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Ridgid 6 inch Orbital Sander and 4330 & 4331 Planer Woes...

6.1K views 14 replies 14 participants last post by  TopamaxSurvivor  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Ridgid - -Dud planers and 6 in ROS (Rating: 1)

Wow, I am stunned and ticked off all at the same time. I have owned a Ridgid band saw and drill press for almost 10 yrs. The DP has been stellar without a single issue. I actually have the much maligned Ridgid orange BS and I have it tuned up wonderfully and also love it.

Due to these two tools I have added to my Ridgid collection. I have their combo shop vac/blower and also love it. Also, orange is my favorite color. :)

Now the sadness…

I had a 4330 planer that I bought from CPO tools as a reconditioned tool. After two years it burned up. I bought a low end Craftsman planer that was okay (I wrote a review on it) but I ended up not loving it and oh well, "carp" happens and so I went and got the new Ridgid 4331-as a gift. Wow, what a nice planer! Cutter head lock, a stout machine and runs rather quiet for a lunchbox planer. I've had it 8 months and it also burns up! Can smell the plastic and windings and then boom, it locks up with a board in it doing a 1/64th cut.

Now before the Ridgids I had a Dewalt 733 that I used for 10 years with out a single issue. I wax my tables, clean my rollers and take small "bites". Also I am a weekend hobby guy so there is no way I wore these sucker out.

Additionally, right before the 4331 burned up, I bought a CPO Recon. 6 inch orbital sander. Well, the second time I used it, the pad broke right off it!

So I have purchsed 3 recent Ridgid tools and yes 2 of them were reconditioned but none of them lasted with even light use.

I am not a tool basher and this is not a rant, but I just wanted to make people aware of this. I know there are hundreds of happy Ridgid tool users. Maybe the lesson is don't buy Ridgid recond. tools, I don't know.

What I do know is I went and bought a Dewalt 734 and love it. I NEVER should have gotten rid of my 733. Also my 15 year old Dewalt 5 inch ROS which has been my workhouse for years it still spinning. Yellow is NOT my fave color, but Dewalt is becoming my go to tool. Wish they made a 6 inch ROS.
 

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#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
WOW!

That's quite a testimonial!

I don't think I would try Ridgid Recond. tools… regardless of price… Now…

Thank you!

ps: I have the 734 & also really like it…
 
#5 · (Edited by Moderator)
Sounds like you have had a tough break on the Rigid brand. We don't have that brand here in the UK Todd but we have our share of mediocre tools.

I guess the eulogy of 'you get what you pay for' stands true. My stationary tools are JET went this way because having bought a few "hobby" tools I soon realised I was wasting my time and hard earned. The majority of my hand power tools are Makita, even bought a couple second hand from the bay and can't fault them.

Good luck with the planer.

David
 
#6 · (Edited by Moderator)
I think I also have the 5" Dewalt ROS, and that thing just keeps working no matter what I do to it. Usually when my dad or I get Ridgid tools, we buy them expecting that they'll last as long as the project (like the drywall drill we bought, though I think that still works). Also, the Ridgids are usually for the "non-essential" shop tools, where them breaking would only be a minor setback.
 
#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
i have a Ros by ridgid and the adhesive pad needs changing already. I said already because I only have it for a year now and within that year's period I had this unit changed three times at home depot. the sand paper wouldn't stick to the base any longer and so, it keeps popping/flying off constantly-it's very frustrating.
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have found it's a roll of the dice on reconditioned Ridgid tools. I have made about 10 or 12 purchases and have had issues with 1 so far. Hang on to those sales tickets. I was losing a 3 month battle getting my saw repaired - broken out of the box. Called HD. I took it and the sales receipt to them and they sent it off and got it repaired even though I didn't buy it there. I now buy most everything I can there. Wish they sold milk.
 
#14 · (Edited by Moderator)
I've had great luck with Rigid tools. But I only buy them new. I see the reconditioned ones in my store now and then, and if you take the time to read the little repair stickers that they sometimes leave on them, you see what went wrong, and it's usually something electrical.
I have multiple Rigid vacs up to 12 years old, the R4512, an 11 year old twin bladed planer, the horizontal belt sander/spindle sander, a trim router, a combo router, three of their little lithium drills, Diablo blades and router bits, and they all perform flawlessly. Only thing they sell I hate is that stupid Diablo ROS paper with the multiple little holes in it. They clog too fast and you had better have a mask on when you use it. I like Rigid, Home Depot, and it's too bad your experience is not the same.

That being said, my experience might have been different had I bought reconditioned.