Craftsman 19.2v C3 vs. 20-volt Professional, platform stability?

[snovvman]

Greetings, I am glad I found this forum. Looks like a nice place.

I finally decided I need to replace my 9.6-volt Makita tool set. With some of the items on sale, especially when ordered for pick up online, I left Sears with over $600 worth of tools. While I have corded tools, cordless comes in handy often. These tools are used for occasional home & project use, not high duty cycle use.

I got the Craftsman C3 standard (19.2 volt) seeing that there are so many tool options. In the list thereincludes a 7 1/4 circular saw, jug saw, reciprocating saw, hammer drill, impact driver, angle drill, rotary saw, some batteries & charger, and C3 19.2 lithium-ion battery and charger.

Looking around a bit, I see that I can get the new Craftman 20-volt Professional line for not much more money. It appears to support an all-new line of tools, along with better battery managment, as well as more powerful tools.

From my analysis:

C3 Pro: Los of tools, including fan, caulking gun, buffer, and more. The standard is likely to be around for a while.
C3 Con: Older battery technology (even with lithium-ion), less powerful tools.

20v Pro: Better battery technology, potentially longer run life, more powerful tools
20v Con: Much fewer tools available, how long will it be around/supported?

Costs aside, I am curious about the Sears/Craftsman tool history. How long do they generally support and develop a plaform? I would like the 20v system but I am concerned that if the 20v system does not sell well, perhaps it will get dropped sooner than the now much-larger-audience 19.2 C3 system.

I am interested in the 20v system for the better battery and tools, but there are fewer tools. I like the C3 for its wide availability of tools and well established standard. It is likely that we will see more tools from the 20v line, but who knows when?

Your opinion/guidance?

Thanks!

P.S. I am waiting for Craftsman Days to see if there is a deeper discount, at which time I will simply ask for the difference in refund. I presume this works so long as I am within 30 days?

Thanks again!

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

I have a decent set of C3 tools and love them. Veryl handy. I've had it a couple of years now with no battery or tool issues. I used them extensivley when remodeling my house.

 

[cashishift]

I stick with DeWalt for cordless tools.

I'd also buy Makita or Milwaukee but all of my friends have dewalt so if I need 8 batteries, I could get them if I needed em

 

[Bo Heck]

I stick with DeWalt for cordless tools.

I'd also buy Makita or Milwaukee but all of my friends have dewalt so if I need 8 batteries, I could get them if I needed em

Until Dewalt comes out with better affordable battery technology, I will not buy another Dewalt power tool. My 18V NiCd drill, which is a couple years old, has worked just fine but they are behind the times now by not offering affordable Li-ion tools. Craftsman is a great option for getting a decent homeowner class tool, since their batteries are at least Li-ion but do not break the bank. If you've got the cash I would opt for the newer 20 volt tech, I believe cordless tools are meant to be upgraded every few years or so as tech improves. By the time they come out with a new line, you'll probably be ready for a little change.

 

[kythri]

If you're seriously considering the Craftsman line, buy Ryobi.

The "power" from 19.2V over 18V, or 20V over 19.2V is nominal. It's all marketing hype. If there was really THAT much performance increase over 18V, the major "professional" level players in the market (DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, etc.) would have gone with that to begin with.

The Craftsman C3 line is, for the most part, identical to the Ryobi 18V One+ "Blue" line. Go to Sears, then go to Home Depot and compare them. This isn't simply a case of TTI being the builder of them, but that they are, short of their casings and batteries, the same. Same motors, same gears, same switches, same everything. Sears/Craftsman wanted a marketing "oomph" over all of the 18V tool manufacturers, so they had them add an extra 1.2V Ni-Cad cell to the batteries, and they over-volt the motors. Not really enough to do any major damage with the frequency that most buyers use them, but they're still rated as 18V motors.

If the Ni-Cad batteries bother you, the Li-Ion batteries from Ryobi's 18V One+ "Green" line are 100% compatible with the tools - you just need a the proper charger for them (which will also charge the Ni-Cad batteries, if I'm not mistaken).

The price point on the Ryobi line consistently comes in less than the Craftsman line, and Home Depot does regular sales where one can buy up a large collection in a package deal for next to nothing. The 4-piece "Super Combo" deal (drill, flashlight, circular saw and reciprocating saw with 2 Ni-Cad batteries and a charger) regularly goes on sale for about $50 off (regular price is $159.99). The "Starter Kit" (drill, circular saw, single battery and charger) is regular priced at $109.99, but was on sale during Christmas for $69.99, and goes on sale for the same 2-3 other times per year.

They also run awesome promotions - Dad picked up that Starter Kit during the Christmas sales, because he needed a new cordless drill. In addition to the smoking deal, they were also running a "free tool" special for buying qualifying combo kits, of which that one was. For the cost of a postage stamp, he got the right-angle drill shipped to him, didn't even have to hassle with a buy-it-then-mail-in-for-rebate fiasco.

If I sound like a Ryobi *****, it's because the stuff is just GOOD. It's the best deal in cordless power tools, the selection of stuff is huge, and it's reliable as hell.

I bought my "Workshop" combo kit (package not offered anymore), in early 2006, for $300. It contained the following:

Circular Saw w/laser guide
Reciprocating Saw
Jigsaw
10" bar Chainsaw
"Torque IV" Drill
Right Angle Drill
Impact Driver
Corner-Cat Sander
Dustbuster
Flashlight
Large Carry-Bag (holds all tools)
Small Carry-Bag (holds 3-4 tools)
2 Ni-Cad batteries
Charger

In addition, I got a free 8 1/4" Mitre Saw as my "free tool" rebate offer.

New Ni-Cad Batteries are usually $50 for 2 of them, so unless the weight is an issue, there's really no reason to not stock up on Ni-Cads.

As far as the few differences - there's a Craftsman C3 light that you can't get the Ryobi One+ version of, unless you import it. The Craftsman C3 radio has AM/FM/Weather and an auxillary input. The Ryobi One+ radio is FM/Aux only. Neither line makes a radio charger, like some of the "Pro" lines. There's likely a few other minor differences, but the core tools are the same.

As far as reliability? I take care of my stuff. I don't throw it around, I don't leave it out in bad weather, I clean it up after use, etc.

My stuff is stored out in my unheated shop. The batteries (7 of them total, with 3 of them purchased in early 2007) have been stored out there year round, and I have zero issues with them holding a charge, or any kind of longetivity problems.

I've got 2 drills (and two circular saws - to get a second charger and extra battery would have cost $50 at the time I was in the market for it. A combo kit containing a drill, a circular saw, a battery and a charger was $60), and I've dropped both of them a number of times - both of them have fallen from the roof onto a concrete patio. Other than a slight scuff in the plastic case, both work perfectly.

The little 10" chainsaw seemed like a joke, but it's cut down a LOT of stuff around the property here.

I've purchased a number of tools since the initial combo kit purchase, and they all work great. I simply can not say enough good things about the line, and strongly encourage anyone to buy it over the Craftsman C3 line or others.

 

[snovvman]

Wow, thanks for the information. Is that 10" chainsaw also part of the 18 ONE+ line and use the same batteries?

I now see that the Ryobi and Craftsman tools are very similar. While they have small variations in features, they are clearly made by the same manufacture. I am now taking a look at Ryobi's site and their tools.

On to the subject of Craftsman's "Professional" 20-volt line. I read somewhere that it is made by another company. There are are only a few tools available. I was curious how Sears might (or might not) develop this line and how ling it might be around compared to the C3 system.

Since I'm well within 30 days, I am not opening any of the tools I bought until I settle on a system, in case I decide to return and buy something else.

Cheers.

 

[kythri]

The chainsaw is a One+ tool, and uses the same batteries, yes.

The Ryobi One+ website is kind of wonky - it never has shown all of the tools available. For example, I've got a pole trimmer (think reciprocating saw on a telescoping pole) that's part of the One+ line, I bought it last summer. Never saw it on the website, found it at my local stores. There's a One+ weedwhacker that I thought would be handy to grab for small jobs. It's stocked in at least one of my local stores, never saw it on the website.

Fortunately, you can always find stuff on Amazon or other places, if your local stores don't have it and can't transfer it from another store. Sometimes it's factory reconditioned, but in my experience, the reconditioned stuff is usually better than new...

The 20V stuff is kind of an odd cat out there...

It's made by TTI as well (as are a LOT of the cordless power tools you see out there...the RIDGID line is another one).

As far as development and longetivity? That's anybody's guess. The 20V "Professional" line was launched after the 19.2V C3 line, and the marketing hype was all over the fact that it was "different" than the C3 line, and had more power, lithium-ion batteries, etc.

Supposedly, they weren't going to build Li-Ion packs for the C3 line - if you wanted that, you needed to switch to the pro line. Then all of the 18V tool manufacturers saw the light, and started building Li-Ion packs for their well established 18V lines, and Sears was forced to cave.

Given the lack of selection compared to their other line, and that the 20V tools, sans battery, likely aren't anything special compared to their 19.2V counterparts, that'd make my decision for me.

I've honestly been expecting the cancellation of the 20V line for a year or two now, but it must sell well enough to keep it alive.

 

[snovvman]

Thanks. I was wondering about that. I didn't find a One+ chainsaw on Ryobi's site, hence the original question.

I thought I read that the 20-volt tools were made by Chevron?

I didn't know that Sears was not going to make Li-Ion in the 19.2 and only caved due to market competition. It's also interesting to know that there are even pole trimmers and weed whackers. I will take a look at Amazon.

Cheers.

 

[Chris Adams]

I have 7 tools in the 19.2 Craftsman platform, and I must say they all work well. But I didn't pay retail for them. Got them off e-bay from scratch and ding vendors for about 30 cents on the dollar. Usually sold from broken kits, the kit will be missing one tool, a battery or charger, so the vendors break them up and piece them. Once you get a charger you can then buy any singleton tool.
I have 3 batteries, and that is about what you need for light usage. One to forget it's low, one to use and one to use when that one goes out. The fast charger is pretty fast so with three batteries you can almost just keep going.

At list price, I would look into the Ryobi set for sure.

The more expensive pro-brands are probably better, but so much more expensive that unless you use them to make a living they just don't justify.

 

[Joe B.]

The Craftsman C3 line is, for the most part, identical to the Ryobi 18V One+ "Blue" line. Go to Sears, then go to Home Depot and compare them. This isn't simply a case of TTI being the builder of them, but that they are, short of their casings and batteries, the same. Same motors, same gears, same switches, same everything.

Strong statement. Where did you get this information? You must have access to a full engineering breakdown of the tools.

 

[kythri]

Strong statement. Where did you get this information? You must have access to a full engineering breakdown of the tools.

It's old news - browse around, you'll find corroborating information, in far more detail.

Take the tools apart, you'll see the identical parts.

There's also a number of websites out there that sell replacement parts for power tools. Compare part numbers between the two brands on motors, gears, switches, etc.

Full engineering breakdown? I've got access to exploded diagrams listing the parts and part numbers, just like you do. Google is your friend.

 

[Stuey]

Personally, I'm not a fan of the 19.2V tools - I find that some of the tools use underpowered motors.

Don't get me wrong, they're good tools for the money, but given the choice between those two options, I'd go for the 20V pro series tools.

From my analysis:

C3 Pro: Los of tools, including fan, caulking gun, buffer, and more. The standard is likely to be around for a while.
C3 Con: Older battery technology (even with lithium-ion), less powerful tools.

20v Pro: Better battery technology, potentially longer run life, more powerful tools
20v Con: Much fewer tools available, how long will it be around/supported?

What information was available to you to allow for such an analysis?

Why is 20V "better"? Why is the older 19.2V system, "even with lithium-ion" suggestively worse?

 

[GT89mustang]

Id go with the 19.2, only because the 20v doesnt sell that well and I can see sears dropping it sometime in the future. The 19.2 should be around for awhile.

 

[kythri]

If you're hard set on Craftsman, buy the 19.2V line.

If you want good, affordable cordless power tools, buy Ryobi. Significantly cheaper for the same tool (especially when considering package deals), and the regular "free-tool" rebates rock quite a bit.

Bigger selection, too.

 

[GrantMLS]

i have a 19.2 drill i found at my house when i moved in - it was very rough- thinking the people who put on the new roof left it - i have used it over a year now and its been great. Before that I had a 12v ryobi i got for like 39.00 and used it for 3-4 years - only stopped because i lose the charger - it was a workhorse also- not a ton of power but works really well. Though if I ever buy somthing its gonna be a new bosch.. for now if i need power i got plenty of corded drills... saws - i;ll deal with cords

 

[MAD]

I have the 20 volt Lithium Ion Drill, Impact driver, and Reciprocating saw. I am very pleased with all of them. The only thing that I can see that some people might not like, is that the saw and drill are very heavy even though the battery is very light. This is because they have real metal gears inside and powerful motors. The Drill has a Jacobs metal ratcheting key-less chuck that does not slip. The Home owner grade drills will tend to have cheap chucks that slip. This actually helps to keep the plastic gears from getting damaged when a bit jams. Just pick up both drills side by side without a battery and you will see what I am talking about. I can not speak for the circ. saw though, and I do recall that it did not rate up with the top pro brands in a review I saw in Fine Home building magazine. The 20 volt tools also have a two year warranty that does not exclude professional use. I have not used the full range of cordless tools in the lines in question, but I have used the C3, Ryobi, and Dewalt 18 volt drills. In my experience, the 20 volt Craftsman is better.

I don't know about the future support for the 20 volt line. They are one of the few Craftsman portable power tools that are not made by TTI/Ryobi (contrary to what was stated). I was told they are made by Chevron, but I don't know much beyond that.

 

[danski0224]

Ryobi has maintained full backwards compatibility with their tools and batteries.

Only exception I can think of is the LiIon batteries, which needs a special charger... but all of the green and blue stuff interchanges.

Once you make the initial buy in, additional tools are reasonably priced- unlike cordless LXT Makita. Both manufacturers source from China, so why the big price difference?

If I was buying new today, it would be Ryobi.

 

[snovvman]

Thanks for all the input.

I do like the Ryobi because of all of the available tools. I will pop by Home Depot to take a look.


@Stuey:

From my analysis:

C3 Pro: Los of tools, including fan, caulking gun, buffer, and more. The standard is likely to be around for a while.
C3 Con: Older battery technology (even with lithium-ion), less powerful tools.

20v Pro: Better battery technology, potentially longer run life, more powerful tools
20v Con: Much fewer tools available, how long will it be around/supported?

What information was available to you to allow for such an analysis?

Why is 20V "better"? Why is the older 19.2V system, "even with lithium-ion" suggestively worse?

Publically available information and observation.

1) The 20-volt system tools are the "Professional" line with a 2-year warranty. The 19.2 line, as far as I know, only has a 1 year warranty.

2) The 20-volt tools are generally more powerful by specification and have more durable parts (as indicated by MAD also).

3) The sales propaganda indicates that the 20-volt system uses a "Smart Chip" to optimize battery use. I presume this allows the tool to draw more current as the battery voltate drops to a certain level, thus maintaining the tool's performance level over a longer run life. The 19.2 does not have this.

4) It has a four-LED battery gauge rather than a three-LED gauge on the 19.2 lithium.

Based on the above, I concluded that the 20-volt system is better in those categories.

I also indicated that the 19.2 is better in that it is more pervasive and has a greater range of tools available.

Cheers.

 

[Senorpablo]

If you're seriously considering the Craftsman line, buy Ryobi.

The "power" from 19.2V over 18V, or 20V over 19.2V is nominal. It's all marketing hype. If there was really THAT much performance increase over 18V, the major "professional" level players in the market (DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, etc.) would have gone with that to begin with.

The Craftsman C3 line is, for the most part, identical to the Ryobi 18V One+ "Blue" line. Go to Sears, then go to Home Depot and compare them. This isn't simply a case of TTI being the builder of them, but that they are, short of their casings and batteries, the same. Same motors, same gears, same switches, same everything. Sears/Craftsman wanted a marketing "oomph" over all of the 18V tool manufacturers, so they had them add an extra 1.2V Ni-Cad cell to the batteries, and they over-volt the motors. Not really enough to do any major damage with the frequency that most buyers use them, but they're still rated as 18V motors.

If the Ni-Cad batteries bother you, the Li-Ion batteries from Ryobi's 18V One+ "Green" line are 100% compatible with the tools - you just need a the proper charger for them (which will also charge the Ni-Cad batteries, if I'm not mistaken).

The price point on the Ryobi line consistently comes in less than the Craftsman line, and Home Depot does regular sales where one can buy up a large collection in a package deal for next to nothing. The 4-piece "Super Combo" deal (drill, flashlight, circular saw and reciprocating saw with 2 Ni-Cad batteries and a charger) regularly goes on sale for about $50 off (regular price is $159.99). The "Starter Kit" (drill, circular saw, single battery and charger) is regular priced at $109.99, but was on sale during Christmas for $69.99, and goes on sale for the same 2-3 other times per year.

They also run awesome promotions - Dad picked up that Starter Kit during the Christmas sales, because he needed a new cordless drill. In addition to the smoking deal, they were also running a "free tool" special for buying qualifying combo kits, of which that one was. For the cost of a postage stamp, he got the right-angle drill shipped to him, didn't even have to hassle with a buy-it-then-mail-in-for-rebate fiasco.

If I sound like a Ryobi *****, it's because the stuff is just GOOD. It's the best deal in cordless power tools, the selection of stuff is huge, and it's reliable as hell.

I bought my "Workshop" combo kit (package not offered anymore), in early 2006, for $300. It contained the following:

Circular Saw w/laser guide
Reciprocating Saw
Jigsaw
10" bar Chainsaw
"Torque IV" Drill
Right Angle Drill
Impact Driver
Corner-Cat Sander
Dustbuster
Flashlight
Large Carry-Bag (holds all tools)
Small Carry-Bag (holds 3-4 tools)
2 Ni-Cad batteries
Charger

In addition, I got a free 8 1/4" Mitre Saw as my "free tool" rebate offer.

New Ni-Cad Batteries are usually $50 for 2 of them, so unless the weight is an issue, there's really no reason to not stock up on Ni-Cads.

As far as the few differences - there's a Craftsman C3 light that you can't get the Ryobi One+ version of, unless you import it. The Craftsman C3 radio has AM/FM/Weather and an auxillary input. The Ryobi One+ radio is FM/Aux only. Neither line makes a radio charger, like some of the "Pro" lines. There's likely a few other minor differences, but the core tools are the same.

As far as reliability? I take care of my stuff. I don't throw it around, I don't leave it out in bad weather, I clean it up after use, etc.

My stuff is stored out in my unheated shop. The batteries (7 of them total, with 3 of them purchased in early 2007) have been stored out there year round, and I have zero issues with them holding a charge, or any kind of longetivity problems.

I've got 2 drills (and two circular saws - to get a second charger and extra battery would have cost $50 at the time I was in the market for it. A combo kit containing a drill, a circular saw, a battery and a charger was $60), and I've dropped both of them a number of times - both of them have fallen from the roof onto a concrete patio. Other than a slight scuff in the plastic case, both work perfectly.

The little 10" chainsaw seemed like a joke, but it's cut down a LOT of stuff around the property here.

I've purchased a number of tools since the initial combo kit purchase, and they all work great. I simply can not say enough good things about the line, and strongly encourage anyone to buy it over the Craftsman C3 line or others.

This is right on--agreed 100%. Same company makes Ryobi, Sears, and Rigid cordless tools. I've been very impressed with the longevity and upgrade ability of the ONE+ line.

 

[alkemyst]

If I bought a Ryobi tool, would my 19.2 craftsman battery be plug and play? I have had my 19.2 setup (all nicad still) for a long time. The only failure was one charger that I think was user damage rather than manufacturing. My buddy kept palmheel slamming the battery into it. I died shortly after. I use my drill and esp the right angle one at least 3-4 times a month and usually much more.

 

[kythri]

If I bought a Ryobi tool, would my 19.2 craftsman battery be plug and play? I have had my 19.2 setup (all nicad still) for a long time. The only failure was one charger that I think was user damage rather than manufacturing. My buddy kept palmheel slamming the battery into it. I died shortly after. I use my drill and esp the right angle one at least 3-4 times a month and usually much more.

Negative. The Craftsman C3 19.2V batteries have a different terminal connection than the Ryobiy One+ 18V stuff. Not interchangeable.

 

[alkemyst]

thanks I was going to check next time at HD.

 

[CamarosRus]

This thread looks to be cooling down...............

I'd like to report back with what I finally bought. I'm a huge procratinator, and combined with being ****/fussy its a terrible cross to bear. Get out the Popcorn..........

I was on my way to a sellers house to look at a used Craigs List Miwaukee V-18 (1st Generation battery) Lith-Ion 1/2" Hammer Drill, with two 3.0Ah batteries and charger for $125.

Decided to stop at Home Depot to look misc products over. On a Wednesday afternoon HD wasnt all that busy. Fortunate (I think) to run into TTI West Coast manager, TTI District Mgr & TTI Field Rep. I find out that Techtronic Industries North America, Inc. ownes Ryobi, Ridgis and Miwaukee. I cant quote exact words, but I was told that quality started with Ryobi, and went up to Ridgid and Milwaukie was considered the best.

H.D. had big display of the newish M-12 (12Volt) line. TTI guy said they were sellng real well, could hardly keep them in stock. The M-12's are quite compact, Lith-Ion battery slides up into handle and no doubt are great tools.

I just felt that I wanted the 18Volt battery platform. I decided on the promotional left over black friday package 2601-22H (H must stand for H.D.) This SET contains the 2 spd 1/2" Driver/Drill 2601-20 & the 2650-20 1/4" Impact Driver is added basically as a freebie.
Also included in the blow molded red case are two 48-11-1815 Lith-Ion 23Wh (??) batteries (1.4Ah?) and Charger. ALL this for $199.
(Think about what you credit hungry guys are paying for no more powerful truck branded drills/drivers)

I did see these same set up on AMAZON under a different part number for $199 with Free Shipping.

Given everything weve read above, I just feel these are great tool at a great price.

I can buy the 18V XC 3.0AH batteries if ever have the need

I also picked up a 29pc SHOCKWAVE Impact Driver Bit Set ($20). This is Milwaukee's latest, greatest metal/design bit technology that helps prevent bit/tip breakage.

I've also ordered 1/4" Hex x 3/8" square drive adapter to use impact driver with 3/8" Impact sockets. Cant quote the specs, but I'm thinking this impact can keep up with or surpass the S.O. 3/8" impact Gun (???)

Thanks for reading,

 

[timtim2008]

anyone use the craftsman 12v line?

 

[Conor]

anyone use the craftsman 12v line?

I'd be really sketchy buying craftsman's 12v line.... at the rate sears are going out of business lately.

I would look into the Bosch or M12 lines.

I currently have a Bosch 12v Impact driver and LOVE it. I really want to get more from this line.

The M12 line has a wider variety of tools currently but bosch is slowly catching up. The M12 line has a 3/8" ratchet too which i think is super cool

 

[toolmaker1]

The chainsaw is a One+ tool, and uses the same batteries, yes.

The Ryobi One+ website is kind of wonky - it never has shown all of the tools available. For example, I've got a pole trimmer (think reciprocating saw on a telescoping pole) that's part of the One+ line, I bought it last summer. Never saw it on the website, found it at my local stores. There's a One+ weedwhacker that I thought would be handy to grab for small jobs. It's stocked in at least one of my local stores, never saw it on the website.

Fortunately, you can always find stuff on Amazon or other places, if your local stores don't have it and can't transfer it from another store. Sometimes it's factory reconditioned, but in my experience, the reconditioned stuff is usually better than new...

The 20V stuff is kind of an odd cat out there...

It's made by TTI as well (as are a LOT of the cordless power tools you see out there...the RIDGID line is another one).

As far as development and longetivity? That's anybody's guess. The 20V "Professional" line was launched after the 19.2V C3 line, and the marketing hype was all over the fact that it was "different" than the C3 line, and had more power, lithium-ion batteries, etc.

Supposedly, they weren't going to build Li-Ion packs for the C3 line - if you wanted that, you needed to switch to the pro line. Then all of the 18V tool manufacturers saw the light, and started building Li-Ion packs for their well established 18V lines, and Sears was forced to cave.

Given the lack of selection compared to their other line, and that the 20V tools, sans battery, likely aren't anything special compared to their 19.2V counterparts, that'd make my decision for me.

I've honestly been expecting the cancellation of the 20V line for a year or two now, but it must sell well enough to keep it alive.

check the ridgid site, they are a division of emerson electric tool or so the website says

 

[BajaBound]

C3 works awesome with a lithium battery

 

[jep5555]

I have the C3 Li-On system - no issues at this point - most of the tools are at least two years old. Here's my question - I am looking for a pole saw - apparently Sears doesn't offer one. I saw someone said that the batteries are not interchangeable between the Craftsman 19.2 volt and the Ryobi One+ system. Does anyone know of a battery powered pole saw that my C3 batteries might work with?

 

[pauls_workshop]

check the ridgid site, they are a division of emerson electric tool or so the website says

It's not clearly apparent to me how Ryobi, Ridgid, and Milwaukee are integrated under TTI. Emerson owns Ridgid but TTI makes the Ridgid tools. Emerson makes the motors or used to. Ridgid often look just like a beefed up Ryobi, but the Milwaukees are more distinctly different than either. Anyone who knows exactly what is what between the designs/manufacturing, please chime in. - Paul

 

[Stuey]

It's not clearly apparent to me how Ryobi, Ridgid, and Milwaukee are integrated under TTI. Emerson owns Ridgid but TTI makes the Ridgid tools. Emerson makes the motors or used to. Ridgid often look just like a beefed up Ryobi, but the Milwaukees are more distinctly different than either. Anyone who knows exactly what is what between the designs/manufacturing, please chime in. - Paul

TTi owns Milwaukee, Ryobi's power tools division in North America, and is under a licensing agreement to design and manufacture Ridgid power tools for Home Depot in North America.

 

[kythri]

I have the C3 Li-On system - no issues at this point - most of the tools are at least two years old. Here's my question - I am looking for a pole saw - apparently Sears doesn't offer one. I saw someone said that the batteries are not interchangeable between the Craftsman 19.2 volt and the Ryobi One+ system. Does anyone know of a battery powered pole saw that my C3 batteries might work with?

I don't know of any other tool line that the C3 batteries would fit in.

Some folks have built "adapters" by cannibalizing a bad battery from the "different" tool system and fabricating some bits to to fit the preferred system's battery.

Nothing commercial, however.