Ridgid has just announced not one but three new 18V subcompact brushless tools in 2022 with a new drill driver, impact driver, and hammer drill! All three are said to be launching in September 2022.
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Ridgid 18V Subcompact Brushless 1/2″ Drill/Driver Kit R87012K
It wasn’t even that long ago back in 2020 that Ridgid introduced their original 18V brushless subcompact power tools that were incredibly tiny. About the size of 12 volt power tools but sporting an 18V battery. Now two years later in 2022, Ridgid adds new 18V brushless subcompacts with compact size and add more power. Ridgid provided a press release documenting all three power tools mentioned in this article but didn’t provide any length stats. We know this new 18V subcompact drill is very compact as seen in the picture and is a given considering it’s a subcompact tool so we know it’s compact but exactly how much? I’ve reached out to Ridgid to confirm and will update the article when I hear back from them but for now the Home Depot website lists this new subcompact brushless drill as having a length of 6.1 inches. If true, this makes it on par with Ridgid’s original puny 18V subcompact drill that measured 6.17 inches in length. If true, this new model might be a hair shorter or they could have simply rounded down. Either way, the new model is very compact while also sporting more torque now at 500 in-lbs of torque!
This new model and the other two shown in this article depart from the aggressive styling found on the previous 18V brushless subcompacts that look to be heavily inspired by Octane models. These new subcompacts are more subtle and muted in their design in an elegant way. Other features include a two speed transmission with 0-450 / 0-1,750 (RPM). It has a 24 position torque limiting clutch and they place the LED light at the base of the tool. No mention of what material the chuck is, it appears to be a plastic chuck with metal collar up front. The HD listing mentions that it is a ratcheting chuck. A side belt clip is included. Ridgid does say that this new subcompact is lighter and more compact than their R86114 model however they are comparing apples to oranges. The R86114 model has 800 in-lbs of torque making it a high torque drill and naturally will be larger and heavier. It’s like saying “our new mid size truck is lighter and more compact than our full size truck.” Either way, 500 in-lbs of torque is impressive for such a small drill no matter how you look at it.
The MSRP is said to be $149 as a kit however I found it for $99 at HD at time of writing making it a good deal if you can snatch it up for $99 as a kit with two batteries and charger.
- Lightweight Design. Heavyweight Performance.
- Pair with MAX Output batteries for maximum power
- Powerful Brushless Motor delivers 500 in./lbs. of torque and 0-450 / 0-1,750 (RPM)
- 15% lighter weight when compared to R86114 18V Brushless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver
- 25% more compact when compared to R86114 18V Brushless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver
- 24-position clutch to match torque to application
- 2-speed gearbox to match power and speed to application
- LED Light for improved visibility in low-light situations
- 100% Compatible: Works with all RIDGID 18V Batteries, Tools, and Chargers
- Lifetime Service Agreement with registration within 90 days of purchase
- Includes: R87012 18V SubCompact Brushless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver, (2) 2.0 Ah batteries, charger, belt hook with screw, driving bit, and tool bag
- RIDGID: Build for a Lifetime
Ridgid 18V Subcompact Brushless 1/2″ Hammer Drill Kit R87112K
Along with the new subcompact drill/driver, Ridgid also introduced a new 18V brushless subcompact 1/2″ hammer drill kit. It appears based on the new subcompact brushless 1/2″ drill/driver mentioned earlier also with a compact size and 500 in-lbs of torque but just a bit longer to add the hammer drilling mechanism. Ridgid again compares this to their R86115 hammer drill which is the hammer drill version of the R86114 and says this new subcompact model is lighter and more compact. Again they are comparing apples to oranges. The R86115 model has 800 in-lbs of torque making it a high torque drill and naturally will be larger and heavier. It’s like saying “our new mid size truck is lighter and more compact than our full size truck.” This new subcompact hammer drill will be priced at $179 MSRP as a kit with 2x 2.0ah batteries, charger, and tool bag. No other specs are mentioned in their press release so I do not know how compact it is in length but other than that I assume the 2 speed transmission is the same as the drill/driver with 0-450 / 0-1,750 (RPM) as it should be identical. Just like the subcompact drill driver, we can see a side belt clip and LED light on the base of the tool and the same 1/2″ chuck that appears to be plastic with a metal collar up front. Not word on if it ratchets or not but it might be that it does since the HD listing for the drill/driver mentions that it does and this hammer drill is most likely based on that drill.
- 500 in-lbs torque
- Includes the R87112 18V SubCompact Brushless ½ in. Hammer Drill/Driver, (2) 2.0Ah batteries, charger, belt hook with screw, bit holder with screw, driving bit, and tool bag.
- Lifetime Service Agreement, simply register within 90 days of purchase for FREE parts, FREE service, FOR LIFE.
Ridgid 18V Subcompact Brushless 4 Mode Impact Driver Kit R872311K
Last but not least is the new 18V subcompact brushless impact driver. No mention of how compact it is in length but we do know that it is rated for 1,850 in-lbs of torque making it 50 more in-lbs of torque than the original Ridgid 18V brushless subcompact model, at least on paper. This model is a 4 mode impact driver meaning it has 3 speeds plus a 4th mode which is a self tapping mode which is designed to help prevent overdriving, breaking, or stripping screws. The design of this impact is also less aggressive than the original subcompact brushless model. It doesn’t have a tri LED or LED light ring on the head of the tool which is a premium feature but they do include an LED light on the base of the tool. Last bit of info we have is price and it is priced at $149 as a kit with a 2.0 ah battery, charger, and tool bag. Unlike the other two drills, this model seems to be bundled as kit with only one battery. I wonder if this is true or a typo? Ridgid does say that this new subcompact brushless impact driver is lighter and more compact than their R86002 impact driver. Again they are comparing apples to oranges. The R86002 model though having the same rated torque, is a brushed motor impact driver and naturally will be larger than an equally powerful brushless power tool. That’s what makes brushless power tools great is that not only do they require less maintenance as there are no brushes to replace, they are getting more and more compact. No mention of RPM speeds and BPM for this new impact driver at the time of writing.
- Lightweight Design. Heavyweight Performance.
- Pair with MAX Output batteries for maximum power
- Impact Driver: Powerful Brushless Motor delivers 1,850 in./lbs. of torque
- Impact Driver: 30% lighter & 25% more compact when compared to R86002 18V Impact Driver
- Impact Driver: 3 speeds + self-tapping mode to prevent overdriving, breaking, or stripping screws
- Impact Driver: LED Light for improved visibility
- 100% Compatible: Works with all RIDGID 18V Batteries, Tools, and Chargers
- Includes: (1) R872311 18V SubCompact Brushless 4-Mode Impact Driver, 2.0Ah battery, charger, and tool bag.
- RIDGID: Build for a Lifetime
Ridgid 18V Subcompact Brushless Drill & Impact Driver Combo Kit R97801
Ridgid also announced that you can get the 18V subcompact drill/driver and impact driver shown in this article as a 2 tool combo kit for $199 that includes both tools, (2) 2.0 Ah Batteries, (1) 18V Charger, (2) belt hooks with screws, (2) bit holders with screws, (2) driving bits, tool bag, and operator’s manual.
- Lightweight Design. Heavyweight Performance.
- Pair with MAX Output batteries for maximum power
- Drill/Driver: Powerful Brushless Motor delivers 500 in./lbs. of torque
- Drill/Driver: 25% lighter weight and 15% more compact when compared to R86114 18V Brushless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver
- Drill/Driver: LED Light for improved visibility
- Drill/Driver: 2-speed gearbox to match power and speed to application
- Drill/Driver: 24-position clutch to match torque to application
- Impact Driver: Powerful Brushless Motor delivers 1,850 in./lbs. of torque
- Impact Driver: 30% lighter & 25% more compact when compared to R86002 18V Impact Driver
- Impact Driver: 3 speeds + self-tapping mode to prevent overdriving, breaking, or stripping screws
- Impact Driver: LED Light for improved visibility
- 100% Compatible: Works with all RIDGID 18V Batteries, Tools, and Chargers
- Includes: (1) R87012 18V SubCompact Brushless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver, (1) R872311 18V SubCompact Brushless 4-Mode Impact Driver, (2) 2.0 Ah Batteries, (1) 18V Charger, (2) belt hooks with screws, (2) bit holders with screws, (2) driving bits, tool bag, and operator’s manual
- RIDGID: Build for a Lifetime
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