While I acknowledge that Ryobi is at the bottom of the barrel, my experience with them has been really good. I’ve been using the same drill/driver for 20 years, and have gotten lots of use out of their other tools.
What does bottom of the barrel mean in context though?
I have Ryobi and they’ve all been great, but I’m not a builder, I’m a homeowner who has occasional projects and small fixit/replace jobs around the house.
My brother was gifted a Ryobi set decades ago by my parents, it’s what my dad used, but has since replaced it with DeWalt. However, he has a wood shop in his garage, has added a deck, built multiple retaining walls, a shed and all sorts of stuff in the ~15 years they’ve owned their house.
I feel like how and how often you use the tools plays a big role. I usually get a new tool from Harbor Freight, unless I know it’s something I’ll use a lot. Then if I end up using it enough for it to break/fail I go buy the nicer version.
With my dewalt oscillating saw I can swap a blade or change the angle of the blade in 1 second because you just push down a lever. On the ryobi, you have to break out an allen wrench (which is stored in the tool) and loosen a bolt.
Someone that might use the saw once every blue moon might not care that much, but someone who uses it every day it is a big deal.
Also quality, Ryobi tools just feel cheaper.
I buy important tools in dewalt and less important tools in Ryobi. Like my small leaf blower is Ryobi. No need to pay extra for the dewalt one because it’s just for quickly blowing off my walkway or front porch steps. If I need to move a lot of stuff I use my gas backpack blower, which is also Ryobi. Only problem I’ve ever had with it is the cord snapped a couple times, I think it has to do with how it rubs the grommet. Replaced the last time with a more heavy duty cord and haven’t had a problem since. Always starts in less than 3 pulls and very powerful.
There are cons to Ryobi tools, but when looking at the top of the barrel tools the only con is usually the price.
So Ryobi is just fine. With the context you provide if you’re a heavier user who needs the features then you can spend more? If you need a quality tool that will get the job done without frills then Ryobi is great?
Internet likes to put down Ryobi but it’s not as bad as they make it out to be.
My first power drill was Ryobi like 10+ years ago and still works to this day. I prefer using my Dewalt drill, it’s less clunky.
No one wants to be a “Ryobi Guy”. Especially behind a screen where you can say you have any tool you want.
Bosch makes my favorite hammer drill. My Makita sander works like a champ. I enjoy my Milwaukee packout toolbox.
People get stuck on brands. And while with tools there are differences, Ryobi works just fine.
I did burn out my Ryobi oscillating saw. But that’s the only Ryobi tool that has failed me and I have like a dozen of them. I really like my ryobi finish nailer.
Bosch makes a solid hammer drill…I once drilled into a steel reinforcement in concrete and it melted the bit red hot into a tear drop, and it didn’t even stutter
But my Ryobi bits snapped multiple times the first time I used them (I used a center punch and proper form, they just snapped like glass the second I used carbide bits on a freaking aluminum alloy). Their power tools aren’t quite as bad, but they’re not noticeably better than harbor freight stuff. I genuinely believe black and Decker is better
Granted, I think Ryobi used to be way better…I think they got bought out used for the name a while back
Same… I simply don’t use the tools enough to justify buying the expensive model. If a certain tool fails, maybe I’ll buy the higher quality model, but so far nothing has failed and they do the job. Don’t care too much about having the right brand.
While I acknowledge that Ryobi is at the bottom of the barrel, my experience with them has been really good. I’ve been using the same drill/driver for 20 years, and have gotten lots of use out of their other tools.
What does bottom of the barrel mean in context though?
I have Ryobi and they’ve all been great, but I’m not a builder, I’m a homeowner who has occasional projects and small fixit/replace jobs around the house.
My brother was gifted a Ryobi set decades ago by my parents, it’s what my dad used, but has since replaced it with DeWalt. However, he has a wood shop in his garage, has added a deck, built multiple retaining walls, a shed and all sorts of stuff in the ~15 years they’ve owned their house.
I feel like how and how often you use the tools plays a big role. I usually get a new tool from Harbor Freight, unless I know it’s something I’ll use a lot. Then if I end up using it enough for it to break/fail I go buy the nicer version.
I have Dewalt/Ryobi battery tools
Ryobi usually lacks features
Take for example an oscillating saw
With my dewalt oscillating saw I can swap a blade or change the angle of the blade in 1 second because you just push down a lever. On the ryobi, you have to break out an allen wrench (which is stored in the tool) and loosen a bolt.
Someone that might use the saw once every blue moon might not care that much, but someone who uses it every day it is a big deal.
Also quality, Ryobi tools just feel cheaper.
I buy important tools in dewalt and less important tools in Ryobi. Like my small leaf blower is Ryobi. No need to pay extra for the dewalt one because it’s just for quickly blowing off my walkway or front porch steps. If I need to move a lot of stuff I use my gas backpack blower, which is also Ryobi. Only problem I’ve ever had with it is the cord snapped a couple times, I think it has to do with how it rubs the grommet. Replaced the last time with a more heavy duty cord and haven’t had a problem since. Always starts in less than 3 pulls and very powerful.
There are cons to Ryobi tools, but when looking at the top of the barrel tools the only con is usually the price.
So Ryobi is just fine. With the context you provide if you’re a heavier user who needs the features then you can spend more? If you need a quality tool that will get the job done without frills then Ryobi is great?
Yes
Ryobi is fine
Other tools are better
Internet likes to put down Ryobi but it’s not as bad as they make it out to be.
My first power drill was Ryobi like 10+ years ago and still works to this day. I prefer using my Dewalt drill, it’s less clunky.
No one wants to be a “Ryobi Guy”. Especially behind a screen where you can say you have any tool you want.
Bosch makes my favorite hammer drill. My Makita sander works like a champ. I enjoy my Milwaukee packout toolbox.
People get stuck on brands. And while with tools there are differences, Ryobi works just fine.
I did burn out my Ryobi oscillating saw. But that’s the only Ryobi tool that has failed me and I have like a dozen of them. I really like my ryobi finish nailer.
I love my Ryobi finish nailer! The only Bosch I currently have is an inherited corded jigsaw but it has held up well.
Bosch makes a solid hammer drill…I once drilled into a steel reinforcement in concrete and it melted the bit red hot into a tear drop, and it didn’t even stutter
But my Ryobi bits snapped multiple times the first time I used them (I used a center punch and proper form, they just snapped like glass the second I used carbide bits on a freaking aluminum alloy). Their power tools aren’t quite as bad, but they’re not noticeably better than harbor freight stuff. I genuinely believe black and Decker is better
Granted, I think Ryobi used to be way better…I think they got bought out used for the name a while back
DeWalt is a subsidiary of Black and Decker. Seems like brand name means less than many think.
Same… I simply don’t use the tools enough to justify buying the expensive model. If a certain tool fails, maybe I’ll buy the higher quality model, but so far nothing has failed and they do the job. Don’t care too much about having the right brand.