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Looks like I've worn something out. Won't oscillate anymore. Occasionally catches with a "thump" then stops oscillating again. I'm guessing some cheap plastic part has worn out. Anybody have experience with this? EReplacementParts the place to go?

Mike

what sander do you have?

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http://www.ridgid.com/tools/oscillating ... /index.htm

Crap, looks like its the whole motor assembly. Eparts wants $290 for that. Sander cost $200 new!!! Does anyone make a very similar tool that is way more reliable? I love this thing, but I guess I use it too much. Ya know, "too much" should not be a reason for failure.

Mike

Think I might do just that. Gonna clean it up and take it to the store I bought it at. This thing is a go to tool in my shop. I need this thing working!

Mike

Btw, who sells a tool for $200 and sells a single replacement component for $290? Ford? Gm?

Argh!

Mike

Yup. How to Win Friends and Influence People. On top of that, I really love that machine, so its true. Gonna try that approach tomorrow at HD. If that fails, then will call Rigid Monday.

Mike

Mike they have refurb Rigid tools here: https://www.directtoolsoutlet.com/ Their brick and mortar stores have that sander. ~$130 and they will ship if you can't get to them.
Mark

I was looking at getting one of these too. I own the harbor freight Oscillating Sander. http://www.harborfreight.com/oscillatin ... 95088.html This tool is the same as the model sold under the Triton name too. Well the same thing happened to me with that after about three months use. It cracked and only spun with no oscillating.The motor housing if you can actually call it that is all plastic. There is no housing around the motor armature like a standard motor. It's a square frame. I wish I took pictures of it when I had it apart. Being that I like trying to fix things I rebuilt the frame and beefed it up with JB weld epoxy and sheet metal and small nuts and bolts. I have been using it now for a couple of years and it works as good as new. Well actually better then new since it was a piece of crap in the first place. As for EReplacementParts Mike I have used them for a part to my compressor and they were slow in shipping because they didn't have the part but I got it in a month and things were fine with the part. They don't tell you the parts out of stock until after you place the order. Warning they bill your credit card from day one even if the part is out of stock....Mike

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I should have posted this: http://www.ridgid.com/tools/oscillating ... /index.htm

This is what I have, not the smaller one like the triton

Mike

Edit: oops, i did post that, but I see what u are saying now

I have one of those. I registered it for the warranty when I bought it. When a plastic part in the drive broke, I called them and they sent me the part. Call them.

Had a similar problem with the Ridgid sander. Took it to the authorized service centre and they told me not to bother. They also suggested I stay away from Ridgid tools in the future, pointing me to a 4' x 3' x3' bin of useless Ridgid batteries.

It's a shame, because I loved the idea behind the sander. Unfortunately, the execution just seemed to suck.

Steve

I just had the batteries replaced on my Ridgid drill after 6 years of use (and it's the best drill I ever owned). NiCd batteries don't last forever from any brand. At least Ridgid replaces theirs. I have been very happy with the Ridgid tools that I own. Their little laminate trimmer is excellent. And I love the oscillating sander. It makes sanding the sides of a banjo peghead (perpendicular to the fret board) very easy. If it's prone to breakage, that becomes Ridgid's problem since it has a lifetime warranty. The repair center sees a lot of the problems because of that warranty and because there are so many of those tools out there.

interesting...the DO have a lifetime warranty...seems to me a call to corporate would have been warranted to turn in the lazy bums...

I've avoided Ridgid tools (except for one brad nailer I have, that I am quite capable of repairing myself, and would most likely HAVE to because I have modified it by completely disabling the safety) because of the very long time (or so I have been told) that a tool is away from you when being worked on for warranty reasons...I use my tools for a living and cannot afford to be waiting 2 months for one to be repaired...

From what I know is that many if not all the Ridgid power tools are made by the same company that makes the Ryobi brand. I do own a few things like a cordless impact driver by Ryiobi and a triangle detail sander but many of there tools are for the home use. Not for commercial or professional use. They just simply won't hold up to that type of daily use for very long.

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I have one of the Ridgid sanders, and I like it. But I don't do any heavy work at all on it. I just use it when a small belt sander is better suited to the job than a drum. For heavy use, I have a Clayton. The Clayton wasn't cheap, but it is really built well and I have yet to throw anything at it that it couldn't handle. I've had it for years now with no problems.

Dave

Ridgid tools are made by Emerson (who also makes some of the Craftsman Tools). Ryobi are made by Techtronic Industries Co. Different companies, different customer targets.

Well, I can't complain too much. I use it quite regularly. Perhaps too much. I would love to find a similar machine that was heavier duty. HD would not replace it, but I did ship it off for service. Assuming the service charge is low or nothing, I will get it fixed, then sell it. Yup, I bought another one. I can't be weeks without my sander.

If I only used the spindle, I would upgrade. But I use the belt a bunch. I have one of those Jet 48" belt sanders with a 9" disc sander. That thing is a beast. But that Rigid is SO versatile for the kind of stuff we do.

I guess it is what it is.

Mike

Your partially right. Emerson does make some of the Craftsman tools. They also own the Ridgid brand name but their Ridgid power tools are made under license by Techtronic who also makes Milwaukee.

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Another day, another dollar.

Not to long ago Metabo made some of the Rigid products in Switzerland. The 6" ROS from this time was/is a very nice tool.

I have one of these Jet spindle sanders and I love it. http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/200387 ... 08404.aspx. I've used it extensively for the past 1.5 years and still haven't needed to change the sand paper on the spindles. It's very smooth, quiet, and well made. Kind of pricey but you get what you pay for. It was $100 off a few weeks ago.

That Jet is a nice looking sander. I probably should just get one and stop farting around with Rigid. Every other tool I have is Jet. It's just that stupid belt sander part I like so much...

outside curves

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I use it for so many things. Fine tuning the kerfed lining length, fine tuning the side end cuts, outside curves as Steve said, head stock shaping... What is a pattern ring?

I have the "Canwood" model which looks almost identical to the Jet or the General International version. I used to have the Ridgid and it's a great tool for what it is and the price but not as robust as I would like. I also was never able to get the belt tracking properly. It would always move and fray the belt edges. I don't need it as I have a 6" x 48" floor model belt/disc sander fortunately. On the Canwood, I can also use magnetic fixtures which you can't do on the Ridgid. The Ridgid is good for the small shop or starting out IMO.