Ridgid Power tools

Anyone use the rigid power tools? Thinking about building a tool set, for projects and things. Just bought a small building to move my heavy bag and reloading equipment out into, and a kayak... I have a work bench installed in it, and no tools yet I really like the look of the ridgid power tools and heard great reviews on them , so I figured I would ask on here to see if ridgid were good tools. I should be going out soon, and buying the
18 volt octane cordless brushless 1/2 in impact wrench as my first tool.

I am a Dewalt guy. I have tons of the stuff. I have been culling off all of my 18 volt and switching to the 20 volt. One of my guys uses Ridgid tools. There are two things that I like about them: First, the charger is fan cooled and second, the batteries have a lifetime warranty.

Cons... They are a lot more bulky than the dewalt impact drivers and my dewalt impact drivers are faster and stronger.

I had ridgid cordless fire a long time but when I went to lithion I went with Milwaukee fuel.

I loved my ridgid stuff but it was nicd and heavy. Went with Milwaukee because of the large selection of tools. Ridgid didn't really have the same wealth of tool types. They are getting better now though. I never had an issue with quality though, and right before selling them had the batteries and charger replaced under the lifetime service warranty.

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I was a Porter Cable fan for decades.
Switched to Milwaukee FUEL tools and never looked back.

Batteries last longer and tools are lighter, smaller and they all use the same batteries.

I have a major arsenal of "M" now and not one problem ever.

I used the Fuel 1/2" impact to rotate the tires on my Ram 2500. Spun 32 lug nuts off and back on like nothing.

If you decide on Milwaukee, make sure you get the "FUEL" version. They have the brushless motors. A far better tool than the regular 18 Volt.


'Nuff said

I went with all Fuel but at the time they only had 2 lines: brushed or Fuel. Now they have a middle line that is brushless but not quite the power level of Fuel.

I would still spend the extra on Fuel just because. Home Depot used to run a promo, buy X kit and get $$$ towards a bare tool. They would split money towards the tool across the receipt items, so you could return the kit and still keep some of the discount on the bare tool. Was a good way to build a collection.

I bought 4 or 5 Fuel bare tools on LetGo. I didn't get boxes but who cares. I'm not traveling with them. Some old laptop bags and a hard sided Dell case worked out just
fine. Already had them.

To each his own. Asking what tools are best is like asking "9mm or .45". You're gonna get all kinds of opinions. I gave mine based on my actual experience with them, not because I heard this or that.

Wait for a sale if you can. Memorial Day coming up.

Good luck brother. Buying a whole bunch of tools is BIG FUN indeed!

Ill have to check newer brands out, I've never used Milwaukee or ridgid power tools.. I've only used Dewalt, Porter cable just never really liked them for some reason. I will demo some if I can soon. Thanks guys.

Rigid portable tools are a no brainer if they still have their lifetime warranty on batteries. I used Dewalt for years until battery life was costing me a fortune. About eight or so years ago I was at Home Depot and they had a sale on their Rigid 18v drill and impact driver with two batteries. The batteries had a lifetime warranty.

I bought the package and they are every bit as good as the 18v DeWalts I had before. Since then I've added the reciprocating saw and a couple more 18v items. They are all still performing well and I've not had a battery issue. If I do, HD will replace them.

Be careful as you need to register them within a specific period to get the lifetime warranty but it's not a big deal.

They are excellent tools and perform well. I can't think why I would want to buy a battery powered toll that doesn't have a lifetime warranty if Rigid still does. Batteries are still about $90 each.

avantiguy said:

Rigid portable tools are a no brainer if they still have their lifetime warranty on batteries. I used Dewalt for years until battery life was costing me a fortune. About eight or so years ago I was at Home Depot and they had a sale on their Rigid 18v drill and impact driver with two batteries. The batteries had a lifetime warranty.

I bought the package and they are every bit as good as the 18v DeWalts I had before. Since then I've added the reciprocating saw and a couple more 18v items. They are all still performing well and I've not had a battery issue. If I do, HD will replace them.

Be careful as you need to register them within a specific period to get the lifetime warranty but it's not a big deal.

They are excellent tools and perform well. I can't think why I would want to buy a battery powered toll that doesn't have a lifetime warranty if Rigid still does. Batteries are still about $90 each.

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Thanks for the heads up, I will be checking out ridgid tools soon!

If you do go the Ridgid Route make sure you register them online to get the LSA (lifetime service agreement) and also note that not all batteries qualify for the LSA.


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mike12193 said:

If you do go the Ridgid Route make sure you register them online to get the LSA (lifetime service agreement) and also note that not all batteries qualify for the LSA.


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Will do thanks for the info!

Depends on what your looking for. Ridgid makes some pretty nice tools. They are kinda awkward and bulky then most. They have very select basic tools. The price is cheaper then then most of the other brands. Milwaukee cordless line is insane ever tool imaginable in cordless. I use Milwaukee myself but I worked construction for a long time. I could get any bare tool and use the same batteries. Just for home use and general building tools save some coin and go ridgid or ryobi.

My more heavily used tools I've gone to milwaukee brushless fuel, but I have a ton of ryobi tools that have served me well for years with no issues and once I replaced their batteries with 4ah lithium they all perform well including the older style blue ones vs the newer green ones. Not as powerful or as compact as the milwaukee brushless, but solid and reliable for the price. This impact has been through constant use, left out in the rain and extreme cold temps and 5 years later still works fine. I also still use this ancient cordless grinder often. Ignore the fact I stepped on the zip wheel.lolmy milwaukee cracked a few sockets so I had to upgrade to impact ones. This thing is a beast.

BWL said:

My more heavily used tools I've gone to milwaukee brushless fuel, but I have a ton of ryobi tools that have served me well for years with no issues and once I replaced their batteries with 4ah lithium they all perform well including the older style blue ones vs the newer green ones. Not as powerful or as compact as the milwaukee brushless, but solid and reliable for the price. This impact has been through constant use, left out in the rain and extreme cold temps and 5 years later still works fine. I also still use this ancient cordless grinder often. Ignore the fact I stepped on the zip wheel.lolView attachment 160518my milwaukee cracked a few sockets so I had to upgrade to impact ones. This thing is a beast.View attachment 160520

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Agreed! BEAST!
I have this beast stowed under my back seat with all the impact sockets you might need to take a rim off. I turned over a small block Chevy motor (rather quickly) on an engine stand! Spark plugs were out but, dayum!

Here's the other reason I went all Milwaukee. [emoji16][emoji16][emoji16]

Milwaukee Fuel for the win!!

Ramm5.7 said:

Milwaukee Fuel for the win!!

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Agreed, but the new dewalt 20/60 v tools are pretty solid as well. Reason I put ryobi in the mix is they go on sale cheap at the home depot. Also new batteries work on the older tools, reliable and if you just want them for occasional around the house projects it's not really neccesary to get the best

BWL said:

Agreed, but the new dewalt 20/60 v tools are pretty solid as well. Reason I put ryobi in the mix is they go on sale cheap at the home depot. Also new batteries work on the older tools, reliable and if you just want them for occasional around the house projects it's not really neccesary to get the best

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I hear ya. I still have a craftsman set that works good but Im still working and use the Fuels daily! Craftsman's are my house putzing, Fuels are my pro tools...lol

Ramm5.7 said:

I hear ya. I still have a craftsman set that works good but Im still working and use the Fuels daily! Craftsman's are my house putzing, Fuels are my pro tools...lol

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Same here brother.

I think a lot of us started on Craftsman.
Nothing wrong with that. I've still got plug-in Craftsman drills, saber saw, routers, cast iron table saw, floor drill press and band saws, lathe, etc. **** won't quit. Bought most of that in the 80's. They don't build them the same now.

I didn't go cordless until 2 yrs ago, except for my 12V Porter Cable MagnaQuench drill/driver. That thing drove 3" galv deck screws all day long. Just drag them across a bar of Ivory soap first. [emoji16]

Finally, batteries are so much better, I'm free of the wall socket.
Anybody wanna buy 400 ft of extension cords, LOL.
All my new & better stuff is ALL RED now!
All a matter of preference. How they feel in your hand. All good unless you buy the junk. Then you get to buy it again in 2 yrs.

Good tools are not cheap.

Cheap tools are not good.

I have heard some pretty good things about the Ridgid line up. Personally I run DeWalt because I preferred the majority of their 20v stuff over the others for the tools I use most, but we have Milwaukee Fuel too in the shop and they are solid in other areas. The Ridgid 1/2" impact didn't hold a candle to my Dewalt 1/2" XR or the Milwaukee BUT that doesn't mean much. Maybe their target consumer doesn't have to rattle off bolts and nuts on machinery haha! If and when it comes time for a refresh I am giving them a hard look. I already have the 13" planer in my sites.

Only thing I suggest is to look at the whole lineup and make sure they have the tools you would use most. Personally, when I am balls deep in a build or an install nothing ****** me off more than having to have 3 different charging setups and realizing the only batteries that AREN'T dead are for the tool you don't need hahaha! That's my main reason for having all DeWalt cordless. The majority of the ones I use most were the better of the selections I looked at, so to save having to worry about multiple battery setups, some of the others are not quite "the best".



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Just was never a fan of DeWalt, batteries sucked, tool felt cheap like a B&D.

I have mostly been a Ridgid fan, great warranty, batteries, & quality. Their tools just fit my big paws better. Ridgid has a great line of tools, but they seem to be more geared towards the woodworker. Cordless routers, planer, belt sander, air compressor, palm sander, drywall screwgun.

I also have the Milwaukee M12 series, drill, driver, band saw (works awesome on conduit/pipe), and the ratchets.
Milwaukee’s line tool seemed to be geared towards tradesman.

Sign up for Home Depot’s daily deals, they tend to have tool specials weekly.
Monday was Milwaukee’s 3/8 ratchet, battery, charger, & case for $100.