Ryobi tools

[Greenman]

I'm sure many of you use them, thoughts on long term durability?
My Ryobi string trimmer that's 3 months old just died, a little less life than I had hoped for. While posting a negative review of it I realized that every Ryobi tool I've ever purchased has failed. All had what I consider limited use. All of them were purchased with the expectation of a short life span, and all but one did the job I needed done at the time, I expected them to be a very limited or even one time use tool. But it got me to thinking about cost vs utility. I have a DeWalt miter saw that's seen twenty years of heavy use. My DeWalt drill and driver have been punished for years as well and are still going strong, same with my Makita air compressor. I have a Bostitch framing nailer that's had at least a hundred thousand nails run through it, (probably closer to two hundred thousand) without a hickup. All of which brings me to the simple question, are inexpensive tools really inexpensive? Every time I look at the cost vs quality equation, quality wins.

 

[KeithP]

I have a Ryobi recip saw, blower, string trimmer, belt sander, orbital polisher, tire inflator, and drill from their 18v line and pole saw and hedge trimmer from their 40v line. Age of the tools vary from 3-5 years and I have had no failures.

I am curious, from your description it sounds like the tools should have been covered by their warranty. Did the replacements also fail?

-kp

 

[iRONic]

I have a Ryobi recip saw, blower, string trimmer, belt sander, orbital polisher, tire inflator, and drill from their 18v line and pole saw and hedge trimmer from their 40v line. Age of the tools vary from 3-5 years and I have had no failures.

I am curious, from your description it sounds like the tools should have been covered by their warranty. Did the replacements also fail?

-kp

If you have used them strictly for residential use over the years I’d say you've got your moneys worth.

As a professional aircraft mechanic I used Makita exclusively. I have purchased and used them for the past 15 years at home also.

 

[lxskllr]

Counterpoint, my boss had two Milwaukee Fuel impact drivers go tits up within a couple months of new. I have no idea how they were cared for, and I didn't troubleshoot beyond squeezing the trigger, and saying "Yup, it's broken", but it has me questioning battery tools in general, and a little pissed, since I recommended the brand to him.

 

[Motostu]

You didn't specify, but I assume the string trimmer was battery powered? I have an 18 year old ryobi gas trimmer/brush cutter that I have used/abused over the years and it just keeps going. One set of rings a few years back and new clutch parts and it still works great.

On the battery stuff I have a bunch of their 18v (one+) stuff that has done well. I bought a kit about 20 years ago that had a drill, circular saw, reciprocating saw, flashlight, and a small vacuum. Obviously the original batteries are long gone, and the drill has died, but everything else still works. Have 6 or 8 li-ion batteries, and have added several other tools over the years. That first drill is the only piece that's failed for me, but I got a lot of use out of it before it crapped out.

 

[Hans Gruber]

I have the Ryobi hedge trimmer, circular saw and two different tire inflators. All work well. I have six 4amp batteries, no failures. All Ryobi tools are from Ryobi days at Home Depot. The circular saw is 6.5" version. The newer Ryobi days deal since a few years ago now has a 5.5" circular saw. I would skip the 5.5" circular saw in current deal.

 

[Greenman]

I have a Ryobi recip saw, blower, string trimmer, belt sander, orbital polisher, tire inflator, and drill from their 18v line and pole saw and hedge trimmer from their 40v line. Age of the tools vary from 3-5 years and I have had no failures.

I am curious, from your description it sounds like the tools should have been covered by their warranty. Did the replacements also fail?

-kp

The only one that died under warranty is the 3 month old string trimmer. 18V tool, low end, didn't think I needed anything else. Ryobi will repair it under warranty. Service center isn't far away, but I have to wonder if it's worth bothering with.

The other tools are a narrow crown stapler and a router. The stapler is several years old, but had less than a single box of staples through it. The drive pin twists when it hits and jambs the tool. The router is corded, and also several years old. I doubt there is 5 hours of run time on it. It has a bearing that's just about done. I don't use it for fear it will come apart.

Maybe I've just had bad luck. I've had many tools that I've worn out, or ruined from abuse. Had one young fellow break a Sawsall in half.
I've owned pretty much all of the prosumer brands. DeWalt, Makita, Hilti, Bosch, Senco, Festool, Rockwell, Skill, Porter Cable (back when they were a quality tool). Had pretty good luck with all of them. I have a Rockwell door plane with a spiral cutter that's near 50 years old and still works perfectly.

Just remembered that I have Ryobi 18V crimp tool for pex pipe that seen quite a bit of service and still works. When I bought it it was the best one made because it was the only one made.

 

[BoomerD]

I never had any luck with Ryobi NiCd tools. Their Li-on tools are supposed to be a bit better...at least the batteries are.
If you don't want to spring for Dewalt grade, look at the Ridgid tools. I have one of their 18v drills that's about 12 years old. The chuck is wearing out, so I'll be contacting them about warranty on that one.
I have a Dewalt 20v string trimmer...about 4 years old. Good tool, but replacing the trimmer line is a PITA. I also have a Dewalt 20v chain saw for light duty use...also about 4 years old...mostly for cutting driftwood logs on the beach. No problems with it either.

 

[Greenman]

The Ridgid planer I was talking about over at the kingdom of crap is a pretty solid tool. I'm impressed.
I've always had good luck with DeWalt tools. Years of consistent performance across a wide range of gear has made me a solid customer. Now that I'm a "hobbyist" wood worker I'm willing to take a chance on consumer grade tools for some things, with the understanding that I'll get what I pay for.

 

[mindless1]

Sure, quality wins when you put enough hours on a tool or push it hard enough. Contractor grade tools wouldn't sell at their higher prices otherwise.

I haven't had any Ryobi tool failures (besides old, mostly NiCd batteries) but I don't push them hard. I have their hammer drill, impact wrench, brushless recip saw, impact driver, and larger radio. I might be forgetting some. Heh, I also have a 3rd party adapter so their batteries run a Dyson vac.

Which string trimmer model # failed? How did it fail? I do think some of their lower end string trimmers look pretty flimsy and for something running semi-continuously for several minutes, I'd want it brushless, but I'm keeping my 20-something y/o Redmax 2 stroke trimmer for as long as I can keep repairing it... though it hasn't needed much yet, just a fuel line IIRC. I'm a little amazed that the carb on that hasn't gummed up considering # of years it's ran E10 fuel. Never had a 2 stroke need less attention.

Anyway, yeah, I'm comparing a $300+ (in today's $$$) trimmer and buying the performance and (maybe) durability in cordless tools usually costs more than corded and gas. 18V limits you pretty much in performance so if it's just to reuse your 18V batteries, I'd get the best brushless 18V they make which AFAIK is this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-ONE-HP-18V-Brushless-13-in-Cordless-Battery-String-Trimmer-with-4-0-Ah-Battery-and-Charger-P20120/314600636

If you step up to 40V trimmers, they start performing nearer where my Redmax does, at near the same price, but then you have that ~$200 battery to buy again, in order to get 20+ years out of it, if it would last that long.

That's the beauty of hindsight. I can't go forward 20 years to see, but all my corded and gas tools/equipment are over 20 years old. I've never kept any cordless running as the primary-use tool that long, though I do have 20+ year old TTI and almost as old Dewalt but NiCd, and I'm no longer rebuilding NiCd batteries that the manufacturer discontinued.

That's the best thing about Ryobi, long term battery support, and inexpensive batteries that are *good enough*. I wouldn't buy any of Ryobi's lower tier tools in any case where they offer same tool in a more expensive model too. Even then, you seldom regret buying a contractor trade tool brand instead, unless it's hardly used, but of the Ryobi tools I have, I'd buy them again but I've never even considered buying anything corded from Ryobi.

 

[BoomerD]

I have a corded Ryobi jigsaw that I bought a few years ago. I needed one for one small job...so I didn't want to spend much. I got what I paid for...a cheap saw that does its job...not a great saw that's a pleasure to use...but in the end, it makes the cuts FAIRLY straight. (the "tilting base" is a PITA though...no way to lock it in place, so just a bit of sideways pressure and it will tilt...throwing the cut off plumb.)

 

[tcsenter]

There is just about none reliable and predictable differences of note between the big names at any price-feature point or tier, anymore. Heck, so many of them are using the same parts even if they are not part of the same conglomerate, or manufactured by the same contract OEM. Ryobi makes a good product. So does B&D. So does Craftsman (owned by B&D). So does....you get the idea.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I have lot of Ryobi tools and batteries, and so far so good. I have even used a Ryobi 18v drill with a hole saw going through a rim joist. It didn't like it, but it didn't die. I also have a 10" Chainsaw that I put through hell and it still goes. I did end up getting a Greenworks 80v 18" though since the stuff I was doing with the 10" was a little beyond what it was made for.

I sometimes toy with going with a more "pro" line like Milwaukee but I really don't see a reason to so I just keep buying Ryobi.

 

[Greenman]

I have lot of Ryobi tools and batteries, and so far so good. I have even used a Ryobi 18v drill with a hole saw going through a rim joist. It didn't like it, but it didn't die. I also have a 10" Chainsaw that I put through hell and it still goes. I did end up getting a Greenworks 80v 18" though since the stuff I was doing with the 10" was a little beyond what it was made for.

I sometimes toy with going with a more "pro" line like Milwaukee but I really don't see a reason to so I just keep buying Ryobi.

If they're working for you, that's all that counts. As I said above, I might have just had bad luck, or expecting more than the tools were designed to do.
I'm in the position now that I don't need commercial duty tools. But trying to rationalize that into buying second tier equipment is tough. When I pick up a tool I expect it to work properly without any drama, and have zero patients for one that doesn't do that.
That said, I've picked up 3 cheap Chinese made knockoffs of some woodpeckers tools that are outstanding. Though I did have to make some minor alterations to the miter gauge to get it perfectly dialed in.

Now I'm looking for a reason to buy a CNC router.

 

[lxskllr]

Electric tools are just a PITA. I was on top of a piercap a month or so ago, waiting for one of the guys to cut a template with a circular saw. The saw decided it didn't want to work, and he had to call down for a backup. The saw worked minutes earlier. I saw it. It just quit. Swapped batteries, still didn't work. It was a Dewalt or Milwaukee. I wouldn't have a solo battery tool of any brand if my livelihood depended on it. I'd have at least one backup. Battery tools are convenient, but they aren't as reliable as corded.

 

[mindless1]

^ I like it when cordless tools have a thermal protection circuit so they cut out instead of burning up, but I'd also like an indicator showing me how hot they're getting.

I see it all the time on youtube, people oblivious to the fact that when you bog down a tool, the motor, and cooling fan RPM goes down while current and heat goes up. Not a good combination.

 

[evident]

I am an avid DIY/home renovator / auto enthusiast... Ryobi 18V is perfect for most DIY'ers.
I have ryobi 18V, and 40v, milwaukee 12 and 18 tools. Yes my milwaukee drills are nicer than my ryobi drills. but 95% of people even in trades will be happy w/ ryobi stuff.

 

[Greenman]

Electric tools are just a PITA. I was on top of a piercap a month or so ago, waiting for one of the guys to cut a template with a circular saw. The saw decided it didn't want to work, and he had to call down for a backup. The saw worked minutes earlier. I saw it. It just quit. Swapped batteries, still didn't work. It was a Dewalt or Milwaukee. I wouldn't have a solo battery tool of any brand if my livelihood depended on it. I'd have at least one backup. Battery tools are convenient, but they aren't as reliable as corded.

Couldn't disagree more. Not having extension cords all over a job site is a game changer. Cordless tools for framing and decking roofs is so much safer you'll see OSHA adopt it as a requirement in the future.
Failures are a given with every power tool, they absolutely will wear out and stop working. Cordless tools do appear fail more often than corded, and it's a zero sum compared to the convenience of cordless. Ad in not having trip hazards all over the job site and it's no brainer.

 

[lxskllr]

Couldn't disagree more. Not having extension cords all over a job site is a game changer.

That falls under "convenience". I didn't say they weren't convenient.

 

[Greenman]

That falls under "convenience". I didn't say they weren't convenient.

Falls under job site safety as well. The only corded tools I had on my site during framing were a table saw and miter saw, both in a fixed position.

In my shop all the major tools are corded. There isn't any benefit to cordless for a fixed position tool.

 

[mindless1]

^ Unless the job site doesn't have power and then you have to bring a generator.

 

[nakedfrog]

I got a Ryobi 40V mower & string trimmer in 2017, both still working, batteries still seem to be in pretty good shape too.

 

[Greenman]

^ Unless the job site doesn't have power and then you have to bring a generator.

You'd need one to charge batteries regardless.
Corded tools have their place, but they are losing ground to cordless. Any time I can work without a cord I do it. As does every other contractor I know.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Now days I just use solar to charge batteries. No sense in burning gas and generating excess noise and fumes for that. I'm working on a larger solar station so I can also run 120v tools. Tested it out and it will run my air compressor, just putting it all together in a box on wheels so it's easily deployable.

 

[mindless1]

You'd need one to charge batteries regardless.
Corded tools have their place, but they are losing ground to cordless. Any time I can work without a cord I do it. As does every other contractor I know.

Just bring more battery packs. Home Depot just had a Ryobi Days special, $100 for two 4Ah batteries and a charger plus a free *tool* and one of the tool options was another two 4Ah batteries. If you're discharging batteries that fast anyway, would have to buy more packs sooner, so having twice the batteries and cutting in half their # of charge cycles per calendar days will make them last about twice as long in calendar days.

You're mentioning contractors but these are not contractor grade tools.