Rigid Cordless Router

[Matlock]

   That's my constant dilemma.   But I've finally come to the realization that having a little shop I can play around in is as necessary for me as traveling.  I've sold all my stuff (tools) twice in attempt to be free and mobile but both times left me feeling like something was missing.  
     
      I'm pretty sure i'd be perfectly content owning a little piece of land with a shop on it and a place to plug in an RV.   So my rough plan is to sell this house in another year or so and decide where I want to buy a piece of land to make that happen.

Ok, you took the words right out of my mouth. I'm a few weeks away from selling my 1898 home and the 4 bay w/2 high bay garages out back. Looking to buy a 7x14 cargo trailer and load up tools to go someplace A bit further south and do something constructive, or not.  Just want to be able to. A small pc of land with, or build, a garage and add water, sewer, elect. would be perfect.

[Flying kurbmaster]

I think cordless tools are the way to go especially for a mobile liftestyle, table saw and mitre saw as well. I think lowering your expectations on some projects may be the answer. I am curious why would you change from Milwaukee to Ridgid, I don’t think ridgid are bad tools but I think Milwaukee are better. I have Milwaukee battery tools, I have worked with the Ridgid drill and driver as well as the Brad nailer and found them adequate but I always thought they felt a bit unbalanced as opposed to the Milwaukee or the Makita. They worked fine but for instance the brad nailer was heavy and a bit awkward or not as ergonomic as the Makita, Milwaukee or Dewalt. Also the Ridgid driver and drill felt a bit sloppy as it aged. They may have changed this was a couple years back now.

[sternwake]

Doesn't Ridgid have an awesome battery replacement policy as long as one fills out the paperwork when new?

I do not have much in the way of cordless, Just a Makita drill and driver, and the batteries are showing their age.

It infuriates me that 2 new batteries cost nearly as much as a new Drill driver combo kit with 2 new batteries.

With just a van the tool I have the most issue travelling with is the compound miter saw, and that was when All I had was a cheapo 10 inch Ryobi. Now I have a 10 inch Hitachi sliding miter which is even more unweildy.

One of my Friends bought Milwaukee cordless everything. Side by side when my Makita was still new the driver was faster and batteries lasted longer, but took longer to recharge.

He has several failed battery packs, but would leave them in their charger for weeks on end where Lithium prefers to rest at ~50% charged.

I have a 115vac Ridgid low profile Jigsaw I really like.

Have a made in the USA porter cable plunge router that is so much nicer than a newer version I used.

And a Milwaukee 5540 sander polisher from the Mid 90's which is a beast and reported to be a much better product than the current 5540.

I am trying to not acquire any more tools.

[rvpopeye]

Maybe we need a Tool Buyers Anonymous thread ?

[Matlock]

Hello, I'm Richard and I'm a Compulsive Unrestricted New Tool Spendthrift.
Rrrr sumptin like that.

[Putts]

Hello, Richard. Welcome to the group.

[Everyroadleadshome]

 I am curious why would you change from Milwaukee to Ridgid, I don’t think ridgid are bad tools but I think Milwaukee are better. 

I was going to go with Rigid as the Milwaukees burn out to take advantage of their lifetime warranty, even on batteries.  I register all my rigid tools as soon as I buy them, but in my experience, most Home Depots will just let you return it for a new one no questions asked when one breaks, with out having to go through their warranty process.  Not that I expect the Milwaukee stuff to die anytime soon, they are definitely a quality product.  

I thought Milwaukee and Rigid tools looked very familiar and I think they are damn near the same when using them, so did a little research online and best I can tell they are both made by the same parent company, TTI.  They also make Ryobi tools as well.  Whether or not any of the internal components are different, that I do not know.

[Everyroadleadshome]

Doesn't Ridgid have an awesome battery replacement policy as long as one fills out the paperwork when new?
   They do,  they offer a lifetime warranty on their tools and batteries.  And though I've not done it yet, I have friends in the trades who say most the time Home Depot will just let you exchange a broken item for it's replacement right off the shelf with out having to go through their warranty process.  

It infuriates me that 2 new batteries cost nearly as much as a new Drill driver combo kit with 2 new batteries.
     That gets me too.  I've learned that the best time to buy batteries is around Black Friday time,  seems most manufacturers offer a buy one/get one free deal during the Christmas season.  A few years ago I got 3 Milwaukee batteries for the price of one and stocked up.  You can also rebuild the inside of the battery packs for pretty cheap, companies offer the service and a lot of how to tutorials online that would be right up your alley.  

One of my Friends bought Milwaukee cordless everything.  Side by side when my Makita was still new the driver was faster and batteries lasted longer, but took longer to recharge.
     Makita stuff is highly regarded among trades people now as well.  If I were starting over from scratch, it would be hard to pick a brand, there are several good choices and some offer tools the others don't, so it would be really hard narrowing it down.

I have a 115vac Ridgid low profile Jigsaw I really like.
      I've yet to be disappointed with any Ridgid tools.  I prefer the low profile jig saws to the D handle ones myself, I find them much easier to control and get more accurate cuts.  I have a 12" portable planer by Ridgid that is a beast, going on ten years old and who knows how many thousands of board feet i've fed through it.  

Have a made in the USA porter cable plunge router that is so much nicer than a newer version I used.
       The old Porter Cable routers used to be the industry standard, and now the new Porter Cable stuff is junk,  truly sad seeing they let themselves turn into what they did.  I have a few of their old routers, belt sander, and jitterbug sanders that were all made in the USA and are some of my most cherished tools.  

I am trying to not acquire any more tools.
        Me too.  (Eyes roll into back of head)  Actually, some truth to that,  I'm trying to refine my tools to just the stuff I actually need and use on a more regular basis.  There's a guy on youtube....Ron Paulk.  He does custom home builds and all his tools fit in his 7x14 trailer.  He has no home shop, no tools he stores anywhere else and he's able to do everything from house framing, finish carpentry and even cabinets and built ins with his mobile set up.  

[sternwake]

I misworded my earlier reply. i meant to indicate the Milwaukee impact driver was faster driving 3.5 inch deck screws and the battery lasted longer doing it.

I've thought about battery pack rebuilds but one needs a special solderer to do batteries, and Makita has some Fuck you circuitry regarding their battery packs and aftermarket packs.

My Makita drill sometimes goes out of gear, so when the batteries give up I'll likley get another kit.

I bought a PC hand planer and spent a lot of time making the deck and the shoe parallel. Not much point in a planer which will not make a parallel cut.

The D handle Jigsaws a re tilty and clunky. I've achieved my best jigsaw cuts with the new Ridgid and do not miss the extra 2 amps of larger D handle models.

[Everyroadleadshome]

I bought a PC hand planer and spent a lot of time making the deck and the shoe parallel.  Not much point in a planer which will not make a parallel cut.

    That's becoming more and more common through out the industry.  And truth be told, I bet a lot of people never even know, they get a pretty smooth surface and are happy enough with that result and move onto the next step.  Not realizing that it's going to carry over into the next step and multiple every step there on out until you end up with an end product that could have been much nicer.