Ridgid is launching a new 18V Stealth Force impact driver, with press materials saying it will protect workers’ hearing on the jobsite and deliver best-in-class driving speed.
The new Ridgid Stealth Force impact driver is their second tool to carry the name, making this a Gen 2 model.
Like a very small number of competing tools on the market, the cordless Stealth Force is an oil impulse driver, with a hydraulic mechanism responsible for the reduced noise output.
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Oil impulse drivers work a little differently than traditional impact drivers, which is presumably why Ridgid hasn’t disclosed the max torque values.
The new Ridgid impulse driver features a brushless motor, 3 speed settings, a self-tapping screw mode, and tri-beam LED light.
- 1/4″ hex chuck
- 4 modes
- Low speed: 0-700 RPM
- Medium speed: 0-1,800 RPM
- High speed: 0-2,300 RPM
- Self-tapping screw: 0-1,900 RPM
- Tri-beam LED worklight
- Belt hook
Here are some of Ridgid’s main selling points:
reduces noise by 73% compared to standard impact drivers to protect hearing on the jobsite
Best in-class speed with up to 2X faster driving increases jobsite productivity
Designed for the pro who demands maximum performance and efficiency
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Oil impact/impulse drivers are a proven technology at this point, and we’ve seen similar tech from Makita, Milwaukee, Ryobi, Ridgid, and most recently Dewalt.
The previous Ridgid Stealth Force driver first appeared 9 years ago, around the start of 2016, and disappeared from Home Depot after a few years.
It’s good to see a Gen 2 model finally come out. According to press materials, it will only be available in tool-only format, but that could change down the road.
Price: $159 for tool-only (R87234B)
ETA: June 2025
Jim Premo
Makita was first to have an oil impact ,
Stuart
Yes, over a decade ago. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/makita-18v-oil-pulse-impact-driver/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
JJ
Maybe a typo omitting Makita, as you mentioned Milwaukee twice in a row in throat to last paragraph.
JJ
* third to last
Stuart
Ah. Jim’s comment makes more sense now. Thanks to both of you!
Technically, Milwuakee has 2 Surge models, but yeah Makita was supposed to be in the list too.
Peter
73% less noise is a pretty big reduction.
In the environment I am working that is huge and the sole reason I do not use one.
Are the oil ones all that less noisy?
Thank you.
Stuart
I haven’t tested this one yet. Oil impulse tools like the Milwaukee SURGE are indeed quieter, and the difference is noticeable in many environments, especially interior spaces.
Peter
Cool, I might finally get one.
Luis
the new Dewalt DCF870 oil impulse driver is pretty good
Ezzy
Not so noticeable on a basic screw although it’s a bit quieter (and possibly smoother?) , but driving something like a lag bolt or longer screw it’s very noticeable. I use a M12 Surge as my daily driver for all screws. It’s awesome.
Jared
Oil impulse impact drivers generally achieve less torque than standard impact drivers. However, there are impact drivers that achieve the maximum amount of torque that can reasonably be applied to a 1/4″ hex (albeit that number moves as bits are developed with different materials and geometry to absorb the peak torque without snapping).
I wonder if oil impulse designs might someday become the defacto choice for a brand’s premium impact driver, since achieving maximum torque doesn’t seem like a key concern, the way oil impulses transmits torque might be friendlier to bits (just speculating) and the user experience is improved from the lower noise level.
Maybe there are other things I haven’t thought about. E.g. perhaps the peak torque is so much lower than it can’t approach the numbers traditional impact drivers are achieving. Maybe it’s slower. Maybe it’s inherently larger or heavier and brands will simply make smaller and smaller impacts instead.
Kompahko
Oil impulse driver have a flat torque curve so they stay constant and dont slow down as much under load.
I’ve been using the ridgid stealth impact driver for years. It still keeps up with the newest impact drivers in terms of speed for wood screws. I
Ariel Jones
I have the first gen Stealthforce and a few other Ridgid Impact drivers. The oil pulse is hands down the most powerful and fastest driver. It’s a whole other animal. It it significantly larger and heavier than they are too, so there is a down side. The pictures of this new gen look noticeably compact. I wonder if this means it won’t have the same beans as the old one.
MB
I’ll probably buy one of these. I love my impact but it does get kind of loud indoors. My kids and pets really dislike the sound of it. Same reason I’m probably ditching my 6gal pancake for a 2gal silent compressor. Yeah it’ll run “more” but it’s significantly quieter.
Tucker
My kids hated helping with any project I used my old Makita impact driver on. After the M12 Surge they were more than happy to be anywhere near me on a project again.
Might eventually get them a Surge or similar if I can get a good deal.
Brad
Back in 2016 it came down to the first Stealth Force driver or the Bosch PS42, and I got the Bosch, which has been terrific. Then I saw the first one on DirectToolsOutlet a couple of years ago, and almost bought it then, and regret that I didn’t.
Anyway, I already need another 18V Ridgid impact driver, so I’ll definitely be getting this new one as soon as it’s out.
CMF
I don’t know the exact explanation, maybe it is like Kompahko states, but my M18 Surge snap more bolts than my other impacts. Very very powerful, regardless of what the specs say.
Also the sound, for many of you not happy with your regular impacts noise. Speaking for my M18 as I do not know how the sound on the Dewalt, Makita or other Milwaukee models are.
It isn’t simply less volume, like turning the volume down on your stereo, but it is less high pitched; kind of like turning the treble down on your stereo. It is a kin to less volume and muffled somewhat, like wrapping a towel around your impact.
The sound is not bothersome whatsoever, to me. My M18 impact is my favorite impact, and I have about a dozen of them.
SoAlz
After reading some of the responses I’m not sure where to begin correcting the misinformation. First of all, the original Ridgid Stealthforce was brushless. Even the title to the article is incorrect. Second, yes hydraulic pulse impact drivers are much quieter than standard impact drivers. While the Milwaukee Surge and Dewalt’s New DCF870 are typically much weaker and slower than average impact drivers, that’s not necessarily the case with the original Stealthforce. The Makita is by far the worst hydraulic pulse impact driver on the market today. With the speed and power than all of the major brands. Lastly, folks need to stop pretending that these aren’t quieter than the standard because the difference is noticeable. Hydraulic pulse impact drivers are usually 50% of the volume than the traditional impact driver. Considering that I own them all, kind of my job, and I also spent 32 years in the field.
Stuart
The original was a first-gen brushless tool. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/ridgid-stealth-force-impulse-driver/%3C/a%3E By today’s standards, it’s not at all compact.
The speeds are pretty close, but there are no performance claims (yet?). The size difference looks substantial.
The original was rated at 355 in-lbs of max torque. There are no specs for the new model, presumably because most tool users would get shocked at the on-paper comparisons.
The Makita launched well over 10 years ago. Is it really surprising that it hasn’t kept up with far newer models? With Dewalt having recently launched their first and Ridgid having launched a new one to replace their long-absent original, I think a Milwaukee Surge update might also be in the works. This would be a great time for Makita to launch their own Gen 2 model.
Big Richard
I don’t see a single comment where anyone is “pretending that these aren’t quieter than the standard”.
CMF
I agree.
I also find that they are not weaker. They do not have the torque specs standard drivers have, but real world they will perform power wise as well as a standard driver.
Suplex City
Looking forward to the review and hopefully, Milwaukee isn’t as upset this time. Team Red gets angry when Orange or Yellow puts them in a corner.
CMD Studios
The first Gen was brushless.. I still use it today, probably my fav tool.. great for building decks
Scott P
Any updates on this? June has came and went and it appears that any mention of the new Stealth Force has been scrubbed from HD’s and Ridgid’s social media and websites.
Stuart
I emailed my Ridgid/Ryobi contacts, will see what they say.