Older ryobi cordless tools?

Onefastgsx · Aug 25, 2015

I am looking at a reciprocating saw made by ryobi. It is the older blue colored model and does not come with a battery but I believe it takes the 18v black and yellow batteries.
Now I realize this is no professional tool. I am typically a milwaukee guy, but I've been looking for a cheap reciprocating saw for the junkyard. I can pick this up without the battery for $10. My question is are the black batteries with yellow tabs interchangeable with any of the newer ryobi batteries? If I have to buy a battery and charger to run this I'd prefer to get something lithium. And I see they have newer lithium batteries that also say "ryobi one" just like the older black batteries. Just curious if they are interchangeable?

CarsonConcepts · Aug 25, 2015

They are interchangeable. Any of the One+ batteries (NiCad Black and Yellow, Lithium, or Lithium+) will work in any of the Blue or green tools. Only thing you can't do is charge the newer lithium batteries with the old NiCad chargers.

~ Carson

Packard V8 · Aug 25, 2015

I can pick this up without the battery for $10.

The old blue Ryobi tools have suddenly been showing up everywhere for $5-$10 because the batteries are TU and many owners won't spring for a $50 battery. (Yeah, we know there's always a deal, but that's usually the counter price at the big box.)

Only one I haven't gotten for cheap is the impact. Those must not have come in the 5-in-1 kits.

Watch craigslist and most likely you'll find chargers there, cause whatever you do about the battery, gotta have the charger.

jack vines

Squashfest81 · Aug 25, 2015

I started grabbing some blue tools cheap after I picked up the lithium drill and driver set. Spent about $30 total for the little circular saw, sawzall, flashlight, and a Roto zip type tool. Was cutting some brush with the blue sawzall just the other day. Not a beast by any standards, but does the job. Now I'm on the hunt for the little chainsaw.
Pick up the cheap tools when you see them.

mhkohne · Aug 25, 2015

And I can say that for light use, it's a good tool. But don't skimp on blades - I didn't really understand how crappy some of the blades I had (from cleaning out Dad's tools) were until I bought decent ones.

Also, make sure you keep a battery on the charger while you work. The lithium batteries work great, but when they run down it's sudden - you don't get any slowdown like the ni-cads used to do - they just cut out suddenly.

mrvm · Aug 25, 2015

Onefastgsx said:
I am looking at a reciprocating saw made by ryobi. It is the older blue colored model and does not come with a battery but I believe it takes the 18v black and yellow batteries.
Now I realize this is no professional tool. I am typically a milwaukee guy, but I've been looking for a cheap reciprocating saw for the junkyard. I can pick this up without the battery for $10. My question is are the black batteries with yellow tabs interchangeable with any of the newer ryobi batteries? If I have to buy a battery and charger to run this I'd prefer to get something lithium. And I see they have newer lithium batteries that also say "ryobi one" just like the older black batteries. Just curious if they are interchangeable?

Good price for $10 but that blue recip saw is light-duty. IME the Ryobi Lithium batteries rejuvenated my "blue" tools (drill/impact) and I would not bother picking up any NiCad batteries. If you invest in Ryobi or lithium batterries you got to use the lithium charger. The batteries are backwards compatible but the Nicad charger ain't.

redmondjp · Aug 25, 2015

+1 on the above. If you're going to use that saw in the JY you want 1) the best blade (and spares) you can get, and 2) the biggest AH or "full-height" lithium-ion battery.

I have a dozen older Ryobi tools and the full-size lithium-ion battery is the shizzle for actually using any of them that draw higher current (your saw, circular saw, vacuum, cutoff saw, etc).

Home Depot has recently lowered the prices on the lithium-ion batteries - they now sell (at least online the 2-pack of the larger Li-ion batteries for a bit over $100):

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-18-Volt-One-High-Capacity-LITHIUM-Battery-2-Pack-P122/204321540

Best battery bang for your buck that you can find IMO.

Vigo · Aug 25, 2015

I still use a blue 1/4" hex drive impact daily, drop it constantly, and it keeps on ticking and works well enough i've never felt the need to upgrade it.

I do want to buy a p261 1/2 impact, though.

newbinga · Aug 25, 2015

I use ryobi tools every day mostly lithium but the saw saw is blue. I use it to cut emt and it works great.

On a side note I have a dewalt hammer drill that just died on me and two other installers have dewalt drills 4 or 5 months old that we bought for them.and they have chuck issues. ..

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

Packard V8 · Aug 26, 2015

drills 4 or 5 months old that we bought for them.and they have chuck issues. ..

Slightly OT, but the only issue I have with the Ryobi drills is the keyless chucks don't always hold as tight as I'd like. I hold on the chuck until the clutch slips and it still isn't tight enough sometimes. How much does one have to spend on a battery drill to get a chuck which won't slip?

jack vines

jd_1138 · Aug 26, 2015

HD has the 2 pack of Ryobi lithium batteries for $50. Or perhaps find a refurbished Ryobi combo pack of tools that comes with a battery/charger. The 1/4" impact, circular saw, drill, radio, etc.. Basically anything is decent and will probably get used -- not heavy duty/pro but good for DIY/homeowner stuff.

Older ryobi cordless tools?

Onefastgsx

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CarsonConcepts

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Packard V8

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Squashfest81

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mhkohne

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mrvm

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redmondjp

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Vigo

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newbinga

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Packard V8

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jd_1138

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