Cordless Tools: Craftsman C3 vs Ryobi +1: what do I do?

[adam9c1]

Hello.
I am a LONG time Craftsman C3 user (actually started with a used set of 14.4 as a teen).

98% of all of my tools are Craftsman (besides hammers, wire strippers, utility knifes, ...)
I do own some of the late 90's, early 2000's still made in USA, but I do have some of the stuff what people will call 'crapsman'. Yes I can tell the difference in finish. I have not broken a tool yet.
BUT this is a different topic.

Craftsman C3 vs Ryobi 18+
This past weekend I have purchased the Craftsman nail gun which I will need to install baseboards and wainscoting...
I am HEAVILY vested in the C3 line and I love those tools. I have three of the larger XCP batteries (and in the future will only buy those), several of the compact lithium (one did die on my in less than a year...) and two vintage ni-cad...
With my current purchase of the nail gun I have all of the current model tools (maybe not the latest version) but all that is sold now.

- numerous drivers and drill drivers
- impact hammer
- impact wrench
- flashlights (upgraded to the 1200 lumens LEDs)
- single LED flashlight
- 90* driver
- nail driver
- vacuum (vintage which can also work as a blower but it ***** at it)
- buffer (vintage, no longer available, I have never used it)
- grass edge trimmer
- grass blower (it's not powerful for leaves)
- stapler
- weather radio
- personal (air) fan
- zip saw (the kind you cut openings in drywall etc)
- receptical saw
- circular saw
- jig saw
- air compressor (to pump up a tire)
- sander

I did own their vintage / discontinued spot light (bought it used but sold it quick as it was subpar to my standard light fitted with the ring of LEDs)
I also had the white work light and sold it as I bought new then LED one, and turned out that was awful... it was that blueish tint light...

I also have two rapid charger stations for 4 batteries each.
So you can see I am heavy vested in the C3 series... but I see it is stagnant vs. the Ryobi line.

I have purchased a hand made Ryobi Tool to Craftsman adapter for the sole purpose of running the Ryobi Flood dual mode (batt and outlet) and this thing is great.

I see Ryobi venturing out into interesting tools such as cultivators (personally don't think that's enough power) but also stuff such as clogged drain fixer (can't think of the proper term), low power LED light (for the long outages).
I THINK they ARE discontinuing the paint sprayer (and I would love to have it as I do have some jobs that would be much easier with it vs brush) and recently I have found a mist fan sprayer online.
My garage gets VERY hot and in the past at times I put in a bucket of ice in front of fan to help me cool off a little for the time I was standing there...

Basically I'm in a way thinking of not migrating but supplementing going to the dark side...
Do I venture into the Ryobi line with their own charger and batteries?
Any inside knowledge of C3 expanding or will their push the modular series?
How do the C3 compare to the Ryobi?
(read on this forum both tool sets are made by the same co)

 

[dirtymoe77]

I love the C3 Line myself and am heavily vested in it. Can you tell me where you got this Ryobi Tool to Craftsman adapter? I did some searching but haven't found anything.

 

[Moparman390]

By all means, buy the Royobi and collect 'em all there too. I hear they are even going have a 18+ powered cotton candy maker and pocket fisherman coming out soon. All kidding aside I might have some collecting problems too, once you add a new line it's impossible to stop.

Shout out to the guy from Plainfield, I'm sitting here just north of ya.

 

[ddawg16]

All my stuff is Ryobi.....great value. It's built my garage and house addition.

 

[adam9c1]

it was a rig containing a blank Ryobi battery and a blank C3 battery so the set will snap into a Ryobi tool using a C3 batt....
Pretty much a home brew.

Now online you will see a Dewalt tool to Ryobi batt, ...


I tried to make one myself and used silicone as filler and it did not work well. The terminals did not stay in place.

 

[pauls_workshop]

With the adaptor you have, might as well add the Ryobi tools to your Craftsman that you like. I wouldn't get rid of the Craftsman. Those are often the very same as Ryobi, but sometimes they are made by someone else or are different. I made my own Ryobi battery to Black and Decker 18v adaptor to not have to buy more lousy B&D batteries for their not bad tools otherwise. - Paul

 

[dodge610]

I think i heard that ryobi and craftsman c3 are made in the same factory. Someone on here i thought mentioned they are both made on the same assembly line. They are a lot alike.

 

[fourjeepin]

In my opinion, don't dump your craftsman stuff. You have a ton invested and it sounds like you have almost every tool they offered. I am all for expanding my options, but only want to keep one brand of batteries and chargers.

Ryobi is very reasonably priced and their lineup is really appealing. I am heavily invested in the Ridgid line, but recently picked up a Ryobi hedge trimmer. I have the parts to build an adapter to power it off my Ridgid batteries, just haven't gotten to it yet.

 

[pauls_workshop]

In my opinion, don't dump your craftsman stuff. You have a ton invested and it sounds like you have almost every tool they offered. I am all for expanding my options, but only want to keep one brand of batteries and chargers.

Ryobi is very reasonably priced and their lineup is really appealing. I am heavily invested in the Ridgid line, but recently picked up a Ryobi hedge trimmer. I have the parts to build an adapter to power it off my Ridgid batteries, just haven't gotten to it yet.

And I intend to go the other way, build a Ryobi battery to Ridgid tool adaptor so I can use my Ryobi batteris in the few Ridgid tools I have! - Paul

 

[pauls_workshop]

I think i heard that ryobi and craftsman c3 are made in the same factory. Someone on here i thought mentioned they are both made on the same assembly line. They are a lot alike.

Dodge, TTI which makes Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi also made most of the Craftsman lineup, same guts as the Ryobi, however I found just a few cases in recent years where a different manufacturer other than TTI made a few of the Craftsman tools not in the Ryobi lineup. So it isn't exclusive. What I like about the Ryobi is the batteries are much much less expensive than the Craftsman ones, but tools are both fine. - Paul