Ridgid 18V Brushless Two-Speed 1/2" Stud and Joist Drill: A First-Use Review

Introduction

Ridgid is not the flashiest name in power tools, but the brand has a track record of making genuinely useful updates when it refreshes a tool. The Ridgid 18V Brushless Two-Speed 1/2” Stud and Joist Drill is a right-angle drill aimed squarely at tradespeople who spend their days boring large holes through studs and joists. After unboxing it and putting it straight to work with auger bits and self-feed bits, the short version is this: it is powerful, smooth, and noticeably more ergonomic than the previous generation.

What’s in the Box and First Impressions

This is a tool-only package, so there is no battery or charger included. Inside you get the drill itself, a removable side handle, and directions. The side handle can be mounted on either the right or the left, and it makes a real difference in keeping the unit under control when big bits start biting.

Ridgid lists the drill bit capacity as follows: hole saw up to 6-1/4 inches, self-feed up to 4-5/8 inches, and auger up to 1-1/2 inches. The two-speed gearbox runs at 450 RPM on low and 1,400 RPM on high, which gives you the low-end torque for big self-feed work and the speed for smaller auger bits.

One thing worth noting before anything else: the drill comes with Ridgid’s Lifetime Service Agreement. Register the tool within roughly the first three months of purchase and Ridgid will repair or replace it for life if something goes wrong. For a tool that will take daily abuse on job sites, that is a meaningful bonus.

Standout Design Updates

A few small details show that Ridgid actually thought about how this tool gets used. The new chuck key design is a highlight. Instead of fighting to wedge the key somewhere it might fall out, there is a dedicated holder with a little flip-over clamp. You drop the key in, flip the clamp down, and it genuinely does not go anywhere. The chuck itself is also larger, which gives you more leverage when tightening.

The low and high speed selector sits on the bottom of the unit and flips either direction with no resistance, so it feels secure and will not vibrate out of position. There is also a joist hook on the base for hanging the drill between holes, a forward and reverse switch with a safety position in the middle, and an LED light that shines when you pull the trigger.

Real Drilling Performance

Testing started with a 7/8 inch (22.2 mm) ship auger bit. On low speed the drill bored straight through with no issue, and on high it was blistering fast. The trigger is variable speed, so you have fine control over how quickly it ramps up.

Next came the 1-1/2 inch self-feed bit, which ran smooth on low and absolutely flew on high, throwing chips everywhere. Finally, the 2-9/16 inch (65 mm) self-feed bit, the biggest test of the day, went through clean on low. On high, the drill showed a ton of torque, exactly what you want from a tool in this class.

The drill also includes anti-kickback, and it proved difficult to force into a kickback situation during testing. When driving deep into the material, the drill felt very controlled. Releasing the trigger brought it to a stop promptly. Overall impression: beastly power, impressive smoothness, and it is not overly heavy for the class.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The most important thing to check is that this is tool only. You will need your own Ridgid 18V battery and charger. A 4 amp hour MAX OUTPUT EXP battery, the top of Ridgid’s current line, handled everything thrown at it during testing.

The listed price is $3.49, tool only. Also keep in mind that one test block of lumber turned out to be defective and made an auger bit bog down, so even the best drill cannot fix bad material.

Buying Advice

If you are a tradesperson, an electrician, a plumber, or anyone who regularly drills large holes in framing, this drill deserves a serious look. The power is real, the smoothness is impressive, and the ergonomic and chuck key updates are the kind of practical refinements that matter over a long workday.

If you only occasionally make holes around the house, a standard drill driver will be a better fit. But for trade work, this is the kind of tool that earns its place on the truck.

Conclusion

The Ridgid 18V Brushless Two-Speed 1/2” Stud and Joist Drill does the job it was built for with plenty of torque, smooth variable-speed control, and smart touches like the clamped chuck key holder and the Lifetime Service Agreement. For anyone in the trades, it is an easy recommendation.