About a week ago, I posted about the Ridgid R9000K 12V drill/driver and impact driver combo kit, which is a new cordless deal at Home Depot for the 2014 holiday shopping season. It looks to be an incredible bargain, and I made a point of checking the kit out at the local store.
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The kit comes with a drill/driver, modestly powered impact driver, 2.0Ah and 4.0Ah battery packs (one each), a charger, and kit box.
For $99, this looks to be unbeatable.
Home Depot’s product page lists the drill/driver’s max torque rating to be 350 in-lbs, which is very impressive. If you refer to our Milwaukee M12 Fuel drill and driver specs update, this is the same level of torque that Milwaukee’s 12V-class brushless cordless drill is rated to deliver.
On the back of the box, it says that Ridgid’s 12V drill can actually deliver 400 in-lbs of torque. This is a LOT of torque for a 12V-class tool. And, if accurate, this means that Ridgid’s 12V compact drill/driver is more powerful than many DIY and mid-level brands’ 18V and 20V Max cordless drills.
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It’s hard to read, but the drill’s torque rating is mentioned in the first feature description at the top left of the box.
I’m trying to get my hands on a review sample. If real-world performance is as good as on-paper technical specifications suggest, then this combo will offer an incredibly good power-to-price ratio.
If you give this a combo a try before I can, please let me know what you think about both tools, and especially the drill/driver!
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
While it is possible that the box rating is wrong and that the web rating of 350 in-lbs is accurate, that’s often not the case. Web ratings are sometimes wrong because specs for some new tools are copied over from older models’ listings as placeholders to save formatting ftime. This is just one potential explanation.
Joshua Latham
If i didn’t have a DeWalt 12 volt set with the saw, this would be a no brainer. But unfortunately I have no need for two 12 volt sets.
Adam f
I bought, or exchanged for this kit, up from the same tools but only two 1.5 ah batteries about a month ago. Then it was advertised with “free” impact driver. Glad I didnt use it on any real job site.
I will check the specs on the drill when I get home this evening. Great deal I believe either way, but hopefully we have “more power”!”
Garrick
Last month Amazon Canada had the Bosch 12 volt Drill and Impact set with a pair of 2 amp batteries for C$103 (about US$92 at the time). But Wait! It also came with 2 L-Boxxes… which I have good use for.
My estimated breakdown of the costs of each item including 12% sales tax in C$:
Driver: 25
Impact: 25
Battery: 12
Battery: 12
Charger: 12
L-Boxx-1: 13
L-Boxx-1 with
insert trays: 16
TOTAL $115
It didn’t last long, but it may come around again.
Makes me regret buying most of my L-Boxxes when there was just a 25% off sale.
Chris
Almost makes me question my recent investment in M12 stuff….granted their tool selection is better than Ridgid at the moment, but so far I only really have use for the impact driver and drill anyway.
victor serpa
Hi stuart – I have had this combo for about a week and truly believe its specs. I also have the milwaukee 12v drill and teted against the ridgid on a couple of 2×4’s, I used both 4.0 batteries fully charged with a 7/8’s screw drill bit {2×4 – not kiln-dried}. These drills “just kept going”, in the end milwaukee scored 73 holes and ridgid scored 68 holes. milwaukee 275″ pounds and ridgid 400″. Aside from torque neither drill got realy hot {hope this helps”………PS – home depots were also given 2-packs of ridgid 4.0 batteries for $69.00………………..THX……………….victor
Watts
I think I might have to pull the trigger on this. I’ve got an old Ni-Cad 18v Craftsman drill that I use infrequently for strictly around the house projects. Both batteries are just about toast and I have to re-charge them both every time I use the drill.
Seems like these would be a great fit for what I need at the moment (infrequent DIY and hobby). I also like the M12 line, but when I eventually get a broader scope of power tools I’ll most likely go with full size (and hopefully by then they will have come down even more in price)
Thanks for the heads up on these!
Brian Ketcham
I bought the 18V Hammer Drill combo for $279 (Model R9200) and used the $100 Cordless tool credit to buy the R9000K. Basically, I got the R9000K for free.
With that being said, I am very pleased with the look, feel, and most importantly; the performance of these. I was shocked by how tough and strong the R9000K was for a 12V. I would suggest these to anyone and I have already filled out my Lifetime warranty for both tools, which includes lifetime batteries.
Stuart
Sounds like a killer deal!
If anyone’s interested, here are details of the “tool credit” promo that we posted about last week.
Brian
Thanks for the info a few weeks back when I wrote on your facebook page and you suggested waiting until closer to Black Friday.
I was originally going to get the Model R9601 but decided I’d rather have the better batteries (with lifetime warranty) and the heavier duty hammer drill in the R9200. Plus it gave me the $100 credit rather than the $50.
Stuart
You’re welcome! I figured that, worst case scenario, no better deal would come along and you would then spend the same anyway.
kman
I purchased this kit yesterday. I haven’t used it much yet but so far I am impressed. The impact driver easily drove a 3″ screw through one 2 x 4 into another and so did the drill. They both seem very powerful. Very compact and lightweight compared to 18 volt models that I have used in the past. There are a couple things I wish this kit had. There are no bit holders (although there are belt clips!). Also, the drill does not have a ratcheting chuck (It does have an easy way to lock the drill from turning by placing the forward reverse switch in the middle). It also only goes to 3/8″. If it wasn’t for these features it would replace any other 18 volt drill I own or have used. One other weakness is that the batteries do not indicate charge level (the led light on the tool blinks when the battery is low). Overall I am pleased so far. It seems like no matter what drill you buy there are always features that it lacks. Why can’t anyone put all the features in one tool? Oh well. That is why we are always upgrading and looking for improvements. Great deal at $99 though!!
Nick Y
I just bought the kit, let’s see, what can I add… Here are some little details I noticed: The drill chuck is a kind of shallow, it can grip the last 3/4″ of a standard hex shank. The clutch ring turning action isn’t as positive-feeling as the milwaukee M12 brushed drill 2407 (the only similar drill I own to compare it to), and turning it all the way to drill-mode doesn’t have a final click like the M12 drill, it just feels like you’re torquing a fastener until the point you’re satisfied it’ll stay put, and it takes some oomph IMO. The drill has side rubber bumpers near the front but not at the back (and the impact has none) but the rubber overmold on the batteries offers decent grip laying on a table. The fwd/reverse switches have a fair amount of play, not much worse than the M12. You can tell the ridgid drill has a more economy construction. BUT, one area where it’s clearly better than my M12 drill is that it spins true. All metal or not, my M12 has very noticeable chuck wobble and it really irks me. (This is just my experience, sample size of 1, so I can’t say if it’s a common problem) The variable speed of both the ridgid drill and impact builds smoothly until about 80% where it jumps to max speed. By comparison the M12 makes the jump to max around 90-95% of full speed (just estimating by feel). The grey nose of the impact is hard plastic, not overmold. The 1/4 collet won’t work with 1″ bits, they fall in too deep. The electronic brake in these tools has more “pop” than the M12, the jolt is more sudden, but it may be that it’s just more muffled by the body of the M12, don’t know. The LED worklights seem identical to the M12, though they stay on longer after you let go with the ridgids. You can decide whether any of these things matter. I have no construction or woodworking experience. At best I’m a shade-tree mechanic.
KL
The 3/8″ chuck is one huge difference from the Milwaukee Fuel 2403/2404’s
Travis
Does the kit make sense for a homeowner/DIY’er? I have an old 18 volt nicad that can be hit or miss in terms or batteries and power. But I certainly don’t envision using this everday? For normal house stuff, would this be sufficient?
Mark
Hi All, I’m looking for a drill for my brother, and I’ve narrowed it down to three options: this kit, the m12 drill/impact driver combo, or a reconditioned Bosch 18-volt from CPO: http://www.cpotools.com/factory-reconditioned-bosch-dds181-02-rt-18v-cordless-lithium-ion-compact-tough-1-2-in–drill-driver-with-2-slim-pack-hc-batteries/bshrdds181-02-rt,default,pd.html?xsell=bosch-reconditioned-power-tools–5
I’m impressed with the power of this set, but I tried one out and wasn’t sure about the chuck–it is a little short and tough to get my hands around, plus it doesn’t seem to be a ratcheting chuck. I’m thinking about the Bosch, but then I don’t get the impact driver…the m12 set seems to have a little less power, but I think it is a little more polished. Decisions, decisions–any thoughts?
Stuart
If I had to make a quick decision, I would point towards the M12 kit.
There will be no shortage of consumer and pro-brand $99 18V drill kits in coming weeks.
If not the M12 kit, my next pick would be for the Bosch 18V DDB181 (https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/bosch-ddb181-compact-18v-drill/%3C/a%3E%29, which *might* be on sale for the holidays. Maybe not, but hopefully yes.
miss franciene
I saw this yesterday at my local hd. Very good deal. Id love to have it but I have too many drills and drivers. For someone just starting out this is a great deal.
Owen
Look very closely at the design, form factor and specs. Then compare it to the Milwaukee M12. Now, consider that both Milwaukee and Ridgid cordless tool divisions (among many others) are run by the Hong Kong based mega conglomerate TTi. I believe that this is an M12 in orange clothing.
David B
I dont believe for a second this is an M12. I decided I’d buy one of these after finding a good deal and wanting that lifetime service agreement. After two weeks, I’m on my 5th drill; the chuck will not stay tight no matter how hard I crank on it. Installing fasteners, it’ll stay tight OK for about 8-10 fasteners, but removing….after two or three, especially if I hit the clutch, and it’ll drop my bit holder reliably.
A few co-workers have older versions of this drill and they came with a different clutch that has a nice positive click when bits or bit holders are clamped in place.
I went back and forth about either returning it for a refund and going with another brand, taking my well worn Ryobi back to work or swapping chucks out.
After considering how nice it sounds having supply of batteries pay for itself, I decided to swap the chuck out.
I contacted the company to tell them how disappointed I am with the first drill and was told that it was just a fluke and I should take it back to swap it out…which I did again and again with the same terrible chuck result.
I’m interested in what the Ridgid guy will say when I E-mail him back and tell him.
David B
So, a quick update. I’m onto the 6th replacement combo for this item and every chuck has failed in the same way; I’ve a few co-workers with 18V drills and one with an older 12V drill that comes with an obviously different chuck. None of them have an issue with a chuck failing to hold a bit for any amount of time, and I’ve made a point to borrow them all.
The Ridgid rep that I’ve been in touch with has suggested that I take the drill in to a service center for evaluation, but after the number of new drills I’ve burned through, I dont see how this will help.
For about $18.oo, though, I was able to get a 10mm Jacobs chuck. It came during my weekend, so I haven’t put it through paces, but when I tighten it it gives a few reassuring clicks and I’ve never had a problem with them before. I’ve used them on hammer drills, pneumatic drills and corded electric drills and they’ve been great.
With a “Lifetime,” service agreement, as long as you can stand to change out brand new parts, it may still be worth your time and money.
$.02.
mike bennison
WOULD LIKE TO BUY/ Ridgid 12V Cordless Drill Torque Specs Update (R9000K Combo Kit) for 99$ How? Does it come with life timw warrenty?
Stuart
You can check out warranty information on Home Depot’s site, or Ridgid’s. As for the $99 price, the sale ended well over a year ago.