RIDGID 18V Cordless Jig Saw (R86345B) review

This is a source-based assessment, not a hands-on review. The R86345B stands out for unusually clear operating guidance: its manual links each of four orbital positions to common material tasks and explains how to switch from a cutline blower to a vacuum connection. The equally important catch is the package: this is a tool-only 18V saw, and its included wood blade does not cover every job described in the manual.

Start with the exact package, not a family resemblance

RIDGID's U.S. product page identifies retail model R86345B and names the tool body inside as R86345. The carton list includes that 18V jig saw, a dust-port attachment and a T-shank wood-cutting blade. The page calls it tool-only and says the battery and charger are sold separately. If you already own a compatible RIDGID 18V pack, check the charger and battery condition; if not, account for the separate power equipment rather than assuming an orange-and-black kit photo shows what arrives.

The exact product page identifies a brushed motor, variable-speed trigger, one-inch stroke, a published maximum of up to 3,000 strokes per minute and bevel adjustment to 45 degrees. The manual confirms the speed and stroke specifications and gives the more useful working detail: trigger pressure varies speed, while orbital motion has its own separate dial. The tool has a top handle, a trigger lockout and a front LED. Those are source-backed features, not a claim about comfort, runtime or cut quality from use.

A model-specific blade and material chart

The R86345 operator manual says the clamp is designed for T-shank blades only. The supplied blade is a T-shank wood blade, but the manual's materials chart also describes metal-cutting and scroll blades; neither is listed in this tool-only package. Match the shank first, then choose a blade purpose and tooth pitch suited to the stock. A compatible interface by itself does not make every blade appropriate for every cut.

Here the exact manual is more informative than a generic “orbital settings” bullet. It places laminate board and countertop cuts at position 0 with no orbit; thin sheet metal is also position 0, with a 14–24 teeth-per-inch metal blade. Position 1/minimal orbit is listed for plastics and PVC, as well as scrolling or curving cuts in wood. Position 2/medium orbit is assigned to plywood, decking and hardwood; position 3/maximum orbit is for general lumber and softwood. RIDGID says higher orbit can cut faster but produces a rougher finish. That is the maker's guidance, not a tested comparison or a promise about a particular board, blade or operator.

For metal and conduit, the manual separately says to use no-orbit mode. It recommends a suitable metal blade, clamping the work, avoiding force and using lubricant when cutting metal. The booklet lists many material classes but supplies no maximum cut-depth or stock-thickness rating. Do not read the one-inch stroke as a one-inch cutting capacity, and do not extend the thin-sheet-metal guidance into a thickness guarantee.

Blower, vacuum and bevel setup

The saw switches between blowing debris away from the cut line and directing dust toward a rear port for collection. The package includes the port attachment, but not the hose or vacuum. For the vacuum route, the exact R86345 manual specifies standard 1-1/4-inch and 1-3/4-inch vacuum connections. Check the actual hose, adapter and extractor connection instead of treating those nominal sizes as a guarantee for every dust system.

The manual says the vacuum attachment may be used with the base in a beveling position. Its adjustment procedure also tells you to remove the attachment while moving the shoe, set the angle, secure the pivot screw, and then reconnect the dust setup for cutting. The base can bevel up to 45 degrees left or right, with stops at zero and both 45-degree extremes. That sequence is a practical setup interaction: a vacuum-compatible bevel is documented, but the manual does not say to leave the attachment in place while adjusting the shoe. The built-in blower and vacuum are alternatives, not simultaneous dust routes.

How it differs from the other RIDGID saw in this library

R86345B should not be treated as a mere suffix or package rename of R86344B. The U.S. manufacturer pages identify different saw bodies; R86345 is brushed, while the R86344B page identifies a brushless body. The R86345 manual's chart publishes specific orbital guidance and says T-shank blades only. Its vacuum-connection sizes are 1-1/4 and 1-3/4 inches. Consult the separate R86344B assessment for that model's evidence and do not transfer its features, package contents or manual limits to this one.

Who should consider it—and what to check

The R86345B is a plausible source-based fit for someone already set up on RIDGID 18V who wants a top-handle saw, a clearly charted material/action starting point, a T-shank clamp, and the option of a supplied dust attachment or bevel cuts. Its manual gives helpful starting settings for laminate, thin metal, plastics, scrolling wood, hardwood and softwood. This makes the saw easier to assess on paper than a model whose documentation only states an orbital dial exists.

Before choosing it, verify that the seller's exact box really is R86345B and contains the R86345 saw, dust port and T-shank wood blade. Confirm battery and charger needs, and check the exact blade shank and tooth pattern for the work. If dust collection is important, confirm the hose coupling and remember to remove the attachment during bevel adjustment. If your decision depends on maximum cut depth, stock thickness, runtime, vibration or a guaranteed edge finish, those outcomes are not established by the sources reviewed here. No current inventory, price or condition of an individual unit is verified.