Rigid Drills and LSA Warranties... Any thoughts?

[BrianF]

It is time for a drill upgrade. Have used The blue Ryobi 18v drill and impact drill set with nicad batteries for nearly a decade or so. Can't kill them but replacing the batteries or buying a new drill set.

For my auger I went with the 8 inch nils convertible. The nils site mentions to use a drill with 700 in pounds or more of torque. I believe that the new Rigid R8611503 has 780. Seems like a good deal. Thoughts?

HD Rigid LSA?.. I have only had used the Home Depot rigid warraty one time for a shop vac and was a terrible experience. Mostly my fault as I did not register it. They eventually gave me a new vacuum. However, I am used to a craftsman hand tool warranty where if it says craftsman on the side, you are handed a new tool with no further questions or paperwork. With the drills, if properly registered how well will the LSA warraty prevail on a drill failure? Also, should I really feal bad about using a drill for and ice auger? If so, why the heck are we doing this with these expensive drills?

[Idahogator]

YOU MUST REGISTER, AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE!    Sorry, best shout than miss the point, ha.   

A contractor buddy has many Rigid products and nothing lasts forever. He walks into that big orange place and leaves with a new item in hand.      Just once, they were out of stock, issued a receipt and mailed the item to him.   

So it seems just buying the best "ONCE"  is a good plan.           

[river rat78]

I would send a pm to 3000. He is a die hard Rigid guy.

Since you seem to be in the market for a new drill don't forget to check which batteries come with that drill. I've looked at multiple kits and most of them come with 2.0ah batteries. You want the ones that come with 4.0ah batteries. They will last you longer on the ice.

The only way I would feel bad about using the LSA is if I were to abuse the drill.

[3300]

i'll try to help, some think it's some thing else i guess, but anyways, are you just now getting into 8" holes with a drill? if so, that auger is supposed to be the easiest cutting ice and they have two versions, one for being used on a drill and the other for hand crank.
they make 6 3/8" hole saws that cut hard wood and steel, so cutting some thing softer is not abuse. getting water into it or dirt would be and then it's a moral question if it should be replaced by the manufacturer.
the new brushless drill is 80" pounds less than their new brushed drill (gen5x) for some reason. in order they are 700"# and 780"#.
to have the lsa on every thing including batteries, the batteries have to come in a kit, so buying the right kit for you is key to ensure you have the batteries you want to use the rest of the time your using it. so they sell 5 ah batteries, but sold individually so they have a 3 year warranty like all of the others.
you have 90 days at hd to decide if it's for you and is hassle free returns on used gear on any tool you buy there, but do make sure you get the online registration completed as soon as you can. you'll know when it happens because they email your pin and confirmations. that pin is all you need to get batteries or tools for life. i do not use hd to replace the tools, i use small authorized service centers and they do it up and big time. at least that has been my experience. it does take time tho.

the 24 volt ridgid hammer drill (only 500"#) i have been using on ice with a 6" strike master lazer and i have the 4" tool has been running like new and looks like new for years and i have had the two batteries replaced one time now and it did save plenty of cash to spend on other things. i just bought their new gen5x kit that came out early this year for 400$ and have been using all of the tools all year and have been problem free.

[3300]

here's a sweet deal. buy the kit and get a free impact driver and choose from any of the qualifying tools they show and get 100$ off. so if you chose the 5 amp battery, it is free too. you'd have two 4amp batteries and one 5 amp battery and two tools for under 280$ and a lsa on all of it except the 5amp battery.
http://www.homedepot.com/b/Featured-Products-Holiday-Combo-Kit-Offer-RIDGID-2-pc-Combo-Kit-Tier-2/RIDGID/N-5yc1vZcc7rZcc7rZ18g

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-18-Volt-5-0Ah-High-Capacity-HYPER-Lithium-Ion-Battery-AC840089/206189942

[Damn Yankee]

here's a sweet deal. buy the kit and get a free impact driver and choose from any of the qualifying tools they show and get 100$ off. so if you chose the 5 amp battery, it is free too. you'd have two 4amp batteries and one 5 amp battery and two tools for under 280$ and a lsa on all of it except the 5amp battery.
http://www.homedepot.com/b/Featured-Products-Holiday-Combo-Kit-Offer-RIDGID-2-pc-Combo-Kit-Tier-2/RIDGID/N-5yc1vZcc7rZcc7rZ18g

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-18-Volt-5-0Ah-High-Capacity-HYPER-Lithium-Ion-Battery-AC840089/206189942

I was in Home Depot today and they had the Makita XT257TB Combo. 1090 "# Hammer Drill & Brushless Impact Driver, (2X) 5AH batteries, Charger etc,
+ $150 credit for other Makita stuff. Marked down to $329. Use the credit for a 4AH battery and charger (remaining value subtracted from $329) show Lowes credit card for 5% discount, Subtotal $283 + local sales tax.
Dept. manager explained the Makita Combo (Christmas Special) was not a normal stock item for his store so he had to get rid of it.
Home Depot logic escapes me but it makes a great deal for someone.  This Makita Combo has a 3 year warranty on batteries and tool.

[3300]

sounds like a beauty! we used that brand in our glass shops exclusively.
hard to beat home depot deals for new tools. 90 day hassle free returns and nice packages they put together for this time of year every year.

[buz23]

I was in Home Depot today and they had the Makita XT257TB Combo. 1090 "# Hammer Drill & Brushless Impact Driver, (2X) 5AH batteries, Charger etc,
+ $150 credit for other Makita stuff. Marked down to $329. Use the credit for a 4AH battery and charger (remaining value subtracted from $329) show Lowes credit card for 5% discount, Subtotal $283 + local sales tax.
Dept. manager explained the Makita Combo (Christmas Special) was not a normal stock item for his store so he had to get rid of it.
Home Depot logic escapes me but it makes a great deal for someone.  This Makita Combo has a 3 year warranty on batteries and tool.

You get credit for showing a Lowe's card at HD?  And what are you going to do with a second charger? 

[Damn Yankee]

Here in W-Mass if you show a Lowes credit card at checkout you get a 5% discount. Your reward for not shopping at Lowes. They also (at times) give a 10% discount to veterans or show a military ID.

[xjma]

I'm an electrician and I have 18V ridgid tools that I use everyday.  They're great, the large batteries last forever, I have one small on that isn't as good in terms of battery life length, but the 4ah ones are amazing.  Plenty of sack in the hammer drill, unlike the new 20v dewalts.