RIDGID R8647KN 18V Brushless Cordless Reciprocating Saw Kit with 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger review

RIDGID 18V brushless reciprocating saw · R8647KN 4.0 Ah kit

The R8647KN is a kit built around RIDGID’s R8647 brushless 18V reciprocating saw. Its exact U.S. product page identifies one 4.0 Ah MAX Output battery and an 18V charger; the saw package also lists a wood-cutting blade and operator’s manual. The kit page does not name the included battery or charger model numbers and does not list a case. This is an assessment of that documented configuration, not a hands-on review or a claim about present stock.

The box changes; the saw body is identified as R8647

The saw in the kit photograph has the conventional long-front-grip and rear D-handle layout used for a full-size, two-handed reciprocating-saw format. The package page names the saw as R8647, and RIDGID links a model-specific R8647 manual. That manual specifies a 1-1/4-inch stroke and a 0–3,200/min no-load speed. The kit page’s own specification table, however, says 3,100 strokes per minute. I retain that discrepancy instead of treating it as a different mechanism: the package list identifies the same R8647 saw, while the manual and separate R8647B tool-only page give 3,200. Neither number predicts real cutting speed under load.

The kit is brushless, and the tool-only page advertises the R8647 as 20% faster cutting than the earlier R8643. That is RIDGID’s comparison claim, not an independent result. A brushless motor label does not guarantee a specific runtime or cut rate; battery size, blade, material, support and technique all matter. The package’s practical advantage is more concrete: a listed 4.0 Ah battery and charger come with the saw rather than needing separate selection.

Useful controls with meaningful operating limits

The R8647 manual describes an on/off orbital selector: linear motion for smoother cuts and orbital motion for a faster cut. It says to let the motor stop before changing modes and not to use orbital action with a metal-cutting blade. For metal it recommends a slow speed and cautions against forcing the tool. The shoe’s length is adjustable, while its pivot angle follows the cut automatically; no fixed position count is stated. Blade changes use a side lever, but the manual directs users to remove the battery first, raise the lever, seat the blade fully and release it.

The manual also identifies a variable-speed trigger, LED above the clamp and an integrated rafter hook. It says to lock the trigger before storage or transport and warns against using the hook to suspend the tool overhead or hang it from your body. For wood or wallboard plunge cuts, the operator should support the shoe against the workpiece; blades longer than six inches are excluded because they can whip. These limitations are more useful than assuming that extra modes make the saw appropriate for every cut.

When the kit helps—and when it duplicates equipment

The exact kit page lists one 4.0 Ah MAX Output pack and one 18V charger, but it does not identify their individual catalog numbers. If the exact battery or charger model matters to your existing fleet, ask for those part numbers and compare them with the box before buying. RIDGID describes the tool as compatible with its 18V battery system; that is not evidence for a different brand, an adapter or an unlisted charger. If you already own compatible RIDGID batteries and a charger, the R8647B tool-only version may avoid paying for duplicate equipment. If not, the KN kit provides the documented minimum starting set.

The kit photograph visibly shows a saw, battery and charger, but the written package list—not the image—controls contents. The page does not list a case, so do not assume one is included. It lists a wood blade; metal or other materials call for a separately chosen blade suited to the application. The manual recommends selecting tooth pattern by material and gives different guidance for wood, plastic, soft metals and hard metals.

Weight and other unknowns

The kit page lists 6.710 lb as “Product Weight,” yet does not explain whether the value is for the saw without a battery, with the included pack installed, or for some other catalog basis. It therefore proves neither the bare-tool weight nor the complete running kit weight. I leave the strict bare-tool field unknown and do not count the kit under a numerical saw-only limit based on that number. Overall length and height are also not documented in the sources reviewed, so a tight-clearance job deserves an exact dimension check.

The official RIDGID recall page checked for this group showed a notice for two framing nailers rather than this saw. That limited page observation is not an all-clear for every serial number or a substitute for checking current notices. The 3,100-versus-3,200 SPM disagreement is likewise preserved: the manual-backed saw specification and the kit page’s entry should be reconciled with RIDGID if that figure is material to a decision.

Who should compare the R8647KN

Compare the R8647KN when a full-size RIDGID 18V saw, its documented orbital and shoe controls, and an in-box battery and charger form one useful setup. It is less compelling if you already have compatible power equipment, need a verified bare-tool weight, need a known case or require certainty about the kit page’s speed entry. Check the KN suffix, battery/charger labels, blade type and seller’s written contents; then use the manual’s safety guidance to plan support, blade selection and clearance before the cut.