A while back I reported on the industrialized use of a couple of Rigid
products. This is an updated report concerning those two tools.

Rigid 12" Miter Saw - Used exclusively for sawing structural aluminum
extrusion, bar stock and rounds. This saw is used extensively on a daily
basis.
This saw has held up extremely well. Still works as good as day 1. We
have yet to have to re-align the saw, even with forceful use of the
clamp.
All features of the saw have remained in excellent condition. We have
tossed the original stand in favor of a self-built rollable table with
locks (portability needs). We raised the saw approximately 4" with the
new table and this provides a much improved ergonomic situation.
The laser line is the best thing since sliced bread once you get used to
it. Our other machine building dept bought one shortly after we did
because they liked that feature so well. It really takes quite a bit of
time out of preparing to make a cut. This saw was $299 with laser line
and stand.
Rating: Excellent buy...Highly recommend.

Rigid cordless drill. Used extensively every day. This is a powerful
drill. I was initially impressed with the carbide inserted jaws of the
keyless chuck, but after 3 months of heavy use, it has turned out just
like most keyless chucks in that it slips. I'm still a fan of a keyed
chuck for heavy use. We will replace it with a keyed chuck when it
becomes too much of a problem. The balance of the drill is pretty good,
given the size of the battery. The relatively small barrel diameter of
the drill has proved to be a blessing in tight quarters, as compared to
some of the other drills we use (Dewalt, Craftsman).
The only major issue is a slightly bent spindle between the drill housing
and the chuck. Nobody is sure how this happened, we just noticed it one
day. It has not been dropped. There are only 4 people who are allowed to
use our tools, so we are well aware of it's care. We figure it may have
been one of the times it was in a bind and the operator was in a bind
also, and could have leaned on the drill for stability. We just aren't
sure. It is nothing that is extremely noticable, but it is bent.
The housing has remained in very good condition. We have had several
different brands where the housing broke in the area of the battery.
The battery life is excellent, recharges are fast, we have seen no signs
of battery 'memory' to this point.
This drill was $289.

Rating: If you were using this drill in a mostly wood environment, such
as housing construction, this would be a highly recommended item as the
life would be very good in that situation.
In the metalworking environment, I would give it a 'good' rating, but I
consider it overpriced for the quality. The chuck, while they attempted
to improve it with the carbide inserts, still suffers from the same
problem every other keyless drill chuck other than an Albriecht (sp)
does....slippage.


--
Anthony

You can't 'idiot proof' anything....every time you try, they just make
better idiots.

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