Ridgid has announced two new 18V cordless sanders, which – as you can probably tell from the images – will be part of their line of SubCompact power tools.
Both of the new Ridgid cordless sanders feature a low-profile design, brushless motor, and reduced vibration for increased control and enhanced comfort during extended use.
The sanders are compatible with all Ridgid 18V batteries, and are shown off being powered by MaxOutput batteries.
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Both sanders will ship with a dust collection bag, and they are also compatible with 1-1/4″ and 1-7/8″ vacuum and dust extractor hoses.
Ridgid says their two new sanders’ low-profile design provides best-in-class ergonomics.
The new Ridgid cordless sanders will be launching in Summer 2024, exclusively at Home Depot.
Ridgid 18V SubCompact Cordless Random Orbit Sander (R870651)
Ridgid describes the new 5″ ROS cordless sander as the industry’s most compact random orbit sander.
Going by the images provided in the press/media kit, it definitely looks like this might be true.
- 5″ hook & loop sanding pad
- Brushless motor
- Variable speed dial
- 7,000 to 11,000 OPM
- 60% reduced vibration
- Die-cast construction
Price: $139 (tool-only)
ETA: Summer 2024
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The new 5″ random orbit sander comes with a dust bag and 2 sheets of 80 grit hook and loop sandpaper.
Ridgid 18V SubCompact Cordless Finish Sander (R87064)
Ridgid describes their new finish sander as the industry’s most compact 1/4 sheet sander.
- 1/4 sheet sanding pad
- Brushless motor
- Variable speed dial
- 7,000 to 12,000 OPM
- 50% reduced vibration
- Die-cast construction
Price: $139 (tool-only)
ETA: Summer 2024
The new 1/4 sheet sander comes with a sandpaper hole punch, dust bag, and 2 sheets of 80 grit sandpaper.
Discussion
Quite a few years ago, I was looking to buy my first random orbit sander. Bosch’s sander had the highest reviews when it came to performance and material removal uniformity, but I had a Home Depot gift card.
Ridgid’s sanders had been ranked reasonably high in woodworking magazines, and I gave it a try.
I was impressed with the sander’s build quality – most notably its rubbery power cord and substantial cord wrap, and it also performed very well.
I eventually upgraded to a more premium Festool random orbit sander with better dust collection.
That Ridgid was one of few tools I didn’t give away randomly. I held onto it for a few years, and gave it a family member to use on refinishing projects.
It’s fair to say that I have a strong impression and high expectation for Ridgid sanders.
I can’t speak about the performance of Ridgid’s new sander, or any of their recent cordless power tools for that matter. Actually, I think it has been a few years since I’ve tested any new Ridgid cordless power tools. It has been a while since I have been excited about their 18V cordless line.
When I received today’s announcement about these new Ridgid cordless sanders, my eyes lit up. “They’re TINY!” I thought.
“Best-in-class ergonomics?” “Industry’s most compact?”
I thought my sentiments for my first Ridgid sander had faded, but they came rushing back.
Bosch also has 18V cordless sanders, and they’re priced around the same – or less when there are promos (such as right now).
As an aside, I also had a Bosch corded 1/4 sheet finish sander that impressed me about as much as my Ridgid ROS.
Ridgid’s claims of 60% (ROS) and 50% (1/4 sheet) reductions in vibration are also interesting.
Low-profile designs can improve control, and reduced vibration can reduce fatigue.
These are the first Ridgid cordless power tool designs that have wowed me in a few years. Hopefully the performance lives up to the excitement I’m already feeling.
Please let me know if you’d be interested in a review!
MM
Maybe it’s just me but these feel like an answer to a question that nobody asked, I’ve never really felt the need or the point to a “compact” 1/4 sheet or RO sander. These aren’t tools that I use at strange angles or in tight places so I’m not really seeing the practical benefit of being compact. For those kinds of tools I’d much rather hear about how good their dust collection or vibration control is.
If the goal is to sand in tight quarters then why use big 5″ discs or 1/4 sheets? OMTs with sanding attachments, 2″ roloc wheels, or purpose-built detail sanders make a lot more sense to me.
Harrison
These are the answer to anyone who has used a Mirka, Festool ETS-EC, 3M or a pneumatic, but can’t/won’t spend $600, or doesn’t have access to air.
Once you’ve tried a premium, low profile ergonomic random orbital sander, every other corded or cordless ‘palm sander’ in the 5-6” class is basically garbage. Sorry.
Lots of people use orbitals at strange angles. I used to work in a furniture production shop, and the ability to quickly take a white oak component through all the finish grits before hand sanding on every face, without having to move the work piece more than a few times really, really adds up over an entire week of sanding. The low profile and light weight makes it much easier to follow outside curves like a chair back, or square table edges, without gravity tipping the tool and messing up the crisp shape of the component. You want the absolute lightest and lowest profile tool to get through that work quickly and accurately.
Thats before we even get into operator fatigue. Use a traditional ‘tall’ palm sander on vertical surfaces and it’ll kill your wrists.
Another obvious scenario would be painters restoring wooden trim on a heritage home. Detail sanders will have their place, but you’ll need every type of sander to move quickly though that kind of work. Try sanding a house worth of fascia boards (up a ladder) with a top heavy random orbital, and get back to me. This is a killer application for the new Makita XGT sander- Light tool for reaching and working over your head, with the battery clipped on your belt.
MM
Oh, I know what you mean about premium sanders, which is part of the reason why I’m a bit confused by this. I would assume a production shop would have air sanders that would quite literally leave this in the dust.
I’ve done a lot of vertical sanding with an RO and later a DA. I used to personally finish & paint the housings of some of the lab equipment my company used to build–not wood, but steel and bondo. I always found it was the weight of the sander that made it fatiguing to use sideways moreso than the height. And these don’t seem to be much lighter, just shorter, and with the battery hanging off the side making the sander want to lean even more than a normal battery operated RO due to the extra leverage. Maybe if I used this I’d see it as a game changer, but just looking at it it seems like the awkward weight of the battery is still there, they just moved it to the side.
Harrison
I agree, with the battery still on the tool, it’s not as light as a Mirka or pneumatic, but I do think the lower profile will give it some agility and handling advantages for woodworking. I’d rather grip something tennis ball sized and push it around, vs trying to get my hand around a cantaloupe.
The Makita will definitely be the way to go for those who want light weight, and no compromise, continuous sanding away from AC.
Goodie
You can spend serious money on premium sanders. I’m my opinion, they are worth it. The Festool ETS125 (even the EC version which is $400) is the “budget option” for these. The dust collection and lower vibration make a huge difference on a large project.
Maynardnc
That 18 volt bosch sander pictured is smooth. Used almost daily for about a year for sanding of finishes or right before. Great tool. No vibration.
Matt
Came here to say this. The Ridgid looks like a Bosch knockoff. For the price, I would rather have the Bosch. I’ve used mine on heavy material removal as well as fine work and it has done great. The Bosch models are ergonomic pleasures to use and give you 90% of what a Festool will do for a fraction of the price.
Goodie
I have a good number of Festool tools, but I am continually impressed by my Bosch tools. The 1617 router is an incredible router, and the Bosch jigsaws are great. My 12v Flexiclick is my favorite drill. I have the 12v planer and sander on my list to get.
Mark M.
A cordless sander is one of the few type of cordless tools I don’t have in any platform so I’ll probably pick one up when they go on sale or bundled. The compact size looks great. I’m heavy into Red and Yellow, but bought into Ridgid for their jobsite fans. Since then I’ve bought LED lights, a high-torque drill, the newest generation trim router and their 3″ cutoff tool (which is a screamer, and I use a ton more than I thought I would). All that to say- I don’t think Ridgid could be my primary platform but their batteries are very reasonably priced and there are some tools–not all, but some–that really impress. As a secondary platform it’s pretty compelling.
Peter
Same here and I bought the Bosch when on sale at Lowes.
Great tool and very balanced with the battery.
Plain+grainy
I’m surprised Ridgid didn’t upgrade their cordless belt sander. I have one, it probably doesn’t need an upgrade.
Kompahko
My ridgid cordless belt sander is definitely my best ridgid purchase. It used to have poor run time because there was only 5.0 batteries available but now there’s plenty of large capacity batteries available
I think the new orbital sander going brushless will be great with the instant stop when you turn it off
Jronman
The 5 inch eccentric sander looks fine. It seems lower in height than the traditional corded “palm style” sanders. Lower height in my mind would improve ergonomics. Improved ergonomics is usually good. I am disappointed on the rectangular sander with a complaint I have with almost all rectangular sanders. They don’t come with hook and loop pads. While the basic paper, hole punch, and clamp systems are a way for tool brands and their customers to save money, you lose out on convenience. Festool, Mirka, and possibly a few other high end sanders have the hook and loop or fastfix pad.
TdotW
They’re called 1/4 sheet sanders for a reason! You can buy the cheap(er) full sheets of sandpaper from anywhere – so it’s more universal. You can’t always get hook & loop everywhere plus they cost more. Quarter sheet sanders definitely have their place, just not in the higher end of sanders.
Brad
I have the Bosch 12V sheet sander and ROS, and would be most interested in a comparison vs. Ridgid’s subcompacts, but just the Ridgid reviews would be great.
Nathan
I still don’t own a cordless sander and doubt I will. Well ok other than the omt
Nothing about these attracts me to the idea of them. Am I missing something? Usually for a sander especially doing a lot of sanding I want dust collection. Might as well have a cord
Bob
Cordless is convenient for when I need to quickly sand something. Like getting rid of rough edges around a drilled hole or smoothing off a blade mark before a glue up. Tasks that won’t produce enough dust to merit dust collection nor need going through the grits. I keep a 180 disk on it and can quickly grab it, use it, and put it back.
It’s a luxury item that saves time. Mine was free with batteries I needed. Wasn’t something I thought I’d use but have found convenient.
I could see cordless being useful for doing work on site in conjunction with a cordless dust extractor. Convenient outlets are not always available.
I do like this from factor. I’m curious how the balance is and how larger batteries impact it.
JR Ramos
I like the adoption of the battery placement like Bosch did – curious if it is as well balanced as the Bosch because that is really remarkable and functional, surprisingly. I actually left a comment from one of the Bosch sander posts from a few years ago (for posterity’s sake) about how nice the Bosch 18V is.
I still think the battery might be best on top of these units rather than off the back, like the trim routers are set up.
The Ridgid looks like it may be a touch shorter than the Bosch…or at least the battery-to-surface clearance looks smaller. If the unit isn’t well balanced I can see that being a big disadvantage if the user isn’t vigilant.
I don’t think I’ll buy into the platform just for one tool but the 1/4 sheet has my attention. I don’t love my Milwaukee although it gets used frequently (don’t love anybody else’s 1/4 sheet cordless either, though).
Jim L Valentine
I really don’t care, it have the need for a compact sander. I’m pretty upset with Ridgid for discontinueing the job Max…I have four heads for mine . I have two tools, one is on the Fritz. I used these tools allot. Still using one of them. My son works with me and has one. His quit so took it in for repair. Found out they can’t even get parts. I feel we need reimbursed as I think they discontinued the job Max to sell more of the other tools. Hmmmm🤔! I have a lot of ridgid tools.. I know I got off the subject of the sander but I needed to vent!! At least they could make them repairable… We use Ridgid tools a lot!!
Koko The Talking Ape
I think the argument for cordlessness is weakest for an ROS, maybe a few other tools. You do lose the cord, which is nice. OTOH, you gain the battery, which makes the sander heavier and maybe unbalanced, depending on the battery and sander. And I think ROSs need to be fairly well balanced for the randomizing feature to really work. Also, you (I) generally have a vacuum hose attached anyway, so that’s like a big fat cord.
So what does cordlessness gain you? Not much, I think.
I have the DeWalt cordless ROS, but pennies are tight, so I was thinking I might sell it and just use the Bosch corded. But the Bosch has a different vacuum hose port! I rigged an adapter for DeWalt tools, but it wouldn’t work for Bosch, I’m pretty sure.
Skylar
Our Festool ETS EC sanders and dust collectors are great for trimming out & finishing an entire house, but we still do have cordless 5″ RO sanders in our individual kits. The convenience is unmatched when it comes to needing a sander for just a quick minute (outside), and if you’re using wood glue & dust to fill a small joint then you don’t want the sander hooked up to dust collection.
The M12 detail sander is also a fantastic addition for trim work- it fits perfectly in the space between hand sanding and an RO sander. I find myself reaching for it more and more for all the little things, especially contours and roundover edges with the foam pad attached.
Josh
I sold my Bosch 18v orbital of this. It’s been the best one Ive used, I’m just on too many platforms. Hopefully Makita or Milwaukee comes out with something like this. My yellow died after three years, and red one is uncomfortable.
Jason
I had the 18-volt cordless Bosch sanders, both the 5″ ROS and the 1/4-sheet sander. They’re great sanders. However, I hated the location of the dust port (on the side instead of directly behind the pad). I connect a vac hose to my sanders nearly 100-percent of the time, and having the hose off to the side made sanding too awkward for me. If you only use the bag, it’s probably not a big deal.