You Can't Trust Internet Reviews

[dnschmidt]

Yesterday, HD had a sale on the Ryobi right angle die grinder that had an excellent review on the Torque Test Channel. Well, it showed up today. According to TTC it has far more power than the Gen 1 M12 Milwaukee Right Angle Grinder and at a price of $69 I figured what the hell. Apparently TTC never tested for vibration as my Milwaukee is butter smooth with a 3" Roloc on it and the Ryobi vibrates excessively. There has to be some consideration that doesn't involve load factors and other technical specifications if by simply turning it on and holding it in your hand it sort of *****. I like DATA, as I'm an engineer, but I also like usability which apparently they don't test for.

 

[mikey03]

And coming in at $69 it’s the ryobi right angle grinder. The ryobi is made in china. Supports up to 3 inch disks. Four speed adjustment for maximum control. Total speed of 22,000 R-P-Ms. Very impressive!

 

[dnschmidt]

And coming in at $69 it’s the ryobi right angle grinder. The ryobi is made in china. Supports up to 3 inch disks. Four speed adjustment for maximum control. Total speed of 22,000 R-P-Ms. Very impressive!

Those are the reasons I bought it. Milwaukee is made in China too so there is no difference there. I figured with 18V instead of 12V it would have more power, which according to TTC it does. Power is nice, lack of vibration is better.

 

[zendriver]

Is there any chance, the unit you have is defective?

 

[cvairwerks]

Did you run it without the disc and adapter? I've found over the years, that I will occasionally get an adapter that doesn't run true and causes crazy amounts of vibration.

 

[PCustoms]

If I can't trust Internet reviews, how can I trust this one?

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

I think it was Abe Lincoln who first said that about internet reviews. I could be wrong though.

 

[larry_g]

Ryobi sells a couple different angle grinders. Did the TTC review the same model that you bought??

 

[Rinspeed]

Did you run it without the disc and adapter? I've found over the years, that I will occasionally get an adapter that doesn't run true and causes crazy amounts of vibration.

I was going to mention the same thing.

 

[neophyte]

European Industrial manufacturers of power tools usually list vibration specs.

 

[Pinne]

I own some Ryobi - for the price you're generally getting a decent tool. But that's the caveat - it's nowhere near as good as the good stuff. Most people buying Ryobi don't own Milwaukee or DeWalt so they don't have a direct comparison.

 

[dnschmidt]

Ryobi sells a couple different angle grinders. Did the TTC review the same model that you bought??

YES

 

[dnschmidt]

I was going to mention the same thing.

I thought I might have a bad 3" Roloc backing pad too so I took the one that works fine on my Milwaukee and put it on the Ryobi which proved it wasn't the backing pad as the vibration was considerably more on the Ryobi.

 

[dnschmidt]

If I can't trust Internet reviews, how can I trust this one?

Valid point!

 

[Jswain]

Buying a tool based solely off a YouTube review is as gullable as walking into the Ford dealership and asking if their trucks are better then Chev or Dodge.

To some people if a tool turns on when they press the button it's amazing, whichever one does it the cheapest = the best

Others criticize ergonomics, looks, warranty, parts availability, etc. Will buy top tier when needed and bottom or maybe mid tier when not.

Others whatever one cost the most $ = better than all. Buy once cry once

Where you fit into one of those categories is more important.

 

[i84x]

Really there is only so much faith you can put in reviews without trying a product yourself. I've bought stuff based on reviews and though they were rubbish. Variables change; changes in materials, factory or production changes, bad luck etc. I would never go off one review, TTC and others like it are good at showing graphs but go watch the tool in the real world reviews as well.

 

[dscheidt]

These days, the big thing you get with more expensive brands of tools isn't actual performance, but improved usability. For grinders (and sanders, and similar spiny things) that tends to be much reduced noise, vibration, and harshness. For some uses, this doesn't matter much. If you use a grinder for 45 seconds to cut a chain or something, it doesn't matter much. If you use it all day, it sure does. For some tools, the vibration gets transmitted into the work, and you can do a nicer finish with a nicer sander, for instance, if you got to fine enough grit.

I don't watch much you tube tool reviews, but what I've seen of TTC they focus on stuff they can easily measure, and NVH isn't one of those things.

 

[budget76]

I have 2 different model Ryobi cordless grinders. Neither has vibration that I notice any more than "yep there's a grinder spinning in my hand". I use mine with flap wheels, cut off wheels and grinding wheels and wire brushes too

is it just with the roloc?

 

[subroc]

I certainly use reviews as a data point. But, no single piece of info is definitive.

In the case above, I would just bring it back. Bitching about some budget brand $69 tool on the internet seems silly.

More than that, a brushed Dewalt can be had for $89 on Amazon.

If you are in the Ryobi platform only then I expect your choices were limited.

 

[rancherbill]

....According to TTC ...

Well there's the problem right there.

I've never found TTC's reviews abundantly accurate. They are based on how much money he receives from manufacturers to do a review..

 

[garfunkle24]

@dnschmidt

If you edit your first post to specify "right angle DIE grinder" you will have less confusion and people posting back about regular angle grinders.

 

[dchawk81]

I think it was Abe Lincoln who first said that about internet reviews. I could be wrong though.

Pretty sure it was Abe who said the internet is just theater.

 

[Snapped-off]

What did you expect from an entertainment channel? Lab-style results are cool and all, but the real world isn't a laboratory.

Hopefully you don't get caught up in their impact wrench reviews too.

 

[Fixr]

Well there's the problem right there.

I've never found TTC's reviews abundantly accurate. They are based on how much money he receives from manufacturers to do a review..

Hard evidence?

Not saying you are wrong, but I don't know you any better than I do TTC.

Edit: and I was mixing up TTC with that Project Farm guy.

 

[tarbellb]

@rancherbill TTC Torque Test Channel buys all their own products to test- at least thats what they report

They also are some of the few that use industry standards and calibrated equipment to give specs, not just in-hand, light usage reviews.
I value their feedback but treat it like others, a data point, but a solid one

 

[jblnut]

And coming in at $69 it’s the ryobi right angle grinder. The ryobi is made in china. Supports up to 3 inch disks. Four speed adjustment for maximum control. Total speed of 22,000 R-P-Ms. Very impressive!

I read that and got to the “Very impressive!” and the whole thing immediately sounded like him in my head

OP - I have that same die grinder and think it’s a great tool for the money. My air die grinders are smoother but they’re also tied to a hose, 40yrs old and were more than $69 when they were new 40yrs ago. I grab the Ryobi die grinder every time unless I’m going to be using it for an extended period. It eats batteries like I eat Doritos.

 

[CobraRed]

I have both the ryobi and m12. My ryobi feels more balanced.
Here's a tip OP, consider it might be the RUBBER wheel spinning at 20k rpm not being balanced before you call a entire channel fake news ya numbskull.
Go use 3 different brands of roloc to determine whats what. And then all that confirms is something about the ones you have. Until then you're doing an even worse example of what you're claiming the channel did here, and without all the data.

 

[Jswain]

@rancherbill TTC Torque Test Channel buys all their own products to test- at least thats what they report

They also are some of the few that use industry standards and calibrated equipment to give specs, not just in-hand, light usage reviews.
I value their feedback but treat it like others, a data point, but a solid one

They also used to report they were an independent reviewer who would never sell out to a big company

Then they reported they work for Astro tools, who do very well in what seems like all of their tests, for sure never poorly.

Don't believe everything people say. Not that I'm knocking either, I really don't care.... But to say I seen TTC recommends XYZ tools to me has as much merit as the salesman at Ford recommending an F150.

Send me any free tool you want and I'll come up with a test to make it look good.

 

[Benito]

They also used to report they were an independent reviewer who would never sell out to a big company

Then they reported they work for Astro tools, who do very well in what seems like all of their tests, for sure never poorly.

Don't believe everything people say. Not that I'm knocking either, I really don't care.... But to say I seen TTC recommends XYZ tools to me has as much merit as the salesman at Ford recommending an F150.

Send me any free tool you want and I'll come up with a test to make it look good.

Same guy as usual, must have ttc keyword push alerts.
Devise some tests to prove the machinery they use is also as biased as you're making the whole channel out to be or retire the tin foil, guy. It's getting sad.
You never own any of the tools in question. You just enter the conversation to theorize what could be, MUST be going on.

 

[rancherbill]

@rancherbill TTC Torque Test Channel buys all their own products to test- at least thats what they report

They also are some of the few that use industry standards and calibrated equipment to give specs, not just in-hand, light usage reviews.
I value their feedback but treat it like others, a data point, but a solid one

I never see a disclaimer that he has not, does not , nor will no take any money for his objective reviews.

 

[dchawk81]

I never see a disclaimer that he has not, does not , nor will no take any money for his objective reviews.

He says it all the time.

 

[WhataTool]

He says it all the time.

It literally auto plays basically this every time you navigate to the channel

Torque Test Channel

On the Torque Test Channel our aim is to test old-school to modern tools on a level playing field to compare or reveal performance figures in understandable terms in order to shine some light on recent marketing trends. FAQ: You should use ($120-250) battery on (X) brand! If they package their...

youtube.com

But I try not to be surprised with what people have "done the math on" lately.
He didn't mention drones dropping tools from the sky on his property so we'll safely assume that's the real story

 

[dchawk81]

It literally auto plays basically this every time you navigate to the channel

Torque Test Channel

On the Torque Test Channel our aim is to test old-school to modern tools on a level playing field to compare or reveal performance figures in understandable terms in order to shine some light on recent marketing trends. FAQ: You should use ($120-250) battery on (X) brand! If they package their...

youtube.com

But I try not to be surprised with what people have "done the math on" lately.
He didn't mention drones dropping tools from the sky on his property so we'll safely assume that's the real story

Your link just goes to the main channel page.

 

[WhataTool]

Your link just goes to the main channel page.

On the main channel page this video auto plays at the top for me

If that's not the case for most then I take it back lol

 

[dchawk81]

On the main channel page this video auto plays at the top for me

If that's not the case for most then I take it back lol

Oh it doesn't auto play for me so I didn't know that's what you were pointing at. I did see it though.

 

[dnschmidt]

I have both the ryobi and m12. My ryobi feels more balanced.
Here's a tip OP, consider it might be the RUBBER wheel spinning at 20k rpm not being balanced before you call a entire channel fake news ya numbskull.
Go use 3 different brands of roloc to determine whats what. And then all that confirms is something about the ones you have. Until then you're doing an even worse example of what you're claiming the channel did here, and without all the data.

Check my post #13. It's not the rubber pad as I used the same pad on both machines also I never called the TTC fake news as I like their channel very much. All I stated was that all of the test equipment in the world doesn't take into account what my hand feels when I use both machines. I'm sure all of the measurements TTC did on both tools are absolutely correct as he is a competent tool designer as is evidenced by the fact that Chris Pettit, a friend and a very smart guy, uses him as a consultant. As the old commercial use to say: "Reading is Fundamental" NUMBSKULL.

 

[zendriver]

Check my post #13. It's not the rubber pad as I used the same pad on both machines also I never called the TTC fake news as I like their channel very much. All I stated was that all of the test equipment in the world doesn't take into account what my hand feels when I use both machines. I'm sure all of the measurements TTC did on both tools are absolutely correct as he is a competent tool designer as is evidenced by the fact that Chris Pettit, a friend and a very smart guy, uses him as a consultant. As the old commercial use to say: "Reading is Fundamental" NUMBSKULL.

Did you try it with a new pad?

That’s the biggest problem. I have with comparison reviews as they always seem to be “one and done.” in the actual testing. (at least at what they admit to.)

If a particular socket rounds off a hex head first well then it’s the worst performer, not taken into consideration there may be some slightvariations in the metal of the hex bolt itself

It’s yours just feels like it has excessive unacceptable vibration I think I would just return it

 

[bwringer]

FWIW, TTC is quite clear that they do multiple runs when testing each tool, even if we only see one run on screen. Normally the runs are nearly identical, but they use the averages when generating the graphs, and they mention it when there's a lot of variation between runs.

They're also quite clear that they buy tools themselves from normal retail sources, and very clear when they make exceptions, such as when they borrow a tool from a person (testing older models, modified models, or hard-to-get models), or when a supplier gives them early or first access to buy a new model.

They're not letting Milwaukee send them hand-built hot-rodded tools or anything. In fact, they've also done a fair bit of entertaining experimentation with modifying tools, exotic and hand-built batteries, etc. and shown that these things usually don't make much difference.

Do they test absolutely every aspect of using a tool for hours a day? No, other than they do mention excessive kickback or vibration if they experience it. Do they test multiple examples of a tool? Usually not.

Is what we see on-screen and what they say an honest and accurate reflection of their experiences and testing? Yes.

Some of y'all are taking the paranoia schtick a little far.

Maybe the OP got an example with a wonky chuck or something. Maybe they're all horrible **** and there's a vast Ryobi conspiracy to fleece the sheeple. Which is more likely?

 

[AldeanFan]

Internet reviews are like a game where you have to find the relevant ones.
I’m currently shopping for AT tires for my tundra and a lot of the online reviews are from people driving dodge challengers that complain the tires don’t do good burnouts.


When I was planning a trip to Cancun I read reviews of resorts. One resort had the following two reviews for the same week:

1star “this resort was disgusting. People were drinking in the pool, girls were taking off their bikini tops. They played music all night and there were far to many stairs. I will never go back”

5stars: “this resort was awesome! Party all the time, all you can drink, hotties flashing their ****! I’m definitely going back next spring break”

 

[Rinspeed]

When I was planning a trip to Cancun I read reviews of resorts. One resort had the following two reviews for the same week:

1star “this resort was disgusting. People were drinking in the pool, girls were taking off their bikini tops. They played music all night and there were far to many stairs. I will never go back”

5stars: “this resort was awesome! Party all the time, all you can drink, hotties flashing their ****! I’m definitely going back next spring break”

Those are both 5-star reviews.