RIDGID Tools for the Job Site

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

The tools you need on the job site for demo and construction are a bit different than fine woodworking tools. I will never need a Rotary Hammer to build a piece of furniture, but sometimes I get sent tools to test out, so I will share my thoughts with you guys!

RIDGID tools are great quality at an affordable price. The best part about jumping on the RIDGID platform is their Full LifeTime Warranty. If a RIDGID tool ever malfunctions from defects in workmanship or materials, they will repair or replace the tool free of charge. That’s pretty awesome!

The first tool on the list is the 18V OCTANE Cordless Brushless 1 in. SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer.

A Rotary Hammer is used when working with concrete, it spins a drill bit while also hammering so it can easily drill through or chisel away the toughest materials.

This RIDGID Rotary Hammer has 3 modes, hammer, drilling and chisel. The manual selector knob is very easily adjustable so you can quickly switch between these modes.

This tool runs best when it is paired with an OCTANE Battery (not included). The tool “talks” to the OCTANE battery to figure out how much power to draw out from the motor during specific tasks. This increases the performance of the tool and provides over 50% faster drilling for high demand applications.

The SDS- Plus chuck makes it easy to just slip the bits right into place and they are secured really well.

Speaking of bits… The Bosch bits are the best.

This is the Bosch Bulldog Xtreme 1/4” x 4” x 6-1/2” SDS-Plus Carbide Rotary Hammer Drill Bit , you want to only use carbide bits when drilling into concrete.

This bit will last 4x longer that other bits when drilling into concrete, even when it hits rebar.

Bosch also makes these awesome spade bits! You wouldn’t use these Daredevil bits with a rotary hammer… but they are typically used on a job site to drill quick holes into studs or plywood.

Look at the full-cone threaded tip in the picture below, You would not believe how quickly this drives into the wood to make holes, I highly recommend these bits for quick, clean and accurate holes.

Back to the Rotary Hammer! One of the great features is this depth stop rod. It’s really easy to change the depth, just press down on the orange lever, move the rod, depress the lever, and it’s set!

I can see this coming in handy a lot on the job site.

If you are going to be doing any sort of demo work, you will need a reciprocating saw. Most recip saws are big, bulky and heavy… introducing the RIDGID 18V OCTANE Cordless Brushless ONE-HANDED Recip Saw.

This Recip Saw is built smaller so it can easily fit into tighter spaces. You can also turn the orbital action on or off depending on the material you are cutting. You would want orbital cutting for wood and non-orbital for metal.

Once again, when you pair this tool with an OCTANE battery, it delivers 3X the power and 30% less vibration in high demand applications compared to other corded recip saws. It has also has a Brushless Motor which delivers over 50% more runtime, more power, and it will also extend the life of the motor.

While I don’t typically use a recip saw in my day to day as a woodworker, this little saw is a great addition to my arsenal for quick rough cuts, demo and even yard work.

While I wouldn’t typically use a Rotary Hammer or Recip Saw on my day to day as a woodworker, I WOULD use this RIDGID Hand Planer .

An electric hand planer like this was actually one of the first tools I purchased when I was starting my collection.

The most used application of this tool for me is to level off twisted boards before sending them through the planer since I don’t have a jointer.

I have also used it for edge jointing in a pinch, but you have to make sure it’s really straight and steady and be aware of snipe on the tail end of the boards.

Just like the other OCTANE tools listed above, this tool works best when paired with an OCTANE battery. Even when working with hard woods like oak, it will deliver 2.5X the power and its brushless motor will run 50% longer with more power.

One of the cool details on this hand planer is the adjustable depth chamfer. This is pretty cool for finish work. Instead if whipping out a router with a chamfer bit, you can just past this planer along the edge of your workpiece to create different sized chamfers, I think that’s pretty cool and no other electric hand planer has an adjustable chamfer depth like this.

Before you do any work on the site, you need to make sure you are buying the right amount of materials. The easiest way to measure a space is by using a laser measure.

The Bosch Blaze 135 ft. Laser Measurer is the BEST on the market, it’s accuracy is +/- 1/16th of an inch!

This little unit is so easy to use and the full color display is a joy to read.

Besides for being accurate and easy to use, it can store up to 20 measurements right on board.

A tool like this is invaluable when planning a project for yourself or writing up an estimate for a client.

It’s always fun to talk tools even if they are tools I wouldn’t typically use!

The Rotary Hammer has my gears turning on how to add a variety of materials to my typical woodworking projects though…

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the ProSpective 2019 Campaign. As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Worth of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.