Ridgid has announced two new 18V cordless power tools this week, a brushless hammer drill (R861152B), and a brushless 1/4″ hex impact driver (R862312K).
There’s no question about it, torque is the name of the game here. The surprising part, in my opinion, is that it looks like Ridgid managed to dial up the power while being able to keep the tools compact.
Both of the new tools should be available shortly – they’re due to launch in October 2022, exclusively at Home Depot.
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New Ridgid 18V Hammer Drill – R861152B
The new Ridgid 18V cordless hammer drill delivers up to 1,250 in-lbs of max torque, and is said to deliver up to 25% faster drilling compared to the brand’s R860012 hammer drill/driver.
The new drill features anti-kickback technology, which prevents over-rotation in bind-up situations.
Key Features & Specs
- 1/2″ all-metal ratcheting chuck
- Brushless motor
- 1,250 in-lbs max torque
- 2000 RPM max
- 2-speed gearbox
- Weighs 3.4 lbs
- Anti-kickback sensor
- 24-position adjustable torque clutch
- 0-32,000 BPM in hammer mode
- LED light
The hammer drill comes with a removable belt clip and auxiliary handle.
Price: $149 (tool-only)
New Ridgid 18V Impact Driver – R862312K
The new Ridgid 18V cordless impact driver delivers up to 2400 in-lbs of max torque, and is said to deliver up to 40% faster driving compared to the brand’s R86002 impact driver.
It features a 4-mode function, with 3 speed settings and a self-tapping mode that helps to prevent overdriving, breaking, or stripping of smaller screws.
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Interestingly, the button for setting speed and torque mode is at the rear of the tool, just above the battery. But, this seems to allow plenty of room at the front of the handle base to house a large upwards-aimed LED worklight.
Key Features & Specs
- 1/4″ hex chuck
- Brushless motor
- 2400 in-lbs max torque
- 3400 RPM max
- 4300 IPM max
- 4 speed and torque settings
- LED light
- Weighs 2.26 lbs
The impact comes with a removable belt clip.
Price: $199 for the kit
The kit will ship with a 2Ah Max Output battery and charger.
As per the image at the top of the page, it looks like there will also be a combo kit that includes both the hammer drill and impact driver. Ridgid has not yet provided details or SKUs aside from what is discussed above.
Discussion
Ridgid’s PR materials lead off with the introduction of these tools as “all new brushless solutions.”
While the new offerings are indeed all-new, Ridgid has offered similarly high-performing tools before, with their former 18V Octane cordless power tools.
The older Ridgid Octane impact driver, which launched in 2019, delivered 2400 in-lbs of max torque. Ridgid’s older Octane hammer drill delivered 1300 in-lbs of max torque.
Ridgid announced all-new 18V cordless power tools earlier this year, and they have not steam-rolled over their existing products as they have done in the past.
Do you remember Gen5X? Octane? Hyper-Li batteries?
They now offer SubCompact brushless power tools, lower priced and more value-focused core tools, and now we have these new high-performance tools with modern aesthetics.
The new hammer drill and impact driver don’t have all of the same features of their Octane predecessors, but I wouldn’t say they are lacking. And, they gained some new features, most notably the hammer drill’s anti-kickback tech.
In my opinion, Ridgid has a very cohesive 18V lineup for the first time in several years.
Kobalt, one of Ridgid’s fiercest competitors, recently announced a brand-new generation of 24V Max cordless power tools. It will be interesting to see how the two brands’ offerings, exclusive to Lowe’s and Home Depot respectively, compare.
Franck B.
Since Ridgid isn’t going to replace the Stealth Force driver, maybe Kobalt should do something like that.
“fires up social media dedicated computer”
JoelLikesTools
I would be so down for that! I was bummed they got rid of the Stealth Force. I have an M12 Surge and it is rad. I thought of getting a stealth force for a friend and realized they are gone. I have some Kobalt tools and I am happy with the quality. I would totally by a hydraulic impact from them.
Franck B.
I like the M18 Surge too. I usually need more power though, but for inside work it’s much quieter!
Collin
Menards has a masterforce hydraulic driver.
Franck B.
Thanks for the tip! But Ridgid and Kobalt are more compelling platforms for me, mostly because the closest Menard’s to a home is 700 miles. I did get a Milwaukee though.
TomD
Interesting that they put the light on the battery housing; I suspect that’s decently cheaper than the more common “gun barrel” lights you see on the higher end tools.
Stuart
I don’t see that as a cost-cutting measure. At that position, you eliminate shadows created when an LED is placed between the trigger switch and chuck.
Lights around the chuck and their diffuser take up space.
Maybe this does cost less, but it also simplifies the engineering and construction by quite a bit, and without significant drawbacks.
The lights pattern, if done right, should be good enough for most users.
Franck B.
Dewalt’s higher end drills have the lights on the battery mount. The angled shadows actually make depth perception easier for many people, and if one is using a large attachment (big hole saw) then the light can still reach the workpiece.
Rog
Why DID Rigid get rid of their Octane line? Encroaching too much on Milwaukee? I don’t own any Rigid power tools but I was always impressed with the power they put out from those tools at the price point.
Louie+Orama
Hey Rog and Arieleno, albeit I have read this on a couple different occasions and it makes sense, I do not know this for a concrete fact. Perhaps Stuart can step in and clarify if what I mention seems to be incorrect.
I have always said that Ridgid is the best bang for your buck. The same can be said for Kobalt. And albeit I’m a DeWalt guy (entire Xtreme 12V collection, 19 of the 26 FlexVolt tools, and 50+ XR tools), I was once a Gen5X fan and when Octane came out, I was on Cloud 9. I was fortunate enough to get a bunch of 9AH for $99 apiece a couple of holidays ago and have most of the lineup, including the Octane 7” Grinder that takes 2 batteries, but can run on 1, the MegaMax set twice (I buy and sell tools as well on the side), the JobMax collection twice, stealth force, the High Torque (which came out a few years ago at 1,500 FT/LBS) and so on…
When I recognized that the entire Octane lineup was being discontinued, I was SHOCKED. How? Why? Who in their right mind? Just totally nonplussed and incredulous.
But from reading an article here and there, then another, and another… they all coincided with one another.
TTI owns Milwaukee, Ridgid, Ryobi, HART, Stiletto Tools and many others (search THIS site about this-just type “who owns what” and enter). From all of the articles I read, what was said is that TTI wanted Milwaukee to be their flagship brand, Ridgid their “Mid Grade” and Ryobi their entry level. Once Octane was released, with all of its power, apparently TTI began to notice that Milwaukee sales started to dip (not plummet) and Octane was the reason. That said, the decision was made to pull the plug. There are other reports about the batteries being defective when it came to Bluetooth which I cannot attest to. What I CAN say is that out of the 30-40 batteries I have (to be fair, about 15 of them are still in the package), I’ve never had an issue with the PERFORMANCE of an Octane battery. So regarding your “encroaching” statement, you may be right on the money.
Mattek
TTI does not own Ridgid. They license the brand. Emerson owns Ridgid and they dictate what TTI makes for them.
The octane line was killed because the tools did not live up to their rated specifications while the new brushless line is xrushing it.
Darren
No Ridgid power tools are owned by Home Depot. Home Depot bought the rights to use the brand name from Emerson on power tools. Emerson still owns and manufacturers the plumbing tools
Arieleno
Both of these tools seem like a downgrade compared to their Octane predecessors. As you mentioned, power ratings are only the same or less, rather than increased. It seems that Ridgid is stepping away from their light trigger, which was a really nice feature. Also, after owning their models with both, I can say I greatly prefer the chuck light to the base light. Yes, it would seem to be much easier to engineer it with the light at the base and that speaks to the cheapened of the product. Also, all their new stuff just looks cheap. They seem to have pulled back on the rubber accents. I’ll concede that the new drill looks more compact. The Octane is big, heavy and burly. And yes, the Stealth Force is awesome. There is NO comparison of an oil pulse driver to conventional. It drives like twice as fast. I’m glad I got both before they stopped making them.
Louie+Orama
Arieleno, I just typed up a post regarding the discontinuation of Octane and addressed it to you and Rog. I mentioned my DeWalt platform and let me tell you, aside from the power that Octane has/had, your “rubber accents” remark stood out to me. I have always loved the fact that Ridgid tools have been surrounded by rubber. You drop a Milwaukee/DeWalt or any other tool, you’re going to get scuffs. Not so much Ridgid. My friends always make fun of me when I call Ridgid “the sexiest” tools out there. I ended up getting the “Blackout” set a few years ago during the holidays and compare them to the Mona Lisa. Not a very important post, but I can DEFINITELY identify with those rubber accents and the lack thereof in the newest ones compared to Gen5 and Octane. It’s still there, but it doesn’t SURROUND the tool the way it used to. Things like that ARE important to me.
Arieleno
Glad to hear someone else notices the details. It might not be real noticeable at first glance, but to me, it looks like cost cutting and it cheapens the overall look and feel of the tool. I may not have mentioned it but the derubberization extends to the batteries as well, with the same associated negatives. A quick reviewer might not even pick up on it but if you work with these tools daily, it makes a difference, even if just a little.
Darren
From what I’ve read and heard apparently Ridgid wanted to make the tools lighter and more compact. these new higher powered offerings are right on par with octane power wise.
You guys are forgetting one thing while TTI does make Ridgid. They do not own the brand, they make the tools under license for Home Depot. So Home Depot is really the one who gets to say how powerful and/or what option the tools have. Home Depot would rather sell Ridgid products because it’s their house brand. Companies always make more on their house brands than they do on other brands that they do not own. Its one of the reasons they can also sell their house brands at a lower price with competing performance to National brands.
Louie+Orama
Thanks for the clarification.
Stuart
As mentioned in my other post, TTI makes Ridgid cordless power tools under license with Emerson, for sale exclusively at Home Depot.
Home Depot has a say as the exclusive customer.
Mike Orr
I live in BC CANADA, AM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE I CAN GET MY IMPACT GUN
And reciprocating saw repaired the impact gun is three months old I’ve contacted the main site and am not getting any help
Stuart
Try messaging Ridgid Canada social account reps?
Jon
Home Depot in Canada should repair any rigid tool. You may have to send it in if there’s none around you.
Nick
I’m disappointed that the battery niche does not have a tight fit. My high torque impact does. It has rubber crowders for a snug and satisfying fit.