Basic power tools - battery or plug in?

[pete6032]

^ I don't have their miter saw but (can't remember where...) saw some complaints that it had too much slop. Then again that could have been a few generations ago version of it.

I got it for something like $40. Can't complain. Only drawback is that it won't cut through larger pieces of trim. Have to start the cut with the ryobi and then finish it up in a miter box by hand.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I had no idea Ryobi had different tiers of tools.

IMO Ryobi is perfect for homeowners, totally not suitable for professionals. Dollars saved don’t justify the down time waiting for batteries or the lower overall power.

 

[Greenman]

IMO Ryobi is perfect for homeowners, totally not suitable for professionals. Dollars saved don’t justify the down time waiting for batteries or the lower overall power.

Overall I agree. But I've purchased a few Ryobi tools over the years and have no complaints. Generally it's because they were the only thing I could get that day.
As far as I know Ryobi is still the only battery powered pex crimp tool on the market, and it's a hit. I've done several projects with it and couldn't be happier. I don't know how well it would hold up to every day use, but at a hundred bucks for the bare tool, buying one a month would still be cost effective.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Overall I agree. But I've purchased a few Ryobi tools over the years and have no complaints. Generally it's because they were the only thing I could get that day.
As far as I know Ryobi is still the only battery powered pex crimp tool on the market, and it's a hit. I've done several projects with it and couldn't be happier. I don't know how well it would hold up to every day use, but at a hundred bucks for the bare tool, buying one a month would still be cost effective.

Yeah overall I find my Ryobi stuff easy to use and the right power & weight. Plus I live real close to a Home Depot.

 

[BoomerD]

I have a cheapo POS Kobalt (Lowes) 7 1/4" miter saw. It's not great, but gets the job done. I bought a Dewalt 12" miter saw...returned it. WAY more saw than I needed, then they issued a recall on the model anyway. It was a nice saw...I cut a few 4x6's with it in a single pass. My Kobalt would have taken 2 passes. I keep watching for a deal on a decent 10" sliding double miter saw...haven't found one yet.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I have a cheapo POS Kobalt (Lowes) 7 1/4" miter saw. It's not great, but gets the job done. I bought a Dewalt 12" miter saw...returned it. WAY more saw than I needed, then they issued a recall on the model anyway. It was a nice saw...I cut a few 4x6's with it in a single pass. My Kobalt would have taken 2 passes. I keep watching for a deal on a decent 10" sliding double miter saw...haven't found one yet.

I may have that same Kobalt. I picked it up for $59 and splurged by buying the stand for $99. Mine is a sliding miter saw....

I bought a dewalt table saw that only saw use twice before the motor wouldn't turn on. I had to send it off for repair through Home Depot and I didn't get it back for 6 weeks.... Of course, I discovered this when I needed it. I'm just glad Home Depot was able to ship the thing to the repair center for me since it's a hundred miles away.

 

[BoomerD]

I picked up a Dewalt 10" table saw at HD for under $200 several years ago. It's been rock solid for me.

 

[Greenman]

I have a cheapo POS Kobalt (Lowes) 7 1/4" miter saw. It's not great, but gets the job done. I bought a Dewalt 12" miter saw...returned it. WAY more saw than I needed, then they issued a recall on the model anyway. It was a nice saw...I cut a few 4x6's with it in a single pass. My Kobalt would have taken 2 passes. I keep watching for a deal on a decent 10" sliding double miter saw...haven't found one yet.

Just buy the 12" slider. Great saw, I hade two of them at one point.

 

[BoomerD]

Just buy the 12" slider. Great saw, I hade two of them at one point.

If I used one often enough to justify it...sure. They ARE great saws...but I might drag one out once or twice a year to make half a dozen cuts...then back into the garage.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

I've got pretty much all Ryobi, wood stuff and garden stuff. The blue ones weren't great. The drill died. The circular saw is still going strong and it's fine for most small cutting, but it won't cut large stock. I still have corded saws for real cutting.

Went to the green stuff and it all works quite well. Little 1/4" impact drive surprised me. Will generally drive most screws into and through most wood. Used some structural screws in fresh hewn oak with no problem for the most part. Only a few wouldn't drive all the way in, but thay may have hot a knot.

Cool thing is, they replace most batteries with just a phone call and a few questions. I've gotten several replaced at just under the three year mark.