wrote:
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


Great review, thank you Robert. I believed eve to bought the same set for
my son last Christmas. I think the one I bought him had the larger 5 amp
batteries and also offered the choice of one of several bare tools.

A word about brushless tools. My wife bought me a Festool brushless drill
about 4 years ago and I have quit using my Makita impact driver. It is
shocking how much more this drill will do over the old Makita drill/driver.