The New Ridgid 18V Tool Lineup: A Review For Woodworkers

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From making the first modern pipe wrench to brushless subcompact saws, Ridgid has been the go-to tool for craftsmen. Since their launch, Ridgid tools have been helping shape both professional and DIY projects.

And in this article, we’ll go through the Ridgid 18V tool lineup. Once you read this, you’ll learn what products are in store for you, how they function, and whether you can benefit from them or not.

Highlights of Some Woodworking Power Tools within The Ridgid’s 18V Lineup

We’ve listed all of the 18V woodworking tools Ridgid offers in the following sections and their various characteristics. Let’s dive right into it!

Impact Wrenches & Drills

1. Ridgid 18V Sub-Compact Brushless 4-Mode 1/2 in. Impact Wrench (R87208B)

If you want a compact impact wrench, then the 18v Sub-Compact impact wrench from Ridgid might be a great addition to your arsenal. With sufficient power and lower weight than most other cordless impact wrenches, this tool offers the best characteristics of 12v and 18v tools.

This one can be operated in four modes and up to three-speed settings. There’s also an auto-tightening feature. It delivers a breakaway torque of 650 ft-lbs, so it can be used on jobs such as changing car tires effortlessly.

As mentioned previously, the tool is extremely lightweight, capping at 3.5 pounds only. It’s also a very ergonomic tool, but there’s a catch to it. The bottom of the tool is where most of the weight is concentrated, so it might be a bummer for some.

Despite that, most people come back to this impact wrench as it’s the best in the price bracket. Plus, you can opt for different combo kits to enjoy additional features.

2. Ridgid 18V Sub-Compact Brushless 1/2 in. Hammer Drill/Driver (R8711B)

The 18V R8711B hammer drill from Ridgid is an absolute beast. It’s a high-torque hammer drill that’s capable of providing a much higher performance of 1,250 in-lb., compared to most of its competitors, which cap around 1,200 in-lb.

It’s equipped with a gearbox that lets you switch between two-speed settings. Plus, the clutch offers up to 24 positions, which is standard for woodworking. Like every other Sub-Compact pro tool, this tool utilizes a brushless motor for the extra juice.

The closest competitor of this tool would be the Gen5x Hammer Drill from Ridgid. If you’re confused between the two, find out more about the Ridgid Gen5x Hammer Drill here and make an informed decision!

3. Ridgid 18V OCTANE Brushless 6-Mode 1/2 in. High Torque Impact Wrench (R86211B)

The R86211B high torque impact wrench is a decent upgrade over the R87208B that we discussed earlier. This, too, is equipped with Ridgid’s brushless motor technology, offering 50% more efficiency.

However, this one does a lot of things better than the previous one. For starters, it offers up to six modes, so you can fine-tune the speed and power at which the tool operates. Plus, there are three auto-tightening modes.

It also offers a 1,100 ft-lb. of fastening torque and 1,500 ft-lb. of breakaway torque for taking care of heavy workloads.

As you can see, this one’s much fancier, but it would be overkill for DIYers. So, we believe paying the extra cash would be justified only for professionals.

Ridgid 18V Brushless 7-1/4″ Circular Saw (R8657)

Ridgid first launched its smart tools with its Octane lineup. These tools combined long-lasting batteries with a brushless motor for maximum performance. After thorough scrutiny, we can surely say that the Brushless R8657 is a decent upgrade over the previous Octane R8654.

The R8657 is more powerful, as this tool is found to fare better when put under a high workload. However, the engine may stall if pushed too hard. Still, it keeps up better than most other pro tools on the market.

This one can handle bevel, miter, cross, and compound cut very well. One of the most challenging things to do with a circular saw is perform a rip cut on a three-stack of OSB sub-floor.

While it can complete one or two rip cuts, we must say that the tool struggles after a while.

However, we saw this coming as this isn’t very high-powered. If you want something more powerful, you should go for a corded tool instead.

But if you want to switch to a cordless, this is highly recommended. This cordless tool can easily beat or at least be on par with a 15v corded tool. 

Ridgid 18V Brushless 4-1/2″ Angle Grinder (R86042)

The all-new angle grinder from Ridgid comes with some cool new features. One of the features that we love the most is the paddle switch. It makes the tool much more convenient to use.

Another decent upgrade over the previous Octane models is the design. It’s slenderer and easier to hold. Plus, despite the smaller size, it can provide up to 25% more power.

At max power, this angle grinder can reach up to 9,000 RPM. However, it must be mentioned that you need to use the MAX output batteries from Ridgid to get the best performance.

Moreover, the wheels and guard can be swapped or adjusted without any tool. This is a great addition as it can make your workflow smoother.

Ridgid 18V Brushless Oscillating Multi-Tool (R86240B)

This is one of the unique cordless tools in the Ridgid 18V tool lineup and a must-have. Although it’s not a tool that can be used for all the basic woodwork, it can perform delicate tasks where most others will fail.

It is great for cutting and sanding and can be used on different types of materials. Multi-tools are usually very shaky, but this one’s got the vibration control right. So, no matter what surface you’re working on, you’ll get a steady performance.

Ridgid got the ergonomics on point as well. There’s this rubbery material around the neck of the tool, and this offers great grip. The design also lets you cut from all sorts of angles with equal comfort and confidence.

Ridgid 18V Sub-Compact One-Handed Reciprocating Saw (R8648)

When we review a new saw, we first look at its speed and stroke length. This one-handed reciprocating saw from Ridgid offers a standard stroke length of 7/8-inch. While that isn’t impressive, the 3200 RPM speed is. You won’t get such a high speed out of most full-size saws.

The speed is impressive, but what helps you control the tool is the speed trigger with variable settings. You can comfortably grind through thin materials such as PVC and EMT with it. However, thanks to the high-speed performance, the saw can cut 2×4 planks too.

Moreover, the tool also comes equipped with a LED light, tool-free adjustability, and trigger lock.

Despite the high power, it must be noted that it’s still a compact saw that has limitations. If you want something more full-size, you can take a look at the Ridgid table saw R4514.

Ridgid 18V 3/8″ Crown Stapler (R09897)

Got a job that requires stapling? The Ridgid’s crown stapler has got you covered. This stapler isn’t built for power only but for efficiency as well. With a single charge, this cordless stapler can be used up to 6,800 times. It’s also very fast, letting you staple up to 108 times a minute.

One of the unique features of this stapler is the dry-fire lockout. Thanks to this, the tool won’t damage any surface if no stapler is loaded into it. There’s also an adjustment knob at the back of it. This will let you control the depth of the staple without having to change the angle of the tool.

Ridgid 18V Compact Cordless Bandsaw (R8604B)

With variable speed settings, ergonomic handle and pommel, a rafter hook, and smooth operation, the Cordless bandsaw from Ridgid stands as one of the best Band saws the market has to offer.

This saw is packed with features that make it friendly to beginners. The main handle of this band saw is contoured for a better grip. Also, the pommel is large enough to provide a solid grip.

There’s this trigger lock that’ll provide a safer experience. The shoe of the saw can also be adjusted. However, you need a hex wrench to do that, and it can be a hassle.

Ridgid 18V Compact Hand Vacuum (R860902B)

This 18V hand vacuum is for those who take cleaning seriously. The 18v battery provides sufficient power to drive this at 40 CFM airflow. Furthermore, the company claims the vacuum to be able to lift 24.6 inches of water.

There are two filters in the vacuum. The filters can be removed and washed to be used repeatedly. Cleaning the filters can ensure max performance out of this vacuum.

Batteries & Chargers

If you want the best performance out of the latest Ridgid 18V cordless tool lineup, you must use their MAX batteries. These batteries are the most powerful and efficient that Ridgid has ever launched.

Specially made for the brushless motors of the new tools, these batteries come in 8, 6, 4, and 2Ah. Ridgid claims that using these batteries can crank the performance of their tools up to 20%. Plus, they also offer a 4-LED charge indicator, which is very convenient.

To charge these, you can use their dual-port or six-port charging docks. These are compatible with all 18v batteries from Ridgid, including those for Octane.

The chargers will diagnose the batteries while charging them and provide appropriate feedback. Furthermore, they can enter a save mode to prevent overcharging.

Related Article: The Ridgid 18V Cordless Chainsaw: An in-depth Review

Final Words

As you can see, the latest Ridgid 18v tool lineup offers every tool you may possibly require for basic or advanced woodworking. In fact, some even have multiple variations that are an affordable pick for DIYers and more advanced tools for professionals.

Check out my complete review of the Ridgid power tool brand here.

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