Ryobi 18v cordless quality?

[Landscraper83]

I currently have a decent collection of dewalt 20v tools at work.

It’s getting quite annoying to ship them back and forth between work and home when I have little projects that need done around the house.

I don’t feel like spending a ton of money on a duplicate set of expensive tools that are only going to see occasional use.

The Ryobi line is quite a bit cheaper than the dewalt or Milwaukee’s. I’m curious if I’ll regret going with the cheaper option, so would like some real world opinions before I buy them. I know the sting of a high price only hurts once, vs living with regret.....but again....these will be occasional use.

I’ll be starting with impact, hammer drill, recip saw, skillsaw.

 

[06switchback]

I have had ryobi cordless tool for a long time they have held up pretty well they do offer different qualities tho I started out about 10 or 12 years ago with a 5 piece set the circular saw is the only one that doesn't work any more I did recently upgraded to there new brushless drill and it is an unbelievable difference at work I use either Dewalt or Milwaukee they don't compare but they get the job done

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[bugnut]

For projects around the house i use ryobi and have been pleased. I own all of the above and more, they have not failed me. I did home remodeling and building of chicken coop, plus others and they have held up well. I do my own brakes and minor auto repairs again likewise. ymmv

 

[blown94conv]

The only Ryobi Tools I have are a 18v leaf blower for drying off the car, and a 18v nail gun I bought to do trim work. Both have worked fine, but I’m not expecting to get a lifetime out of them. They are homeowner grade without a doubt.

 

[DTuck]

Couldn't be happier with mine. I have some of the new brushless tools, and a bunch of the brushed green tools. I use the impact wrench in the garage and couldn't be happier with it.

 

[WildwoodChuck]

I use DeWalt 20v and 60v at work for metal fabrication. I drink the Ryobi Kool Aid at home. When the stuff I have now dies I will get the new brushless Ryobi. Yes the regular 3/8” Ryobi drill is way less power than the DeWalt Brushless 1/2” hammer drill and the Ryobi batteries don’t last as long but I’m at home not on the job site.

I have 30 Ryobi tools, a drill, impact, circular saw, reciprocating saw and light are at home, the same set at my mother inlaws, a drill, impact, reciprocating saw, light, air pump and RC car in my RV. A 1/2” impact, air pump and 12v charger in my car. I also have the multi tool thing, radio, 2 string trimmers, chop saw, sander, grinder, 2 fans, and a few other things at home.

It is really nice to have 5 drills/impacts all set up when doing projects at home. I set 2 up with Kreg Jig bits and drivers, 1 with Phillips/Robertson, 1 with a countersink and I still have a drill free when I need to drill something special mid project.

No it is not comparable to DeWalt/Milwaukee but they are a good tool to use at home.

 

[DTuck]

I use DeWalt 20v and 60v at work for metal fabrication. I drink the Ryobi Kool Aid at home. When the stuff I have now dies I will get the new brushless Ryobi. Yes the regular 3/8” Ryobi drill is way less power than the DeWalt Brushless 1/2” hammer drill and the Ryobi batteries don’t last as long but I’m at home not on the job site.

I have 30 Ryobi tools, a drill, impact, circular saw, reciprocating saw and light are at home, the same set at my mother inlaws, a drill, impact, reciprocating saw, light, air pump and RC car in my RV. A 1/2” impact, air pump and 12v charger in my car. I also have the multi tool thing, radio, 2 string trimmers, chop saw, sander, grinder, 2 fans, and a few other things at home.

It is really nice to have 5 drills/impacts all set up when doing projects at home. I set 2 up with Kreg Jig bits and drivers, 1 with Phillips/Robertson, 1 with a countersink and I still have a drill free when I need to drill something special mid project.

No it is not comparable to DeWalt/Milwaukee but they are a good tool to use at home.

Maybe their brushed tools don't compare, but their new brushless tools definitely do. I use brushless red tools at work and I like my brushless ryobi Impact driver and hammer drill just as much.

 

[Landscraper83]

Thanks guys.....exactly the input I needed.

 

[kctyphoon]

The Ryobi stuff seems pretty decent, but don't kid yourself that it's the same. Ridgid might be another option. Basic tool sets are very competitively priced, and very capable too. The Milwaukee 12v stuff might be another option. The brushed tools are still good quality and you have a lot to pick from. If price is the defining factor here, then Ryobi looks like it has your name on it.

There's a guy on the Milwaukee thread selling Milwaukee m18 batteries to Ryobi adapters. I have one, and it works fine. Maybe you can inquire about Dewalt adapters if you have a lot of 20v batteries..

Porter cable is another value priced option that doesn't seem to get much attention in here.

 

[xin]

One to keep in mind is CRAFTSMAN - Stanley spent a LOT of money on it and they will want to be sellin it I am sure.

One thing would be the BATTERIES on the new CRAFTSMAN cordless tools would use the SAME batteries as Porter Cable/Dewalt ect.. and be BRUSHLESS

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I have the $99 combo impact and drill and it's good for what it is. I don't really buy into cordless recips and circ saws so I haven't tried that. I have a cordless caulking gun too that I used to put up paneling, not really great for actual finish caulking stuff but it's good for throwing a large amount of adhesives without using your hands.

I forgot to mention, if I remember correctly, the old blue ryobi tools work with the new batteries. And those blue nicad tools have nearly no value, even less than normal cordless without batteries, so that'd be a way to get some odd stuff you might never use for cheap.

I haven't gone to yardsales a lot in a few years so while I thought that'd be an advantage, never really turned out for me.

 

[SilverBulletZ06]

One to keep in mind is CRAFTSMAN - Stanley spent a LOT of money on it and they will want to be sellin it I am sure.

One thing would be the BATTERIES on the new CRAFTSMAN cordless tools would use the SAME batteries as Porter Cable/Dewalt ect.. and be BRUSHLESS

Is that the same DeWalt that's famous for changing battery designs?

 

[desertdog256]

+1 on recommending Ryobi for the home user. I have quite a few tools that serve me well. Additionally I have a blower, hedge trimmer, weed whacker, etc. It’s super convenient to me to have all that on the sane battery system.

The only negative for me was that before the larger capacity batteries became pretty much the standard, I found that the tools really ate up the smaller batteries. Since I switche dover to the bigger ones, I have no complaints.

 

[06switchback]

I have to add that like said the batteries make a huge difference in tool performance I won't buy anything but the biggest anymore and they can be found 2 for $99 sometimes

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[SilverBulletZ06]

I would do Ryobi 18v if I had to do it again. The depth of the lineup is insane.

 

[Prichman38]

The best part about Ryobi is they promise to use compatible batteries for as long as they make the 18v line. So I find older blue line for like $2-$5 a piece at garage sales. I put in my lithium battery and they work great.


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[mackie232005]

I use my Ryobi tools both at work and at home! Great, Cheap, Investment!


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[MayerMR]

I'm a Ryobi tool guy and I love'em. And I use the ever loving sin out of them. Never had one fail me yet. I have both the lithium and a Ni-Cad battery and while I admittedly purchased the lithiums used, I've never once been able to actually fully kill the Ni-Cad...though it is quite a bit heavier.

 

[James-W]

I have used Ryobi tools (a buddy has several of them) and they seem to work reasonably well. If it was a tool I plan on using every day, I wouldn't want one. But for occasional home use, I see no reason not to buy them.

 

[ddawg16]

All my cordless stuff is Ryobi....as well as most of my corded stuff.

I use the dog **** out of my stuff.....it's built a garage and 2-story addition....

Best bang for the buck

 

[wolf_from_wv]

With the sales around Father's Day and Christmas, it is almost like getting a free drill or impact driver with the purchase of batteries... At least on the sales I got...

 

[rossomania]

I bought into Ryobi's 18V tools early on and I still have several "blue" tools that I use around the house, my two favorites being a cordless drill and jigsaw. Least favorite was the cordless circular saw which always felt underpowered and used up a fully charged battery in nothing flat. Fortunately, the old tools are compatible with the new "green" batteries which, IMO, are a huge improvement. As others have said, it's your best bang for the buck, but only on light projects and home DIY.

 

[2manytools]

Is that the same DeWalt that's famous for changing battery designs?

Doubt they will be changing any time soon now they have FlexVolt. Make a of users mad.

Ryobi has tools that no one else has, yet. The sweeper, chemical sprayer, hot glue gun, garage door opener. Tons of there tools are very decent for the money, especially how much some are used.

and someone else mentioned the Milwaukee to Ryobi adapter, which I will be picking at least one up of.

 

[rossomania]

Looks like there are a number of Milwaukee to Ryobi battery adapters to choose from. I'd be curious to hear which battery adapter(s) work best and if there are any bad adapters to avoid.

 

[MayerMR]

Looks like there are a number of Milwaukee to Ryobi battery adapters to choose from. I'd be curious to hear which battery adapter(s) work best and if there are any bad adapters to avoid.

Any reason there is a benefit to the Milwaukee batteries vs just using Ryobi batteries? Other than if you have a mix of the two brands?

 

[DTuck]

Any reason there is a benefit to the Milwaukee batteries vs just using Ryobi batteries? Other than if you have a mix of the two brands?

9 Amp hour batteries

 

[Rlfd213]

I just got the 1/2” impact. I haven’t used it yet but I got a brand new in the box with battery and charger for a price I couldn’t pass up on. I have a 60 gallon compressor at home too but I got this for quick fixes and to take on the road if I needed to. The only issue I have so far is when I’ve used it it smells like burning electrical. I have a masterforce 12v drill and 1/4 drive impact that I use for small work too. The drill does the same thing smells like it’s burning when I use it.

 

[DTuck]

I just got the 1/2” impact. I haven’t used it yet but I got a brand new in the box with battery and charger for a price I couldn’t pass up on. I have a 60 gallon compressor at home too but I got this for quick fixes and to take on the road if I needed to. The only issue I have so far is when I’ve used it it smells like burning electrical. I have a masterforce 12v drill and 1/4 drive impact that I use for small work too. The drill does the same thing smells like it’s burning when I use it.

I've been using mine for 6 months and it's smelt like that since day one, no problems.

 

[PugetDude]

Ryobi's commitment to the battery platform is pretty honorable in an industry built on breaking their customers down like a cheap shotgun.

I have a good complement of Ryobi stuff, blue and slime green. The only tool I've encountered that wasn't good was the cordless vac. Everything else has performed admirably. (Although I did let the smoke out of an older drill mixing mortar...didn't want to stop and dig out the old corded 1/2" B&D spade drill...)

I've built a two-story lake cabin, remodeled four houses and done a lot of other DIY with my Ryobi stuff. Great value and a very comprehensive product line. No complaints from me.

 

[rossomania]

Any reason there is a benefit to the Milwaukee batteries vs just using Ryobi batteries? Other than if you have a mix of the two brands?

Better battery life and a migration path to a well respected line of professional grade tools.

 

[Moose97]

I've got a bunch of the Ryobi 18 volt tools. Have had them for years. No complaints at all.

 

[Rickster]

I have a bunch of the Ryobi One tools and I'm totally happy with them.

 

[FMC1959]

They are good tools. No other brand offers this tool selection at a price that is much less than the main brands.

Of course, if you have been using Dewalt at work, you will see the differences like weight, ergonomics and other small features, but for the money, they are great value and get the job done.

 

[MayerMR]

Better battery life and a migration path to a well respected line of professional grade tools.

But assuming you are insinuating that the Milwaukee brand would be what you'd be migrating to; wouldn't the Mil-to-Ryobi adapters not be too helpful? From what I found the adapters only work making the Mil batteries work with the Ryobi tools.

I dunno, it's late, maybe I'm just being dense tonight.

 

[rossomania]

But assuming you are insinuating that the Milwaukee brand would be what you'd be migrating to; wouldn't the Mil-to-Ryobi adapters not be too helpful? From what I found the adapters only work making the Mil batteries work with the Ryobi tools.

I dunno, it's late, maybe I'm just being dense tonight.

Nope, I get it. Sometimes posts aren't exactly clear, regardless of time of day or night.

Yes, we're talking about adapters that would allow Milwaukee M18 Fuel batteries to be used in Ryobi tools. I'm not trying to promote Milwaukee, by the way. I just recognize that it's a popular brand among folks here on GJ.

 

[jfrey123]

Another Ryobi fanboy here. My usage is homeowner frequency, but I’ve been abusing one of the first gen green drills on wood and metal for a couple years and it’s still running good. Old blue 1/4” impact was my homebuilder buddy’s for a few years before he gifted it to me and it runs strong. Weed eater runs great, a pair of sawzalls run good (one blue one green). Hell, even the tiny blue circular saw gets a fair amount of use and is strong enough to do the cuts I need. Batteries have also lasted me for 5+ years now, hold charges fine.

I’m realistic enough to say I don’t think they belong in professional environments, but I have leaned on them incorrectly for awhile now and they don’t care.

 

[Jhoff310]

I bought my first 18V ryobi set in 2003. I have used and abused it. I recently bought a new drill/driver combo set just for the lithium batteries and charger. The set came with a dual chemistry charger, and the old tools can use both batteries. I also purchased the 18V brad nailer which works like a dream.

 

[ARFLY]

I have bought a lot of the Ryobi tools over the past 1 1/2 years. It has all worked OK. Occasionally some of the tools will cut out. The circular saw is the worst. I have just given up on using it. I need to see if it can be sent back under warranty, but it is probably to late for that.

 

[Bryanthegreat]

Ryobi fanboy here also. I have Milwaukee stuff at work and I bought a Ryboi kit for at home. I have a large collection of Ryobi at home now including lawn tools and I don’t have a complaint about any of them.

 

[MayerMR]

I have bought a lot of the Ryobi tools over the past 1 1/2 years. It has all worked OK. Occasionally some of the tools will cut out. The circular saw is the worst. I have just given up on using it. I need to see if it can be sent back under warranty, but it is probably to late for that.

I have one too. It works well, but is a serious battery hog.