How good are Ryobi power tools??

save-a-lot

Hi

Been looking at buying some Ryobi power tools, cordless power tools in the "Ryobi One" range, they are all 18V.

Here is their website - http://www.ryobitools.com/

The idea is that you buy the power tools without a battery, the rechargeable battery packs are bought separately - then you switch the battery to what ever bit of kit you are using.

If anyone is using these right now I would like to hear some feedback on their quality and also about battery life, like how long will it deliver sufficient power to carry on working etc.

mclaren_2

to be honest - your better with Bosch, markita or DeWalt. I personally use DeWalt because its a make i can trust.

it depends though how much you will use it. If it is in use all the time, go for dewalt or markita, if its in use frequently but not all the time go bosch but if you just wana have it for putting up the odd item or doing this or that then go for it.

remember, you get what you pay for, so if you pay £280 for a DeWalt 18v drill, you are getting the best, but if you pay £10 for a 18v Drill, then it wont last long

each to their own but i would say go with a brand name (and leave black and decor out - as thats a "basic" company now

Deluks

I've read nothing but good comments from Ryobi users on various DIY/tradesman sites. The one+ range is an excellent idea, and keenly priced. Cheap enough that you can get 3 or 4 batteries, for the price of just 1 DeWalt or Bosch 'pro' battery.

They also come with a 2 year guarantee, making them seem even better value.

At the end of the day power tools fail because a) they are cheaply made or b) abuse from from user.

Use as intended and Ryobi gear should be up to scratch on most jobs.

oh and never let the batteries on cordless gear go flat. Re-charge as soon as you notice loss of power.

weekendwarrior

You can get them cheaper here-

http://www.itslondon.co.uk/SearchResults.aspx?criteria=ryobi

They are ok for diy use, many people like them and so they must be pretty good!

shammyjack

Ryobi do a DIY version ( light blue ) and a trade version ( dark blue ).

The trade versions are excellant for the money and the number one trade choice in Australia .

The best trade tools by far in my 40 years experiance of using power tools are METABO, expensive but looked after ( brushes changed well before worn down and kept clear of dust ) will last for many years of hard use !

shammy

save-a-lot

mclaren wrote:

each to their own but i would say go with a brand name

Ryobi is a competitive brand name, I base this on what feedback I have had here, the brand seems quite well respected.

If anyone reading this is actually using this brand I would like to hear what you think of them, I am about to buy some of their tools but I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing.

Malestrom

I'm work for a transport company and our stores buy cordless drills for us to use while working at the depot. We had some of the older black coloured Ryobi gear (5+ years ago) and it was excellent. Battery life was very good, the drills were very solid and it seemed that the main problem with them was the electronic speed control would pack up meaning it was just on/off and the auto-brake would stop working.

Once it got to the stage where the drills were starting to become uneconomical to repair they bought brand new Makita gear. Unfortunately, while the drills are excellent (as good as the early Ryobi's we had) the batteries are dreadful. They seem to go flat very quickly when not used and its not uncommon for you to put what seems to be a perfectly well charged drill into your locker that you've been using, only to come in next day and find its totally flat. We usually draw at least three batteries when given a Makita. Chucks seem to be very poor on them and auto-brake also dies quickly, they seem to be poorly constucted and the casings break easily when dropped and they are also suprisingly heavy to use.

We now also have more of the Ryobi's back in but the newer dark blue ones. They perform as well as the original black models and as well as the Makitas but the batteries are far superior than the Makita. They also seem to be lighter to use and, so far, more reliable. They also 'bounce' better.

There are about 125 of us and around 25 drills in the store at any one time so I've probably got a better idea of reliability/use than your tradesman who only buys one drill and cherishes it. Some of the people I work with are total animals

naturals

I've been using a Ryobi corded drill for a couple of months now and I'm very impressed. It was good value and is VERY solidly put together.

De Walt may be good but they aren't THAT great.

save-a-lot

Thanks everyone, so, last question now before I buy anything...

when I look at this page http://www.ryobitools.com/ - are the tools here of a trade quality or are the tools in the Ryobi One+ range for diy'ers really???

shammyjack wrote:

Ryobi do a DIY version ( light blue ) and a trade version ( dark blue ).

I have read that light blue models are for diy home usage whilst a darker blue coloured models are trade quality, is this true??

The Ryobi website does not distinguish what is of trade quality or diy quality? can anyone clarify on this point. Like, is there a different website for trade and one for diy??

Cheers

The_Biff

Just bought a corded 750 watt Ryobi drill from Argos reduced to £29.99. Came with a case & a lot of drill/ screwdriver bits. Seems very well built- & a lovely sound to it.