RIDGID OCTANE Brushless 18V 1 in. SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer

This review was created as part of a paid affiliate program with the Home Depot.

My first order of business with this and every product review is a disclaimer: I am not a professional contractor. I am a farmer and a fine furniture maker. When it comes to construction and renovation projects, I’m a DIYer and weekend warrior. That said, I doubt many professional contractors will be reading my tool reviews. My goal in reviewing tools and products is to provide honest feedback based on my own use and experience with these tools to other regular folks like me- wanting to get their hands dirty, try new things, and get the best value for their hard earned dollars. 

So Let’s talk about the RIDGID OCTANE Brushless 18V 1 in. SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer

While our usual Weekend Warrior and DIY projects don’t often call for a tool quite this heavy duty, I wouldn’t want to be caught doing demo, concrete, or dirt work without it. The Ridgid SDS Rotary Hammer offers an impressive amount of power and runtime for a battery operated tool. The anti-vibration handle works really well, and makes it a whole lot more comfortable to use than other rotary hammers I’ve operated in the past. The thing I’ve used this tool for the most around the farm is actually breaking up rocks and clay clods as I’ve been setting up the garden, and it’s been indispensable. The fact that it’s battery powered is crucial for this application, because there’s not an extension cord in the world long enough to get to some of the rocks I’ve got to deal with on a regular basis!

This rotary hammer is Ridgid’s answer to customer demands with the R86710, their previous model of this tool, and offers over 50% faster drilling in high-demand applications. This tool’s extreme vibration reduction minimizes tool vibrations for greater comfort, less fatigue and increased productivity. It’s 3-mode selector allows the user to manually switch between hammer, drilling, and chisel modes. The mechanical clutch helps minimize torque reactions when the bit binds, which protects the tool from damage and the user from injury. The Brushless Motor technology delivers a cooler-running motor, better battery life, and a longer motor life in general. The auxiliary handle offers extra stability of the tool and an adjustable depth rod for precision drilling.

So is this tool worth it for the money? That depends. Ridgid tools are jobsite rated and ruggedly tough at a friendlier pricepoint than most other contractor-grade tools. Ridgid offers the industry’s only lifetime service agreement, free parts and service, for life, which adds a ton of value to this tool.