In my experience, Dewalt has been the best in terms of balance between reliability, flexibility, and cost. Milwaukee is probably the most reliable but also the most limited. Ryobi are cheap junk. Makita tools I haven't used but I've been told repeatedly that they used to be awesome but are now cheap junk.

All of these companies have at least a few items that are cheap junk (like most of the bluetooth speaker stuff...wtf?) but some are worse than others.

[–] FederatedSaint@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago (2 children)

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.

[–] LilB0kChoy@midwest.social 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Sludgeyy@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] LilB0kChoy@midwest.social 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

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?

[–] Sludgeyy@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

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.

[–] LilB0kChoy@midwest.social 1 points 10 months ago

I love my Ryobi finish nailer! The only Bosch I currently have is an inherited corded jigsaw but it has held up well.

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] LilB0kChoy@midwest.social 1 points 10 months ago

DeWalt is a subsidiary of Black and Decker. Seems like brand name means less than many think.

[–] phoneymouse@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

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.

[–] tim-clark@kbin.social 9 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Haven't used makita bt. Have 20+ other makita going back 15yrs to brand new ones. All have worked perfectly with incredible power. Same batteries work on all of them. Have had some chargers fail but not a single tool. They get used and abused daily with no issues. Granted this is anecdote evidence.

[–] dpkonofa@lemmy.world 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Curious if the brand new ones will last then. I've had a few friends say that the new ones break more easily than their old ones but that is also anecdotal.

[–] tim-clark@kbin.social 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Could also depend on how they're are used and treated. Some of my friends theirs don't last long at all with how they use them.

If it works for you and how you use it, then it's the right tool.

[–] rug_burn@sh.itjust.works 1 points 10 months ago

Depends on which line of Makita you buy into I think. I have a right angle drill and the "good" angle grinder from them (not that xlock bullshit) and both get moderate use. Both are 5-ish years old and still work great.

[–] altima_neo@lemmy.zip 1 points 10 months ago

Ryobi is great if you're like me and just need the occasional tool to do a small project around the house and then gets put away for a few months. I've got a Ryobi portable vacuum at work that does great, gets used daily.

[–] ThirdWorldOrder@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago

I’ve used dewalt professionally for many years and the tools are top notch