Does anyone use Ridgid cordless tools?

I'm about to replace my DeWalt cordless stuff with something new.

Curious if anyone uses Ridgid stuff and if so, what your opinion of it is? Also have you used the lifetime warranty for brushes, motors, batteries, etc, and if so how was their service?

I originally picked the DeWalt stuff because most of it was better than the competition (higher RPM's, SPM's, BPM's, etc.) It looks like the Ridgid stuff is lower than DeWalt in all of those areas, but they have a lifetime warranty on batteries and parts - batteries, brushes, motors, etc. Kind of hard to beat that. I also dig their new one-handed recip saw.

Anyway...let me know your thoughts.

I have used DeWalt, Makita, Ridgid, ect. The DeWalts are nice, but battery life sucks and they are bulky. Ridgid and Makita have great battery life and are very durable. The next set of tools I will be buying is the Ridgid combo pack with an impact driver. Never had to use the warranty on the Ridgid tools.

I've never heard anything bad about them. I've always liked Milwaukee though

I know you asked about Rigid, but if you want a good warranty and really top notch cordless tools. Snap on is the way to go. Yes they are pricey but they are worth it. I haven operated the rigid stuff but they make really good industrial line of tools I would think you would be safe with them.

The deal is, I had five batteries. Three were the newer XRP, two were the older battery. The three XRP's crapped out but the older ones still work. Then my 15 minute charger ($100) got fried. So I was thinking about selling what remained and getting newer stuff. But I would want what I have now: right angle drill, hammer drill, recip saw, jig saw, circular saw, flashlight, radio, vac. To go to another brand and get those things I'm looking at a butt load of money. So I guess I'll just shell out the money for another charger and a battery or two.

ive had good luck with my dewalt xrp drill,i use it alot and my battery still hold a good charge, i must have got lucky i guess. i also have a makita 14.4v drill that has to be the best drill ive owned. it once stayed out in the bed of my truck and got rained on all night, dropped from 8 feet on concrete couple times and still works fine. makitas are awesome.

oh by the way my sister has a new in box dewalt xrp 5 piece kit she selling for a good price. pm me if interested. she won it in a raffle.

Every cordless Dewalt I've had has had terrible battery life. Last year at xmas I got my dad a Skil set that Lowes had on sale for 40 bucks. Cheapo but has lasted longer than the Dewalts.

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Originally Posted by pl4yboy

Every cordless Dewalt I've had has had terrible battery life. Last year at xmas I got my dad a Skil set that Lowes had on sale for 40 bucks. Cheapo but has lasted longer than the Dewalts.

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Agreed...the battery life leaves a lot to be deisred. That's why I stocked up on batteries and got the 15 minute charger. DeWalt stuff still has higher performance than virtually any of the other cordless stuff, but they die quicker. So personally I'd rather have better performance even if it means having to charge the batteries more. :shrug:

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Originally Posted by DamnYankee

Agreed...the battery life leaves a lot to be deisred. That's why I stocked up on batteries and got the 15 minute charger. DeWalt stuff still has higher performance than virtually any of the other cordless stuff, but they die quicker. So personally I'd rather have better performance even if it means having to charge the batteries more. :shrug:

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Oh I agree as far as performance. It isn't really my battery life as far as how long it stays charged, it's how long the batteries last before they don't charge anymore.

My dads been a building contractor for 25 years and from what hes used and ive used as far as quality is rigid, makita and some porter cable stuff has been the best we've used he use to have all Dewalt but hes switched over to to mainly rigid and makita alot of it depends on what tools your using porter cable has made some of the best nail/finishing guns where as i prefer makita as far as saws i personally dont mind hitachi either they make a nice little driver drill

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Originally Posted by Ran06chevy

My dads been a building contractor for 25 years and from what hes used and ive used as far as quality is rigid, makita and some porter cable stuff has been the best we've used he use to have all Dewalt but hes switched over to to mainly rigid and makita alot of it depends on what tools your using porter cable has made some of the best nail/finishing guns where as i prefer makita as far as saws i personally dont mind hitachi either they make a nice little driver drill

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Makita sure are nice.

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Originally Posted by SLO TRUCK

I know you asked about Rigid, but if you want a good warranty and really top notch cordless tools. Snap on is the way to go. Yes they are pricey but they are worth it. I haven operated the rigid stuff but they make really good industrial line of tools I would think you would be safe with them.

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Milwaukee makes Snap On's cordless electric stuff.

I used to have all Dewalt cordless stuff also. Batteries were crap, so I think one by one they got chunked. They got replaced with corded stuff..

I stand by makita all the way, my 3/8" lithium ion cordless drill tears it up every time I use it. It came with two batteries, and a charger. Fully charged in 20 minutes, and lasts a pretty long time. The other makita stuff I use are electric die grinders, and angle grinders and those things are tanks. Never had one fail.

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Originally Posted by Frenchy

Milwaukee makes Snap On's cordless electric stuff.

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I just looked at their cordless 18v impact, Yeah they have the same specs. 450ft lbs. And its 180 cheaper. That is good to know.

Makita or Milwaukee would be my second choice, but most likely I'd go with Milwaukee. A cordless right angle drill is a "must" for me, and Makita still uses a keyed chuck on theirs. Someone needs to tell them it's not 1992 anymore.

I have used Dewalt 18V stuff forever, ervery 18v tool they have available basically, all the tools have performed above my expectations. The only one I have ever used until failure was my first 18v drill I bought several years back, but man it stood up to some pretty serious uses.

My only complaint is exactly what you guys state, the battery life seems to be low, especially after the batteries have been used for a couple years.

Hell I think I have like 12 batteries though so I'm always ready to go.

http://makitacordlessdrillsreview.co...less-Drill.jpg

This is what I use, and it's awesome. Also, it does nut use a keyed chuck.

ive have a dewalt 1/2 cordless impact and ive been using in the oil field for two years (im a rig mechanic and it gets used and abused), ive been using the same two batteries for those two years. If im using it alot that day i can go through both batts but normally both will last me at least 5 days if not my 7 day hitch. If the bats sit over a week they will die though

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Originally Posted by DamnYankee

Makita or Milwaukee would be my second choice, but most likely I'd go with Milwaukee. A cordless right angle drill is a "must" for me, and Makita still uses a keyed chuck on theirs. Someone needs to tell them it's not 1992 anymore.

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Originally Posted by truckinL33

http://makitacordlessdrillsreview.co...less-Drill.jpg

This is what I use, and it's awesome. Also, it does nut use a keyed chuck.

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Yeah but their right angle drill does...that's what's annoying. It's a piddly complaint I guess, but given the option, I'm going with Milwaukee.

we use dewalt at my friends shop all during the week and carry them with us to the track on the weekend. they work great and have good life, but when they are not in use they are plugged in charging, i think he buys a new battery every other year and in 4 years i have been up there he has used the same 2 hammer drills, but he got a new regular drill 2 christmas' ago.

A few years ago I bought a Rigid combo set. 18v drill and impact driver (before they came out with the new hyper lithium). The batteries lasted a couple years, but they are garbage now and expensive to replace. I think the battery warranty must have some limitations or did not exist when I bought mine. Sure do miss my cordless 18v drill and driver..

I think you will be more than pleased with the milwaukee cordless tools. One of our project managers let us use his 90* drill and that thing was a beast. I will probably get a set of either makita or milwaukee when the time comes.

I've used pretty much all of the cordless brands and what I've learned is you can't beat a makita

as far as cordless no but we use the rigid 3" drives for most of out equipment at work and they are beasts, they deffinatly have their stuff together, there in aluminum housings with metal rods to hold them together and ive only heard of a few breaking the casings from the torque lol.