Ridgid 12V Impact Driver Kit is Still a Solid Value
Ridgid’s 12V combo kit has been on the market for quite a while now. Even though a few other brands have been raising the performance standard for 12V, the Ridgid 12V impact driver is still a relevant tool to supplement your 18V models.
Performance
The Ridgid 12V Impact Driver boasts no-load speeds of 2,000 RPM and 3,000 IPM to go along with 1,100 in-lbs of torque. That’s not bad at all, but let’s see how it does in our tests.
Speed Under Load
We test our impact drivers under a moderate load by driving 1/4″ diameter ledger screws into glued-up OSB subfloor layers. The R82230N ranks 8th, turning out only 171 RPM. This was good enough to beat out the Ridgid Palm Driver, though, to be fair, the Palm driver really wasn’t designed to drive these sorts of screws into this type of material.
While it’s a long way away from the 400 RPM of the Milwaukee M12 FUEL impact driver, the point is that this impact can drive a 1/4″ screw. It’s also a perfectly happy driving deck, drywall, and other small diameter screws.
Torque Testing
Please realize that our torque tests do not and cannot replace how manufacturers test for their specifications. Head over to the testing methods section on our best impact driver article to see the details.
We test measurable torque with the help of an I-beam, Grade 8 hardened nuts and bolts, and a torque wrench. The Ridgid 12V impact driver tightens 301 in-lbs of fastening torque. That’s good enough to finish 8th on our charts.
For the sake of putting this all into perspective, the current 12V leader pounds 804 in-lbs.
The Ridgid 12V impact driver gains some ground in breakaway torque. It finished our nut-busting torque tests in a 3-way tie for 5th place, breaking 600 in-lbs of torque.
Feature Set
Ridgid checks the standard boxes on its feature set without anything that really pops. Here’s what you can expect:
- Brushed single speed motor
- Belt hook
- LED light
The light at the end of the tunnel is that there are plenty of easy upgrades if Ridgid decides to improve the line. A brushless motor to go along with one-hand bit insertion and ejection will go a long way.
However, Ridgid’s 12V line currently has 4 tools in it, so don’t hold your breath.
Ergonomics
Ridgid suffers from the same handle design challenges that every manufacturer using pod-style batteries does. The battery has to insert into the handle, so it has more girth than slide-style systems. This isn’t a dealbreaker by any stretch of the imagination, just know that the handle feels a little thick in case you have smaller hands.
Without the battery, this 12V driver weighs 1.9 lbs. Throwing the battery on only bumps up the weight to 2.4 lbs, though this places the R8223o in 7th. Differences between most models are pretty negligible, but this was one of the heavier models, for whatever that’s worth.
Size is also a consideration. “Compactness” is an area that Ridgid has worked out really well, as the R82330 finished in 2nd place for the shootout. The only smaller model is the Ridgid Palm Driver. That model really isn’t doing the same sort of work as the rest of the impact drivers we tested (it’s a bit of a niche tool). At any rate, this Ridgid model measures 5.4″ long and 6″ tall.
Value
The Ridgid 12V Impact Driver is available through Home Depot, either as a bare tool or as part of a combo kit. As a bare tool, it retails for less than $60. Sold as a kit, it retails for $129, and it comes with:
- Impact driver
- Drill driver
- 2.0 Ah battery
- 4.0 Ah battery
- Charger
- Soft carry case
One of the big upsides to Ridgid tools is that, if you register your tool with them within 90 days of purchase, they offer free parts and service for the life of the tool. That includes free replacement batteries and it’s a pretty sweet deal.
The Bottom Line
The Ridgid 12V impact driver comes packaged with a drill driver for $129 – and we see that drop to $99 on sale from time to time. While other brands are continuing to push 12V forward, Ridgid’s kit is still quietly relevant and perfectly capable of drilling holes and driving screws. But if the highest performance you can get is your highest priority, you need to look elsewhere.
Ridgid 12V Impact Driver Specs
- Model Number: Ridgid R82230N
- Power Source: 12V Battery
- No Load Speed: 2,000 RPM
- Maximum Torque: 1,100 in-lbs
- Impact Rate: 3,000 IPM
- Bare Weight: 1.9 lbs
- Weight With Battery:
- Length:
- Height:
- Warranty: Lifetime Service Agreement with registration within 90days of purchase
- MSRP: $44.99 (Bare Tool) or $129 (Kitted with 12V Drill/Driver, 2 Batteries, Charger)
