Ridgid 18V cordless power tool users – this one’s for you! Ridgid has (finally!) come out with a new 18V cordless band saw.
The new Ridgid cordless band saw features a compact design and 2-1/2″ cut capacity. It sports a variable speed dial, LED worklight, tool-free blade release, and is backed by Ridgid’s Lifetime Service Agreement.
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Ridgid Cordless Band Saw Features & Specs
- Model R8604B
- 2-1/2″ cut capacity
- 32-7/8″ blade length
- Variable speed
- 320-680 SFPM
- Integrated rafter hook
- Tool-less blade change
- LED worklight
Ridgid says their new cordless band saw is lightweight to reduce user fatigue and is great for overhead use.
If it’s hard to tell, the 18V battery attaches to the front right side of the tool and at an angle.
It’s designed for cutting threaded rod, black pipe, PVC pipes, conduit, unistrut, angle iron, and other such materials. Press materials also remind that it can be used to cut wood as well.
The saw will ship with an 18 TPI blade.
Price: $179 (bare tool)
Coming Soon to Home Depot
Compare: Dewalt Compact Saw via Amazon
Compare: Dewalt Deep Cut Saw via Amazon
ETA: Fall 2020
Discussion
The new Ridgid R8604B does indeed look to have a compact and streamlined geometry, perhaps even making it more compact than some competing models.
Ridgid cordless power tool users have been asking for a cordless band saw for the longest time. Is this what you guys had in mind?
John
These small size cordless bandsaws are quite useful. I take one when picking up steel to cut for my needs to transport. I have 2 Hitachi/Metabo HPT cordless bandsaws which work fine but they do flex a bit, too much plastic. I should have bought a Makita instead since I have that 18V platform too. When I really need size and power I pull my corded deep cut Milwaukee from SWAG table and get to work.
Jared
Looks to share a lot of design similarities with the Ryobi. Just visually I mean, from the layout. Nice to have another option.
SaturnFire
I bought the Ryobi One last month for a job…It works great. Look so similar it is funny.
Nate B
It looks like they use the same mold for the bottom wheel cover and blade change lever, presumably that whole mechanism is the same.
Ridgid Jobmax and Ryobi JobPlus are the same, too. Why reinvent the wheel? Same parent company, might as well save costs by sharing what they can.
G Schutte
It looks the same because both companies are owned by the same company
fred
I guess that Home Depot wanted another option to bolster their Ridgid-branded lineup. They are currently selling the Ryobi P590KN – as a kit (with 4Ah battery and charger) for $159 and the larger (3.25 inch cut capacity) Milwaukee 2829-20 for $279 – or $329 with a 5Ah battery. So this Ridgid seems to be slotted in between pricewise. That is in keeping with HD’s marketing strategy for the 3 TTI-made tool brands.
Mike
Great to have another option out there….but frankly TTI needs to figure out what they’re doing with Ridgid. They’re consistently a day late and a dollar short to the game when it comes to tool releases. AEG’s lineup overseas is a decent bit larger, and at the very least their website is up to date.
fred
Ridgid (as in TTI-supplied power tools) is a licensed house brand of the Home Depot. So it may be HD that drives what’s brought into the USA from TTI under the Ridgid brand.
Stuart
Bingo.
Home Depot is the only USA customer.
Andrew Drozd
I’d have to agree. My first real introduction to cordless power tools was the classic Ridgid 5 tool combo. They worked well enough, and the price was definitely right, but in 2012, they just didn’t make much that was readily available at a Home Depot, if they even made it at all, so I was having to branch out in lots of directions, mostly corded, to fill the gaps. After I found the spankin’ deal on a 17 pc Milwaukee set, I was firmly moved on. Only Ridgid stuff I kept was my sanders and my trim router, and oddly the light from the combo kit. Everything else I gave to my sister, the new electrician, so she can be roasted by her coworkers for not owning yellow or red.
Mr. Certainly
What’s something that AEG has that Ridgid (USA) doesn’t?
Ecotek
Off hand, i can say that they have a cordless 10″ sliding miter saw, angled finish nailer, a string trimmer, and I’m pretty sure they also have a chain saw. You can check out aeg web site to see the lineup. Its largely the same, but they have more overseas.
mizzourob
Here is a list of AEG tools a YouTuber put together. It is a bit out of date with some recent Ridgid releases though.
https://youtu.be/P2zMNRukduU
JoeM
…Is it just me, or are the tools from RIGID aesthetically gaining more RIDGES on their designs?
There’s obviously nothing wrong with more grip, or shapes that give more structure… but… doesn’t that secondary grip seem… A little excessive with the grip design? Grooves AND textures, plus it’s big enough to basically be a Mallet… That’s an awful lot of Ridges on this Rigid product.
Are… Are they trying to over-sell Rigid to the point of subliminal messaging here? I thought Rigid was already known and trusted enough to not need so much hype.
It’s still a Rigid tool, and will probably be EVERYTHING you expect from Rigid… I’m just… Noticing a visual pattern as they release some of their newer tools. More RIDGES… Angles, valleys, patterns in the plastic… That kind of thing… Anyone else see it?
fred
BTW – your spell checker may have corrected it to “Rigid” – an actual word – but the brand name is RIDGID – stemming from the Ridge Tool Company. Founded in 1923 in Ridgeville Ohio – its now located in Elyria Ohio – and owned by Emerson. Many years ago, after Sears threw them over as the OEM for many craftsman table saws etc. – Emerson cut a deal with Home Depot. That deal included a license of the RIDGID brand for application to most tools. The exception in the license was for plumbing tools – still made by Emerson-Ridge Tool. Emerson also still makes shop vacuum cleaners sold at HD with the Ridgid name. They may also still produce some Ridgid tools like corded table saws
JoeM
My eyes must be tired… I totally missed that, fred… Thank You… You saved my sanity AGAIN.
…It IS making more sense now too… Of COURSE they’re putting more RIDGES into their tools… Duh… BRAND RECOGNITION… Plus, we’re only a few years away from the Brand’s CENTENERY, aren’t we?
It all makes sense now… I knew spewing my stupid on here would result in someone straightening out my strangeness. Thank GOD it was you, fred… I can always rely on the best, and coolest, history out of you.
Mike
Very good knowledge of the Ridgid company.
I believe they also make garbage disposals, dont they?
fred
I did not know that. Emerson is a pretty big company so they might rebrand some as Ridgid. You may know that Insinkerator (the brand we installed most often) is owned by Emerson.
Rog
Stuart (or anyone), is there a strong benefit to TTI to produce Ridgid? I mean obvious there’s a case since they still produce the tools and occasionally new products – but they always feel a bit like the unloved stepchild to their Milwaukee and even Ryobi.
I guess I just don’t hear about or see a lot of their tools out in the wild. I know they fill that “mid” level in TTI’s lineup but they still just seem… there… for the sake of being there.
fred
Pure speculation here:
Like many products that we think that we (end-users) are the customer – we are a bit mistaken. Often it are the giants of retailing (WalMart, Home Depot, Amazon etc.) who’s merchandise buyers get the attention of the manufacturers. In this case Home Depot is the sole legitimate US distributor of Ridgid-brand small power tools (other than those specifically for the plumbing trade). Home Depot is also the sole legitimate US distributor of Ryobi power tools (also from TTI ) and a big purveyor of Milwaukee Tools (also TTI). So if Home Depot wants another tool to carry the Ridgid brand name – or alternatively decides to retire a different one – TTI is extremely like to sit up, take notice and do what its customer (HD) wants.
Nate B
Is that a hang-hook or lanyard attachment on the right side of the handle?
Bob
@nate B . I agree looks like there is a metal flip out hook and also a dedicated lanyard attachment point.
The “rafter” hook is a great idea. The laynard point??? Why not just wrap it around the handle. Going to be stronger that way anyway. I guess options are always nice tho.
I see this has variable speed. You guys use variable speed on the small bandsaws? Mine is an older one. No variable speed. Am I missing out? On my large porta band I do have and use speed control. Usually to slow it down in heavy steel to keep from wiping out the teeth.
SteveP
I’m a bit mystified but what you can do with one of these that a battery-powered angle grinder with a cutoff wheel can’t handle? Plus the angle grinder offers more versatility
skfarmer
lots of stuff,
1. quieter
2. less mess from wheel dust and metal shaving thrown around at thousands of rpm.
3. safety, few or no sparks and flying debri
4. accuracy of cut
5. capacity, the more you cut with an angle grinder the smaller the wheel gets, the opening on the bandsaw never changes.
i am sure i missed some . i don’t own a bandsaw but there are times i would like one. i cut steel with a plasma cutter, smoke wrench, abrasive chop saw and on occasion cordless cutoff tool. they all have a place but all of them make a huge mess.
SteveP
Thanks – all good points but reinforces for me this is a special use tool. If you know you need it, you need it. Otherwise…
Bob
I would encourage you to try out a band saw if you do even the ocasional ammount of metal cutting. I do a fair amount of fabricating steel. Hands down a bandsaw is better than a cut off wheel. Faster, easier, safer, cleaner, quieter…the list goes on. Only time I use the “suicide wheels” now is when I can’t fit the band saw into the cut.
Also try out the band saw fixtures they make. Swag off road comany makes quite a few. Turns the portable band saw into a stationary band saw.