3 Speed Ridgid Impact Driver
Ridgid has released the new Brushless Stealth Force pulse driver, similar to an impact driver, but uses oil to transfer the impacting motion. The use of oil results in a quieter operation. Ridgid claims this tool to be up to twice as fast as standard impact drivers and in the video above, with four inch lag screws, we believe we have proved this to be true. Currently this tool will be sold in a kit ( Model # R86036 ) and comes with the pulse driver, two 18 volt 2.0AH batteries, charger and a fabric case.
Before opening the box, there was a buzz of excitement. Not only is this a brushless tool from Ridgid, but it is also a hydraulic impact tool. Both of those items really interested us in the testing with hopes that this tool was a home run. The first Ridgid Gen5X tools came out boasting a permanent magnet motor and great specs. Over time, Ridgid announced the brushless line and then this new pulse driver.
Features
Oil pulse mechanism that drives 2x faster with half the noise
Brushless motor
3 speed settings
Tri-beam led
One handed quick-load bit holder
Grip light
Hex grip micro texture
Removable belt hook
Gen5X Quality
Ridgid’s Gen5X line has been very impressive to test and use in daily work. This Pulse Driver delivers an equal amount of quality with an impressive speed of fastening. We were able to grab a six inch lag screw and bury it into a stack of 2×10’s without a problem. Once the lag was buried in the wood, the result was a stack of split lumber from the force of the large lag going into the wood without a pilot hole. That test was a pure display of power and the Ridgid Pulse Driver did it without the noise of the impact driver pounding away. The end result was pure smiles as the tool completely outperformed our best guess at the power it would have along with the torque and speed.
This tool needs the three speed settings as normal two inch drywall screws simply fly into the wood. Even level two has very fast for setting smaller screws. Level one was very controllable, but the pules from each impact gives more of a twist than an normal impact driver. This took about three screws to get used to and then there was no turning back. The tri-beam LED lighting offers a very bright and well-lit work area and can be turned on independently of the tool with a small trigger at the bottom of the grip. The single handed bit loader is very similar to their other impact driver models. The Hex Grip is also the same as other Gen5X tools currently on the market.
Hydraulic Impact Tool
As with anything that uses oil, temperature can have some roll in how the tool performs. This tool might need to warm up the oil before use when very cold. This would be done by simple running the tool at no load for several seconds before use. On the other hand, if the tool is used for extremely prolonged periods, the oil inside could overheat resulting in slower driving. At this point, we have not experienced an overheat situation and we have to assume that would be long use in extreme conditions.
Overall
Our excitement for this tool is hard to put into words. The quiet and extremely fast operation of this tool is just as impressive as the power it has to sink very large lag screws in wood. Ridgid is stepping up their game in the brushless market and the Gen5X line as a whole has been nothing but impressive and also priced well. It was very nice to use an impact driver in our high ceiling shop without the incredible noise and echo that can be painful to your ears over a long period. I believe people would use a quiet impact tool like this even if it had less power, but there is no in sacrifice power here. You have power, speed, control and quiet all packed into one nice unit. If there is a downside to this unit, it is that the tool is slightly larger and weighs slightly more than the other impact drivers on the market. That would not stop this tool from being the first driver we pulled from the tool bin. Thumbs up Ridgid on a great new tool!
Specifications
Volts: 18V
High Speed: 0-2,400 RPM
Medium Speed: 0-1,800 RPM
Low Speed: 0-1,000 RPM
Chuck: ¼ in. hex
IPM: 0-1,700
RIDGID’s Gen5X Stealth Force Brushless 18-Volt Pulse Driver 3 Speed Ridgid Impact Driver Ridgid has released the new Brushless Stealth Force pulse driver, similar to an impact driver, but uses oil to transfer the impacting motion.
