RIDGID R8648 18V Brushless Sub-Compact Recip Saw Review

Just make the cut! This RIDGID R8648 18V one-handed reciprocating saw doesn't have a ton of features, but we like it that way. When we're reaching for a one-handed recip saw, it's to make a quick cut. We don't want to fumble with tons of features to get it done. The R8648 offers a brushless motor that delivers up to 3,200 SPM through a variable speed trigger. You also get a 7/8" stroke and an LED light to help light the area. These are currently available at the Home Depot for $139 (bare tool).
RIDGID R8648 18V Sub-Compact Recip: homedepot.sjv....
Keep current with our great content:
Facebook: / shoptoolreviews
Twitter: / shoptoolreviews
Instagram: / shoptoolreviews
KZbin: / shoptoolreviews

[@scottcpan68]

Picked this up at HD as a free tool. They have a BOGO promotion. Purchase a sub-compact drill kit (R8701K) and get a choice of a free tool. 2 tools, 2 batteries, a charger and a bag for $99 was a no brainer

[@IMPACT-NATION]

One hell of a storm passing through there Tim. I was born in Jacksonville on my Dads navy base in 84. Moved from Florida in the late 80’s but always enjoy trips back home when I’m able. Florida will always be home no matter where I’m at. Great review as always buddy✊

[@josephsalomone]

Designed specifically for people who already lost their hand using the two handed version.

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Lol. That's pretty funny. Thanks for watching.

[@vsar1938]

The mw hackzall is amazing however when you are cutting through thick dense would the vibrations in your hand are off the charts insane to the point of actual physical pain / numbing. So gonna get rid of that and get this as an alternative.

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Honestly, probably every one-handed recip is going to vibrate when cutting through dense material. Some worse than others. These smaller saws, they just don't have room to include much anti-vibration technology. Thanks for watching.

[@ZeGermanHam]

It's the nature of the beast. Milwaukee typically has the least amount of vibration compared to the other brands, so I don't think you will find cutting through thick dense wood to be any better with another brand of recip saw. It also somewhat depends on the blade you are using, and how you are using/holding the saw in relation to the material you are cutting. But at the end of the day, you have a reciprocating blade, so it's going to vibrate a good amount no matter what brand of saw you're using.

[@brianbanks3044]

every time i watch one of your videos, it costs me money....lol...but everything that I got has been fantastic

[@Shoptoolreviews]

CORRECTION! It's not the Watching that costs you the money, it's the buying of the tools that costs you the money.😜 We feel your pain. Thanks for watching.

[@txvet7738]

I see a future head to head video, Milwaukee M12 Fuel recip v. this Rigid recip!

[@tinman1955]

I have the DeWalt Atomic and it's only a 5/8 stroke.

[@Dirt_Worm]

I keep this model at work now over my M12, the stroke length is nice. I like the 4ah battery because the front is way heavier on this tool.

[@oneyedthing]

Im curious if this is really better than the M12 overall. Which is heavier btw?

[@MadLadsAnonymous]

Please head to head with the Flex 24v!

[@Shoptoolreviews]

We might have to do that soon. Thanks for watching.

[@boosted2.4_sky]

She's a beast TJ!!..☝️

[@organicvids]

Do they make a pruning blade for this?

[@ZeroColdx911]

Is this any good for cutting 4x4 or 6x6 posts?

[@fredygonzalez962]

Great video

[@snowgorilla9789]

SOLD I know it will find a lot of uses

[@Shoptoolreviews]

This is a very handy tool. Thanks for watching.

[@costavong6018]

the 3200rpm power cannot reveal on 2ah power, it must be at least 6ah to show the potential, like at least 20% fastest than we you see here but i use 2 hand, it fight back and hurt if you cannot handle the force

[@NageekNoohac]

I've had two of these go bad, each one lasted about a month before the motor started whining really loud and eventually just stopped working.

[@meronmichael5941]

Same here

[@ZeGermanHam]

At $139 bare tool, it's more expensive than I expected. You can buy the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hackzall for $127.50 on Amazon right now, and I'd be willing to bet the Milwaukee has better build quality and features under the skin (e.g., water protection). That said, the small size of this Rigid is very nice. I will also say that one-handed recip saws are very versatile tools. I use mine all the time for automotive tasks and yardwork at home with a pruning blade. IMO, unless you're doing demo work, a one-handed recip is the way to go versus a conventional two-handed recip.

[@jamesmolnar7018]

I have both the Milwaukee m18 and the ridged subcompact…..the Milwaukee died on me…first issue was with the locking mech for the blade….thn loss of power….finally it decided to give up completely. My ridgid is out performing it in every way

[@evilvet]

man, changing blades with batteries in!

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Living on the edge.😜 Thanks for watching.

[@kyeraff]

If the question is "do you need a ____(tool)?", the question is wrong. Proper question is "why do you need ____(tool)?" Ugh. Punctuation nightmare right there.

[@Shoptoolreviews]

That's why we work with tools and don't write books.😜

[@kyeraff]

@@Shoptoolreviews I'm thinking of starting a channel making fun of those 5minutetooltips channels that take 23 steps to fasten a joint.

[@matthewmcnulty698]

How. Much. Fatigue. Does. The. Sub compact put on the. Wrist i am thinking about. Getting 1

[@DanielGomez-cf6vk]

It’s a great saw it compares to my Milwaukee hackzall

[@2down4up]

Maybe it’s just me but it seems like your set lighting has been getting darker from your earlier videos. I’m assuming that is intentional but honestly I like the nice bright lighting on your earlier videos better. But it doesn’t bother me enough for me to care beyond a quick comment and since nobody asked me it ain’t even worth 2 cents. Regardless love all your videos and you are now my new favorite channel. Not just my favorite tool channel but my favorite channel period! Keep up the fantastic work please.

[@vsar1938]

Also I personally noticed the audio is a bit off, cant really narrow it down but definitely starting to feel more infomercially rather than diy.

[@Shoptoolreviews]

@V Sar this particular video had a ton of rain in the background due to our afternoon Florida thunderstorms. Sorry about that. We usually wait until after the storm, but it was lasting all day. Thanks for watching.

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Good eye. Yes, we are actually playing around with our set lighting. We installed new UFO style High Bay LED lights, and we've changed some of the backdrop lighting. Thanks for the note and preference. As always, thanks for watching.

[@2down4up]

@@Shoptoolreviews I actually liked the ambiance of the rain in the background. Dunno why. Maybe because I work in shop and it’s always noisy and it feels weird when it’s quiet.

[@LuminairPrime]

This is a good saw, but don't plan to use JUST the promo 2Ah battery. It's a powerful saw, so it will only cut wood for a few minutes with 2Ah.

[@MrHowieZ1973]

Why is Ridgid 5 years behind everyone else

[@Tog84two97]

Because they are manufactured by TTI and Milwaukee and Ryobi come first...

[@mattek519]

You mean when Ridgid had the first hydrolic motor impact driver a year before everyone else and you mean when the octane hammerdrill was the first to be spec'd with 1300 lbs in the torque wars. TTI doesn't dictate what tools ridgid has. Tti makes what Emerson tells them to

[@boosted2.4_sky]

It's a subcompact recip saw.. not sure how you got five years behind everyone...they had one available in the JobMax line for years...they've just updated their recip line with this...this is actually the most powerful subcompact one-handed recip saw available.. by anyone..👈 Although this doesn't have to anything to do with this video ...Ridgid's half inch impact wrench is the most powerful half inch impact wrench available... I just think you don't know very much about Ridgid Tools

[@shanew7361]

I feel the same way with some of the M18 or lack thereof tools lol

[@mattek519]

@@shanew7361 they dont have 700 tools, but everything you need on a jobsite, they have

[@northsky5629]

Mine lasted 3 months, hopefully ridgid replaces it. Disappointed so far