Ridgid and Milwaukee range of tools are a very popular range in the market.
The Ridgid range of tools falls under the parent company known as the Ridge Tool Company. The target customers of these tools are the plumbing, pipe fitting, construction and HVAC trades. The red pipe wrenches form a unique feature of this range of products.
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On the other hand, Milwaukee manufactures great quality cordless drills which are great during job sites or personal projects. It has a 725 inch pound of turning force which is one of the best torque figures in this range.
It reaches speeds of 1850RPMs which works in a great way for drill machines. It has been designed well and has a strong battery life and excellent warranty.
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Histories: Milwaukee VS Rigid
Before we move on to the main discussion on Rigid VS Milwaukee, it should be mentioned that both of these companies started their production processes in the year 1924.
Not only this, both were Midwest companies. Ridgid started its operations at Ohio while as the name suggests Milwaukee was found at the place from where its name has been inherited.
In the early years, Ridgid made a mark in the market by the supreme qualities of their wrench pipes which are still a popular product of this range. They were acquired by a famous company known as Emerson Electrics in the 60s.
Since then they made their products felt in all the sections of the tool market. They always focused on producing excellent quality products made available at a price which would be affordable by the mass.
Though Milwaukee had a similar representation until last year when they decided to concentrate on the upper echelon of power tools. Since then their focus has been to provide the most expensive and the best quality products for their dedicated customers.
These two brands have a similarity in the fact that both of them are run by the same parent company by the name of Techtronic Industries. The entire set of such tools manufactured by both these companies has been done in China.
Ridgid
Lets’ take a quick look at some of the tools manufactured by Rigid that would be
Ridgid Gen5X Brushless: This drill and impactful driver from Ridgid has the most impressive torque figures in the market at 3600 in. lbs. Many consider this product has a much hiked up price. But the brand value of Ridgid is unquestionable so it would not be a bad idea to invest in this product.
Ridgid Gen5X 18V Lithium-ion i/2 inch Cordless Brushless Compact Hammer Drill: This hammer packs a lot of punch with torque figures of 700 in-lbs. The multi-function keys allow for customization of torque depending on the situation. It has a die cast gear box for extended durability.
When high torque this generated, this hammer drill comes with carbide jaws to securely hold bits. The light grip helps to do the work in a much smoother manner and the independency of trigger helps to bring about work space.
Ridgid Gen5X 18V 7 ¼ inches cordless circular Saw: This saw has the maximum cutting dept in Ridgid’s huge range of products. The corded like performance that this thing comes up with is also unmatchable. It has a heat treated aluminum base for enhanced durability at construction sites.
The range of 0 degree to 56 degrees opens up on a vast range of angles and makes it a versatile tool to be used in any condition. It has a hex trip micro grip so that your hands stay at ease while using this device for long hours at the construction sites.
The line blower is a great feature as it cleans away the debris from your eyesight and lets you have a clear vision. The trigger is independently engaged to illuminate light space.
Milwaukee
Now time to turn our attention to the range of power tools from Milwaukee:
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Brushless: When you need more power and versatility at your work place, this product from Milwaukee is a product that you should go for. The cordless range of products always packs a punch.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Surge ¼” Hex Hydraulic Driver 5.0AH Kit 2760-22: It is the quietest cordless fastening solution in the market. It comes with Milwaukee’s new technology known as Fluid Drive Hydraulic Power train.
These products are a lot different from the other due to some of its salient features like power state brushless motors, Red Lithium Batteries and Redlink Plus smart tool capabilities.
The small tool technology makes tracking a much easier experience. The versatility and the reliability that it assures of makes it an instant hit. Added to it is the fact that this product has been successful in eliminating sparking.
The consumers will end up having up to 50% less quiet operation. It delivers a maximum of a whopping 3000 RPM torque with a steady power delivery to drive screws at a much faster pace.
There is an advanced Intelligence system in the market which prevents damage to the tool and does not cause overheating issues for the battery. There is a 4 Mode Driving Control which has a greater control over output speed and provides greater power generation.
The Red Lithium battery is the most durable solution in the market which has a greater run time, power and enhanced battery life.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel ½” High Torque Impact Wrench W/ Friction Ring 5.0AH KIT 2763-22: The M18 FUEL™ 1/2" High Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring is the most powerful cordless wrench in its segment. It packs a punch of 700 ft-lbs of maximum fastening torque.
The motor associated with this product is the best in the segment and outperforms all its’ competitors. Here also the Red Lithium Battery Pack does its job really well and helps this product stay ahead.
Milwaukee’s drive control feature helps it to derive the maximum performance and prevents issues like overheating and over-discharge. It boasts of a nut bursting torque of 1100 ft lbs and a 2X more runtime. It has a cooling technology which again separates it from the rivals in the market.
The friction ring ensures a faster socket change.
Comparison between Ridgid and Milwaukee Tools
- The first factor of distinction is the weight of products of these two companies. The Ridgid tools are very heavy when compared to those of Milwaukee and also other competitors in the market. The Milwaukee products were light and their sleek design made them feel easy on the hand. Thus these products can be handled for a much longer duration.
- Next, let us come to the performance of this two range of tool manufacturers. Two products from each manufacturer namely the Ridgid Gen 5X and the Milwaukee M18 were put to test to under the performance parameters.
These were put on a boat trailer with 5 lug wheels. The Milwaukee got off with almost no fuss but the Ridgid had to pass the test by facing a lot more challenges. The standard test was performed to measure the performance in another scale in which a driving giant of 7 ½ inches of lag bolts had to be driven through two wooden blocks.
Here again, the Milwaukee outperformed the Ridgid by a huge margin. The Ridgid had to struggle a lot to drive the bolts away at such a fast pace. - Now let us come to battery life which is another important factor to weigh the differences. Milwaukee M18 batteries are known in the market for having the fastest. They charge from zero to 100% in less than an hour! Now that’s a hard nut to beat!
On the other hand, the Ridgid batteries had to be kept in the charger for one and a half hours before they blinked to signal that full charge has been achieved. The Milwaukee batteries are designed in such a manner which has made it possible to return such great figures and perform in such an astounding manner. - The complete tools lined up in the armory of these producers also speak volumes of their versatility and range of the market.
If you are to take into consideration a gamut of cordless tools, then Milwaukee provides a lot more options than Ridgid does. The M18 platform would let you build a massive collection of cordless tools and whatever you would get with Ridgid would be a lot less.
The combo kit contains:
- Cordless Drills
- Corded Drills
- Sawzall
- Flash light
- Battery Charger
- Circular Saws
- Jobsite Radio
Bottom line: Verdict
After all these discussions come to the main crux of the story, deciding which one you should go for. The Ridgid 5X stands no chance when pitted against the Milwaukee’s M18. The Ridgid though comes at a lot less price but it matches nowhere when performance is concerned.
It would advisable to spend the extra bucks and acquire the Milwaukee which has the best in class tools set up in the entire industry. We are not completely ruling against the Ridgid range of products.
Their basic products are of premium quality and would surely catch the attention of the clients. For top line performance, it would be quite obvious to go with Milwaukee.