Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Tools included:

• R851150 1/2″ VSR Drill/Driver
• R855 6 1/2″ Circular Saw
• R854 Reciprocating Saw
• R859 Work Light
• 24v XLi Battery Charger
• (2) 24 volt Lithium-ion Batteries

Experience:

I like this tool combo so it’s ironic that while I’ve been putting off this lengthy review some of the tools are beginning to fail.

This Ridgid combo replaced my long-dead Dewalt combo. that was offered well before a “cordless” sawzall was available so the Ridgid would be my first cordless reciprocating saw. I have used it extensively along with all the tools in the bag over the past year.

I’m carrying the Ridgid Combo with me unless a job calls for more and I’ve gotten away with quite a few tasks without electricity.

• Cordless Drill/Driver
• Cordless Circular Saw
• Cordless Reciprocating Saw
• Cordless Illumination!

Plus, I’ve added Ridgid’s

• Cordless Planer
• Cordless Jigsaw

I keep a power inverter in the truck for battery charging.

Comments:

I’d like to say the Drill/Driver is as good as my little 15v Panasonic. Hahah, why do I like that wimpy panasonic?

I’d like to say the sawzall is as tough as my corded model. I’d like to say the Circular saw even comes close to a Saw Boss or that the flashlight is bright. Hmm… What can I say?

I can say that Ridgid makes tools that feel good in my hand. They are simple to adjust, with nice thick nobs and levers that operate smoothly. They are user-friendly and orange.

The Drill/Driver is heavy as hell with the 24V battery and it’s not small either. This is a framing, exterior heavy duty drill driver and I like it. It’s a little sloppy on fit and finish but it’s a brute and lasts long on the 24V… provided it’s not cold – more on that in a sec. I recently used this driver on slow speed hammer drill setting to drive in 1/4″ lags and an hour before to install #6 brass screws into fancy cabinet hinges. This is not a gentle driver.

The cordless circular saw is ok. At first I was excited because it outperforms my retired Dewalt but it’s really not all that impressive. A few sheets of plywood or a bunch of 2x and even the 24V battery is shot. It’s not the one for ripping 2x material unless it’s just one length and the other battery is charging but it is fantastic to have. I use it all the time for things like working on fence, out buildings, attics or basements without power and anywhere a couple of cuts will do.

The reciprocating saw got a lot of use over the year. That’s likely why three parts on mine are broken .. with an important pin lost. It still works. I know I should order the part before it doesn’t exist, since Ridgid has already replaced this model. The sawzall is important on my job. I’ve gotten away with a lot from this saw but let’s just say my opinion matches it’s strength.

The flashlight is outdated in this age of much brighter and more efficient LEDs. Imagine what we should have attached to those huge 24V batteries.

Ahh.. the Ridgid 24V Batteries: First I have say, I noticed that one battery costs $100. The combo kit came with two. That’s $200… so I got a charger, drill, flashlight and two saws for $200? I’ll say that a charging indicator on the battery and super-fast charging are fantastic!

The batteries hate the cold winters in New England. Mine did anyway. The both of my batteries couldn’t figure out whether they were charged or not. Sometimes a single cut would set the battery to dead but setting on the charger shows full after 10 seconds. Nothing I can do about the cold and never had this problem with the Porter-Cable drill/driver battery.

Summary:

Having all these tools cordless is liberating. Do I feel forced to stick with Ridgid’s cordless line since I’m already in this deep with 4 batteries and 6 tools? How do we end up with one over the other… My friend had this one, the tools were smooth. I liked the charge indicator and the tools seemed to last a long time on a single charge. I bought it and I’ve been happy to own a kit such as this. My suggestion would be to read up on these combos, consider what it means to have a half-dozen tools relying on a battery system. Research the batteries and if Ridgid batteries have the best record, go for it.

Links:
Ridgid X3 R963 5 Piece 18v Lithium-ion Combo Kit
Ridgid R964- 4 piece 18 volt Lithium Ion Combo Kit

Ridgid 24V 1-Hour Lithium-Ion Battery Charger 140315001
RIDGID 24V/18V Max Select XLi Lithium-Ion Hammer Drill

What’s hot and sticky and dries in 15 seconds? …I don’t know either. This is my Arrow TR-550 Hot Melt Glue Gun and I have it for those applications when I need an instant bond. The TR550 is Arrow Fastener’s best Lever Feed Glue Gun.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Features:

• Heavy Duty Circuitry
• Non-Drip Nozzle
• Check Valve Controls Glue Flow
• Built In Drip Tray Stand
• High Volume Melt Chamber for Even Application

Experience:

A while back I remember using this gun on the job installing trim. I can’t remember now if it was for a temporary bond on Fypon moldings or what. I haven’t brought my Arrow Hot Glue Gun to work in ages but I’ve been through boxes of glue sticks with this tool. Once upon a time, I found a case of really long glue sticks and I’ve since used them all.

In the past week I’ve dusted off my glue gun for a recreational purpose: Instantly adhering plastic army men onto a board for plinking. Actually they’re Cowboys and Indians and the horses just wouldn’t stand still without sticky feet.

What’s there to say about a Hot Glue Gun? I know they sell slow-set glues but I’ve only used this tool for quick-setting bonds. I’ve never found the adhesives to stick to anything. Maybe paper or the occasional child’s craft project. Like gluing little figures to a board.

Watch out for the dripping glue, It’s hot!

Links:

Arrow Fastener TR550 Automatic Lever Feed Glue Gun on Amazon.com

Arrow TR550 at ArrowFastener.com (Product Data)

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Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Features:

• 1.15 amp rotary tool with 10 accessories
• Variable speed (5,000-35,000 rpm); quick-change collet nut
• Comfortable plastic housing
• Includes rotary tool and 50+ commonly used accessories
• 18 ounces; 6-foot cord length; 5-year warranty

Experience:

One of the most memorable experiences with this tool happened a long long time ago, back in the days when I had long hair. I learned to always secure your hair and clothing when working with power tools. You see, as I worked with the hand held tool spinning at 15,000 rpm, my hair got caught on the bit and before I could blink it ripped off an inch of my scalp. Today, this story makes me laugh but I can still feel the memory. F-ing up with a tool can be really scary, especially when you’re working alone.

Speaking of safety, due to the small bits for grinding, cutting, sanding, etc it’s a good idea to wear glasses and a dust mask with this hobby-suitable tool.

Instead of listing a hundred methods and materials I’ve used the Dremel tool for, let me share another gruesome story from my youth.

When I was about 9 years old, I got out of a car, locked the door and shut my thumb into the locked door. Someone got in the other side and unlocked the door, freeing me. I had never been in so much pain in my life, even having broken many bones prior. My uncle, who’s a Dr., gets his Dremel Tool but doesn’t have a drill bit, only the grinding disks… you see, my thumb was so big it was going to explode.. so he says he needs to drill a hole through my thumbnail – but with a sanding disk! fuck.

He ground down the nail in a spot, I can still picture the result.. but he stopped before he cut all the way through – really this is a story about how to totally terrorize a child. He got a scalpel from his kit and whittled my thumb until with a firm press he cut through. Oh God. I remember how blood sprayed across the kitchen.. but you know what? After a bit, I felt much better and I never had an inherit fear of rotary tools as I got older.

Wow!

I’ve used the Dremel for lots of great tasks. The sanding drums are fabulous for taking down many small surfaces. Yikes, I’m still thinking about my thumb. I’ve worked gems, stones, metals, and plastics with my Dremel 395, probably least often using it on wood. I’ll list some of the accessories kits I own separately since they are tool independant. I have LOTS and LOTS of bits; from carbide to diamond, from roughing to polishing! One thing I never appreciated about this tool are the ‘drill press’ and ‘router’ accessories.

Comments:

Wear some eye protection and tie your hair back. If your nephew shuts his finger in a car door, take him to a hospital for treatment.

Links:

Dremel 300 Series Variable Speed Rotary Tool with 55 Accessories

Dremel 185-Piece General Purpose Accessory Kit

Dremel 150-Piece Super-Accessory Assortment

I’ve always had a woodburner in my shop. Every gift and most pieces I create get a signature and dated and sometimes a bit more from my woodburning tool. Everything I’ve ever made with love gets it duly personalized with this lifelong favorite tool.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Experience:

Lifelong lover of art and the smell of something burning, I’m pretty sure my affinity for this tool grew between crafts at summer camp and melting plastic army men in my basement. I plug in my modern day burner to write something about the piece I’ve just made. Lately I’ve been using recycled wood from a well-known structure and so I’ll burn some details somewhere inconspicuous. Due to my childish penmanship with these tools I rarely burn prominent features, like someone’s name on a jewelry box or the picture of an elephant I burned on a cherry lid.

Comments:

I prefer my slim and simple woodburner of non-descript manufacture to the larger, plastic Versa-Tool -  see this picture!

The Walnut Hollow Versa-Tool comes with a bunch of accessory tips, a manual with descriptions and knife point which is a great tool. I picked mine up at a local crafts store but it’s cheaper at Amazon.com. For most of my ‘writing’ I prefer the simpler ‘Detailer‘ woodburner in the picture. The temperature of the point is adjusted by moving the tip.

Anyway, I wanted to list this tool on toolboxblog.com because it’s a great part of my shop. Even I am surprised when I turn over a piece of furniture in my house and realize how old it already is… or… how old I really am. burn on.

Links:

Walnut Hollow seems to be pretty into Wood Burning.

Here’s Product Data on the model I bought.

Here is the Versa-Tool at Amazon.com
Creative Versa-Tool Kit – 120V/ 25-Watt

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Description:

• Amperage .2 Amps (0,02 A)
• Description Engraver
• Hertz 60 Hz
• Strokes per minute 7,200 spm
• Voltage 12o V AC, 60Hz
• Weight (lbs.) 12 oz. (340 g)

Experience:

The Dremel 290 is around my shop for one reason; to engrave my tools with my Name and Identification number. Every tool I purchase gets a mark. Sometimes I open the tool body and engrave where it’s unlikely a thief will look. As a tool comes into my shop I have to add it to a ledger for tax purposes because they all depreciate from the time they are put into service. At that time I can make an id number and include it in the ledger.

I designed two templates for spray painting my tools and after an engraving my tools get painted. A look around this site will show my ID designs. They all have it. With the ability to make tiny marks using the Dremel 290 even smaller hand tools can get an ID mark. This is not only handy in case of theft but because we all have a lot of the same tools on a jobsite. Pick one of mine up and it’s got my mark on it. Levels, Squares, even screwdrivers – You name it and I’ve written my name on it. There is little that can resist being scratched by the Dremel 290.

Links:

Dremel 290-01 1.15 Amp 7,200 Stroke Per Minute Engraver at Amazon.com

Modern day 290 at Dremel.com the Model 290-01