Has anyone tried these? Im just looking for an easy, cheap way to get all the tools I need at my house. Ive got good tools at the ranch, so I just need something easy for my college house, where were always either working on trucks or repairing parts of the house. Id get the super combo kit which includes drill/driver, light, circular saw, and recip saw. also get the 4.5" grinder and the jigsaw. Just wondering if its worth a flip...I can get all this for under $250-260 with extra batteries and charger. Thanks.

 

I think they are worth it. But, get the latest drill model with the tapered chuck. The batteries are the weak link. You'll need more before too long. I use the drill all the time, the circular saw once in a while, the sawsall a lot, and the vacuum occasionally. I've never even tried the sabre saw.

I'm always wondering if I should get the Milwaukee set even if it is twice as much. The Makita stuff will last forever, but, again the batteries will begin to drive you nuts. However, their sawsall is much better than the Ryobi.

The Panasonic drill was the best I ever had. But when the battery got weak it blew out the charger. So by the time I bought a new charger and batteries I could get a whole new set of something else.

Thats the advantage of the Ryobi. Cheap. And they are getting better.


John

 

Ive got a Makita 14.4 set that is great. Basically all I need is the jigsaw and the sawzall. I like milwaukee but not the price.

 

I have it and couldn't be happier. Easy to add what you want when you want.

 

If you want something CHEAP then they are fine. They certainly look good (it almost looks like they stole their color scheme idea from Fes -Tool), I have not used one of the new Ryobi's yet so I am basing my assessment on all of their past offerings. Now, if you want quality and power My personal favorite is the DeWalt 18v series tools, I have the 1/2 " hammer/drill/driver (not the impact) the circular saw, jig-saw, sawzall, and flex light. Got em as kit. Little pricey but I have had them for seven years hard use hasn't fazed them even dropped em off roofs and from ladders, no cracks! The batteries last along time especially since the chargers have a tune-up mode which essentially a deep cycler. I even have the work sight radio which charges all their batteries 12v -18v.

I've used Makita's before. Both the original 9.6 or whatever they were and the new 18v, the gear boxes went out on the old ones and the wiring burned out on the new ones, haven't been impressed. Never used A Milwaukee although I hear good things about their battery power. Whatever you do don't get Craftsman power tools. need I say more, the tools are crap and the batteries are worse. And I know this from experience. Black & Decker's are good too for CHEAP. My brother got a little 14.4v SkIL runs like a champ, I was really surprised!

Batteries will be the weak link. I have found most makes change their packs and models frequently and it becomes hard to find replacements. DeWalt has had the same 18v pack for over 8 years now and still making tools to fit.

I would put Ryobi, Craftsman, Black & decker, Anything from Harbor freight, or the assorted no-namer's in the cheap & easy to throwaway category.

Next would come Delta, Rigid, and SKIL, Hitachi, Panasonic, Kawasaki, and BOSCH, (maybe Makita) in the quality but not Cadillac/ last forever group.

I would put DeWalt, Porter-cable, Fes-tool, and maybe Makita in the Cadillac, last forever group.

(now, I know that Black & Decker owns DeWalt and that Delta and Porter-cable are merged, but DeWalt represents what Black & Decker used to be when they started. Delta is new to the cordless scene, even though they platform share, there are differences.)

But It usually comes down to batteries for me, Most drills and other tools will out last the batteries they come with by 3-4 times min. Most batteries are old when you get them and have already taken a set. The other factor is cost and availability. If you plan on having these for while Look for stores or the factory site on-line and see if they have replacement batteries. I know SkIL still sells batteries for their older models.

Thats my "purveyor of fine tools", two cents!
Hope I was helpful in your choice.

D-C out

 

I have have had Ryobi in my garage for over 4 years. I just purchased the new 18 volt Lithium Ryobi set and it is a great product. The Lithium batteries will work with any one-plus tools. And there is a huge difference with the Lithium batteries versus the ni-cad batteries. Ryobi is a great home owners set in my opinion. And for the price you can not wrong....

Check it out..... http://www.ryobitools.com/lithium/in...ectflash=false

 

My Dad has a set, he likes 'em OK. He does small DIY projects with them, nothing even close to professional duty. I've used his drill and sawzall when I've had to do stuff at his place and they worked fine for me.

 

Ryobi is good if you're just gonna do some handy work around the house, but I won't buy anything but DeWalt. I have had good luck with all my DeWalt tools. I had a B&D firestorm drill several years ago, it was a pretty good drill....but took forever for the batteries to charge. I dropped it on a concrete floor once from waist level and the entire housing shattered. I have dropped my DeWalt from higher than that and it is fine

 

Alright, coming from a carpenter...

Ryobi's will get the job done, they'll last for a year if used fairly often, (we use corded tools as often as possible) longer if your just a DIY'er.

Personally, I use Ridgid tools, not because they are the best, but because they will replace the batteries for life, and lithium batteries ain't cheap.

If your looking for top of the line, Makita is hard to beat, Dewalt has been getting worse as far as I can tell, but its just my opinion. I have a few Makita's, and they're new tools are top notch...period.

 

I've heard that DeWalts are getting worse from a few people. If that is the case, then sales will decline and hopefully force them into producing a better product. It reminds me of craftman tools. Seems like the old drills and saws would last forever, but the ones they sell today are worth about as much as a cow patty.

 

Almost exactly what I would have said. My Dad (not a carpenter) has Ryobi, they work well for his needs. I have a lot of Ridgid, because of the warranty. I have destroyed the last few DeWalt tools I've had, and won't be buying any more. Hilti make some nice stuff, I have been buying them or Ridgid lately.

 

Hilti does make some very nice tools, but being a rougher I rarely have a chance to use anything they make, when I do, they always impress me.

If your looking for cordless nailers, Paslode is unbeatable. I know Porter Cale has a few, but they just don't measure up to those Paslode guns.

 

I would buy DeWalt for my first choice too, but I'm not a contractor and I dont want to mortgage my house again to buy a power tool. For the average guy working around the house the Ryobi is a good tool.

 

Alright thanks everyone. Like I said, weve got a good set at the ranch, and this would just be for my house, and the occasional wrenching that our chapter does. I definitely wouldnt use it enough to justify DeWalt, Milwaukee, or Ridgid, the 2 brands we use on the ranch.

 

Mentioned above and I will second it; Ryobi is just fine for the occasional do-it-yourselfer. I have the big kit and a lot of the other various tools too like the impact driver and hand router. They do a good job, just don't ask them to do it everyday, all day. The batteries are the weak link. That said, I have a DeWalt drill too. The DeWalt is clearly better (even though it is the 14.4v) but the jobs it is used for does not justify the difference in price/quality. If I were a professional looking for battery operated, it would be Milwaukee, DeWalt, Ridgid in that order. Yes, I have used/owned most of them one time or another.