Regarding what Fordgasm said, I went the other way. Less than two years ago, on a Ryobi Day, I went nuts upgrading from my B&D Firestorm. Honesty, only one Firestorm tool ever let me down and it was the removable chuck drill. I still like the concept and am disappointed no one really perfected it. Other than that, for what it was, the leaf blower was good, the 7 1/4 saw did well and the batteries in general seemed to last forever. But I wanted to new toys and Ryobi had much tools, like the combination inflator and the water pump that drew me in, along with the price point. I’m surprised I don’t have the dremel yet.
Then I wanted something smaller, perhaps try brushless. I grabbed the DE 20MAX brushless drill and impact tools. But WAIT, what’s this, a Ryobi 18V brushless combo kit: drill, impact, and 7 1/4 saw (which I needed to replace/upgrade the B&D), for what, $130? Yeah, I’m gonna have to give that a try. Still, I wanted something smaller. The end result:
- DW 20V Max drill and Impact
- enhanced my Ryobi line with the brushless combo. Honestly, if the DW wasn’t such a good deal, I would have returned them already. Still on the fence, because the Ryobi brushlesss is so much nicer in profile and fell than the standard Ryobi. Maybe I didn’t “need” the DW.
- M12 Fuel - still wanting smaller, an honestly very curious about the line, I grabbed the drill, 2:4” impact, yesI now have 3, well 4 of i don’t release my brushes Ryobi tools, the hacksaw, and 3/8 ratchet.
I have high hopes for the Ryobi brushless, but have a hard time getting over their chucks. Even as a home user, they are a PITA when bits fall out and tendinitis from turning wrenches makes it hard to constantly tighten those chuck. Not sure the drills are worth replacing a chuck either. I’ll probably send off my brushed Ryobi drills and we’LL see how the brushless behave. Bottom line, I like the versatility of the Ryobi line and will always have their tools, but I’m getting tired of the BS with some of them
