At first look, the Ridgid 12V R8224K looks a lot like Milwaukee’s M12 palm nailer, only this isn’t a nailer – it’s a super-compact cordless impact driver!
We have all seen cordless pistol-grip and right angle impact drivers, but I don’t think I have ever seen a palm impact driver before. Have you? This might be the world’s first.
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Another important thing about this impact driver – it has no trigger switch!
Instead, Ridgid designed their palm impact driver with a Push-to-Drive feature that offers pressure-sensitive speed control. The absence of a trigger switch means users can grip and hold the tool in whatever way is most comfortable for them.
New Details
We originally posted this preview on November 3rd, 2014, but took the post down as a courtesy when we were told that the palm driver wouldn’t be in production until late 2015 and that details might change. Well, “late 2015” came and went, and it’s now early 2016.
I’ve been checking Home Depot’s website fairly routinely, but must have missed the Ridgid R8224K palm impact driver’s reemergence. Good news – they kept the same part number and Home Depot kept the same SKUs, and a Google Alert finally came in!
But… it appears that Home Depot has since taken down the page (again), but the cache is still up in Google. Just search for “Ridgid 205358318” and you’ll see the hit.
So, it’s a new tool, just not “real” yet.
Let’s just hope that it won’t be another 14 months until this innovative-looking tool makes another reappearance.
When we first posted about the Ridgid palm impact driver, it looked to be missing a trigger switch, but looked to have a direction switch at the front of the tool. New imagery (at the top of the post) shows that there is a direction switch.
There was early mention of the Push-to-Drive feature, and it looks like Ridgid stuck with this design. Ridgid says that this tool is first to market with an all new Push-to-Drive feature. This feature allows for pressure sensitive variable speed control without the use of a trigger.
Features and Specs
- 400 in-lbs max torque
- 2000 RPM max speed
- 3000 IPM
- One-handed quick-load and quick-ejecting 1/4″ hex bit holder
- On-board LED battery fuel gauge
- LED worklight
The kit comes with (1) Li-ion battery pack and a charger.
Price: $99 (although this might still change)
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
ETA: ? If we had to guess, we’d say the new Ridgid R8224K impact driver will be released sometime between now and Father’s Day.
First Thoughts
The new Ridgid palm impact driver definitely looks to be quite unique and innovative. I like the idea of a trigger-less pressure switch, which kind of sounds a lot like the pressure-activated paddle switches Black & Decker designed into their new sanders.
With a max torque rating of 400 in-lbs, this is going to be a light duty tool. Even so, its triggerless variable speed feature and its compact design dramatically increase its appeal. It looks like the Ridgid palm impact driver will be the type of tool you could use in tight spaces too small for other tools to fit.
I wonder how much it weighs. Home Depot’s site says 5.3 lbs, but that seems ridiculous for a tool that’s supposed to be palm-sized and compact enough for use in tight spaces. That’s probably the weight of the tool, charger, and battery.
Do you know what would be awesome? If this impact driver was engineered with the same quiet impact tech as Ridgid’s Stealth Force cordless pulse driver. But since this is an impact driver and not a pulse driver or impulse driver, that’s probably not the case.
What do you think – is this destined to be a specialty tool, or is it the perfect size for a compact and light duty fastening companion?
This post was originally published on 11/3/2014, but was taken down after a day or so. It was republished in Jan 2016 with updated info and details, with the original comments carried over.
Eric says
Looks like even Ridgid is confused on what this is. The image shows a Tico nail jambed against the bit holder. Or maybe it is a palm nailer after all.
mikeh says
i think you need a bigger monitor – it’s a phillips bit 😉
This looks very handy – I own most of the ridgid 12v tools and all of the heads for the interchangeable system. I have been very pleased with the performance. Will be interesting to see this when it arrives. $99 does seem a bit high though
Stuart says
I don’t blame him for being confused. The only image I was able to retrieve was a somewhat small one, and even increasing its size didn’t help make things any clearer.
$99 for a tool + battery + charger kit is high? Seems quite reasonable to me. I don’t think you’re going to find a pro-grade or affordable pro-grade 12V right angle impact kit for less.
Pete says
looks interesting… I honestly cant see when I would use this. they already make right angle impact driver that I feel would be more compact and probably easier to work. The ridgid device looks like it could tip/topple over when applying the necessary pressure to activate the pressure switch. with the right angle you can hold the device with one hand and control speed while applying light pressure to the screw, once the screw is started then you can hammer on the throttle.
I thought this looked cool but after I envision using it I cant seen much use for it as for screws. if it was a nailer it may work better?
Chad says
kinda like it, could have used it this weekend while i put up some shelves in an awkward location
Allen says
In situations where the driving is hard, and the risk of slippage is high I always press harder. Would this mean the tool would go faster ? I would want it to go slower.
Cool idea though.
Wayne Ruffner says
Excellent point about speed & pressure.
fred says
On your prior post, I commented about how we bought only 3 Ridgid power tools in a eight year stretch – and they were all impulse buys at Home Depot to try out something new. This tool probably fits in the same category of something our crew chief might buy to try out because it looks just novel enough (Ridgid-TTI does seem to introduce some novel tools) to be intriguing and possibly offer a solution to a tricky problem or act as a productivity improver. While its unlikely, who knows – it might get bought and prove to be worthy of buying more than just one.
Ross says
Switches must be more difficult to use than I am aware. Or maybe I’m just old fashioned.
One advantage I can see with palm impact is for tight spaces. My concern would be if you are backing out a screw in a tight area (for example, between two studs in a wall that are closely spaced) and while the screw is backing out, your hand gets stuck between the driver and the next stud. How do you shut it off? I know I’ve had this happen numerous times with drills or regular impact drivers and realized I needed to change bits, so I can only imagine the same could happen with this tool.
Patrick says
You weren’t the only one picturing a hand pancake forming in that situation, Ross. Haha
tim says
This is the start of the cordless butterfly impacts ive been asking for for years.
Too bad its 1/4″ so I have no real use for it
It still looks pretty awesome though.
mizzourob says
Glad to see this come back…now if only Ridgid would add more 12volt tools. The jobmax line is decent and covers the OMT, right angle drivers, and a jigsaw. Toss in the drill, impact and now this and for the money it is still short compared to Milwaukee.
Jerry says
Looks interesting. I was thinking that with batteries getting lighter and more powerful, that an offshoot would be small to downright tiny 12v tools. I’ve seen 18/20V tools approach corded tool productivity, and compact 18/20V tools smaller, lighter, and better performing than 12/14V tools from just a few years ago, so it is natural that 12V tools will get smaller while still performing adequately to find their niche. My prediction for the future will either be more ultra compact 12V tools, or perhaps a phasing out of 12V tools, with them being replaced with compact 18/20V tools on the performance side, and 9.6V tools with high performance batteries & motors on the compact/lightweight side.
Jacob says
That is interesting about the Black and Decker sanders. I saw this on instagram posted by someone associated with Ridgid, and I commented that I would love to see this technology in an orbital sander (and was promptly admonished by another commenter for using pressure with an orbital sander?). Too bad it is B&D who did it.
I think what we are seeing are TTI and Stanley|B&D using their mid-lower brands like Chevy used Pontiac to launch the Aztec. They can try out new unproven tools without risking the reputation of Milwaukee or Dewalt. If it succeeds, I would expect to see their top tier tool brands incorporate the technologies.
victor says
Hi stuart – just wanted to let you know that the ridgid 86035SB is down to $69. also the inch pounds is 2250 {the latter was on the box but the manual says 2000, Ridgid torque numbers are usually inflated a bit {passed records}………..your response will be greatly appreciated……….thx………….victor.
Stuart says
Nice find!
I didn’t see this at my local store, but I did snag a Milwaukee M18 drill kit for the same price.
victor says
Stuart – THX – I just picked up the 2360-20 from the home depot web site {special deal – buy the latter flood light and get a free 5.0 milwaukee battery}. None were available from their web site and customer service had no idea of what i was trying to say and no idea when they would be available. I know quite a few reps fom milwaukee, I made some calls and got a phone call from the milwaukee rep for the west coast regional sector, He called home depot and his rep at my local HD . I walked in and right away was given the flood light and a free 5.0 milwaukee battery, the latter deal won’t be there for long, its like Ipaid $75 for the battery and $75 for the flood light, HD has been known to falter in such deals, there are another “3” sililar deals as of now…………THX…………victor.
victor says
Hi stuart — my local HD just dropped the price of the Ridgid 86035SB again from $69. It is now $59………..thx………..victor.
Nathan says
so is the switch pressure sensitive or the head of the unit? I read that as the switches are pressure sensitive and if you press is hard you’ll get max run.
which also makes sense as if work gets harder you’d natural grip the device tighter too.
interesting idea – would rather see a palm nailer.
Eric says
I can only envision my use for such a tool, not yours, as our situations and jobs are unique. That said, it would be well worth it for me as I do lots of sheet metal duct installation. I usually use a right angle impact because of clearance issues on the “blind side” of the round or rectangular joints I am using self tapping sheet metal screws , usually 1/4 or 5/16 hex head, to drive. These screws although somewhat forgiving, the closer to perpendicular they go in, the less chance of wandering or losing a screw out of the magnetic nut driver tip, etc. Sometimes it is hard to hold the angle impact at the correct angle (straight 90 degrees like a drill press) one handed while getting the screw started. This is where this tool might make the job that much more pleasant and productive, for a sheet metal duct installer.
ktash says
I got one of these in December. I’m enthusiastic. It’s great for doing small jobs quickly, like putting in a few screws to hold something in the kitchen. Just the right size. It saved my bacon a couple of days ago. I had to attach drawer slides for a very narrow drawer. Even my compact drill and driver didn’t fit. This did and was easy to maneuver in the opening. I’ve been using it instead of my standard driver for smaller screws. It sits on the shelf with my most used tools.