REED and Ridgid are two American brands doing the same job in pipe hand tools: hinged and rotary pipe cutters, tripod vises, die heads, pipe wrenches. This article compares them technically, and says where Ridgid is the better choice.
Habib Makina is REED's distributor in Turkey, so read the following knowing the source is an interested one. We are making the comparison anyway, because a technical reader spots a one-sided text immediately.
Where Ridgid is stronger
- Availability and spares. Ridgid has been sold in Turkey for decades; a Ridgid cutter wheel can be found in almost any hardware shop, while REED consumables come through the distributor.
- The threading ecosystem. The Ridgid 300 has become the de facto standard, with a very wide accessory and second-hand market around it.
If your priority is "available everywhere and holds its resale value", Ridgid is a strong choice. The differences below do not change that.
Hinged cutters: same body, blade by material
On REED hinged cutters the body stays the same while the wheel changes with the material being cut. The same 1–2½ inch body ships with three different wheels:
| Stock code | Wheel | Application | Pipe capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| REED-03110 | HS21/2 | Steel / stainless, Sch. 40 | 32–76 mm (1–2½") |
| REED-03114 | HX21/2 | Steel / stainless, Sch. 40 and 80 | 32–76 mm (1–2½") |
| REED-03112 | 2RBCI | Cast iron, ductile iron | 32–76 mm (1–2½") |
| REED-03120 | HS4 | Steel / stainless, Sch. 40 | 60–125 mm (2–4") |
| REED-03122 | HI4 | Cast iron / ductile iron | 60–125 mm (2–4") |
What that means in practice: cutting ductile iron with a steel wheel ruins both the wheel and the pipe, and at Sch. 80 wall thickness a standard wheel struggles where the HX does not. The whole hinged cutter family is listed by stock code.
Pipe wrenches: the weight difference
REED's heavy-duty pipe wrenches include an aluminium-bodied series. For a fitter working at height for hours, an aluminium body makes a real difference in fatigue at the same capacity. Ridgid also offers aluminium models; the difference here is not between brands but between the steel and aluminium series of either — check the body material when choosing.
On plastic pipe: Bevel Boss
REED's Bevel Boss range bevels plastic pipe of 2 inches and up, cordlessly. It carries no motor of its own: an adapter fits it to a DeWalt, Milwaukee or Bosch die grinder. The CPBDBT base tool weighs 1.8 kg; the CPBDK full kit with two batteries and a charger weighs 4.2 kg. Bevel length depends on the router bit (the RBIT1 adjusts from 1/8" to 5/8").
Which one, when?
- Mixed materials (steel plus ductile iron plus stainless): REED's material-specific wheel range makes the correct cut easier.
- One kind of steel pipe, and fast access to spares: Ridgid's ubiquity is the advantage.
- Bevelling PE or plastic pipe: the Bevel Boss approach is worth a look.
If you are not sure which suits the job, send the pipe diameter, material and wall thickness and we will work it out from the catalogue together.
