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Ridgid R86038 Review

Despite its incredible torque the R86038 fell a bit short in other aspects and doesn't quite deserve an award
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Ridgid R86038 Review
Price:  $70 List
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Manufacturer:   Ridgid
By Ross Patton and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Jan 22, 2020
73
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Speed - 35% 7.0
  • Torque - 25% 10.0
  • Convenience - 20% 6.0
  • Battery - 15% 7.0
  • Noise - 5% 2.0

Our Verdict

The Ridgid R86038 was clearly a powerhouse when it came to our torque assessment as it displayed that it was one of the strongest models out of the entire group of tools. It did fairly well during our fastener driving time trials but ultimately it was outperformed by much of the competition when it came to evaluating speed. We found that it doesn't possess quite as many bells and whistles as the top-scoring tools in the convenience department. Unfortunately, it had a so-so battery performance compared to the best drivers, and it's very loud.
REASONS TO BUY
Phenomenal torque
Three speed settings
Quick insert chuck
Quick release chuck
REASONS TO AVOID
Slower than a handful of other models
So-so battery life
Noisy

Our Analysis and Test Results

We think the R86038 is a solid choice for those who already own Ridgid tools or are looking to buy a kit. We'd also recommend this model to professionals who know that they will require a large amount of torque delivered from their driver but also don't mind the noise and will likely have extra batteries around.

ridgid r86038
Credit: Laura Casner

Performance Comparison



Likes


The obvious place where the Ridgid excelled during our exhaustive abuse of these tools was during the torque experiments. We began by tightening several ¾" nuts onto bolts we had welded to an I-beam for 10 seconds and then using a torque wrench to measure just how much twisting force each model was able to deliver. The R86038 was able to crank the nuts down to 300 foot-pounds of energy several trials in a row, which is on par with the highest scoring drivers in our review for this half of the torque test.

ridgid r86038 - the ridgid brings some impressive torque.
The Ridgid brings some impressive torque.
Credit: Laura Casner

For the second part of our torque testing, we used the wrench to crank the nuts down see which models could break them free. It was no challenge to the Ridgid to break nuts tightened down to 300 foot-pounds, and it only took this driver under 2 seconds to do so.


Although the R86038 showed slower speeds than the top models, it still posted quicker times than the majority of the field. When we clocked this driver sinking 3-⅝" ledger screws into a thick stack of plywood we calculated an average fastening time of 6 seconds after 5 trials.


When we switched our testing medium from plywood to a stack of 2x12s the average time the Ridgid took to drive the ledger screws dropped to 3 seconds, which tied several of the highest scoring models for the total score for the speed metric.

ridgid r86038 - as far as speed goes, the ridgid is pretty dang quick.
As far as speed goes, the Ridgid is pretty dang quick.
Credit: Laura Casner

We wanted to see how much using a bigger, burlier fastener would affect the speed of each model. To do this we, again, used a stack of 2x12 boards, but this time we drilled 11/32" pilot holes to accommodate ½" x 3" lag bolts, then timed how long it took each driver to tighten them as well as loosen them. When it came to sinking the screw the Ridgid was a bit slower than several models — it took 19 seconds to complete the task. It then took the R86038 9 seconds to fully back the fastener out which was much slower than the best of the best for this experiment.

ridgid r86038
Credit: Laura Casner

Much like the speed metric, the Ridgid did fairly well for our battery testing, but was outperformed by the top models. For the battery test we wore the drivers down by sinking 14 ledger screws into the stack of boards, then switched to sinking and removing a larger lag bolt, and then repeated this process over and over again until each battery was completely depleted of any power.


The R86038 was able to finish 3 complete sets of alternating between the two types of fasteners, but on its 4th set it was only able to sink the ledger screws and then died while driving the lag bolt.

ridgid r86038 - the ridgid battery is big and strong.
The Ridgid battery is big and strong.
Credit: Laura Casner

Convenience was a fairly strong metric for the R86038 when compared to other models, and we did find some ways in which it stood out.


It's great that the Ridgid has 3 settings for RPM, because with this model's ridiculous torque it wouldn't be much good for finish projects or small jobs if you weren't able to turn it down.

ridgid r86038 - we really like the location of the rpm selector switch on this model.
We really like the location of the RPM selector switch on this model.
Credit: Laura Casner

The R86038 has the light located below the handle near the battery which lights up the work area nicely, and a slight squeeze on the trigger activates the light without the actual driver needing to be engaged.

ridgid r86038 - it's nice that you don't have to activate the driver to light up the...
It's nice that you don't have to activate the driver to light up the work area with this model.
Credit: Laura Casner

This driver also has a bit holder below the backside of the handle that houses its included phillips bit.

ridgid r86038
Credit: Laura Casner

One of our favorite features of this model is that not only does the chuck have a quick insert for bits, inserting a bit cocks the chuck into a position that allows for an easy one-handed spring assisted quick release as well.

ridgid r86038 - inserting a bit into the chuck of the ridgid cocks the spring-loaded...
Inserting a bit into the chuck of the Ridgid cocks the spring-loaded quick-eject feature.
Credit: Jason Peters

Dislikes


Regrettably, the Ridgid lost a few points in the convenience department as well. At 2.4 lbs without the battery, it is one of the heavier impact drivers that we've put on the scale. That may seem insignificant, but if you're going to be using your driver for long periods of time every ounce counts — especially if you'll be going up and down a ladder with your tools or using it above your head.

This model is on the bulkier side of impact drivers that we've tested. From front to back we measured it to be 147mm long. A lot of people that use impact drivers will be using them in tight spaces, so if you're worried about room to work on your job or project it may be wise to go with a more compact model.


One metric for which the Ridgid received a very poor score was noise. Using a sound pressure level meter we measured the decibels that each model produced while driving several ledger screws, and then took an average. Sadly, we calculated the average for the R86038 to be a painful 100 decibels — making it one of the loudest impact drivers in our review. This amount of noise is not only a lot for the user, but you might also be bothering some bystanders or neighbors with a tool this loud as well. And, of course, always check with the manufacturer for the type of hearing protection that they recommend.


Value


The Rigid is what we would call a moderate value as a standalone tool. That said, if you already own this battery and charger or you're looking to purchase a kit that includes this model then it becomes a significantly higher value.

Conclusion


All in all, the Rigid R86038 is a middle of the road impact driver. It threw up a great score for torque, but is somewhat mediocre in several other aspects. Aside from performance it is downright loud.

Ross Patton and Austin Palmer