jump ship from Ryobi or stay?

[jd_1138]

I bought my first Ryobi tool a year ago -- a cordless 1/4" impact driver with a drill combo kit. Then I added a recip, circ saw, a couple of lights. I am still using the 2 compact batteries that came with the drills. They are lithium.

I am starting to do more involved projects and for relatives/friends. I was wondering if I should jump ship over to Makita or DeWalt or ? Before I get too heavily invested in the Ryobi line. I guess if I do buy more Ryobi stuff, if I do sell it later on, I can get more for it if I have more pieces -- at least 40 cents on the dollar anyway.

I am going to be buying the multi tool, jobsite radio, and 2 of the high capacity batteries if I decide to stay with Ryobi. Or I may sell it all and get a 4 or 5 tool combo kit from one of the better brands.

I guess Porter Cable wouldn't be too much of an upgrade over Ryobi?

 

[kythri]

Quite frankly, I think Porter Cable would be a downgrade.

Their market saturation seems to be far less than other brands, and I'd be worried about them being around.

Ryobi, on the other hand, for being a Home Depot exclusive, seems to be in a lot of people's hands.

There's always going to be people that tell you to buy DeWalt or Milwaukee or whatever, but I really don't think you can go wrong with Ryobi, despite the pro-DeWalt/pro-Milwaukee nay-sayers.

The selection is huge, the price is phenomenal, and their just good tools.

I certainly don't use my Ryobi stuff (and I've got a lot of it) on a daily basis, but it's never failed me.

I also see a LOT of Ryobi in contractor bags and on contractor carts. Lot of electricals and generals that I'm in regular contact with are using this stuff in a professional environment, and those that I've BS'd with love it for it's price and it's reliability.

The "new" 4.0A Lithium-Ion batteries are monsters. As an example, I got the Ryobi 18V 10" chainsaw as part of a "super" kit when I bought my first tools over a decade ago.

It worked, but it ate batteries REAL fast.

I just dug it and used it with one of the new batteries this weekend. Took down some hawthorn and other weed trees with it, chewed right through them like never before, and still had a lot of battery left when I was done.

I'd definitely admit to being an evangelist for Ryobi 18V tools, but it's all borne out of actual use.

The impact drivers are fantastic, never had a problem with the drills or any of the saws (circular, reciprocating, jigsaw). Picked up the 18V/120V convertible string trimmer from Woot last summer, such a nice, lightweight light trimmer for cleaning up after mowing.

 

[ddawg16]

Almost all my stuff is Ryobi.....it's done me well.

No reason to jump. Just buy more tools.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I agree with kythri, porter cable would be a down grade and ryobi is pretty good, when I eventually upgrade to a better cordless drill I will most likely pick them. They have a big selection of tools and it keeps growing.

 

[kctyphoon]

jump ship, buy Milwaukee - and you'll wonder how you ever lived without them. investing in a better class of tool with a better battery platform will open many doors for you if your scope of work is starting to grow too.

just to make a point - reasons why people see ryobi being used by contractors are because they are cheap, so if they walk off the job, get broken, or get run over - its no big deal. ryobi is not meant to be a professional tool. this doesnt mean they WONT work for you - but so will a $20 harbor freight saw if you just use it on occasion. most people upgrade because they WANT to, not because cheaper tools no longer work for them.

if you want to compromise - just go with the brushed line instead of brushless.. itll save you money and still perform well over what you are use to.

 

[UserNameAttempt3]

Batteries are batteries... all lithium-ion's are about the same, other than Ah ratings. Ive had a number of Ryobi cordless and they served me well. My most recent cordless purchase was a Bosch drill and driver. They work great too. It just depends on if you are satisfied with it or not. If you really want to "upgrade" check out the Ridgid stuff. I see a LOT of contractors using them more often then Mil/Mak.

 

[67King]

I have had nothing but horrible experiences with Ryobi. One tool (recip saw) lasted only weeks. To be fair, it was usually the batteries. I'll buy non-powered stuff like a miter saw stand. Otherwise, I won't touch it. I also don't think you can reasonably expect 40 cents on the dollar later on. I did the Ryobi thing for maybe 6 months, then was Ridgid for probably 7-8 years, still use Hitachi 18V after maybe 6 years. Started buying Milwaukee 12V stuff a few months ago......and I love that stuff!!!

 

[jd_1138]

Batteries are batteries... all lithium-ion's are about the same, other than Ah ratings. Ive had a number of Ryobi cordless and they served me well. My most recent cordless purchase was a Bosch drill and driver. They work great too. It just depends on if you are satisfied with it or not. If you really want to "upgrade" check out the Ridgid stuff. I see a LOT of contractors using them more often then Mil/Mak.

Around here it's all about the Makitas with the electricians, plumbers, carpenters. Hmm, so Ridgids are an upgrade over Ryobi? I haven't thought about them. There's a 3 pack Ridgid combo for $179 that comes with an impact, drill and jobsite radio along with 2 batteries/charger. They seem to have a lot more features than Ryobis and more powerful too.

And they have the lifetime battery warranty I guess?

 

[UserNameAttempt3]

I do a lot of low voltage work, but that entails drilling into a lot of different stuff. My next drill, if I can kill my Bosch, will be a Rigid Fuego(Fire 18v).

Rigid offers battery replacement with their Lifetime Service Agreement. Read the print to know what you are getting out of it.

But for bang per buck... I think they are a hot ticket.

I suggest buying at least one of the bigger batteries though. I think they come with a 1.5Ah... you can buy, 2, 3 or 4 Ah ones now.

 

[lucky15]

Almost all my stuff is Ryobi.....it's done me well.

No reason to jump. Just buy more tools[/B][/B][/B].

I would agree here. I have a lot of Ryobi tools and they have yet to let me down. I have owned their cordless impact driver and drill for about 4-5 years and they have worked flawless, even after I have forgot and let them get a nice shower in the bed of my truck. I just upgraded to the large Lithium batteries (4Ah) and can tell a huge difference over the NiCad batteries, tons more power. I also have many Milwaukee tools which is a great brand, but if your not going to be using them everyday; for the price I don't think you can go wrong with Ryobi.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I went from Makita to all Milwaukee. M12 and M18 line up. (1. I watch HOT DEALS, bogos, etc and 2. I had a little money this last year.)

However, my buddy has Ryobi, and even though the more expensive stuff is more refined, probably stronger and maybe longer lasting....the Ryobi seems to work just fine.

I'd only jump ship if 1. You WANT to (not need), 2. You can afford it, or 3. You have a demanding use for these tools that will require day in day out use (and maybe Ryobi will do that, but I've never seen them in a professional setting)

 

[RedRabbit]

I'd jump to Ryobi. I have both sets, a 5 piece 2000 Era Ryobi kit and brand new and old Makitas. The Makitas are.excellent and I always reach for them first.

 

[ajchien]

Funny. I jumped from porter cable to Ryobi about a year ago. My porter Cable stuff still works just fine and I still use it. I went Ryobi 18v was because they also have garden and yard tools in the lineup. it's nice to have seemingly unconnected tools like your hedge trimmer, 1/2" square drive impact, 16g nailer all on the same batteries.

 

[aaronrkelly]

I dont see any reason to jump ship. I work right along my buddy with Milwaukee stuff with my Ryobi stuff and have never been lacking. Ive got the circular saw, jigsaw, reciprocating saw, drill/driver and impact - they have all done the job.

 

[brianh]

I have been using ryobi for years they have improved quality a lot the stuff used to be junk 10 years ago.

Not as smooth as my makita stuff but almost as good, and if it walks at the jobsite not as big of a dent on the wallet.

The 18 volt platform has a nice variety I use them on a daily basis.

I think they are better made than Dewalt or Porter Cable none of those companies are American made anymore. I have never been much of a fan of Dewalt its more advertising hype than performance.

 

[woody 73]

super long story in short compact form:

My sons baseball coach asked the dads to build benches this week, so I went this past Sunday along with a few other fathers and we built some benches for the boys.

One of the Fathers was asked to be the lead carpenter, (his son had graduated many years before); so he was doing a big favor to lend his tools and support which was a very nice thing to do.

Ok short story I got to use all his shop tools and talk tools which of course is like giving booze to a thirsty drunk if you know what I mean.

Anyhow he had Makita cordless screwdriver and he loved it so much nothing else would suffice. Kind of like having horse blinders on which is ok but in the tool world new tools come out all the time and change can sometimes be a good thing. Funny thing the guy hated Dewalt and would never look at any dewalt Cordless tools yet all his corded tools were Dewalt go figure that one out?

I guess what I am trying to say if the op likes Ryobi then stick with them just like the guy liked his Makita it all works out in the end!

 

[Kirbot]

if you want to compromise - just go with the brushed line instead of brushless.. itll save you money and still perform well over what you are use to.

And don't forget you can run both types on the same batteries.

I'm planning on getting a brushless 3/8" impact, and most of the other tools in the non-fuel, brushed variety. Along with a few Ridgid tools thrown in for good measure....



That said....
Is there anything the Ryobi isn't doing for you?
I haven't used any for a long time, but it does seem like the quality has improved quite a lot lately.

If they do everything you ask of them, and you aren't set on having the latest and greatest, just stick with Ryobi and save a ton of money.

 

[pablo94sc]

Ryobi is pretty darn good for the money, and they continue to improve their tools without forcing the end user to completely upgrade to a new system to use them. I put mine through some serious abuse as a homeowner, and have friends that have done the same as pros. Another brand may be better overall, but it really depends on how you use/abuse them. For the price though, it's hard to beat.

 

[Loscaldazar]

I actually think the 20V MAX Porter Cable system is way better than Ryobi. Not enough to justify the price of switching however. If you want something different, just go for the Milwaukee stuff.

Comparing the Ryobi Drill to the Porter Cable drill, the Porter Cable is about half the length, half the weight, charges in 40 minutes vs an hour, and has a 1/2 all metal chuck. The Ryobi is much larger, heavier, has a 1/2 chuck, but does have 24 clutch positions (vs the 23 of the PC).

If you compare DeWalt and Porter Cable, you'll actually find that most models have the exact same size and weight. The Porter Cable models are all brushed and have less power, but they are incredibly similar to their DeWalt brothers....Not bad for the price you can get them at (got 4 batteries, two quick chargers, the compact drill/driver and the impact driver for $198 shipped).

I think they are better made than Dewalt or Porter Cable none of those companies are American made anymore. I have never been much of a fan of Dewalt its more advertising hype than performance.

Dewalt actually has many models that are assembled in the USA. More than any other brand can say.

I would, however, say that Milwaukee is still the leader in cordless tools right now. Only brand that I would is worth it to switch to if you want to. Otherwise stick with what you got until it doesn't work any more.

 

[clownbear69]

Personally I wouldn't jump ship

I only jump ship (on any product not just tools) if the product failed on me more than once (using it in the correct manner). While some products have better warranties than others I can only go so far reusing that warranty if the product keeps failing.

Just because its not in the same pricing categories as others doesn't mean squat. Ive seen some of the best stuff fail.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I went thru the same conundrum a few months ago. I ended up staying with ryobi because they seem to be improving quality. The circular saw bearings are ****, but haven't tried a new one. The 4.5" grinder is underpowered. The drill and impact driver are great. I really like the li-ion, and the new chargers brought some of my old batteries back to life for a while.

 

[NotSwedishChef]

I've got Milwaukee (18v, 12v, Fuel & non-Fuel) and Ryobi......both brands have there place. Ryobi's airstrike line-up is a godsend. For quick honey-do list projects, i can have it done by the time I'm still airing the compressor up. If you're making a living with the tools....I'd say invest in something slightly heavier duty....whatever your poison is (Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Bosch) based on what tools you'll need and what line-up offers them.

For what it's worth....you already have those tools.....figure out what projects you have coming up and see what you'll need. Add according to those needs.....

 

[Lassen Forge]

My 8 year old Ryobi Cordless drill, that I abuse with alarming frequency, has a tail bearing that started to make noise about 3 years ago, and still, it works fine. Hasn't made me go out and get another...

If I had to jump ship, I'd go with the DeWalt 20V system (used some of those, really cool system IMO), but that'll be when the drill and saw take a dive on me. Hasn't happened yet.

 

[928'er]

Ryobi, Ridgid, Milwaukee, Craftsman C3, Nextec, and AEG are all made by TTI.

Sure there are differences, but same basic technology. Too bad they all use a different form factor for their batteries.

At least Ryobi batteries are forward and backward compatible across their tool line.

 

[redmondjp]

Another vote for keeping with Ryobi.

The 18V 4.0AH lithium batteries are the best thing that ever happened to them. Now the circular saw, vacuum cleaner, sawzall, and other high-current tools actually are useable.

I'm ticked now because I finally realized where my Ryobi $100 Lithium battery is that has been missing since last summer. It's on my impact driver which is also missing! At least I know that if I find one, I'll find the other (but if they have a super deal on an impact kit this father's day or on black Friday, I may just buy another one).

 

[kctyphoon]

batteries are not "just" batteries... more expensive tools use more more expensive cells that will cycle longer and retain a longer charge as time passes. also one thing to remember, is that you are not "just" buying the tools - you are commmiting to a warranty program thru the manufacturer, some of which dont always live up to expectations (cough, Ridgid). youll be hard pressed to find any lenghtly threads praising ridgid for their warranty service. this is also another reason people buy Milwaukee, because they have a great reputation for service and honoring what you paid for. also - a "better" battery platform allows people to buy more specialized tools like ratchets or impact wrenches. its VERY easy to see the difference a few extra $$ will get you, as soon as you look to something like a cordless circular saw. the difference can be something you can barely use, to something that will replace your corded tools.. this alone is worth considering these days if you do alot of outdoor work.. at this point, brushless tools can save you from having to buy corded "backups" for those jobs that use to eat batteries .


like most questions posted on this forum - only you will be able to give yourself the best answer... it was tough for me too when i finally decided to change over from dewalt's 18v nicad to the new m18 fuel stuff.. you gotta think of it as if you owned a used car, and at what point do you stop investing money in it... if it will continue to work for you - great.. BUT- itll only get worse if you continue to buy entry level power tools and then later decide you want more.. i say - if you have the money to spend - go for it.. good tools are never a bad invesment , and it not like you thinking of buying a $10,000 tool box.

 

[Al G]

I just finished framing my basement. Over 200 linear feet of wall and every stud was cut to length with a Ryobi battery powered circular saw. The battery would last for a couple of days before needing charging. I've been loading up on Ryobi tools lately.

 

[mrvm]

Way behind my older collection of Makita LXTs and newer M18 Impact driver/wrench Fuels are where my Ryobi(s) reside. The Ryobi Nicads were awful but the 18V lithium batteries have been handy for light-duty lawn equipment and they actually rejuvenated the old "blue" tools. Ryobi is an innovative company and improvements to their power tools are getting them noticed in addition to offering great performance to value. I'm interested in some of the "specialized" power tool offerings from Ryobi such as the 18-Volt dual power 20-watt LED work light and 18V miter saw.



Picked up the 18V Ryobi miter saw (clearanced for what?) for ez quick miter cuts on-the-go and expecting good performance with the 4 Ah batteries.

 

[kctyphoon]

I just finished framing my basement. Over 200 linear feet of wall and every stud was cut to length with a Ryobi battery powered circular saw. The battery would last for a couple of days before needing charging. I've been loading up on Ryobi tools lately.

not saying the saw is useless - but you honestly cant compare the two, and this is ONLY the 6.5" fuel..

Ryobi -

Milwaukee -

and this is just the m12 fuel saw..

like i said - this is one of those tools you just cant compare

 

[Katodog]

Ryobi...yuck!!!



I've used Ryobi for 13 years with no problems. My old "blue" tools run like they did the day I bought them, and I've used most of these for heavy use in building and machinery maintenance. I use my stuff every day and it all still goes strong. I bought the 18v angle grinder recently and it's great, runs cleaner and smoother than the Dewalt we have at work. It's not in the picture though, poor thing. Time for a new photo...


Ryobi Family Portrait 02 by Ed Durbin (Katodog), on Flickr

 

[kctyphoon]

Ryobi...yuck!!!



I've used Ryobi for 13 years with no problems. My old "blue" tools run like they did the day I bought them, and I've used most of these for heavy use in building and machinery maintenance. I use my stuff every day and it all still goes strong. I bought the 18v angle grinder recently and it's great, runs cleaner and smoother than the Dewalt we have at work. It's not in the picture though, poor thing. Time for a new photo...


Ryobi Family Portrait 02 by Ed Durbin (Katodog), on Flickr

are you trying to say that if you buy ryobi you need to buy 3 of each tools as back ups?

sorry - but seeing someone buy 2 or 3 of everything does not inspire confience

i actually did buy a cordless ryobi leaf blower to do quick clean up of my sidewalk after some edging.. the battery lasted less than 10 minutes, and i almost had to touch the leaves and grass clippings with the blower to get them to move.. when i brought it back to HD, they asked if anything was wrong. i said " this thing wont blow the leaves off my sidewalk" the asnwer i got was " its not suppose to" - so my next next question was "then why is there a picture on the box of it blowing leaves?"

 

[AceofSpad3s]

are you trying to say that if you buy ryobi you need to buy 3 of each tools as back ups?

sorry - but seeing someone buy 2 or 3 of everything does not inspire confience

i actually did buy a cordless ryobi leaf blower to do quick clean up of my sidewalk after some edging.. the battery lasted less than 10 minutes, and i almost had to touch the leaves and grass clippings with the blower to get them to move.. when i brought it back to HD, they asked if anything was wrong. i said " this thing wont blow the leaves off my sidewalk" the asnwer i got was " its not suppose to" - so my next next question was "then why is there a picture on the box of it blowing leaves?"

He said he does building and machinery maintenance, one set to leave at work and one for home.

 

[PugetDude]

Stay.

Unless you jump all the way to the red tools that cost up to 5X more you won't see an appreciable difference in performance.

Porter Cable would be a lateral performance move at best- and you won't have a fraction of the 18V platform variety that Ryobi offers.

 

[PugetDude]

He said he does building and machinery maintenance, one set to leave at work and one for home.

I've got two sets of Ryobi Cordless- one for the house in AZ and one in WA.
Just take a set of batteries back and forth to keep them fresh...

 

[Katodog]

are you trying to say that if you buy ryobi you need to buy 3 of each tools as back ups?

Nope. These are all tools I've bought over the years, for numerous reasons. The first set was the "Six-pack" a set of 6 tools in a rolling cart. Bought those around 13 years ago. After that I just kept buying Ryobi, stapler, hammer drill, yard tools, etc.. Once I started using Ryobi I never stopped, and the convenience of being able to use all batteries with all tools is nice too. After the NiCads started dying off I switched to Lithiums, and it's cheaper to buy the tool kits than it is to buy batteries by themselves.

I use most of these every day, and I'm doing it out of laziness. I don't like to stop to switch bits so I use multiple drills at one time. One has a pilot hole bit, one has a pass-through bit, one has a countersink, etc.. It's easier to do that than it is to switch bits, and it's easier to do that than it is to stop every so often to swap out batteries.

 

[Rarified27]

Nope. These are all tools I've bought over the years, for numerous reasons. The first set was the "Six-pack" a set of 6 tools in a rolling cart. Bought those around 13 years ago. After that I just kept buying Ryobi, stapler, hammer drill, yard tools, etc.. Once I started using Ryobi I never stopped, and the convenience of being able to use all batteries with all tools is nice too. After the NiCads started dying off I switched to Lithiums, and it's cheaper to buy the tool kits than it is to buy batteries by themselves.

I use most of these every day, and I'm doing it out of laziness. I don't like to stop to switch bits so I use multiple drills at one time. One has a pilot hole bit, one has a pass-through bit, one has a countersink, etc.. It's easier to do that than it is to switch bits, and it's easier to do that than it is to stop every so often to swap out batteries.

I have done all of this and almost the exact same way.

In 2011, I bought some M12 stuff that was on a holiday clearance from HD because I wanted a smaller drill to carry around when I travel.

I have about 10 Ryobi tools and 7 M12. Both get used often enough, but the Ryobi is the winner in everything but size.

The most notable difference for me are the M12 FUEL impact and the right angle drill. The spaces I can get those into is incredible and I wish I had them about 10yrs ago.

I also agree that Ryobi's 4ah batteries really are tremendous for the price. I've beaten the snot out of them and they run forever, including the new worklight someone posted above. I've used it for hours before it died.

Unless you have a specific space issue like I did, I see no good reason to switch beyond the power that some of the 28+ stuff can deliver.

 

[DR99]

Ryobi is defiantly upping the quality of their tools and offering tools at prices that no one else can touch. The big new tools from Ryobi are the airstrike nailers and the new led flood light they are great tools. The other thing is you can get 2 4.0ah batteries cheap at different times of the year.

 

[rslaback]

I would advise you to stay on Ryobi for no reason other than the number of tools in their platform. I was already heavily invested in Ridgid but I wanted to try out some of the Ryobi tools that no one else appears to make in a less than professional price range (caulk gun, cordless miter saw, 18ga nailer) without taking on a new battery platform. I made an adapter to use my existing Ridgid batteries and so far I don't have any complaints about the Ryobi stuff I have.

If I was going back into professional construction I might think differently but for my weekend warrior and homeowner stuff it seems just fine.

 

[woody 73]

Thought the op would get a kick out of the following video, mind you it looks unsafe as all get out but that Ryobi saw surprised me with what it could do.

 

[LUKE221]

Stay with ryobi