of people, they say it's Ridgid's Palm Router... and I'd have to agree. The micro adjust knob really let's you sneak up on a cut or groove, without having to unclamp it. I also like their pack out tote system as well. They are tough, resin moulded at a fantastic price.
I do happen to own their $500 Table Saw... it's a a fine saw to have if woodworking isn't your thing, but you still need one. But the selling point for me is that so many people have them, that all the major high end woodworking accessory companies, make stuff for the R4512 table saw. Guides, Fences, Drop In Router Tables etc... You can change it from "Meh" to "Alright" if you switch the voltage to 220. Specs are equal to the Delta with the weird roll bar design. I do like the fact it's on wheels... but 3 wheels is just stupid. The model before it had 4 wheels. It's super tippy, now that I've got that end of the table set up as my router station. Which many people don't know you can actually get the router on the left hand side of the saw. It's tight, and there's a trick to it, but it's much easier to use over there anyway.
The LSA is what is holding me back from the cordless line. The wet/dry vacs are incredible tho
@The Den of Tools. Thanks Red for putting this out. Now I know I can blame AEG for the Ridgid 12V drill design flaw.
They used to sell two 12V drill driver kits. One kit was sold just with the drill driver (R82009K) and the other sold as a kit with a 12V impact driver. The 12V drill driver sold without the impact driver (the one I bought) has the chuck RIVETED TO THE MOTOR while the chuck on the drill sold with the impact driver is held in with a screw. Like many others, my riveted chuck loosens and I drop drill bits. Got the drill to a authorized repair center (almost an hour away) but it took two attempts to get it repaired. After I got it back after the first attempt where they replaced the chuck and motor (remember, riveted together) the chuck fell off the motor after drilling a few holes in pine boards. Sigh. Got it back and I don't always use it. My Makita's have yet to fail me.
Again, thanks for putting this out and shine on...
Wow very educational. I love rigid and can't help but consider a different line for my purchasing. I have many products I need to add to my line and have to consider another product after finding this information out. Truly thanks to your channel
had both the ridgid and the delta and I liked the ridgid much much better
these heads will also fit Ryobi multi tool as well
Ryobi says the Milwaukee multi tools heads will fit also if You can find them
Agree with the bear on the bags. The bag is perfect for the range...
Just FYI I had to use LSA with Ridgid once and not a problem
It was for their Bluetooth radio, I explained what was going on they said ok and sent me a new one. Never asked for the old one back.
Oh and as for LSA if you check you LSA account all that info is there after you enter it. So no need to keep S/N. I do anyways. I take pictures of all of it and store all the pics on an external HDD.
Direct tool outlet in Chesterfield mo. Got ridgid 18v drill and impact driver for 89.99
I bought into their line because it was a good way to get into brushless tolls for less money. I am almost regretting it because the lack of tools available. Mainly the garden tools. I would love a string trimmer and hedge clipper but they don't seem to want to go into that business. I do have their cast top table saw and the folding miter saw stand. I think those tools are fantastic, especially the miter saw stand. The larger wheels on it make it a dream to use.
I have Ryobi but gone ECO on yard tools.
Great review. Thank you!
Our complete has probably 100 plus cordless tools. Very reliable and have no problems with LSA. Had their first drill sent back after 10+ years they sent me their newest model since the old one was obsolete. Never had any problems
I had a Rigid driver and drill with two batteries and a charger I got as a gift. The drill chuck broke and to repair the drill I could ONLY drive it to the nearest repair location from MA which was hours away. I had zero options. AND I had to leave it, they couldn't fix that day. AND I had to pay for labor, but parts were free AND it turned out to be nearly as much as a complete set with new batteries.
One of the batteries wouldn't hold a charge and so I purchased a new one and a charger, same exact one (so I thought). Turns out, Rigid batteries despite being 20v MUST use the charger they came with, otherwise you can damage the batteries and they won't charge. I spent hours on the phone with Rigid and they refused to replace because of this point.
I still have the impact driver and once it dies it's in the trash.
We do a lot of decks and quite often the customer is also having some stamped concrete work done. It seems to me these concrete guys are using Bosch sds drills and then Ridgid everything else. Their impacts, circ saws and concrete saws all take a colossal beating and keep running.I have paid attention and it helped my decision when my Dewalt table saw pooped itself last year. I was actually prepared to try the Hercules but they were out of stock everywhere due to the virus. My choices were basically another Dewalt or Ridgid and I couldn't be happier with the Ridgid. Not to mention my 2 ridgid wet dry vacs that get used daily. One is 15 and one is 10. Both keep on chugging along.
My work has a ridgid shop vac, it works great and almost as important its not annoyingly loud.
Registering all my tools for the LSA was super easy for me. All you need is receipt number and serial number. I've talked to a few home depot repair supervisors and they said in their opinion Ridgid has the best warranty and Dewalt the worst (as in rejects repairs for no reason). Every power tool warranty rejects for "abuse" and most don't cover wear parts and many want you to mail the tool in depending on your geography. In my experience, all the Home Depots with a tool rental station accept Ridgid tools for repair at the storefront, for $20 deposit. My experience/opinion is the LSA is the best part of Ridgid and the top reason to buy them.
I registered mine 2 months ago and haven’t even been approved for the lifetime warranty yet.
I am a professional and have 70% of my tools being Ridgid - you just cannot pass up that Lifetime Warranty (which I do not mind using). with my other tools being Milwaukee M12 series and jobsite power tools mostly being DeWalt (Ridgid makes up most of my cordless stuff and their batteries are last WAY LONGER than both Milwaukee and DeWalt)
My main reason for this post are these two things: 1) the Ridgid JobMax is an amazing tool. Whether you are a professional or DIYer do not hesitate buying this tool - hell I even have the hard to find metal shear attachment. 2) Ridgid's 4512 tablesaw has been highly rated by many publications for its value. I saw with that many features for well under $800 . . . there is *nothing* else in the $800 and under class that comes close to the 4512.
Doublethizzle, so after everything Jeff just mentioned about the LSA you still say that you can’t pass it up? What about it makes you not want to pass it up?
I guess it’s a good thing that your Ridgid batteries are lasting you a long time, as it would probably be difficult getting them replaced vs Milwaukee. If my Milwaukee battery fails within 2 or 3 years (depending on type) they’ll replace it no questions asked. How about Ridgid? What if you got the battery as part of a promo or bought it separately and you also have 15 other batteries that are the same type? What then? I could go to a pawn shop and buy a Milwaukee M12/M18 tool and get have it covered under warranty for 5 years, the same as if I purchased through HD. The same goes for the batteries.
@@martylucas8557 The LSA is just a perk to me and not the main reason I choose Ridgid for my cordless equipment. If a tool is eligible for the LSA why not go ahead and register. Furthermore, once you have your account setup adding a new tool to your Ridgid Dashboard is a fairly simple thing. YES, Bear is correct when he says that you need to document everything and file it somewhere . . . but I do that anyway. There is a folder on my laptop that is nothing but Ridgid LSA stuff.
Here is where we have to ask how much homework has Bear really done. When he says "I find in most cases..." in regards to the level of difficulty of getting a tool serviced thru the LSA or if even at all, where does the info come. I would think that if it is in fact "most cases" then the market (supply/demand free market stuff) would reflect this - but it does not. So much so that Home Depot is a world-wide brand. I know, I know. We are talking about Ridgid and not Home Depot. But are they not really the same thing. Since Home Depot, and therefore Ridgid, is a world-wide brand then the business model surely does not have such a hugely disappointing part of its brand.
My experiences are quite different than what is described in this video. The four times I have had to use the LSA it was absolutely painless. I talk to my guy at the Pro Desk, "Homer" (not his real name), and he works it out for me. In summary he basically takes it to the store's service center (what Bear was referencing) which is the Tool Rental, they call a certain number, the item gets a RTV sticker slapped on it, and I get the replacement. Will this happen to you at your local Home Depot? Don't know. I do know that my guy wouldn't be able to if I didn't do the LSA registration.
Ridgid's batteries are different when it comes to the LSA; some are covered and some are not. If they are not covered then oh well. If they are covered their replacement is just as easy. I take them to the Tool Rental. They put a load tester to the battery and test its voltage while under a load. I call an 800# and tell them my battery is not working correctly and also the voltage under load from the Tool Rental . . . . . *NOTHING ELSE*. That is it. Keep in mind your interaction may be different.
Here is the real deal. As a pro I know that the tools will not last, regardless of the brand. Because of this, most tools become 'disposable.' Cordless drills, circular saws (excluding worm drive), grinders, and similar are here today gone tomorrow. I buy Ridgid, not because of the LSA (even though it is a perk), I buy Ridgid because I have better experiences with their tools. Hell, I would buy Ridgid stuff even without the LSA. Remember that when I talk about my ridged experiences I am talking about their cordless tools.
Thanks for the video. I was just deciding between a Rigid combo and Milwaukee. The rigid had 4 amp batteries and the M had 2 amp batteries. The rigid was $29 more but I can't take dealing with companies that do not stand behind their products.
Yes that lifetime warranty seems to be bs. I bought the ridged job site table saw. Home Depot was out of stock and ordered it for me online and it was shipped to my house. The warranty registration wouldn’t accept the receipt ! And I paid and ordered it while at Home Depot !
It took weeks for me to get it registered. Think they do that so you give up of forget. Ended up calling customer service three times to make sure I got the warranty.
If they make an adapter to allow my DeWalt or DeWalt Waitley batteries definitely getting the rigid battery powered shop vac
I really enjoy these deep dive videos I would love to hear about what’s been going on with Irwin over the last few years
They sent everything to China and it all turned into junk
I've been debating between Ridgid, Ryobi, and Bauer for my primary home battery platform. With the LSA info, I think Bauer may just be in the lead.
I'm a lawn care guy. The most important thing with tools and equpment is serviceability & durability. Ferris moweres is located 1 county over from me, if I buy a new mower it will be Ferris because of costumer service and ability to get same or next day parts.
Tools I pick should be reliable or at least easily serviceable, or both.
My Ryobi tools have been used in similar ways to my friends Rigid tools. His impact driver died within a year and recip probably a lil over a year. Plastic gears stripped in saw. Impact driver I can't remember failure. He now has pro grade tools I still use my Ryobi. Mind you both of us use them intermittently in our professions and for doing odd jobs.
My driver has been dropped too, big gouge in metal nose cone to prove it, still works geat. For a handyman Ryobi is tough to beat! Milwaukee someday but I have to wait for my green tools to ware out
Country Boy 85 I'm a carpenter and builder and have been using Ryobi drills ,angle grinder and planer for years, can't kill them and I don't even have the brushless stuff.
I like how the bear's mouth exactly matches your speech.
I'm not trying to sound like a d bag or a fan boy, I find it entertaining. Don't take it the wrong way. Not microagressing you.
Motion capture program
How about checking out the Kobalt line with Lowe’s Home Improvement
Every Kobalt tool ive ever owned broke...junk.
Hagg506 I have never had one to break
I own the ridgid portable table saw, 12" miter saw plus the stand, 6hp shop vac, pancake air compressor & 18" oilless bradnail gun. So far no issues on any of them. No wobble on the miter saw like I've heard about either. Far as cordless goes, I use Makita. Too invested in my cordless tools to switch over to another brand & I'm happy with Makita's quality.
I had no problem with a 7+year old impact driver other than the 4 week turnaround
Registration should be done after purchase ASAP! 7 years! I’m in the construction business, the turnaround is a bit BS. I did pay the deposit etc. was refunded afterwards...tool is back to normal! All done at the tool rental area of the Home Depot. So only go to a store with tool rental department , or locate/google an authorized repair shop!