410John
Member
Anyone all Ryobi on there garage? I have 18v and 40v tools. I don’t really regret sticking with this one brand. Not pictured are hedge trimmer, electric chainsaw and long reach pruning saw. I do mostly car stuff. 
Ryobi tool fest
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dnschmidt
Well-known member
I'm primarily Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita, Bosch and Metabo but I will confess to having some of Ryobi's weirder tools such as their soldering irons and their hot glue gun. I don't like the huge battery but many consider that to be the key to the system as they've never changed it. For something that's not used in any type of professional setting it's fine.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
How can you guys stand that color?
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cody1325
Well-known member
Not Ryobi, but I've got their half-brother--Hart.
I've got the 40V Trimmer with brush cutter attachment (looking at Ryobi's rubber broom for sweeping snow vs. the snow thrower) and the 20-inch mower. Both work great.
The mower made me swear off gas lawnmowers forever. Insane torque, and quiet as can be.
I've got the 40V Trimmer with brush cutter attachment (looking at Ryobi's rubber broom for sweeping snow vs. the snow thrower) and the 20-inch mower. Both work great.
The mower made me swear off gas lawnmowers forever. Insane torque, and quiet as can be.
I am in the Ryobi line. I have the impacts, drill, air pump, saws and my garden tools. No complaints here.Anyone all Ryobi on there garage? I have 18v and 40v tools. I don’t really regret sticking with this one brand. Not pictured are hedge trimmer, electric chainsaw and long reach pruning saw. I do mostly car stuff.
alwaysFlOoReD
Well-known member
I bought into Ryobi when they were the only brand that sold tools seperate from chargers and batteries. They have served me well doing siding and renovations. And my mechanic hobby. Not sure how long that's been but I've been working siding and renos for 35 years.
BTL-A4
Well-known member
I drink the Limeade. I had Black & Decker and they served me well, but I needed more tools and they didn't have what I wanted, got bad reviews, and batteries stopped being easy to get at the big box stores, so I sold everything and switched over. They have everything I use and work well enough for my serious DIY needs.
In the toolbox in the garage:
I also have:
-cordless circular saw: a bit underpowered at times (I have a corded Skil Sidewinder when I need power), but I've cut thin steel sheet with it.
-leaf blower (cordless): has a louder "whine" than my B&D, but I like the variable speed
-string trimmer (cordless): I miss the little wheel my B&D had that allowed me to use it as an edger and keep it nice and steady.
-hedge trimmers (cordless): work great. I haven't touched the corded ones in a long time.
-pressure washer (corded): the one that goes on a shelf, not the one with wheels
-pressure washer (cordless): I use this to wash my cars
-grinder (cordless): good for final flap sanding when welding. I have corded B&D Industrial grinder for the heavy stuff.
-multi-tool (cordless): I sold my corded one (Porter Cable, I think)
-reciprocating saw (cordless): I have a Craftsman corded one, but I use the cordless all the time.
-small cordless vacuum: this is awesome! I use it all the time. It's much more convenient than using my big one (Rigid).
-I also have a small cordless rotary tool that is for lighter use. I like it because it's small and light, but it is too light duty for some tasks. I bought a M12 one and that works great.
I think I'd like to get the cordless, brushless sander as well. It's never on sale or at Home Depot.
They also make a corded grinder with a rotating handle that looks like it might suit my needs.
In the toolbox in the garage:
I also have:
-cordless circular saw: a bit underpowered at times (I have a corded Skil Sidewinder when I need power), but I've cut thin steel sheet with it.
-leaf blower (cordless): has a louder "whine" than my B&D, but I like the variable speed
-string trimmer (cordless): I miss the little wheel my B&D had that allowed me to use it as an edger and keep it nice and steady.
-hedge trimmers (cordless): work great. I haven't touched the corded ones in a long time.
-pressure washer (corded): the one that goes on a shelf, not the one with wheels
-pressure washer (cordless): I use this to wash my cars
-grinder (cordless): good for final flap sanding when welding. I have corded B&D Industrial grinder for the heavy stuff.
-multi-tool (cordless): I sold my corded one (Porter Cable, I think)
-reciprocating saw (cordless): I have a Craftsman corded one, but I use the cordless all the time.
-small cordless vacuum: this is awesome! I use it all the time. It's much more convenient than using my big one (Rigid).
-I also have a small cordless rotary tool that is for lighter use. I like it because it's small and light, but it is too light duty for some tasks. I bought a M12 one and that works great.
I think I'd like to get the cordless, brushless sander as well. It's never on sale or at Home Depot.
They also make a corded grinder with a rotating handle that looks like it might suit my needs.
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bwringer
Well-known member
Do work, get 'em dirty, and it covers up the snot green.
I have at least a dozen Ryobi 18V tools, and I've been very happy with them. The brushless stuff is outstanding.
No pics, I'm primarily DeWalt, but I have the Ryobi cordless hedge trimmer, small carry size shop vacuum, and tire inflator. They all work fine. The hedge trimmer and vacuum came with two 4AH batteries and a charger and was cheaper than the two DeWalt bare tools, plus the DW vacuum is terrible. I know Ryobi doesn't get much love here, it's not top of the line, but it works, they have a huge selection, and it's stupid cheap on sale. So yeah, I'm a fan for it. I have multiple neighbors with Ryobi battery OPE, including one with a push mower- sure, he just uses it for trimming where the ZTR isn't easy to get to, but.....
Edit- two with Ryobi push mowers- the other guy does his small front yard with it and the rest with a riding mower.
I also have a Ryobi blue 3/8 120V drill from ~1988. Still works fine. It has hundreds of hours on it mixing paint, drilling holes.... It still works. IIRC I had to change the cord on it years ago because it dry-rotted, but it's still kicking.
Edit- two with Ryobi push mowers- the other guy does his small front yard with it and the rest with a riding mower.
I also have a Ryobi blue 3/8 120V drill from ~1988. Still works fine. It has hundreds of hours on it mixing paint, drilling holes.... It still works. IIRC I had to change the cord on it years ago because it dry-rotted, but it's still kicking.
Back in the Blue/Yellow days, a buddy of ours (RIP) who worked for a regional home improvement chain would get salesman samples and pass them on to us.
Since then, I amassed too many Ryobi tools and batteries to list, the sales have been great, and you can usually pick up spare tools at estate sales for $10-20. The one item of theirs I refuse to buy are their ratchets. The big battery makes it had to maneuver. So I also have Milwaukee M12 for various stuff. I do the standard DIY stuff, maintenance on my rental properties, and automotive stuff.
A small sample:
Since then, I amassed too many Ryobi tools and batteries to list, the sales have been great, and you can usually pick up spare tools at estate sales for $10-20. The one item of theirs I refuse to buy are their ratchets. The big battery makes it had to maneuver. So I also have Milwaukee M12 for various stuff. I do the standard DIY stuff, maintenance on my rental properties, and automotive stuff.
A small sample:
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BTL-A4
Well-known member
I have both. The angle grinder is fine, but it goes thru batteries if you use it a lot. I use it for the final flap sanding and touch-up work whenever I weld anything. The die grinder works well. I have the drill-shaped one (I don't think they make a straight one; at least I couldn't easily find one). Get good bits.
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413dan
Well-known member
As noted, the backward compatibility of their batteries is great. Ive been given old blue ryobi stuff and it works with my new batteries. Wish more companies did this. For my homeowner needs they've proven to be a worthwhile investment.
Russell_Reid
Well-known member
I have all Ryobi. Been that way since I bought into the one+ system when they were blue and batteries were Nicad. I chose them when my Porter cable cordless died. The blue ones are still running on the lithium batteries. I have beat the snot out of them and they keep on going. Probably have 20 different tools now if not more.
I happen to like the green. Easy to spot when the workbench/area gets messy. Green is my favorite color, though not the Ryobi shade.
For the home gamer it is an excellent system due to the battery consistency. I haven't bought any HP batteries yet as the standard lithium works just fine for me. Would love to start buying the brushless tools. But I don't have a need and my $$ is best spent on more tools not replacing the same tool.
I happen to like the green. Easy to spot when the workbench/area gets messy. Green is my favorite color, though not the Ryobi shade.
For the home gamer it is an excellent system due to the battery consistency. I haven't bought any HP batteries yet as the standard lithium works just fine for me. Would love to start buying the brushless tools. But I don't have a need and my $$ is best spent on more tools not replacing the same tool.
bwringer
Well-known member
Crikey, I have a lot more than that... never counted before.
I think this is the more or less complete inventory... I'm getting a LOT done for a LOT less money than yella or red, and I'm sort of running out of Ryobi stuff to buy.
Milwaukee's M12 form factor is brilliant, and so I do have a few M12 lights and a screwdriver. I just bought a few more M12 batteries, and will be expanding that collection with tools where the M12 form factor makes a difference, like a 1/4" ratchet. Ryobi's battery form factor is a limitation at times, but honestly it's not really worse than any other 18/20V tool.
Brushless - there are tools where brushless makes a big difference:
Compact 1/4" impact driver
Compact 1/2" drill
Angle grinder
1/2" high torque impact
3/8" impact
Recip saw
Cutoff tool
Brushed; quite a few tools really don't need to be brushless. These brushed items work great, and cost less
Blower
String trimmer
Router
Jigsaw
6-1/2" circular saw
18GA nailer
Fan (can also run on an extension cord; brilliantly useful)
Inflator (my most-used by far)
Wet/dry shop vacuum (one of my other most-used tools)
Chainsaw
High volume "inflator" blower (a small pistol-shaped blower, inflates air mattresses and such)
Heat gun (surprisingly handy and capable)
And I have at least 10 or 12 batteries, about half of which are HP (these do make a difference in HP tools like the brushless angle grinder and 1/2" impact).
The following are sort of casually on my mental list, to be picked up if and as needed, or if a great deal pops up.
Glue gun
Sander(s) -- there are quite a few different sanders, polishers, etc.
Brushless oscillating tool (guybrator)
16GA nailer
Stick vacuum
Hammer drill
Soldering iron
Right angle die grinder
Right angle drill
Rotary cleaning brush tool
Rotary tool (Dremel-ish sort of thing, where the battery and motor sit in a base with a cable to the power head.)
All these and many, many more are either sitting on the shelf at the nearest Home Despot or within a day or two of delivery. And to me, that's a huge benefit as well.
Ryobi also has a new-ish "USB Lithium" line, which so far interests me not one iota. The tools just don't have nearly enough oomph, unless you're working on tiny things like models.
Which inflator? I have the small one and love it. Yeah, I have to set the setpoint three PSI high, but it works.
Here's my vintage drill. Yeah, I know sad. This actually still has the original cord on it, so I must've changed the cord on something else. I added the keyless chuck at some point. I think this is my only corded 3/8 drill. Nice latex paint markings 
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Lou's Garage
Well-known member
I was given a set of the blue tools about 30 years ago. The batteries have remained the same or backward compatible so I continued to buy Ryobi. I currently own about 7 batteries so I doubt I'll change any time soon.
Current 18V inventory as far as I can remember:
drill
small circular saw
small sprayer
detail sander
impact driver
2 outdoor leaf blowers
1 shop blower
Not much but all I need. My string trimmer is Ryobi too, but 40 volt. I have a number of interchangeable attachments from my previous gas trimmer that I wanted to use with any new purchase. The 40 volt trimmer met those requirements. My yard is just shy of 3/4 acre and the trimmer/blower will both complete their jobs on one battery or less.
Lou
Current 18V inventory as far as I can remember:
drill
small circular saw
small sprayer
detail sander
impact driver
2 outdoor leaf blowers
1 shop blower
Not much but all I need. My string trimmer is Ryobi too, but 40 volt. I have a number of interchangeable attachments from my previous gas trimmer that I wanted to use with any new purchase. The 40 volt trimmer met those requirements. My yard is just shy of 3/4 acre and the trimmer/blower will both complete their jobs on one battery or less.
Lou
Blindfolds might help. Then again, you might end up drilling into a buried live wire.
Scored this 6 speed mud mixer today at Habitat for $60.00 w/ 8 AH battery. It’ll never see mud , but it will see Lake ice
. Target torque for battery ice augers is 750”#. No spec on this guy, but its gotta be way north of that,
. Target torque for battery ice augers is 750”#. No spec on this guy, but its gotta be way north of that,No brushes to wear out, no drag due to contactless armature. Simpler construction. Higher efficiency means longer battery time.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I have the sort of right angle die grinder and it has plenty of power but isn't nearly as smooth as my Milwaukee right angle M12 die grinders and it's twice the size. Clearly they cut costs on the bearings but the 18V rather than 12V does give it more power than the Milwaukee but not by much. For a non-pro I would recommend it.
