opinions on ryobi power tools?

spanky

Lifer
Jun 19, 2001
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they seem quite affordable compared to many other brands. i am looking to get a drill driver, and just wondering if you guys had good/bad experiences with ryobi products. thoughts?
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
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Ryobi makes a good power belt sander. Other than that, I wouldn't own one.

Best bet for a cordless is Makita or Dewalt.
 

cjgallen

Diamond Member
Jan 20, 2003
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I got one of their table saws and angle grinders. They're cheap and they get the job done.
 

SuperSix

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Oct 9, 1999
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If it's just for light household use, they will work fine, I spend the extra $$$ on DeWalt..
 

spanky

Lifer
Jun 19, 2001
25,716
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yes, its for home DIY stuff, nothing major. those dewalt tools as expensive.

ryobi drill $30
dewalt drill $80

the other option would be a firestorm drill, which i believe is made by black & decker. i'm not feeling B&D... are they decent?
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
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Originally posted by: SuperSix
If it's just for light household use, they will work fine, I spend the extra $$$ on DeWalt..

Craftsman are a lot of times rebranded Dewalts, etc.

I have the 19.2 ones (wish I bough the kit with the right angle drill, circular saw, and stapler)...

got it one christmas with quick-change bits, a cordless screwdriver, the drill and a great 19.2V flashlight in a nice canvas bag for $89.

During the two hurricanes last year I was drilling into concrete, hanging plywood, etc easily...my landlord's corded Dewalt would not drive concrete taps, where mine would sink them in.

Now perhaps in everyday, 8 hour use my Craftsman tool would fail soon...I use these tools at least once a month though and they last several years.

Sears and their sales > most anything for the average homeowner.
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
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For the price...they are a good deal. For the DIYer and for household use, they are perfect.
 
Aug 27, 2002
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Ryobi = Rigid with different packaging, Dewalt/Mikita/etc. make better tools as far as longivity, but unless you are a contractor or just anal rentative they are great well engineered tools.

(most of my power tools are ryobi, and perform very well)
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
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Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Ryobi = Rigid with different packaging, Dewalt/Mikita/etc. make better tools as far as longivity, but unless you are a contractor or just anal rentative they are great well engineered tools.

(most of my power tools are ryobi, and perform very well)


Depends on what you want to do. A Makita and Dewalt helped me make this I don't think the Ryobi would make it. If we are talking about driving a few drywall screws, sure.
 

spanky

Lifer
Jun 19, 2001
25,716
4
81
cool, thanx for the feedback. i looked into craftsman too, but i think there was still quite a sizable price gap.
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
15,200
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Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Ryobi = Rigid with different packaging, Dewalt/Mikita/etc. make better tools as far as longivity, but unless you are a contractor or just anal rentative they are great well engineered tools.

(most of my power tools are ryobi, and perform very well)


Depends on what you want to do. A Makita and Dewalt helped me make this I don't think the Ryobi would make it. If we are talking about driving a few drywall screws, sure.



Where did you get the plan for that?
 

spanky

Lifer
Jun 19, 2001
25,716
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Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Ryobi = Rigid with different packaging, Dewalt/Mikita/etc. make better tools as far as longivity, but unless you are a contractor or just anal rentative they are great well engineered tools.

(most of my power tools are ryobi, and perform very well)


Depends on what you want to do. A Makita and Dewalt helped me make this I don't think the Ryobi would make it. If we are talking about driving a few drywall screws, sure.

nah, i wouldn't be doing that anytime soon. most i would be doing would be making a shelf or something.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
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Originally posted by: dartworth
Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Ryobi = Rigid with different packaging, Dewalt/Mikita/etc. make better tools as far as longivity, but unless you are a contractor or just anal rentative they are great well engineered tools.

(most of my power tools are ryobi, and perform very well)


Depends on what you want to do. A Makita and Dewalt helped me make this I don't think the Ryobi would make it. If we are talking about driving a few drywall screws, sure.



Where did you get the plan for that?

No plan I'm afraid. Just figured out what I wanted it to do, then made it. I can give a few pointers for anyone who wants to make one.

 
Aug 27, 2002
10,043
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Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Ryobi = Rigid with different packaging, Dewalt/Mikita/etc. make better tools as far as longivity, but unless you are a contractor or just anal rentative they are great well engineered tools.

(most of my power tools are ryobi, and perform very well)
Depends on what you want to do. A Makita and Dewalt helped me make this I don't think the Ryobi would make it. If we are talking about driving a few drywall screws, sure.
You do know they make more than just cordless tools right? I have a 2 1/4HP plunge router, and a 10" table saw from Ryobi, I've made lots of furnature pieces, and I could probably build that with a skil saw and a Black and Decker cordless drill, it would just take a little longer.

edit: it does look nice btw :thumbsup:
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
15,200
10
81
Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
Originally posted by: dartworth
Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Ryobi = Rigid with different packaging, Dewalt/Mikita/etc. make better tools as far as longivity, but unless you are a contractor or just anal rentative they are great well engineered tools.

(most of my power tools are ryobi, and perform very well)


Depends on what you want to do. A Makita and Dewalt helped me make this I don't think the Ryobi would make it. If we are talking about driving a few drywall screws, sure.



Where did you get the plan for that?

No plan I'm afraid. Just figured out what I wanted it to do, then made it. I can give a few pointers for anyone who wants to make one.


I'm looking to build one next spring for my son. Just starting to research it.

Nice work btw.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
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Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Ryobi = Rigid with different packaging, Dewalt/Mikita/etc. make better tools as far as longivity, but unless you are a contractor or just anal rentative they are great well engineered tools.

(most of my power tools are ryobi, and perform very well)
Depends on what you want to do. A Makita and Dewalt helped me make this I don't think the Ryobi would make it. If we are talking about driving a few drywall screws, sure.
You do know they make more than just cordless tools right? I have a 2 1/4HP plunge router, and a 10" table saw from Ryobi, I've made lots of furnature pieces, and I could probably build that with a skil saw and a Black and Decker cordless drill, it would just take a little longer.

edit: it does look nice btw :thumbsup:

Not if your drill doesn't take half inch drill bits. My father in law was visiting, and he couldnt use the 18 inch auger bit for the carriage bolts.

Like I said, I have a Ryobi belt sander, and I like it a lot. If Ryobi fills the bill, great, however in cordless drills I like Makita and Dewalt better. If one hasn't the need for it, then fine. Like I said, it all depends on what it will be used for. The OP said shelves etc. Go fer it :D
 
Aug 27, 2002
10,043
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Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
Not if your drill doesn't take half inch drill bits. My father in law was visiting, and he couldnt use the 18 inch auger bit for the carriage bolts.

Like I said, I have a Ryobi belt sander, and I like it a lot. If Ryobi fills the bill, great, however in cordless drills I like Makita and Dewalt better. If one hasn't the need for it, then fine. Like I said, it all depends on what it will be used for. The OP said shelves etc. Go fer it :D
I must be missing something on the scale of that photo then? why would you need an 18" auger bit for what appears to be 2x6's attaching to 6x6's?
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
15,200
10
81
Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Ryobi = Rigid with different packaging, Dewalt/Mikita/etc. make better tools as far as longivity, but unless you are a contractor or just anal rentative they are great well engineered tools.

(most of my power tools are ryobi, and perform very well)
Depends on what you want to do. A Makita and Dewalt helped me make this I don't think the Ryobi would make it. If we are talking about driving a few drywall screws, sure.
You do know they make more than just cordless tools right? I have a 2 1/4HP plunge router, and a 10" table saw from Ryobi, I've made lots of furnature pieces, and I could probably build that with a skil saw and a Black and Decker cordless drill, it would just take a little longer.

edit: it does look nice btw :thumbsup:

Not if your drill doesn't take half inch drill bits. My father in law was visiting, and he couldnt use the 18 inch auger bit for the carriage bolts.

Like I said, I have a Ryobi belt sander, and I like it a lot. If Ryobi fills the bill, great, however in cordless drills I like Makita and Dewalt better. If one hasn't the need for it, then fine. Like I said, it all depends on what it will be used for. The OP said shelves etc. Go fer it :D



Oh, I have all the tools...believe me;)

I just need to find a good plan.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
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You see correctly, however I paired some of the 2x's then drilled through them and the 6x6s. That called for a long bit, and 18 inch is what I could get. It wasn't that which was the problem, but that the drill my father in law had came with a 3/8 inch chuck, which is what many consumer drills have, and the shank for the auger bit was a full half inch. It just wouldn't fit.

My point is that wet pressure treated wood is tough to drill, and drilling a lot of it is no easy task. I've broken some in the past (Ryobi was not one I tried), so my selection of drills is rather Darwinian based. Could I be wrong? Sure, but like I said, I have some empirical basis for my favorites.
 

James3shin

Diamond Member
Apr 5, 2004
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if its for work around the house, nothing really heavy duty, then yeah it would be alright according to my dad, a carpenter.
 

d3n

Golden Member
Mar 13, 2004
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I think one of the better deals going as far as cordless is this Dewalt Kit at Amazon, I picked up a Dealt impact wrench that uses the same 18V batteries for $135


Dewalt saws aren't fabulous... I would pick a select few models from Wakita for a saw especially the dual bevel LS1212 miter saw... but then again I picked up the Dewalts for the battery life... Its awsome.

also, check out some paw stores around your area... contractors are always getting stuff lifted out of trucks and trailers.. someone might as well benfit from it besides the crooks
 

d3n

Golden Member
Mar 13, 2004
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Also, as far as right angle drills go dewalt 18v drills are the only ones on the market that I know of that have the beef and the ablity to handel a 1/2" chuck. They come stock with 3/8 but they are easy and cheap enough to swap out
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider

Not if your drill doesn't take half inch drill bits. My father in law was visiting, and he couldnt use the 18 inch auger bit for the carriage bolts.

Like I said, I have a Ryobi belt sander, and I like it a lot. If Ryobi fills the bill, great, however in cordless drills I like Makita and Dewalt better. If one hasn't the need for it, then fine. Like I said, it all depends on what it will be used for. The OP said shelves etc. Go fer it :D

So you dad-in-law built it? ;)

3/8" chuck < 1/2" bit, nuff said.

Personally I have all Craftsman stuff not counting the few odds and ends I picked up at discounts.

I'd love a porter-cable buffer but my $30 Craftsman does a great job too.

I know guys that do 1/10 or less the work I do with all Snap-On tools...they have broken them on a weekend and either give up finding the Snap-On guy or buy a Craftsman/Husky/Wal-Mart deal to finish the job.

I snapped my 18mm? deep 3/8" socket one Sunday...the car was undrivable....however Sears had my tool replaced within the 30 mins it took to get there and back. With power tools it's only one year on that warranty.