R842301 18V Impact? Obselete model?

[Wagon Man]

Was trolling in HD last night, they have a 18V (NiCd) 2 pcs Impact / Drill kit for $149 AFTER the power-deal discount. Drill is R840011, impact is R842301.

Noted that these are not "new model" per se, but is it worth buying for the price?

Also, I cannot find R842301 on Ridgid site... is this an obselete model?

Any known issues with this impact?

Tks!

[FINER9998]

if the impact driver is comparable to the max select or 14.4 impact driver, it is a very good tool. great driving power and excellent balance.

[reConx]

[quote=Wagon Man;138294]Was trolling in HD last night, they have a 18V (NiCd) 2 pcs Impact / Drill kit for $149 AFTER the power-deal discount. Drill is R840011, impact is R842301.

Noted that these are not "new model" per se, but is it worth buying for the price?

Also, I cannot find R842301 on Ridgid site... is this an obselete model?

Any known issues with this impact?

I got the R840011 four years ago @$99 special and its still running strong after a few remodeling jobs and decks. It came with a hard plastic case instead of those man-purses (not that there is anything wrong with them except when dropped; bags are great). The impact driver is the same model used in the 4pc Li-ion kit R964 and is a strong useful tool. The only down-side of this kit is the type of batteries supplied. The batteries are Ni-cad 1.3 ah which charge fast, have plenty of power but have short run-time compared to the high-tech batteries of today. Overall its a good price for what you get and run-time is not so short to be an issue with the DIYers.

[Wagon Man]

Tks guys! I'll go shopping today :D

As much as I prefer to buy American, but when it comes to "cordless", the priority is back to my own interest -- low risk on parts (and batteries) and be protected from the very quick pace of obsolescence in power tools technology...

Ridgid's LLSA has come to my rescue :bravo:

[CWSmith]

The "obsolete" question, is one which transcends almost every product. I used to be caught up with the same thing until one day I realized how much it cost me to live out there on the "cutting edge".

While this question used to mostly apply to computers and automobiles, today, it certainly applies to the high-tech tool market. Heck man, you'd have to have some pretty deep pockets to keep pace with the newest tool developements. (You'd also have to have some pretty deep trash cans for all the throw-away obsolete tools too!).

Even things as simple as a hammer aren't simple anymore, especially as we see new alloys and computer designed features. When one considers that there was very little difference between a hammer purchased in 1901 and 1990, the 2008 hammer is almost another tool. If you use a hammer every day, that's great and I'm sure you get a lot less stress on your hand and arm, but it doesn't make my old hickory handled nail driver obsolete either.

Cordless tools are probably the most changed items in today's tool market, with new features, new power levels and new battery technology being introduced almost every month. But does it make your old power tool obsolete? Not really!

I like to think that my old tools (even corded and/or non-electrical) work just as good as when they were new. They may not be as efficient, as the newest power tools, nor will they have all the features, but are the holes they bore any worse?

What cracks me up, is the occasional post by someone who wants to know what to do, because the latest and greatest may have died on him. Then I think of how much use I've gotten out of my 45 year old cordless wood brace and it makes me smile. Yep, no question that what got introduced last month may well be the tool of our dreams, but when you can pick-up last year's model and save some significant $$, it's a very good deal! It only becomes obsolete when it stops running and you can't get it fixed.

:)

CWS

[BadgerDave]

Words of widom CWS. It wasn't all that many years ago when I bought my 9.6V DeWalt drill/driver and IIRC, there were only a few mfgs. who even had 18V and most only offered 9.6 or 14V.

Anyone remember when RIDGID offered both a RH and LH hammer? I snapped up one of the RH models when they went on clearance at HD just so I could say I own a right handed hammer. :D Although it doesn't work any better than any other hammer I own it's won me more than one bet when someone tries to tell me there is no such thing.:dance:

[Wagon Man]

OMG... RH and LH hammer ?!?!?!? Never have seen one!

Yeah.... I also have a 9.6V yellow & black too :) and still on it's original batteries. It is still running strong except that the battery life is very short nowadays.. The case is now owned by the DW235G, and the drill itself is in my son's toy box :D

[andysf150]

wow.... im editing because i just answered my own question. Read twice... ask once!

It is a great impact. Using it right now to drive 14/16 guage steel together. It works like a charm, and has outworked some much more expensive models. It has its downfalls, as in the weight. But its balanced well enough that the weight doesn't hit you as much as you would think. Still heavy after a day of lugging 24' studs and the gun. Well worth it.

[mdm]

Words of widom CWS. It wasn't all that many years ago when I bought my 9.6V DeWalt drill/driver and IIRC, there were only a few mfgs. who even had 18V and most only offered 9.6 or 14V.

Anyone remember when RIDGID offered both a RH and LH hammer? I snapped up one of the RH models when they went on clearance at HD just so I could say I own a right handed hammer. :D Although it doesn't work any better than any other hammer I own it's won me more than one bet when someone tries to tell me there is no such thing.:dance:

I have one of those too.

[Andrew M.]

I too have one and bought a LT for my friend who loves it.

[andysf150]

only gripe would be that the impact that comes in the new 4 piece li-ion combo doesn't have a light. It really is a handy feature, definately overlooked on a lot of models. At least it has the metal housing up front, rather than just plastic. Definately adds some durability, and a somewhat pleasing look. It looks simpler/better than the 18v/24v model with the rubber housing, but that one has a light...

[Wagon Man]

Finally came home with the set.. I did hesitate a little considering it came with "lesser" battery (1.3 AH) ... but will be too much dough to buy seperate... and like Andy, I feel the compact has good balanced in the hands.

Nonetheless I hope Ridgid will soon offer LLSA on batteries purchased seperately from the tools.

[BadgerDave]

When you purchase a Ridgid cordless tool you have to register the charger, batteries and the tool seperately in the LLSA Progream. Does it say somewhere that you can't buy a battery seperately and register it into the program?

[Wagon Man]

Dave, that's my understanding from this thread. Pls share if ths is not the case, then I'll probably go shopping :)

http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16910&highlight=battery

When you purchase a Ridgid cordless tool you have to register the charger, batteries and the tool seperately in the LLSA Progream. Does it say somewhere that you can't buy a battery seperately and register it into the program?

[BadgerDave]

Wagon Man, I don't know if you can or can't register a separately purchased battery. I only asked if there was something in writing that says you can't because it only makes sense that if you have to register the batteries that come with a tool AND the tool itself into the LLSA Program that you could also buy additional batteries and register them by themselves.

I guess the question that begs for an answer is if Ridgid will replace a battery that came with a tool why wouldn't they also replace a battery that was purchased by itself?

[Andrew M.]

CS said NO, and I talked to a female supervisor"head" of the warranty program, who was less than friendly . Ridgid batteries cost more than others , are not as competitive compared to others , [who even sells an 18v , 1.3aH battery anymore except cheap tool lines like HFT]to my other tools and only have a 3 yr warranty. Milwaukee has 5yr. for example. I will not buy anymore Ridgid cordless unless it is in a kit form for that reason.
Call CS if you want to prove it for your self.

[canucksartech]

Wagon Man, the R842301 18 volt impact is an excellent tool. Best impact that Ridgid makes, IMO. Performance is best out of all of them.

And no, a separately purchased battery is not registerable for the LLSA. It only has a 3-year warranty applicable to it.

[Wagon Man]

Thanks! Good to know. Looks like I'm all settled on drills and impact now :D

Next up: may be the Ridgid Planner...

Wagon Man, the R842301 18 volt impact is an excellent tool. Best impact that Ridgid makes, IMO. Performance is best out of all of them.

And no, a separately purchased battery is not registerable for the LLSA. It only has a 3-year warranty applicable to it.

[BadgerDave]

..........................
And no, a separately purchased battery is not registerable for the LLSA. It only has a 3-year warranty applicable to it.

I'll bet the Service Centers really love dealing with that Catch 22 scenario.:bash:

[Spinalzo]

Yep, the word is that they will only warrant batteries that are purchased as part of a combo kit, not the individual batteries purchases.