Milwaukee or Ryobi impact wrench

[JackOfDiamonds]

I want an impact wrench for two things: removing the anode rod from my water heater, and rotating tires on my minivans.

I have Milwaukee and Ryobi 18v systems. I want something powerful enough to be worth it, but if it's too expensive, it won't be worth it either. Milwaukee alone has 4 different impact wrenches... Ryobi has multiple as well.. how do you choose?

 

[shawhite]

Well I’ll give you a hint it’s red

 

[tarmy]

This can’t be a serious question?

ummm…one make is for housewives (I know, I know) and the other is for work…

 

[MacMcMacmac]

I'd go with the Ryobi since you already have the system. Why spend $100 more for an industrial grade tool when its going to get used so little? If I had my time back I'd have gone with the Ryobi for the breadth of the tool selection.

 

[nadogail]

My experience with Ryobi tools is such that I can not recommend one to a friend.

My corded Milwaukee experience has been excellent. For Cordless tools I am a Makita fan.

 

[onarant]

I have the 1/2" Ryobi impact wrench. Has been great for my needs.

 

[colintrax]

An impact driver could meet your needs. Buy whatever is cheapest.

 

[Firebrick43]

Friends don't let friends buy ryobi.

 

[Pistolero]

i have ryobi impact wrench mid torque, its capable enough to remove struts 17mm bolt that attached to the brake rotor assembly of my minivan , couldnt be happier because didnt spend much for this, and its capable, unless you use it as a mechanic, got the previous gen impact wrench before and it capable of removing drive shaft nut for my honda accord, it has seen a lot of use and its worth the money that i paid for it.

 

[Neggy]

as said above it is RED

I will add it runs on M18 Batteries, and will produce enough torque for almost any situation.

 

[jd_1138]

I think either will be fine. If you don't have money falling out of your pocket, I'd get Ryobi unless the Milwaukee one is not that much more. If Milwaukee one is less than 2 times the price of the Ryobi, I'd get the Milwaukee.

 

[rancherbill]

I'd buy Ryobi for your stated needs and with the money I saved not buying Milwaukee I'd buy more stuff.

Ryobi is low line Milwaukee

 

[cannuck]

Milwaukee and Ryobi are owned by the same company, but not the same tools. I have heard rumours that some red ideas are tested in lime green but not sure if that means actual hardware is shared. I get Ryobi for my son-in-law and his stuff has been dead reliable and useful in home handyman use. Unless you NEED the utility of red commercial stuff Ryobi can be great value for the money. The other thing to consider is the incredible selection of tools Milwaukee has now, and will likely increase in the future.

 

[sparky 1971]

There's nothing wrong with Ryobi for the occasional user. Will it perform every task as well as Milwaukee? No. Will it take off lug nuts as well as Milwaukee? Yes. I wouldn't trust a Ryobi to perform day in and day out for any extended period of time, but it will serve your purpose just fine. The deciding factor will come down to how much do you want to spend, then, based on that, get the most powerful tool you can.

 

[engineer2]

An impact driver is more versatile and will do small screws to lugnuts, except for lugnuts on larger trucks or where rust is a problem. I use my Makita hex drive impact for lugnuts all the time but I only have passenger cars.
A 3/8 drive impact might work for what you want. Get at least a 3 speed so you can finesse as well as blast.

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

I have both Ryobi and Milwaukee batteries and chargers. I already have a Milwaukee impact driver...the one that takes 1/4 hex bits. I do try to use it for my lug nuts with a socket adapter, but it doesn't have enough torque to break them loose and it doesn't even come close to helping me with anything like the anode rod in my water tank, which I can't get any leverage on, but probably needs a healthy breaker bar worth of torque. For those kind of big bolts, I need a proper impact. But I will only use it 2x per year to switch my snow tires then maybe a couple times per year when something comes up, which is why I don't already have one and can't justify spending a lot. I'm sure if the question is "which one is better at any price" then I'm sure it's red. But I'm wondering how bad the Ryobi is really. Plus there's more than one Ryobi option, so how does the high end Ryobi compare to the cheapest Milwaukee? Maybe I'll just keep using my breaker bar...

 

[sparky 1971]

I have both Ryobi and Milwaukee batteries and chargers. I already have a Milwaukee impact driver...the one that takes 1/4 hex bits. I do try to use it for my lug nuts with a socket adapter, but it doesn't have enough torque to break them loose and it doesn't even come close to helping me with anything like the anode rod in my water tank, which I can't get any leverage on, but probably needs a healthy breaker bar worth of torque. For those kind of big bolts, I need a proper impact. But I will only use it 2x per year to switch my snow tires then maybe a couple times per year when something comes up, which is why I don't already have one and can't justify spending a lot. I'm sure if the question is "which one is better at any price" then I'm sure it's red. But I'm wondering how bad the Ryobi is really. Plus there's more than one Ryobi option, so how does the high end Ryobi compare to the cheapest Milwaukee? Maybe I'll just keep using my breaker bar...

Even the cheapest of the Ryobi's claims to have 300 ft lbs of torque. Even if that number is false, it should still break properly torqued lug nuts off with ease. It probably won't touch lugs that were hammered on by some crackhead down at the local tire shop, but as I discovered, my super duper heavy duty end all be all 1400 ft lbs Milwaukee couldn't either.

I admit to not having any experience with Ryobi impact wrenches. It's been at least 15 years since I had a Ryobi tool, but when I did, I had a bunch of them. I bought what, at the time, seemed like a suitcase full of tools and at the price point, was very impressed. The technology has only gotten better, so for your uses, I think you will be well served by a Ryobi. And if it turns out to be a clunker, you aren't out a whole lot of money.

 

[VolvoRyan]

Did Ryobi release their high-torque yet?

As new homeowners (of an old house), we have a fair amount of Ryobi for round-the-house work. For the money, it's quite good.

Check the Torque Test Channel on YouTube if you're looking for better specifics on the impacts.

-Ryan

 

[7milesup]

Buy once, cry once. I would go red.

 

[Bryanthegreat]

Nothing wrong with anything Ryobi makes as I have both Milwaukee and Ryobi. The red one will loosen almost anything but you can buy whatever fits your needs.

 

[goblue1998]

I’m not sure either can remove the anode rod. I wouldn’t use that as a deciding factor. Probably best to just use a beaker bar for that and chose the impact based on the lug nut use.

 

[SRSemenza]

I’m not sure either can remove the anode rod. I wouldn’t use that as a deciding factor. Probably best to just use a beaker bar for that and chose the impact based on the lug nut use.

When ever I have removed an anode rod a breaker bar would not do it, especially without a helper. Problem is the whole water heater wants to turn unless you have a gorilla handy to hold it in place while putting a lot of force into the bar.

Impact wrench ................ no problem.

Seth

 

[pbon]

If you live in the Northeast, the Ryobi 300 ft lb impact may not remove all lug nuts. Depends on corrosion and whether the installer overtightened. If you do not have corrosion in your area and only you work on your cars, it should be fine. No idea about the water heater anode torque. I think Ryobi now has a heavier duty wrench that is worth a look but don’t know the cost.

If you don’t mind occasionally using a breaker bar then the Ryobi 300 lb model should be helpful. If you want an impact that will almost always work then you need one of the heavy duty 1000+ lb units. I think some are now 1400-1500 lbs in reverse.

 

[Newell33]

My first Milwaukee impact was brushed, and came in a set of cheaper brushed M18 tools from Home Depot. It was pretty good, but would struggle on heavy duty lugs and other high torque bolts. I've since upgraded to the M18 brushless Mid-torque, and it's amazing. I doubt I'll need anything more for general automotive use. It can be found on sale for around $199.00 pretty often. I also love its compact size.

 

[Fly YX]

Eitherone will get the job done for the average homeowner. As far as buying more tools on the same battery platform look at both lines and see what you can use when you have to buy more tools. TTI has a outlet store called Direct tool outlet. Check them out. I have mostly Ridgid. I buy factory blemished so it still qualifies for the lsa on Ridgid tools. They have sales all the time so if you don’t need it right away just wait.

 

[Gunfixr]

I realize ryobi is seriously poo-pooed here, but, I have quite a few of them, including the 1/2" impact gun, and have been almost completely satisfied. I'm not impressed with the 18v reciprocating saw. I have a mikwaukee industrial sawzall, the ryobi doesn't even come close. But otherwise fine. However, while I used them constantly for a couple years doing a complete renovation, I now use them occasionally.
I do not disagree that Milwaukee is a better tool, and if I used such tools professionally, would likely choose something else. But for homeowner (i'm nobody's housewife) use, they're fine.

On another note, I don't think i'd use an impact on a water heater anode. Aren't most heater tanks lined with some sort of ceramic or glass? Do you really want an impact banging on it?

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

Like others said, you can't really use a breaker bar on the anode rod because the whole water heater will move and break the pipes. Impact is really the only option or just forget about it and replace the whole water heater eventually.

 

[fordgasm]

I’m a homeowner who has had both. Both did their job without any issues.
FWIW I was more invested in the Ryobi line so I have their brushless 3/8 compact, 1/2 mid torque and 1/2 high torque impacts. Never had an issue with any. Ended up selling the 3 Milwaukee Fuel impacts.

 

[Gunfixr]

I realize that for the OP this is probably not an option, but when I replaced my water heater last summer, I used a breaker bar, and broke the anode rod loose, re-taped the threads, and re-installed it at a more reasonable tightness. Did this with a friend to help while it was still in the garage. It should be much easier to remove later.
Just an idea if replacing the heater...........

 

[Torque Test Channel]

It's funny how many people clutch their pearls when you suggest Ryobi and Milwaukee in the same sentence.
Some of Ryobi's newest HP one+ tools are good. Their P262 mid torque and new PBLIW01 high torque are good. The people who will tell you otherwise don't own these Ryobi models, so you can't really lend too much weight to someone defending their purchase of another brand. We own them all at this point though, and there is some serious value there.
Though they dont quite hold up as long in a professional setting as Milwaukee despite being both made by TTI.

 

[hoctro25]

I know it's late for the OP but I want to share my experience anyway. I've seen on Youtube that an electric impact wrench with 300 lb can remove the anode rod after some minutes. I bought a 450 lb electric one and with 2 tries, 5 seconds total, the anode rod was removed easily. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KCZ9X4R/?tag=atomicindus08-20
So far I've replaced 6 rods with that tool. I want to buy the P262 but may not have much need for another 4 years. Go for the Ryobi impact wrench mid torque.