RIDGID GEN5X R8643 Reciprocating Saw Review

Rigid recently launched the GEN5X R8643B 18V Cordless Reciprocating Saw, this thing is a beast! It’s now available at Home Depot. The R8643 is a part of the OCTANE tools. The OCTANE tools feature high-performance brushless motors and intelligence. It delivers up to 65% more power and 80% faster cutting while also bringing comfort, power, and durability. With one quick turn, you can switch to faster cutting action for wood application and turn the orbital off for metal cutting applications.

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• Brushless motor technology delivers over 50% more runtime, more power, and longer motor life
• On/off orbital action for faster wood cutting (orbital) or for metal cutting (non-orbital) applications
• Open shoe design provides increased visibility when cutting
• Sightline blower directs debris away from the cut line for increased visibility
• Tool-free adjustable shoe allows a user to easily adjust the shoe to increase the life of the blade
• Grip light engages LED light independently of the trigger to illuminate work space
• Backed by the industry’s only lifetime service agreement

LED
Built-in LED turns on with a squeeze of the trigger. It’s a great feature if you need to work in a dark location.

Lock Off Button
Switching this to the lock position prevents the saw from being triggered.

Shoe Release Lever
Pull out and up to adjust and release the shoe.

Toolless Blade Clamp
Switch blade with a simple Twist of the blade clamp.

Adjustable Shoe Assembly
The shoe is adjustable, flip the lever and set the depth you need. The shoe is also removable for maximum reach.

Orbital Action Selector
Great for cutting through wood or metal. Turn this on if you’re cutting through wood for a faster cutting experience. Turn it off when you’re cutting through metal.

In order to put the RIDGID GEN5X R8643B to the test, I’m going to use the Diablo14 piece bi-metal reciprocating saw set. These blades are versatile and can be used to cut wood and metal. They are ideal for demolition work and also provide an ultra hard cutting-edge. They come with a cool carrying case. I’ve been using these blades for quite some time and they seem to have a long lifespan.

For this test, I used the 6-inch nail embedded wood (BI-METAL) blade. This is a great way to disassemble pallets. Since pallets tend to have nails driven through each top board, using the bi-metal blade is a great way to keep the full length of the board. Prying the pallets from their bases can lead to damaged and split boards.

The 6-inch metal cutting blade is designed to cut materials from 3/33in. to 5/16in. The DS0614BF blade cut through this 1/16in. metal tube easily.

Since the RIDGID GEN5X R8643B does do not come with a battery, you’ll more than likely want to pick up the 18-Volt HYPER Lithium-Ion Battery Pack 2.0Ah and Charger Kit. This battery is compatible with all RIDGID 18-Volt tools. To the right, I have the 18-Volt HYPER OCTANE Bluetooth 6.0Ah Battery. The new high demand batteries from RIDGID will give you all day runtime, producing up to 440% more performance than standard lithium batteries. With the integrated Bluetooth wireless technology you can set push notifications, set security features, and check battery status.

• Powerful (This is a beast)
• Adjustable Shoe
• LED light
• Comfortable grip

• Not much to say here it would have been a nice bonus, but the battery is not included.

3-year Limited or Lifetime agreement with registration
Product Depth (in.) 18.27 in
Product Height (in.) 6.7 in
Product Width (in.) 3.7 in
Batteries Included No
Battery Power Type Lithium-Ion

Battery Size 18-volt
Cordless/ Corded Cordless
Length Of Stroke 1-1/8 in
Motor Type Brushless
Product Weight (lb.) 7.2 lb
Strokes per minute 3100

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