Just got word from Ridgid that they are coming out with a new oil pulse driver. What is an oil pulse driver you ask? Well, in the simplest form, it operates much like an impact driver with an impacting like mechanism, but instead uses a unique hydraulics oil pulse impact mechanism that greatly reduces impacting sound. Any one that’s used or been around someone using an impact driver knows all too well the loud noise they produce. Many times the noise is too loud for the environment they’re in, you wouldn’t want to use an impact driver while inside an office building while business is being conducted.
Ridgid’s new oil pulse driver features a brushless motor just like their latest set of 18V power tools and according to Ridgid, this new Stealth Force pulse driver is claimed to be their fastest impact driver. They claim that it drives 2x faster and at half the noise. Sounds like a win win right? If this is true they have a winner on their hands.
Although Ridgid didn’t provide torque ratings at the time of writing, they did provide RPM specs, and it tops out at 2,400 RPM and 1,700 IPM on its highest setting. These aren’t ground breaking numbers for traditional impact drivers but this is newer technology we’re talking about. I eagerly await to see what 2x driving speed at half the noise of regular impact drivers is all about.
This new Ridgid 3 speed brushless Stealth Force Pulse Driver Kit will retail for $199 with 2x 2.0 lithium batteries and will be available around December 2015 / January 2016.
SPECIFICATIONS R86036K :
- Volts: 18V
- High Speed: 0-2,400 RPM
- No Load Speeds:
- Medium Speed: 0-1,800 RPM
- Low Speed: 0-1,000 RPM
- Chuck: ¼ in. hex
- IPM: 0-1,700
- Battery: 2.0 Ah
FEATURES:
- STEALTH FORCE – AN OIL PULSE MECHANISM THAT DRIVES 2X FASTER AND AT HALF THE NOISE OF A TRADITIONAL IMPACT DRIVER
- BRUSHLESS – DELIVERS UP TO 50% MORE RUN-TIME AND LONGER MOTOR LIFE
- 3 SPEED SETTINGS – PROVIDES ADJUSTABLE POWER AND SPEED FOR THE MOST DEMANDING JOBS
- TRI-BEAM LED – THREE LED LIGHTS AROUND THE FRONT HOUSING TO ELIMINATE SHADOWS
- ONE HANDED QUICK-LOAD BIT HOLDER -MAKES BIT CHANGES QUICKER AND EASIER WITH A SNAP-LOAD COLLET AND SIMPLE EJECTING BIT RELEASE
- GRIP LIGHT – ENGAGES LIGHT INDEPENDENTLY OF TRIGGER TO ILLUMINATE WORK SPACE
- HEX GRIP™ MICRO TEXTURE – GRIP-ENHANCING MICRO TEXTURE FOR MAXIMUM USER COMFORT
- REMOVABLE BELT HOOK – TO KEEP TOOL IN IMMEDIATE REACH
Great article as usual, nice tool with lots of feature and a pretty reasonable price point of only $199 at home depot
http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-Stealth-Force-Brushless-18-Volt-Hyper-Lithium-Ion-1-4-in-Cordless-Pulse-Driver-Kit-R86036K/206596563
thanks Joshua – the price is very competitive and good deal for end of year pricing and even better deal once you factor in regular every day prices on similar kits. Normally a brushless drill kit will run around the price of this but you get 2 tools for the price
yeah, Makita is currently the only other brand with an oil pulse driver (although Hitachi has an electronic pulse driver with a little different design) but Maktia’s is $199 for the bare tool only, so Ridgid’s pricing is very competitive.