just a comment

[Howard M]

After spending 32 years as a Pipefitter and using a lot of different Ridgid tools, I can honestly say I never knew one to fail due to a defect. Since I have retired I am slowly building my woodshop up with..Ridgid tools(ts3650,joiner,mitersaw etc. Among construction workers in my craft there is only one "tool" for quality and that is Ridgid.

[v28]

howard,

get real. ridgid is chinese JUNK. i have one ridgid tool 5" sander. i go through hook & loop pads like a kid goes trough candy. i will not buy another ridgid tool. porter cable, jet, delta, milwaukee for me in the furure. good luck with your chinese junk.

[BadgerDave]

v28, it's obvious that you have no idea as too who really owns some of the companies you listed and where some if not all of their products are made. Saying that Ridgid is "chinese junk" only shows that you are not only unfamiliar with the country of origin where the entire line of Ridgid is concerned, you're also incorrect!

[imported_wbrooks]

V28, if you are going to tell tall tales at least try to keep your stories straight :rolleyes:
Please post a pic of the charger that caught fire, that would be a good one to show to Underwriters Laboratories.

Originally posted by v28:
howard,

i have one ridgid tool 5" sander.... Originally posted by v28:
i have a 18v drill and in less than 3months the charger caught on fire.

[aikiwood]

v28 is just a high school kid thats just repeating what his shop teacher says.If this is not the case , he sure acts , and sounds like it.

[MaxW]

I can understand 'brand loyalty' in the old days, when words like 'Craftsman' and 'U.S. Emerson' meant something, but so many of the big outfits are now trying to keep their prices competitive by outsourcing some really critical work to other countries that it almost seems moot, to me. I'll buy any brand as long as I first check out comparisons and tests by publications online that I trust, such as Popular Mechanics, Woodworker's Magazine, Consumer Reports, etc. It's so easy to Google for tests that it seems silly not to. The only other consideration that concerns me is the time it takes to get warranty work done, and Ridgid taught me that the hard way.

[swhalen]

In my opinion, V28 is a fart stain. If you are going to make arguments like this, you should be able to quantify with hard data to back it up.

[Howard M]

Yes I am aware that some of Ridgid tools are made in a foreign country (one of their miter saws and probably their sanders) I am merely making a statement based on my experiences.
I am referring to their Pipewrenchs, Ridgid 300,Ridgid 535 Pipe Machines, "Mules"(for threading pipe) Pipe Dies, Pipe Cutters of all sizes, Tubing Benders and other misc. small tools.
I will state again that out of the items I have listed I NEVER saw one fail. That's not to say they did require some maintenace once in a while. I have seen pipewrenchs with 15 feet of 2" pipe for a cheater on them and they didn't break. The pipe machines were always reliable( yeah some were older than dirt). Ask any Union Pipefitter what his choice of wrenches is and I'll guanrantee if he has been around a while he will say Ridgid.
No I do not work for Ridgid Tool Company.

[Howard M]

BTW I think I would check out where some of those other brands you mentioned are made...might surprise you.
Also wearing out sanding pads doesn't reflect on the tool it reflects on the use of the tool.

[spacebluesonoma]

When i bought my Ridgid Jointer, i bought the OLD one, brand new, emerson electric supposedly made in the USA. Motor says right on it, made in taiwan.

There are so many mergers and so many companies absorbing one another etc that it is hard to keep track. Popular Woodworking's Tool Buying Guide 2002 (Oct 2001 # 124) had an interesting article. "EXCLUSIVE FAR EAST REPORT; WHAT YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT CHINESE TOOLS"

It was an interesting article and it has a picture of the Rexon Factory in Taiwan where they make miter saws. The photo shows Ryobi and Skil, mentions delta as well.

The simple fact is, that like it or not, these tools are made overseas. Many are made FOR the companies by the same manufacturer. They are made to the spec's of each individual company, and as long as the company backs them, you have nothing to worry about. I would not buy a black and decker or a skil miter saw, i own a delta. probably all made in the same factory, but the delta is made to delta standards, and delta backs it.

But now delta and porter cable have merged with dewalt which we all know is owned by black and decker.

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/store/viewabstract.asp?view=1192

I went and looked at a set of extension ladders that were in the local shopper a few months back. Old timer was selling all his tools, i passed on the ladders they were in great shape but were i believe magnesium, much heavier than aluminum and i would prefer fiberglass. Anyway, he had a VINTAGE sears craftsman 10" contractors table saw. this thing was OLD! It was also Highly Shined up and in MINT condition. THe gentlemen only wanted 100.00 for it, and i left it. I should have bought it, this thing was AWESOME!!! From back when Craftsman on a power tool meant something. Now you couldn't pay me to buy a craftsman power tool (with one exception, i am seriously thinking of picking up their contour sanders next time they have craftsman club sale, etc) I hate sanding and i have heard this thing works pretty good.

DOn't be to dissapointed if your tool says made in taiwan or made in china on it. The majority do, concern yourself with the brand, warranty, AND ease of finding replacement parts.

Makita has IPB's on their website as do a few other mfgr's. Other's it is darn near impossible to find them.

Sears Parts has torqued me off for the last time.

Brand names on these tools still mean something.

Just like hand tools, i have mostly snap on and matco. I do have some craftsman, but they are all the made in the USA ones. they tend not to break. their newer tools tend to break more due to their cheaper material. Some say what the hell, they are warrantied, but i hate being in the middle of a job on a sunday and breaking a tool i need, having to stop and go to sears to replace it. I have made many a trip back and forth to sears returning busted tools. (their newer stuff). I have only broken 2 snap on, a dead blow hammer, and a blue point insulated screwdriver.

One of my usual tangents, most manufacturers although they are outsourcing will still require the tools to be made to their standards. The name on the box/tool not the mfgr (usually) are the ones that back it up.

That is why some tools have a one year warranty, some have three years, they can both be made in the same factory, but made for different companies, to different specifications!

I only had One problem with my ridgid jointer and it was out of the box. believe it or not one of the knives was cracked longwise along the bevel causing terrible snipe. After fighting with setting it up for a few weeks, one of my friends took a look at it and pointed it out to me. called ridgidparts and they sent a new set our free of charge right away. But I could not wait, and HD does not carry the jointer knives in stock, so it was off to sears to buy a set. they have been in to this day, i still have the new ridgid's for when i need to pull these out for sharpening.

I don't know how well ridgid is standing behind their newer stuff, but i had no problem with ridgidparts.com

When I upgrade my miter saw i will likely go to a 12" slider and it will likely be the hitachi or milwaukee.

My delta serves me well, it is a nice entry level saw i have had a few issues with it, but all in all, no major complaints. And it probably came out of that same factory in taiwan!

[v28]

after rewieving fact i can say that milwaukee and makita make the most amount of power tools in hte US. as for poter cable they are slowly moving their operations out of the country.

spacebluesonoma you are right that one factory makes products for several different compines for retail sales. they do it with electronics, hockey sticks, cars (toyota matrix & pontiac vibe) so why should we expect power tools t obe any different.

[michael stephen]

i'll stick with my RIDGID pipe wrenches anytime.. i have seen a RIDGID pipe wrench 60 inches bended (note: they are designed to bend) all the way to more than 90 degrees! But i have never seen a RIDGID pipe wrench break... its still the best brand by far..

[papadan]

Originally posted by v28:
howard,

get real. ridgid is chinese JUNK. i have one ridgid tool 5" sander. i go through hook & loop pads like a kid goes trough candy. i will not buy another ridgid tool. porter cable, jet, delta, milwaukee for me in the furure. good luck with your chinese junk. V28, you really need to find someone to teach you how to use a sander. You would save a fortune in discs. I will keep all my Ridgid tools and when needed I will buy more Ridgid.

[bob bridgewater]

v28
Lots of you like to bash RIDGID well i'll tell you, you are the sad tool. I have a life time warnty with all mine even the batterys. Go cry to your boss who planted you hear and gave you a good deal on your over seas tools when when they die. My kit will be working as good as the day I bought them years down the road :D

Be safe out there folks

Bob B

[Rafael]

Ridgid's 6" ROS is made in Germany. As far as I know Germany is not a province of China.

[Columnist]

Wow, I just joined today but I am a tool columnist for a couple of national and international magazines. V28 must be a Makita plant because he has never owned a Ridgid tool. I see hundreds of tools each year and I just finished a review of the TS 3650. Unfortunately I never found a problem with the legs or the arbor. Before anyone says anything, I picked the saw up at the Borg myself, well not myself but a couple-three sweating employees. I did a review of one of the Ridgid Planners before TTI bought Ridgid, what a nice machine. I am testing the R82320 14.4 volt impact driver, great power, actually more power than the Makita driver or most others. Only a 20 minute charge time also. I also picked up there 14" Band Saw to test against some of the top band saws made. Clearly Ridgid gives their buyers quality tools and most are priced lower than the competitions. I have a mixture of tools in my private shop but I am very proud of my Ridgid tools and their guaranty .

It seems to me that on a Ridgid Forum a person like v28 who does not like Ridgid tools could click their mouse and go to the Delta or Ryobi Forum. Especially when they can only spout lies about good tools. I have built many boats and houses plus other wood projects that include wiring and plumbing are all involved. Yes Ridgid has an impeccable reputation and they stand behind their tools to fix any problems. Once v28 sell many millions of his tools he can complain but I think he should finish grade school first. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

John

[BadgerDave]

Columnist, welcome to the zoo. You'll find more than one exotic creature lurking here. :D

Just to set the record straight, TTI did not purchase Ridgid. They did however enter into a licensing agreement with Emerson to produce certain tools using the Ridgid trademark. Emerson still maintains the final approval of the specifications to which these tools are manufactured too.

[ 06-04-2005, 09:28 PM: Message edited by: BadgerDave ]

[swhalen]

Yeah, welcome to the Ridgid Zoo.
I think that V28 was beaten and locked in a closet as a child. He may be one of Michael Jackson's boy toys for all we know. He's kind of like Herpes...they may go away for a while, but rest assured they will return to chap your balls.