Replies

1. 
   4Lorn1 | Jul 17, 2005 04:56am | #1

   I have been pleased by the 12v cordless drill I got. It is the heavy duty version. Has more torque than it needs. Very solid feel in fit finish, chuck, trigger response and impression of stoutness. Decent balance.

   Have put it to good use and the batteries are still going strong. A said I would get the same model again should I need a similar drill. I kept the sales brochure claiming the lifetime warranty and the receipt filed away. Have had no call to take advantage of it.

   Given enough time, and a long enough life, I hope to be able to take advantage of it.

1. 
   joeh | Jul 17, 2005 07:19am | #2

   Are the batts covered too? Foreverrrrrrrrrrrr?

   Joe H

1. 
   4Lorn1 | Jul 17, 2005 08:30am | #3

   The way I read the brochure that was current during their heavy promotion period, yes. The postings after the first of the year have, as I remember it, wording that might be seen to excluded the batteries. This is the reason I kept a copy of the brochure. I don't know if they will honor the wording but, when the batteries begin showing reduced capacity, I plan to meet with the manager prior to a return for replacements. If I can get replacement batteries for life it would be a sweet deal. Not that I would unduly burden the privilege. The drill itself seems sturdy enough to last many years. The current price of even the 12v batteries is close to $50 each. The 14v and up to 18v get to be quite dear. This, to my mind, is the weakness of most, if not all, cordless tools. Replacing two battery packs is the majority of the price of the entire kit. Many tradesmen have collections, some quite large, of cordless tools that are still good but lack batteries. Either because they are no longer made or the replacements are too expensive. So the drill motors, that won't work without batteries, that are still too potentially valuable to throw away, accumulate in the dark corners of garages and storage sheds.

1. 
   joeh | Jul 17, 2005 09:26am | #4

   Yup, old Makita 9.6V. 4 drills, little 3" saw, mini sawzall, flashlight, and a bunch of dead batteries.

   Hate buying those things, $35 each last time.

   Arrrggghhhh..........

   Joe H

2. 
   RonH1 | Jul 17, 2005 03:43pm | #7

   Try a Google search or eBay for your out-of-production batteries. There are a lot of sources out there and it sure beats having dead tools gathering dust. Good luck.
   Cheers:
   Ron.

1. 
   4Lorn1 | Jul 18, 2005 04:47am | #8

   Not to be contrary but I don't deal on E-Bay. I tried a small deal, a used book for about $20, and it didn't work. I eventually got my money back, at least we think I did, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. Incidentally the seller had a high rating. When I looked more deeply into it he had a lot of high ratings from off-name posters and poor ratings from a core of easier to track posters. I suspect he/she was posting anonymously to boost the rating.The point being that I can't tell who is legitimate and who is not. Until this changes, say if E-Bay was to guarantee payment and receipt through a neutral mechanism, I stay away.On the other hand there are companies which advertise the rebuilding of battery packs. Last I looked the prices were high to have it done. The job can be accomplished by anyone who is good with their hands. The key is finding the high-quality cells needed to do it right at a reasonable price. The NiCd cells are 1.2v each so it takes 10 to restock a 12v battery. Price is a critical factor. Most seem to be selling, the good ones in reasonable quantities, for $4 to $4.50 which is about break-even. Shipping often making it a loss. The real gain being sentimentality, an old tool running again, and bragging rights. Somewhat offset by the odds that if you talk about it friends, neighbors and coworkers will want you to rebuild their battery packs. Doing it for yourself has a certain DIY attraction while doing it for others is more a burden.

2. 
   phazer | Jul 18, 2005 02:20pm | #9

   Sorry to hear about your Ebay troubles, but don't let one bad deal get you turned off.  I have personally bought over 110 items on Ebay and am glad to say only one problem.  I have since learned to watch feedback more closely. 

    Make sure the sellers feedback is from other sales and not purchases made. 

    Read negative feedback and the sellers reply.  Keep in mind there are many people new to Ebay who do not read all the auction details and expect more than is offered so they leave neg feedback. 

   check the sellers past username history.  if it has changed in the recent past it may be because of negative feedback. 

   Read the auction carefully and be sure shipping costs are stated or e-mail seller for specific costs.

   if buying out of country be aware that duty may be charged and if shipped by courier they may bill you a service charge for duty they payed on your behalf ( this was $50 on one deal I made - I refused to pay on the grounds that I didn't authorize them to pay for me, and since UPS had delivered the package already I guess they ate that cost.  that was 1 1/2 years ago and I haven't heard about it since)

   Last words of advice -  be careful,  it gets very addictive. I find too many great deals that I put in a low bid for and end up winning.

   if anyone wants more advice or has questions e-mail me

    

3. 
   Mango | Jul 18, 2005 08:53pm | #13

   I spend 500-to 1000 a month on ebay ,on the whole very positive been there buying and selling since '98 the money I save more than makes up for the few deals that go bad , factor it all in and im still way ahead .not to derail the thread ... I have looked at the rigid , they seemed pricey to me , looks like your paying for the lifetime warranty. They were including the battries in the lifetime warranty when I looked two years ago but I wound up with Ryobi at less then half the cost I haver been happy with them and they do what I need . two years in and the battries are starting to go but I can buy a two pack 18volt ryobi battries at home depot for 39.00 I dont expect cordless tools to last a lifetime , My drills have avraged two to three years (except for the last ryobi 14volt that I got 6 years out of )

4. 
   4Lorn1 | Jul 19, 2005 06:53am | #17

   I can say that my Rigid 12v cordless drill has a very solid feel. I really like the chuck, steel on steel with hardened inserts that really grip. I wasn't sure I liked the brake but now I miss it when I try other drills. The unit has enough torque that I have taken to setting the clutch to a couple of steps below locked. That way if the bit binds the clutch gives a couple of steps. Saves a lot of wear on the wrist. The side handle would eliminate the problem but all too often I'm holding materials with one hand and working the drill with the other.I can say that I have tried a lot of cordless drills, DeWalt, PC, Ryobi, etc and the only one that has the same solid feel, IMHO, is the Festool. And if you think the Rigid is pricey ask the price of the Festool. I recommend you be sitting at the time. I like its feel and balance but they are proud of their tools. It makes the Rigid seem more of a bargain.

3. 
   parrothead | Jul 18, 2005 04:42pm | #10

   4LORN1, the lifetime warranty was only for a short period when the tools first came out, and that included batteries. All new tools have a 90 day warranty. I have not experienced it myself, but I hear that they are not always honoring the original "lifetime" warranties.We are the people our parents warned us about. J. Buffett

1. 
   BillHartmann | Jul 18, 2005 06:05pm | #11

   That was initially true.But a while back they changed that.But you need to check the details. Don't remember if it is lifetime or some shorter but still good such as 5 years.

2. 
   marv | Jul 19, 2005 12:33am | #14

   I read a Ridgid ad yesterday and it said the life time warranty applies to batteries also! (I may have read it in our favorite magazine).You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.

   Marv

3. 
   masiman | Jul 19, 2005 02:03am | #16

   I was just at a local HD (NoVA), the 18v had a lifetime and the 12v(14v?) had a 3 year.  Least that is what the advert card said on the display model.

4. 
   joeh | Jul 19, 2005 12:37am | #15

   New FHB in today's mail has a blurb bout Rigid tools.

   Says the batteries are covered, along with the seals in pneumatic tools.

   Joe H

2. 
   blue_eyed_devil | Jul 17, 2005 01:58pm | #5

   I too, bought a 12v rigid drill. I've been well served by it although I don't use it a lot.

   blue 

2. 
   MarkDikeman | Jul 17, 2005 02:08pm | #6

   I was impressed by the features and the lifetime service agreement (free replacement of driver pins, seals, o-rings) for their nail guns so I bought the 15 and 18 gauge trim guns along with the oilless compressor.  The compressor is great.  Runs two guns with no problems.  18 works very well with no problems.  15 has been returned after about 2 weeks and a couple thousand nails.  The driver pin tip was already deformed to the point that jams were very frequent.  The driver pin is covered as part of the service agreement, but it should have lasted longer than 2 weeks.

   Mark

   Yes, I am serious.   And don't call me Shirley.

3. 
   40BillH | Jul 18, 2005 06:09pm | #12

   Jsoto, Cheap and corded?

   Lowes has a GMC brand, right angle, corded, VSR, keyless chuck, for about $90. I bought one in a pinch and ran the snot out of it. It's not a high end tool by any means but has served me well....

    Chips ahoy!