Ridgid Cordless 18V 7/8 in. SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer Drill
Ridgid Cordless 18V 7/8 in. SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer Drill Tool Review
The first Hammer drill was produced in 1932 by Bosh and shortly after Milwaukee came out with their own in 1935. However the first rotary hammer drill was the Hilti TE-17 produced in 1967. 50 years later we have some incredible tools out their and a vast array of options when it comes to hammer drills. The Ridgid Cordless 18V 7/8 in. SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer drill is one of the latest additions. A lightweight, cordless rotary hammer drill great for all your light weight projects.
What is a Rotary Hammer drill
A hammer drill works with a clutch to very quickly move back and forth as the drill spins giving it’s hammer action. It moves a very small amount which doesn’t allow for a lot of force behind each hit. A rotary hammer drill works slightly different by using a piston drive instead of a clutch. The piston allows for more force to be delivered in. You will also notice that rotary hammer drills work with masonry bits that are slotted typically SDS style bits. This prevents slippage due to the heavy torque the piston drive puts on the bits.
Ridgid Cordless 18V 7/8 in. SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer
Being an electrician electricity isn’t always nearby until I’m finished. Cordless tools are a huge time savor for me and the Ridgid Cordless 18V 7/8 in. SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer drill is no exception. The Ridgid Cordless 18V 7/8 in. SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer drill can handle anything your corded 7/8″ SDS hammer drill can handle. I am typically drilling 3/8”, 1/4” and 3/16” holes. Although I can get by with my cordless hammer drill when I need to drill 1 or 2 of these holes, my hammer drill struggles and is slow to got thru denser materials such as brick. On the other hand the Ridgid cordless 18v 7/8 SDS-Plus rotary hammer drill goes thru like butter.
The first project I tried the Ridgid cordless 18v 7/8 SDS-Plus rotary hammer drill on was residential new construction house. Power on the job site was 300’ away and I had to install outlets on the concrete wall in the basement. Granted I was only drilling 1/4” holes for masonry anchors I had 0 issues.
Ergonomics
Ridgid does a great job with all their cordless tools ergonomics. For a small drill the Ridgid Cordless 18V 7/8 in. SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer is heavy weighting 6.2lbs but it feels great in your hands. Comfortable grips that can be used with or without gloves. An adjustable handle up front that balances the tool.
Common Question
I’ve seen online the question asked: Can I drive ground rods with this tool? You can with an adapter you can purchase separately but depending on the soil you’re going through I would use it sparingly. In New England most of our soil is rocky and very difficult to get thru. I recommend using a larger rotary hammer drill for driving grounds in these situations. If your going thru a soil that is say sandy or rock free then the ridgid cordless 18v 7/8 SDS-Plus rotary hammer drill may work quite well for you.
Specs
The ridgid cordless 18v 7/8 SDS-Plus rotary hammer drill works off of Ridgid’s 18v battery platform. Thats right no more cord to drag around with you.
- Great ergonomics: As with all Ridgid tools this is no exception. Comfortable grips, making handling this tool a joy.
- 3 modes: rotary hammer, drill and chisel mode.
- Built in clutch automatically engages. Anyone who works off a ladder will appreciate this.
- Impact energy: 1.8 ftlbs/ 2.5 joules BPM: 0- 4,200 BPM (Blows per Minute). 1400RPM
- Height- 8.89 in, Depth 13.35in, Width 11.75, weight 6.2lbs
- Drill bit depth gauge mounted on the side that is adjusted by pushing the large button next to the handle.
- 3 year limited warranty that covers: brushes, chucks, motors, switches, gears, and batteries.
Summary
I haven’t had a lot of experience with Ridgid tools until recently. I used the Ridgid circular saw quite a bit during the most recent Circular Saw Head to Head and now I’ve been working with the rotary hammer drill, impact driver and 18v drill. I’m not going to put Ridgid in par with Milwaukee or DeWalt but right certainly right behind. What is hard to compete with is the price, Ridgid does an excellent job keeping their tools at an affordable price and the 18v 7/8 SDS-Plus rotary hammer drill is no exception. The Ridgid 18v 7/8 SDS-Plus rotary hammer drill is listed for $249 without a battery. A great tool for a great price.
