My BIL is working with me now, and uses an assortment of Ryobi 18V cordless tools. A former employee had left behind his barely used Ryobi 18V drill, so I offered that to my BIL. I mean, he’s already got junk tools, might as well have a backup right?
Thing is, over the last few weeks I’ve been using his drills. They have a really neat idea, a magnet on top of the battery pack. Perfect for holding a few screws or an extra bit. And they have good torque, and a solid feel.
And he’s got this cute little cordless sander. Perfect for quick touch-ups. No cord getting in the way. You wouldn’t do production sanding with it, but to hit a board quickly before nailing it up it’s perfect.
Yesterday he comes in with his newest toy. A tiny little Ryobi radio. Just as big around as the 18V battery it sits on, and maybe 8″ tall. Good sound, good reception. On a small jobsite it’s good to have a radio the size of a water bottle that doesn’t need to be tethered to an outlet.
Having had back luck lately with Bosch, Makita, Dewalt, Panasonic, and Ridgid, the Little Brother called Ryobi isn’t looking so bad. Plus their stuff is inexpensive. Is there something wrong with me?
Replies
Having had back luck lately with Bosch, Makita, Dewalt, Panasonic, and Ridgid, the Little Brother called Ryobi isn't looking so bad. Plus their stuff is inexpensive. Is there something wrong with me?
I'm really impressed with the Ryobi's battery life. If I'm doing light work (driving a handful of screws), I can often get a few days out of the batteries before recharging. I have a pretty good collection of Ryobi 18 volt tools, and, for the price, I don't think I could beat them. Of course I'm not framing houses with them, but I make my living installing voice/data/video cabling and equipment. Compared to my old Panasonic tools, the Ryobi is *much* lighter to carry around, and it seemed like the Panasonic batteries were always dead.
Bob
.....it seemed like the Panasonic batteries were always dead.
That is an absolute FIRST!
While I've never owned a Panasonic tool, ANYONE that I've ever talked to about them raves about how well they hold a charge.
J. D. ReynoldsHome Improvements
You have about a 90% chance that every cordless tool you have had , has a panasonic battery in it.
“If Fred Thompson runs... then I think that makes it easier for me to not run.†Newt Gingrich
I've certainly had no trouble with my Panasonic batteries, but very little with the Ryobis before that either. They did die eventually, but only after years of use.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
While I've never owned a Panasonic tool, ANYONE that I've ever talked to about them raves about how well they hold a charge.
I've had the 3/8" hammer drill and a couple of the circular saws. I got them through a Panasonic dealer promotion. The battery life on the drill wasn't terrible, but I don't remember being able to go for several days with light to moderate use. The battery life on the circular saw, on the other hand, was really short. I get much better life out of the Ryobi. Of course, I'm comparing battery technology of a few years ago to current battery technology, which might be part of the explanation.
Another issue with the circular saw is that the arbor was a non-standard size (larger), and it was hard to find blades to fit it. I always had to order them, and they were pricey.
Bob
"Is there something wrong with me?"
I was complaining one time to a friend of mine (another carpenter),about a set of Forstner bits I bought. They were Taiwanese, regular high speed steel, and I think I was whining that I should have sprung for the titanium coated, or better yet the carbide.
He looked at me and asked, "Do they work?"
"Yes", I said.
"Do they get the job done?", he went on.
"Well...yeah", I said.
"Did you pay and arm and a leg?"
"Uh....no", says I.
"So quityerbitchin'"
Not a thing wrong with you.
Its one of the best setup there is! One battery for everything from vacs to fans and sanders and impact drivers miter saws. On the lighter side but if I were starting again................this would be my first try out.
I have not bought or used anything from Ryobi except the drills and impact drivers.
Have a 2004 14.4v drill and a 2006 18V drill and impact driver. All are working / performing just fine, I don't think you can beat these tools for the $$, batteries are cheap if you need replacements. I thought the magnet was a gimmick, until I tried it - turns out it is very handy to hold a few screws or a different size pilot bit while up on a ladder.
The only minor complaint which I have is with the 18v drill chuck - it will not grip a 3/32" or smaller bit - I have to switch to the 14.4v for those. I guess they needed a bigger flat spot on the chuck jaws to grip the 1/2" bits.
Since I am a remodeler and always have access to 120v, I tend to do the heavy work with corded tools and use the cordless for lighter duty or where running a cord would be a pain. However, the impact driver always does the lion's share of screwdriving, except for drywalling - then it is the Milwaukee drywall gun or Senco Duraspin.
Love the impact for screwing kitchen cabinet stiles due to it's small size.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
I have a new Makita Lion set and a few year old Craftsman 19.2 set. The Craftsman is the same tool (made on the same line) as the Ryobi just another cell in the battery and a few other cosmetic things (no magnet but there is an LED). I love my Makita set but the craftsman is is what rides around in my truck for small jobs and what gets used if it might get damaged (up on a roof, in a wet crawlspace). If my truck window gets smashed and the craftsman is stolen I am out $150 if it is the makita I am out $650-$700.
Battery life is not any thing to write home to mom about, I get about 2 years out of one before I need to go spend $30 on a new one but there again they are only $30 and not $90. In that line of thinking I don't get 6 years out of DeWalt bats. I know the craftsman will fail eventually but hey they get the job done for now.
-Day
PS I would never trade them for my Makita set which outperforms anything I have ever owned.
I've had the Ryobi 18V for about 3 years. Just had to replace the batteries.
I've had issues with the fwd/reverse slide above the trigger. It's plastic, and it relies on a 1/16" plastic nub to change fwd to reverse inside the housing. Mine snapped off. Granted the replacement part was only $0.99 (shipping was $9!!!) but the bigger factor was down time when I needed it.
It's been good; and for the price a good value. However I've promised myself that when it dies I won't go back for another. Will only go top shelf next time for a cordless drill.
I do like the swivel-head flashlight that it came with though. I use it more than I ever thought I would.
I know what you mean. I was given an 18v cordless Ryobi set by a well-meaning relative for a job I did for free. I thanked him profusely all the while clenching my teeth thinking, "I'll never use this stuff". Wrong!
It works well for light stuff, cheap replacement batteries, and some of the features are occasionally downright handy. (The two small levels, the magnet and the bit holders on the drill). I use the drill the most, the circular saw occasionally for very light duty stuff, the recip saw with a pruning blade to do light tree work (it's so much lighter than a chain saw), and the light and vacuum almost never.
Another handy thing is that the batteries are available at every Home Depot in North America.
Heavy use will toast the stuff but if you are the primary user and aren't too hard on your cordless gear, I think there's a place for it (especially the drill).
I have never used the Ryobi stuff to comment on it, but, I did see in the last issue of Tools of the Trade, that they are comming out with 18 volt lithium ion batteries that fit all their old tools as well.
I recently tried out there latest impact driver...and I was very impressed. I went in with the same old "this stuff is crud" attitude, but I came out very impressed with the tool as a whole, especially the control over the speed of driving the screw (which is a weak spot in MANY impact drivers I've tried) and it's pretty inexpensive too, I think.
Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
"Everybody wants to know what I’m on...
What I'm on? I’m on my bike, busting my ### 6 hours a day…
...What are you on?"
- Lance Armstrong
Gentlemen,We may just have to revise the old saying.New version: "Friends DO let friends buy Ryobi...sometimes."Interesting thread, cuts through the dogma.Bill
They just came out with an Impact driver/radio/2 battery combo, great for people who use other tool sets to pick up if they need to add an impact driver to their menagerie.
I broke the 1/2" drill that originally came with the set 3 years ago with a drop onto concrete. Good thing too, the new drill has a brake and a hammer function - oddly it isn't part of the normal sets.
I can't seem to break my impact driver though. I drop it and drop it and drop it (think the Bosch booth at the trade shows, except on concrete not plywood) but the only thing that happens is the bits get bent.
I'm going to see today if the LiIon batteries are at HD. I just bought 2 new NiCads, but I still need another two - One battery to rule them all, Love it Love it Love it!
EDIT: Just read that they come out Sept 27. Is it geeky to wait in line overnight for a battery?
EDIT: GAAAA! The battery itself won't be available until November 1.
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
If your hair looks funny, it's because God likes to scratch his nuts. You nut, you.
Edited 9/19/2007 12:40 pm by xxPaulCPxx
Edited 9/19/2007 12:43 pm by xxPaulCPxx
<<Is it geeky to wait in line overnight for a battery?>>Yes, completely geeky. Learn to embrace your inner geek!
Use the 18v drill as a back up and I also use the Ryobi impact gun. I am impressed by both.....on a side note, I also use their miter stand with a 12" Hitachi and absolutely love it....I would never buy one of their corded tools though, they seem super flimsy.
Sears Craftsman is made by Ryobi. They word fine.
I have the 18V laminate trimmer, Impact, and Drill. I am pleased and so is my wallet.
I need more batteries and another charger.
IMO - Ryobi is no longer deserving of "it's all junk" reputation.
If we keep this up, they'll raise their prices.