This post is sponsored by The Home Depot
How powerful is powerful? here is a look at the Ridgid 18-Volt OCTANE Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless Combo Kit with Hammer Drill, Impact Driver. I have always been a fan of Ridgid products, and owned a miter saw, table saw, and a few other Ridgid products. I never owned a Drill by Ridgid until now. A friend I know will only buy Rdigid Drills and Driver. I think it had a lot to do with the performance and the lifetime warranty. Also, I can’t say much on the full coverage of the warranty, but my buddy got new batteries twice by the warranty.
Using the older generation drill was very impressive after being introduced to the Octane line, it is a whole new experience. Assuming you are not familiar with the Ridgid Octane line, let’s look at some of the core benefits you get from it.
What is 18-Volt OCTANE?
From my understanding, the Ridgid Octane line is about intelligence and power. The batteries are designed for low heat buildup while delivering max power to the tool. The Octane batteries are designed to be smart enough to give you control, monitor voltage, and check notifications through Bluetooth with the RIDGID battery app. As long as the battery is not completely dead, you can locate the batteries with lights and sound alerts.
- Higher start up speed
- When paired with Octane power tools, both the batteries and tools
- This provide higher start up speed for every tool. The batteries are compatible with all Ridgid 18-Volt tools.
- Remote lock and unlock
What do you get with the RIDGID R9500 Brushless Combo Hammer Drill and Impact Driver?
Introducing 18-Volt OCTANE Brushless Hammer Drill. This guy is fast and powerful. When you think drills cannot improve, then this one shows up with a tough, and rugged design.This has some weight to it, everything about it feels well made. Here is something I have never seen before, the chuck has LEDs built right into it. Every drill I ever own shoots the light from an angle while casting a shadow on the other side. So the ring light in the chuck is very nice! Like most drill, you have two-speed settings, torque control, a drill mode, screw mode and hammer drill mode for blasting through concrete. The ½ in the chuck is a must unless you only expect to do light work.
This OCTANE Impact Driver is by far my favorite of all the ones I’ve owned. Two features won me over, the chuck release, and the right LED. Let me quickly touch base on the chuck features, putting a bit in is a true one-handed function, just put the bit in the chuck. The other feature is the big release, it’s also a one-handed feature, simply pull back on the chuck and the bit automatically ejects. The onboard LED is like a flashlight; it’s very bright. The best part about the LED is that turns off very fast saving the batteries life.
There are six different modes you can select by pressing the buttons at the driver base.
- High Speed (3)
- Medium Speed (2)
- Low Speed (1)
- Self-drilling screw mode: Designed to reduce screw stripping or damage.
- Fastener Assist mode: For driving difficult fasteners into materials easily.
- Auto Stop Mode: Protection from overtightening, the tool will shut down after impacting is complete.
Batteries and Charger
This kit comes with two 18-Volt OCTANE 6.0 Ah Bluetooth Batteries
- (1) R840088 18-Volt OCTANE 3.0 Ah Bluetooth Battery,
- (1) R8400806 18-Volt OCTANE 6.0 Ah Bluetooth Battery,
- (1) 18-Volt Charger
This kit also comes with a caring bag and a few accessories.
- Ridgid tool bag
- (2) screw tips,
- Manuals
My take on this set is that you will love it; the power and the performance are great! You cannot go wrong with this.
18-Volt OCTANE Cordless Brushless 4-1/2 in. Angle Grinder
While I am on the Octane Tools, I thought this would be an interesting mention. Although a grinder is a tool I don’t use often, It’s amazing when I need it and have one close by. Going cordless is so convenient, especially if you are doing outdoor projects. No need for the hassle with extension cords. It is just as fast as the corded one I own.
This is in the 18-Volt Octane line, so you can expect a strong performance. It uses a 4 1/2in grinder disc; this tool comes with one grinding wheel. The body of the grinder has a slim grip for comfort. An auxiliary handle is also included; this can be attached in three different positions. You do not see the three different locations often. Like most grinders, you have the “Slide lock-on switch.” Not having a cord, having the ability to work freely make you appreciate cordless tools. The one thing to keep in mind is this grinder does not come with a battery and charger, it’s a tool only.
So if you always own an 18-Volt battery or looking to pick a new drill kit, this tool is the right choice. Very excited to have this, especially when I am doing work outside of my shop or want to not work with a power cord.
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