Home Depot is having a big tool sale on their Ridgid and Ryobi products. I needed a new compact drill/driver and impact driver.

Got an email that had their newest GenX BRUSHLESS drill driver on sale for $179, and you can pick from a selection of additional tools. I am tired of wearing out DeWalts, and since they redesigned the handles on the Ridgids last year I decided to take a look at the deal. I took the compact drill which is also a hammer drill, and took the impact driver as the free tool.

http://www.homedepot.com/b/Featured-...d/N-5yc1vZcgdx

I was worried about the 2amp batteries that come with it as I always worry about enough power with the cordless offerings. So when I got it out the job, I tried out the impact driver in my "real world" test so I could see just how far I could push it. Driving 3" Deckmate screws with torx heads and no pilot holes, I drove a massive 160 3" screws flush into a 4x4, and removed each one! So 160 in, and 160 out. To add to the test, I only used 5 screws (to keep myself honest about the in and out numbers) to do the whole test. The 4x4 was hard and sappy, and the screws had their points worn smooth after about 10 "in and outs", and the screw bodies were really sticky with sap. Not a problem as the impact driver drove and removed them all.

Then on the SAME charge, I continued. I was floored. I drove in and removed one 3/8" x 4" lag bolt flush to the head into a 4x4 7 1/2 times. No pilot hole, and no problem. I have had drills that were strong enough to drill lags before, but not one that would drill that much of a lag into solid wood. To be fair in reporting the lag test was the battery killer. The half mentioned above was that on the eighth drive, it flushed the lag, but couldn't pull it out. Practically though, I would never, ever, drive a lag or any other large shaft fastener like them without the proper pilot hole as it is too hard on the tools. And to remind myself why, when I was driving one of the lags it split the 4x4 completely open from about 4" back from the edge. Impressive.

No telling how many 2" to 3" screws that little battery powered monster would drive. I would guess 250 - 300. So it performed beyond expectations. I have read there are impact drivers with better specs out there, but in testing that I found online, only one driver beat this one out in performance..

I like the 3 LEDs on the chuck, and it is variable speed, too. With the 2amp battery, it is very easy and convenient to handle, and the belt clip makes it easy to carry around.

The hammer drill/driver that I bought to get the driver performs along those same lines. Plenty of drive power, pretty good fit in the hand (still like the DeWalts better for my paws)and the hammer drill does a great job. When using the hammer function, the drill has a high pitched sound to it, probably due its bpm function. It seems that actual impacts generated are small and fast, and it makes the drill aggressive and easy to control. It is a small tool and it is reported to develop something like 700 inch pounds of torque. It had carbide lined ratcheting jaws so it holds impact bit easily. It has a bright LED light in the handle that you can turn on by touching your little finger to it without turning on the drill. Same belt clip as the impact.

Two things I don't like. All my DeWalts have a fine trigger, sensitive enough to reduce speed of driving or drilling to literally being hand speed. Excellent for fine work. On the low speed, it isn't too bad, but the drill will start with a small jerk instead of easing into the task. According to the Ridgid folks, that's the compromise they made to have the drill/hammer drill work properly. I'll get used to it, or when driving use the driver as its trigger is much smoother in power delivery.

A comment on the "brushless" technology. It is supposed to deliver more power to the tools, make the batteries last as much as 35% longer, and all other kinds of wild claims. I actually believe it does. I have many, many cordless drill over the last 30+ years since they hit the open market. Most tools could never match their claims in performance, but none ever exceeded them. At this point, I don't know that I would buy another "Robert use" tool (as opposed the community tools used by my guys)that wasn't brushless. I actually purchased this same set except the 4amp batteries ($75 more), but was really put off by the size of the batteries. The batteries were big enough that it made the tools feel unbalanced, and hard to handle for finer work. I am delighted at the power from the 2amp batteries, and pleased that they are included in the LSA.

I am pleased with these tools and have used them pretty hard for a couple of days repairing a deck after the field test, and I think they will fill my needs just fine.

So for all you Dads out there looking for a practical gift, if you are looking for a lifetime combo kit that really performs, look no farther!

Robert