UPDATE: Here’s our review of Ridgid’s new JobMax tools. The page you’re reading now has info on the oscillating multi-tool and autohammer tools, while this page here talks all about the right angle drill, ratchet, and impact driver.
Ridgid has just released an innovative line of JobMax cordless power tools which feature interchangeable tool heads. The heart of this system is Ridgid’s new Power Base Handle, which features a tool-free quick connect interface, 4 directional head positions, a variable speed trigger, and a one-handed ergonomic grip.
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Ridgid’s new JobMax cordless tool combo kit (model R92234) includes:
- 12V drill with 2 speed settings, 3/8″ chuck, 18-position adjustable clutch, and LED light
- Multi-tool oscillating tool head, for cutting wood and metal, sanding, scraping paint, removing grout, and many other applications these types of tools are usually used for
- Auto Hammer head, for hammering nails in tight spaces (this should be comparable to the recently reviewed Ryobi Auto Hammer)
- One Power Base Handle (for the two heads, the drill is a one-piece system)
- Two 12V lithium ion battery packs with battery charger
Pardon our frankness, but WOW, this looks like an awesome tool system! We’ll keep you posted with more information as it’s made available.
It’s a fair assumption that Ridgid will offer reasonably priced individual JobMax add-on tool heads once the combo kits hit stores, and if so, the system might even approach the versatility offered by Milwaukee’s vast selection of M12 cordless tools.
Ridgid’s new JobMax tools should hit stores in early March; if you seem them before we do, snap a pic if you can and let us know!
Details via Ridgid
News via ToolSnob
This combo set (R22334 drill & multi-master head kit) is currently available for preorder at Home Depot’s online store, and is priced at $199.
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Click on the thumbnails below for larger pics of the tools.
What do you guys think about these modular tools?
NMK_61802
I would love it if Bosch came out with some of these items to compliment thier sub compact line.
ArmchairDIY
I like the idea, and I have had good luck with Ridgid tools in the past.
I doubt if I would be impressed with the auto hammer, but the rest looks great.
Stuart
Even if Ridgid’s Auto Hammer Head is as… under-performing as the other brands’ offerings have been, the fact that it’s an attachment rather than a standalone tool should make it much more desirable.
For one, its unit cost should be much, much lower, especially since the charger and lithium-ion batteries are included with the combo tool set anyways.
Second, how many people really use all of the attachments that come with their cordless tool sets? When I purchased an 18V Hitachi drill, it came with a cordless flashlight. Three years later, I haven’t used it in a real setting yet. I feel that many people who wouldn’t otherwise buy a separate Auto Hammer might be able to find some use for the attachment included in the combo kit.
As for Bosch coming out with similar tools that complement their sub-compact cordless tool lineup, it’s definitely possible. Bosch has been awfully quiet recently… I wonder what they’re up to…
ArmchairDIY
I completely agree with you.
In the interest of full disclosure I have to say I have not used any of the cordless auto hammers. I based my assumption on the performance of your other auto hammer review. I don’t want to bash a tool before I ever get my hand on it. It’s just hard to imagine it being possible to make a cordless auto hammer with a lot of power.
Who knows…..maybe Ridgid got it right. The auto hammer is one of those things that you may not need often, but could be really handy when you do need it.
Hopefully Ridged will send you one, so you can give us all a full field tested tool review.
uthscsaedu
That looks pretty badass. I always love to see new stuff.
I would like to see what the mechanism looks like when you take the head off. Is it a simple rotating thing?
Instead of a hammer I think a right-angle or close-quarter drill attachment would have been more useful, or maybe they will come out with one later.
I was just in Home Depot today and didn’t see this system
Stuart
Uthscsaedu, a separate set with right angle drill, impact driver, and ratchet attachments will be released presumably at the same time as this combo set.
As of now, it looks like the product pics are renderings, so it may be some time before they hit the stores.
I too would be interested in seeing the internals of these tools – I imagine that the handle houses the motor and possibly a basic gearbox, while the attachments have gearboxes and power transmission optimized for their respective designs.
ArmchairDIY
http://ow.ly/16Si1 Here you go it hit Home Depot Today $199.00
The link is to Home Depots site, I shortened it because it was a mile long.
Stuart
Thanks, ArmchairDIY. We spotted that link a few minutes ago via Home Depot’s twitter feed and updated the post accordingly. I forgot to post mention of the update in the comments, thanks for the reminder!
I still haven’t seen a product page for the right-angle multi-head kit yet, but I expect that it’s coming soon.
ArmchairDIY
Ha! I should have known you would spot it before I did. I can’t beat the ToolGuyd to a good tool story scoop….lol
Stuart
Your update was still greatly appreciated as it was only by chance that I came across the link a moment or two before you did.
We weren’t the first ones to break news about these new tools (we were maybe third), and readers have beaten us to the punch before. Most notably, reader uthscsaedu is credited with discovering Ryobi’s auto hammer before it was mentioned anywhere else.
bigguy0
Looks awesome but I will be hoping and waiting that they come out with the whole set in one combo kit (minus the 12v drill).
uthscsaedu
I just posted this on the other page – my guess is that if they have the whole set in one kit, it would probably only have 2 batteries and 1 charger.
MichaelScott
This tool is going to be a great addition to the Ridgid 12volt Line of tools. The greatest selling point about Ridgid is the Lifetime Service Agreeement. Once you have your tools registered they are covered for life. batteries, brushes, chucks, triggers . . .anything outside of customer abuse.
Stuart
Assuming that both starter sets are priced at $200, I could definitely see a set including all of the various tool heads selling for $300. I’d like to see such a set include a third battery instead of the standalone conventional drill/driver.
Dan Thornhill
I recently bought a job max combo kit which did not include a oscillating head.How can I purchase one?I am unable to find one in Canada at Home Depot where I bought my kit. I tried searching the Home Depot web site without success.May I purchase one directly from Ridgid ?
Ron Crawford
I have not been able to find blades, scrapers, etc. for the Job Max. The hardware guys at Home Depot had no clue.
Stuart
Ron, the Ridgid JobMax oscillating multi-tool is compatible with both Bosch & Dremel blades, scrapers, and other such accessories.
ron chalmers
This will be the 3rd time I’ve returned this set it works at times and other times it suck . It won’t turn on and that pisses me off . A great Idea but doesn’t work . Please get the bugs out.
Anton Vermaak
Bought one a month ago and it became more and more intermittent until it was useless. Traded it for a new one and I’ll see how it works.
Delwin Burton
I purchased a new Ridgid Jobmax, extra battery, and all accessories in August 2010. I loved this tool. Then in September it quit working. Ridgid instructed me to send it to my nearest repair facility. After a month I call the repair center and they told me they were waiting on a replacement switch assembly. I contacted Ridgid and they told me the switch assembly would not be available until January 2011. I will be without this tool for over three months and Ridgid was not willing to send me a replacement. That is the last Ridgid tool I will ever buy.
Dan Murray
I just bought the Job Max with the auto hammer attachment ( as an extra) this morning. Home Depot price out the door was $163.
My plan was to use it to nail 1/2 shear ply in the area underneath the eaves where clearance was only 7 inches. My success was somewhat limited as quite often I could not drive the 8d nail flush with the surface. To be fair, I was attempting to nail the shear to #1 2×12 rafters.
My overall assessment is that the JobMax is probably alright for soft woods in light carpentry, but not much help in douglas fir framing. At least Rigid didn’t claim that their JobMax would shoot 16ds like Ryobi and Craftsman. I read those reviews and those tools seem worthless. If I had an ongoing use for such a tool, I would most likely look into a plam nailer and an air compressor.
Stuart
Thank you for your assessment! If you’re looking for a better heavy duty cordless nailer, there’s also the Milwaukee M12 palm nailer to consider.
Jeff Bennett
Hi Everyone,
I bought the 12 v Ridgid multi tool for stripping tile, cutting door trim etc like other people. Purchasing a Ridgid I felt confident having used their entire line of plumbing tools for 25 yrs. I purchased @ Home Depot. As everyone else had the intermittant power problem! Well.. I took the tool back 5 times and never got a unit that didn’t have the power issue. Well in the process of the 5 returns I kept 2 batteries and numerous attachments for all the time, gas and money lost on the job. I finally returned the tool once and for all and also spoke with the manager and told him I wanted satisfaction for the ridiculas amount of trips I had made to hopefully get a working tool. They gave me a $50.00 gift card. I blew it off for a while. Recently they had a reburbished, complete set at at Ollie s for $39.00. I originally paid $99.00. Now I had about 20 sanding pads, 3 batteries and lots of cutting tools. Once again had the ongoing power issue and had to pull battery to make work but it still would shut off. This morning getting going to finish a job at the house, I looked at the problem. Made a shim for the trigger side or the battery between battey and tool. I used a thin aluminum angle that I cut with bulldog tinsnips and used grinder to get radius and smoothness. I checked operation and expoxyed to tool body. The tool worked FLAWLESSLY. I contacted Ridgid on a few occasions and never received any help. This fix should eliviate the condition but do not expoxy until you check that Multi Tool functions properly. Hope this saves all the stress I went through. Like I tell the kids..”Don’t be afraid to take things apart, the worse that can happen is that you have to shitcan it”! Think outside of the box and be creative!
All the best,
Jeff Bennett
travis
Ridgids 12v drill and the multi tool are by far, the worst quality tools I’ve ever owned. to make a long story short. in the 1 year I’ve owned these, I’ve went through 8 batteries, the motor burnt up in both the jobmax AND the drill, the trigger switch went to hell on both the drill AND jobmax, the forward/reverse selector on the drill broke, and the clutch on the drill works only when it wants to. for the record, I am NOT a contractor nor do I use these on a daily basis. I don’t over work the drill by any means, I have 18v drills for that. this was the first and the last time I do business with ridgid