I just wanted to post that rigid tools at HOME DEPOT, at least here, requires that you send the machine back to them for warranty and repair. does that cost? how long does it take? Where do you get parts and hows the parts service? Will they be in business tomarrow? Emerson electric is making rigid i believe. They used to make Sears in the 80’s. i had a 80’s vintage sears tool that emerson made. When i called sears for a part they said it wasn’t supported by them anymore (typical sears now days) and that i should call emerson. Emerson said they quit that contract and would supply no more parts for their equipment they made for sears. end of story. Will they support rigid any differently? I’m sure they didn’t tell sears that they would bail in 10 years. Now i know people have said the same thing of grizzly but i have had good experience with them and they have been in business for 20 years now. Grizzly has supported my equipment, and has knowledgable service people. I just replaced my whole shop (that i sold for wifes college educ.) with grizzly. I had a few pieces for 3 years previous. When i got their cabinet saw one wing was warped 10,000″. I didn’t think it would effect my lousy cabinet making skills but still i thought it wasn’t right. How did it get through inspections? I called griz, and said the wing was warped. No nagging questions about my skill to determine “warped”. “which one?” was all he asked. It was at my house 3 days later. No asking me to return the 40lbs cast iron to them. Now, more expensive tools are better cast no doubt, but for the money i’ve had good experience with griz. I wonder about the motors on rigid tools, they appear to be without housings like a washing machine motor. Have you noticed this? People were just posting about rigid’s 14″ bandsaw, and i just wanted to say i got the new griz 0555. It comes with 1 hp, roller bearings, quick release blade, superior rip fence for $430 delivered, plus the riser block is only $50, not $90. They ship tools the same day, and the truck drives right to your house. You need only get a buddy to help you move the 200 lbs saw, or slide it down a plank to a dolly. (one secret for delivery is to call the day of delivery cause they give you that stupid “window” time. You know somewhere between 8 am and 5 pm type of thing. Well if you call the day of, make them call the driver on his route and he will tell you to the hour most times. No wasting helpers time.) When i see builders square shut its doors all over town, i can only think HD is not invinceable, what with Lowes building in their shadow. Where will rigid be if something happens to HD? Really? Hows their lifetime warranty work? In 10 years, when machines will need parts, are you 100% certain they will be there? Just my experience.
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Replies
DELTA has been making power tools since the early 1900s and they have parts and great service.. maybe you should join the Delta club..<G>....
ToolDoc
Us "Grizzly vs. Rigid" conversants are focused on the bargain category, LOL. The question is, when you can't afford a Delta or a Jet (my favorite) whadya get? IMO, Grizzly except for planers. I like to buy big tools from people who's sole mission in life is making and distributing them. Home Depot (Rigid) tools are mostly pretty OK, and their planer is good (but not near the value that the Delta 2-speed is), but they are not a tool company in the way that Grizzly, Sunhill, Jet and Delta are.
Kevin hit the nails on their heads (though I wish he'd done it with a few paragraph breaks, LOL). In addition to his points, I'd make the one that when you call Grizzly with a technical question, there will be someone to talk to who actually uses the tool and understands how it works. The guys at HD are for the most part salesmen with some general knowledge and few really know much, technically speaking, about the tools.
The "Lifetime Warrantee" on the Rigid motors does not mean that if the motor wears out after 5 years and several thousand bf of lumber, they're going to give you a new one. It excludes normal wear and tear and covers only manufacturing defects and such.
Kevin really did make some excellent points in his post.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 1/16/2003 1:08:31 PM ET by forestgirl
Actually, Ridgid has great technical support, both on the phone and on their forum boards.
Michael (and yes I own a few Ridgid products)
Jamie: Start saving your nickels & dimes and stop buying new computer equipment and start charging more in your card shop and then you too can buy quality DELTA power tools.<G> ...LMAO
ToolDoc
Should I increases the prices a little at a time, or just hit 'em with it all at once?! I may have to promise to make 'em free jersey displays or something, LOL!
You having a good weekend? Take care.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Dear: "First Lady Of The Forest" I think you should raise the prices all at once>Really Knock there Socks Off with the Price<<G>..LOL...
HMMMM would love to be in your shop and see the look of Horrior on there faces when you do.ha....
Take Care my little Forest Friend hope you & your Sweetie have a nice weekend...
ToolDoc
in the frozen pocono Mts....
Not looking to start any arguments here -- we all have our own opinions & God bless America -- but I started my woodworking hobby with the idea that Delta was the name to get. Having just replaced my second Delta tool I'm having second thoughts these days. We all know Delta's reputation and I'd say it was well deserved a few years ago. Delta recently went through a reorg when they merged with Porter Cable (still not sure who bought who) and I immediately noticed problems getting parts out of their system. Repairs were another horror story. The Home Depots of this world have been great making these names more accessable to us but I think we're losing something called quality in the rush to beat the other guys price.
BILL: Me thinks your right..Delta & Porter Cable have been going thru some troubling times lately seems the company that owns both-- Pentair could really give a damn about them and woodworkers in general.. A lot of us True Blue and Loyal Delta owners are not really happy about Delta moving mfg to China either....
Take Care... ToolDoc
...and out comes a campany like Lie-Nielsen when the quality has gone too far downhill...the eternal cycle of life...
Doc, I was under the impression from stuff I've read here over the past several months that Delta was making a concerted effort to "right the ship" vis a vis quality control and customer service. Are you seeing/hearing evidence of such a move?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
FWIW, I have a number of Delta machines, no major big ones, but I have never had a problem that was beyond typical with any of them. Seems like hearing about the problems is a lot like outrageous awards in court cases. The extremes are rare, yet they seem to dominate the converstions when it comes to less then appreciated response from a manufacturer concerning problems. The nature of this beast also is the one side that gets disseminated is usually heavy handed to someones favor.
So, for what's it's worth, I have no complaints with any of my machines or tools. This runs that gamet from Craftsman to General to Delta to Jet to etc.! Kudo's to the manufacturers for doing their part in keeping my life uncomplicated. 8-)
Don
Dear "First Lady of the Forest" - yes I have noticed that Delta and Porter Cable have been trying to correct all problems with there tools, one thing is there still having problems with there jointer fences and tables and theres been a rash of problems with the uni saws,I like to follow this stuff on other forums and there has been a Rash of persons Bashing Delta,althou I notice on other forums that Grizzly,Jet and even PowerMatic gets Blasted but of course Craftsman gets burried every time.. sometimes I wonder about all the guys & gals jumping on the bandwagon with this bashing.. IM sure theres problems but me thinks some just like to do bashing as there are too many forum trolls out there.. Jamie.. as you know I follow Rock2car & DeltaOO7 at woodnet and they are very helpfull with any help they can offer to Delta owners,have noticed that even they get discusted with the Bashing..they have also stated that Porter Cable had problems with parts after they started up a new bldg seems it didnt effect Delta.. its a sad thing PC started in 1909 and Delta in 1918 both are old power tool companys who still make world class equipment..I think the important thing to remember is if you do have a problem with any of there products always contact them as there more than willing to help out in anyway possible..
ok IM now climbing down off the milk crate..Sorry LOL
ToolDoc
Well said Doc, and Rock and 007 sure have added access and insight that we are all better for. Too bad the price of their commaraderie(sp?) is the "out front," target it makes them and the unnecessary flak launched their way for doing nothing more then participating and helping others. Some just don't seem to comprehend that they are not "Delta,"--just employees of Delta.
BTW, you been able to get on WoodNet today? Server has been unavailable on my end all day. Thanks.
Don
DON: Nope I havent gotten on Woodnet either today, wonder whats up there???
and your right about Rock & Delta OO7 getting lots of grief over there..
ToolDoc
I don't know if it still holds true, but there was a time not so long ago where Sears would change the design of various items every 5 years, and as a result did not have to maintain a very extensive parts inventory. I was told this by a person from Sears when I was trying to have an item repaired. It seems that this "we longer carry parts for that..." attitude may still be the norm for them.
My learning experience has been with power tools and appliances.
Personally, I've used this bit of information in my purchasing decisions since hearing this some 20 odd years ago.
Not knocking the product, only the lack of support down the road, after the warrantee is up.
For what it's worth.
WoodButcher
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