Milwaukee vs Ryobi Sawzall and Multi Tool

[HomeTheaterMan]

I need a sawzall and a oscillating multi tool. I'm really torn on going with Ryobi vs spending the extra on Milwaukee Fuel. I have batteries for both platforms, so that's not a huge issue either way. I really like quality tools, so I started buying things from Milwaukee. Originally I intended to stick with that platform. However, I bought a few things from Ryobi later on because I got them at an unbelievable price and honestly I've been really impressed with everything I've had from them and it's been significantly cheaper. It's not worth saving the money if the tool is going to be underpowered and miserable to use, but if it's 98% as good for a fraction of the price, it's probably good enough for me. Any opinions on these two tools from each brand? Reviews on Home Depot, etc. all seem positive for both.

 

[jblnut]

Haven’t run the Milwaukee but I have a pair of Ryobi brushless sawzalls and an oscillating multitool and have no complaints with them. The one sawzall lives in the tile plow box of tools and has been run in mud and even under water a few times and it keeps on going. Bonkers really for the money what it’ll do. I switched from buying DeWalt to Ryobi tools around the time they went from 18v to 20v battery stuff and don’t regret it so far.

 

[nadogail]

Only a Milwaukee is a Sawzall, everything else is a "Knock Off"

My experience with Ryobi cordless tools has been extremely disappointing, I have had excellent results from my purchases of Makita ztools.

 

[Wamsutta]

If you spend any time in a Home Depot parking lot, you'll see a constant stream of people bringing their Ryobi products back for a refund.

 

[sparky 1971]

I've never used a Ryobi multi tool so I have no comment on it. I do have a M18 multi tool and it works as well as my corded Rockwell. It's been several years, but I did have a Ryobi joke of an 18 volt reciprocation saw and there was absolutely no comparison between it and my first M18 Sawzall. I still have that Sawzall in my garage, having replaced it with a Fuel on my service truck.

 

[VolvoRyan]

Really depends on how much use you plan to get out of a tool.

Ryobi is crazy good value. I have a lot of Ryobi around the house for the things I can't justify spending Milwaukee money on. I can find the "faults" with Ryobi, but it's not a deal breaker.

-Ryan

 

[Coach James]

I have two cordless Ryobi recip saws. I haven't used the second one as the first one keeps going. I've cut more 5" and smaller trees with it than I can remember. I've been clearing the trees and brush on two properties I own. Four years and it's still cutting them down. It's slower than my chainsaws, but it gets the job done. If it ever quits, I'll use the second one. Pallets, crates, porch rails, support posts, landscape timbers, 4x4's and whatever else needs cut up, the Ryobi does it. With the proper blade, it handles embedded nails fine. I go to the HD over in Fayetteville a few times a year. I've never seen lines of people returning lime green tools.

I can't comment on a multitool as mine is a Rockwell, not Ryobi or Mil.

 

[pizza]

If you spend any time in a Home Depot parking lot, you'll see a constant stream of people bringing their Ryobi products back for a refund.

that's just because people are usually considerate enough to borrow the cheaper tool as their free rental option. and usually the most beat up boxes that have clearly been re-taped 5x.

 

[desertdog256]

Can’t speak to the multi-tool, but I have a couple of Ryobi reciprocating saws that we use around the place with pruning blades for trimming branches and small limbs. They work great. I have cut a couple of small trees that were really too big for the tool but they got it done. I am sure the Milwaukee may be a better tool, but Ryobi is good enough for what I need as a homeowner/DIYer.

 

[Robinson1]

I’ve used multi tools from a dozen different manufacturers. Some are better than others. Some cut faster, some vibrate less, but in the end they all did the job.

Reciprocating saws on the other hand are either good or underpowered garbage. There is no in between and I’d go so far as to say a junk saw is almost worse than no saw at all.

I’d split the difference Ryobi multi tool and Milwaukee reciprocating saw

 

[earl84]

If you don't need the portability of cordless reciprocating saw, I would buy just about any corded recip saw. I've used Ryobi, Dewalt, Milwaukee, and probably others, and they are all underpowered compared to a corded saw. Just my experience.

They also seem to come up used all the time on FB Marketplace.

 

[teknikfrog]

I mean, Milwaukee invented the Sawzall.....

Having actually owned both, my one comment aside from general build quality differences which are probably obvious--the Ryobi sawzall required you to press on a safety interlock and the Milwaukee did not. You wouldn't think it would be that annoying but it really was.

 

[T444e]

Personally, I prefer the Hackzall over the Sawzall (have both the M12 and M18), smaller, lighter and easier to use one handed. I don't even remember the last time I used the Sawzall. I use them to cut anything from wood to cast iron and steel pipe. The only reason I got the M12 was because it was a bit smaller than the M18 which wouldn't fit in the space available to make the cut. I wouldn't be without the M18 Hackzall, works that good in my opinion.

Regarding the multi-tool, I would not get the Ryobi if it doesn't have a quick change feature. I just got the M12 Fuel multi-tool to replace a corded Dremel (required a hex key and not compatible with blades from other manufacturers) I had for many years. Much nicer having the quick change feature when needing to change blades multiple times in a middle of a project when differenet material types need to be cut.

 

[Steve_P]

I don't have either of the Ryobi tools the OP is interested in, but I do have three Ryobi cordless tools- and for the price vs DeWalt (my primary), they're just an insane bargain for something that you'll only use occasionally- like a hedge trimmer or tire inflator. For occasional use, I don't think you can go wrong with Ryobi. If you're using it professionally, then definitely Milwaukee or DeWalt.

I'm not a day laborer, so I don't spend much time in the HD parking lot looking at what people are returning

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

Thanks all! I ended up ordering the Milwaukee Fuel Hackzall and Multi Tool on sale at Home Depot. It seemed like a hard deal to pass up. I hope the Hackzall has enough stroke to do the things I want. From most of the reading I've done, it seems like people often prefer it over the sawzall.

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

I don't have either of the Ryobi tools the OP is interested in, but I do have three Ryobi cordless tools- and for the price vs DeWalt (my primary), they're just an insane bargain for something that you'll only use occasionally- like a hedge trimmer or tire inflator. For occasional use, I don't think you can go wrong with Ryobi. If you're using it professionally, then definitely Milwaukee or DeWalt.

I'm not a day laborer, so I don't spend much time in the HD parking lot looking at what people are returning

This is how I feel about the Ryobi stuff I have. It's been an incredible value and has all worked great.

 

[bwringer]

Two points:

- Lotta goobers in this thread who have never used current Ryobi cordless tools.

- There's a vast difference between Ryobi's current brushless stuff (on par with the competition, great value especially if you can hit a sale) and the older brushed motor stuff, much of which was not great. And in these particular tools, the old brushed versions are still on sale but they're pretty bad.

Looks like you found a good sale on the Milwaukee stuff, and I bet you'll be very happy with it.

As far as I can tell, there aren't any big Ryobi sales at the moment.

Also, yes, the Ryobi brushless oscillating tool does have a quick release.

And overall, the Milwaukee versions are a bit better. Whether that's worth the price premium is up to you.