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Ridgid Gen5x Hammer Drill Review | Read This Before Buying One
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Ridgid Gen5x Hammer Drill
Its powerful motor allows for both speed and precision, making it an ideal drill for professional woodworkers who want to achieve a high-quality finished product in less time.
Whether you are a professional woodworker, a hobbyist, or a DIYer, you must have used drills at one point in your life. Without a good drill, even a simple task can become ten times difficult and inefficient. This is why it is important to buy a good model.
If you’re looking for a versatile and powerful hammer drill that can handle any job, the Ridgid Gen5x is worth checking out. With this thing in your garage or workshop, there’s nothing you can’t do!
Whether you’re a woodworker, DIYer, hobbyist crafter or home owner, this Ridgid Gen5x Hammer Drill Review has been written to help you make an informed decision on whether or not this tool is right for your needs.
Related: Check out our review of The Ridgid R4514 Table Saw
Brief Overview
The Ridgid Gen5x Hammer Drill includes different models, such as the R86116, R9206, R9205, R86115, etc. However, all these models have quite identical features. Their differences are mostly insignificant; hence, this article is a general review representing all the models within the Ridgid Gen5x Brushless Hammer Drill Line.
Now, this hammer drill from Ridgid is one of the most powerful tools you will lay your hands on, thanks to its 700-torque power. Its different speed settings help you to set it to different modes according to the task you want to achieve, and the LED light makes it easier to achieve precision and accuracy in your work.
Due to its comfortable ergonomic design, it can be used for a long time without any strain on the hands. The brand also really cares about the user’s comfort, and hence this model has turned out to be a compact model that can be handled well by both left and right-handers.
What Makes This Hammer Drill Unique
Want to know how this drill can improve your workflow? keep reading
1. Power
This hammer drill is known as one of the most powerful drills in the market, owing to its impressive 2100 rotations per minute. It can drill holes into any kind of material, from wood, pipes, plastic, to even metal.
Be sure to use the auxiliary handle that comes with it while drilling into large pieces, though. This will help prevent any kind of damage, as kickbacks might occur if a bit binds up.
The model has one of the highest torques – 700, that you can get at this price range. You get 100 plus micro positions with it, which allows you to change it to the perfect setting you want.
2. High Speed
Ridgid brushless hammer drill has two different speed settings. With speed setting 1, you get fewer rotations per minute but higher torque. With speed setting 2, the speed will increase, but the torque will decrease. So you can use the settings according to your convenience and the kind of material you are working with.
3. Convenient Controls
I really like this model because you get to toggle between 3 different modes —
- Hammer drill mode
- Screw driving and fastening mode
- Drilling mode with its integrated 3-position switch
The advantage of a switch like this is that you can adjust the clutch and then switch between drilling and driving without having to spin the clutch wheel each time.
The switches are located on both sides of the model, so whether you are left-handed or right-handed, it does not matter, and you can get equal access to the modes with a similar level of ease.
4. Ease of Use
Ridgid really considered user comfort while designing this hammer drill. The whole model is quite small at 8 inches long and lightweight at 4 pounds and 12 ounces.
This compact size makes it easy to carry around to places. Besides, it comes with a carrying bag that makes portability even easier. The lightweight nature also makes it easier to keep using this product for long periods without putting unnecessary pressure on the hands.
It is also really easy to see the status of the battery with his product. An LED light, which will light up to four places if the model is fully charged and start decreasing when it needs to be charged, indicates battery life.
Since it is cordless, you do not have to worry about stepping on the cord when you are busy with your work. It allows you to move freely without worrying about the model being entangled or falling on your feet at a crucial time.
5. User Friendly Materials
My personal favorite is how well made the whole model is. The whole body is made of plastic, but there is a rubber over-mold on most parts, which is quite easy on the hands, especially if you have long drilling hours.
The grip is made of rubber and is soft yet firm. When you lay the tool down on your work surface, only the rubber parts touch the surface and prevent it from scratching your work. This is because the rubber is slightly elevated from the plastic body.
6. Auxiliary Handle
An included auxiliary handle really makes it easier on you, especially if you have to drill through large pieces and tough materials. The handle is quite easy to install and remove. You just have to attach it to the socket and keep turning it clockwise until it kicks into place.
Ridgid again managed to impress me with its attention to user convenience here, as the handle can be attached to both sides. This makes sure that right-hand users do not have any special advantage over left-hand users. This is what makes this model amazing for all sorts of consumers.
7. LED Light
With this brushless drill from Ridgid, you can now be drilling even in the dark without any fear of injury or inaccurate drilling. This is because there is an integrated LED lamp, which can be activated by two different triggers.
One of the triggers activates as soon as the drill starts, and the other one is an independent switch at the base. The light is quite bright and helps you see even at night. Besides, even if it is not dark, the extra illumination can help you achieve the accuracy and precision that you need.
8. Included Accessories
Of course, this model does not just come alone. Instead, the carrying bag includes other accessories such as the auxiliary handle, a removable belt clip, 2 battery packs, and a charger. Therefore, you have all the things ready to go as soon as you want to start.
Related Article: What is the Best Power Tool Brand For Woodworking? (The Battle of Brands)
Pros and Cons of The Ridgid Gen5x Hammer Drill (Detailed)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use this drill if I am left handed?
It can be used by both left and right-handers. The 3 control settings on the model are situated on both sides for each group’s convenience. The auxiliary handle can be attached to either side as well.
- What is this model made of?
The model is made of high-quality plastic. It also has an overlayer of soft rubber, which is there to protect your hands when you are working for long hours at a stretch. It is also great for preventing any damage to your work area.
- How does it differ from the corded brushless hammer drill from Ridgid?
As the name implies, the cordless model does not have any cord. This makes it much easier for the user to move around without the fear of the cord getting in the way – which might lead to serious accidents. Besides, it makes the model lightweight and enables you to carry it around with much more ease.
- How long does its battery last?
Unlike a few other models, this drill has quite an enviable battery life. In fact, during my research, I found out that it can drill about 243 holes while losing only 1/4th of the given battery power.
- What are the different controls for?
The different controls are to help you switch between the three different modes. These are – drilling, screw driving, and hammer. You can use them according to the task you are working on.
Many tools in the market are designed to keep only the right-handed people in mind. Well, you are in luck, as Ridgid follows a more inclusionary approach.
Get the Ridgid GEN5X Hammer Drill available at:
Final Words
With the Ridgid Gen5x Hammer Drill, you get a power-packed tool for all your drilling uses. We hope that with this article, your decision to buy this model has been finalized. We promise you will not regret this purchase. So go get shopping and start with your drilling tasks right now!
Related Article: The New Ridgid 18V Tool Lineup: A Review For Woodworkers
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