Shopsmith Forums

ashbury wrote:Agree with you 100% Ed. That's what separates smart people like you and stupid ones like me. Kidding aside, it was an impulse buy with gift cards my daughters had given me and the special at the time was too good to pass up. At times like that, stupid people like me do not reason things through. Never have, never willl hehe. I do have some other Rigid tools I have had for some time and they are all of excellent quality with a few extra's built into them that other manufacturers don't seem to think of.

I wouldn't regret that deal. Although batteries are expensive, the tools are outstanding. Ridgid has done a good job of carrying the quality pipe threaders over into their power tools. I learned something new from Ed because I didn't know about that warranty. Still, I woulnd't consider a dead Dewalt a throw-away.

I prefer the Makita18 volt tools. While building the new shop there was a springer head that needed removal in the excavation area. I fell trying to get too it and a neighbor offered to take my Makita and go after it. I offered that he really didn't want to return the Makita as it ran circles around his dewalt tools. Fjimp

For compacts, I prefer Bosch. Super compact,powerful and the batteries really hold a charge. Had one version or another in my tool bag since they first hit the market. I would be lost without it. For full size, I've always had a Makita in the shop,never a complaint.

ddvann79 wrote:I wouldn't regret that deal. Although batteries are expensive, the tools are outstanding. Ridgid has done a good job of carrying the quality pipe threaders over into their power tools. I learned something new from Ed because I didn't know about that warranty. Still, I woulnd't consider a dead Dewalt a throw-away.

Two points of clarification. One company that builds plumbing gear is not the same company that builds Ridgid woodworking tools. Years ago Emerson bought the use of the name for their products which were then sold to a huge foreign company. That company OWT ( it think that is still the name) retained the right to use the ridgid name.

Ridgid plumbing tools are still made in the US in Ridgeville Ohio, I think.

Second the battery replacement is not a warantee but a Lifetime Service Agreement where they offer free battery replacement. The are very
exact calling it a Service Agreement rather than warrantee. I don't know why but if you call it a warrantee they will correct you.

Incidentally the same company that owns Ridgid also owns Ryobi, and Milwaukee. So far the tools appear to be different but I wonder if there is a difference on the inside. Only the Ridgid tools have the Lifetime Service Agreement.