Buying Ryobi because I can't afford to spend double the money on 5% more performance with deWalt or Milwaukee. But the best advice I heard is buy the cheap tool first, if it breaks, then you actually use that one a lot and it's worth it to upgrade.. if it collects dust, good thing you didn't buy the pro stuff.
That’s why I bought a hypertough drill..i only need it for light duty things, and in the past three years, I maybe charged the battery once. No wasted investment there lol
I was a Ryobi owner, but they sold me a couple bad chargers that destroyed my batteries. Not a bad strategy on the tools, but if the battery chargers are bad, it’s going to go terribly wrong.
Terrible advice. My dad has tons of cheap tools and he spends more time working on the tools than on the job. Buying good tools that should last me a lifetime was a great investment.
Sounds like your dad forgot the exception to the rule.. some people say “always be frugal, never be cheap” I would say how much you use a thing should be considered before buying either the cleapest or best line of tools.
Honestly as someone that works in construction if you're just starting I would recommend picking up whatever pro grade brand tools your coworkers use, you will almost certainly need to borrow tools/batteries when you're starting out and everyone using the same tool brand makes that much easier. MAKE SURE TO RETURN THE TOOLS YOU BORROW AT THE ENDOF THE DAY.
If you're just starting out you get the brand your coworkers don't have so your stuff doesn't grow legs and walk away, protect your investment. My buddy made the mistake of buying milwaukee and he "lost" several batteries and an impact before spraypanting his whole toolkit pink
lol, good thing you said the last part because I was going to mention that everyone using the same tools also makes it easy for someone to steal your tools. Let's be honest most construction companies don't care about background checks and criminal history.
I was working on my barn’s roof in Autumn a couple years ago and I accidentally left my DeWalt impact drill up there. Winter came along, then summer. I thought I lost the drill at a job site. Then I went back up on the roof of the barn that next Autumn to fix any leaks and there it was all faded from extreme sun exposure on the metal roof. The damn thing worked just fine and the battery was fully charged! I still use it today and it works wonderfully.
Modern brushless tools with lithium batteries are very durable. I saw a video of a milwaukee that was in a house fire and half melted to a bench that still worked just fine.
my Dewalt brushless impact driver was semi broken at the handle and i gotta use tapes to put them together. Summer using involved lotta mud and dirt so I decided to shower it with garden spray head, shake shake air dry then ... The speed selections went nut but after 1 week, it decided to work normally. I'm like: so the plastic shell is garbage but the motor and battery are quite good.
Started as contractor like 10 years ago with Dewalt tools. Few years later was thinking to move to Milwaukee when my Dewalts start breaking but damn tools dont want to break whatever I do with them 😂😂
@@Nick-sx6jm The fact this man's house burnt down, plus his workshop and tools (I'm assuming that's his source of income if he has Milwaukee) and he STILL thought to test the melted drill shows that it's some sort of primal drive in our DNA
I bought Ryobi because everyone just said by the tool you need with the money you can afford to invest in tools. I bought it with full intentions of upgrading to makita after the ryobi broke or started to fail. 8 years later the ryobi still hasn't pooped out on me yet. I even dropped the drill 15 feet from a ladder by accident 3 years ago and it's still working.
@@danielredziniak2996 no, it's because most of the power and reliability of the expensive brands is unnecessary. You're just like a kid who buys Apple products because the brand is a fashion statement.
@@presetregret184its not unneccesary at all if you are using them for more than just random stuff around your house. ryobi is fine for that, but not for construction work where you plan to use it all day and be fast. its a massive difference for that application, and well worth the price difference. thats why you wont ever see ryobi power tools on construction sites. and this is coming from a very frugal person that refuses to buy apple products for the same reason you mentioned
I use ryobi. Do alot of concrete work so if it breaks, I can always go for the "buy one, get one free" deals. Needless to say, that was 9 years ago. Original set still going strong.
Only thing I'd say is for concrete work there's simply more powerful options that will make your job smoother. There are certain tools I've used over the years of ryobi, like the sawzall, that were sufficient, but upgrading to a pro tool was night and day. A proper rotary hammer from milwaukee, makita, hikoki, or dewalt will get you a lot further
Their M12 line is great for anyone who isn't a contractor, so close to the m18 with savings going directly to your pocket. And most tools come with combo 12v and 18v chargers so you can start with one and get others that makes sense like a m18 drill and a m12 circular saw for example
Yeah, I'm a tradesman and I see a lot of work sites, dewalt makes a lot of good stuff, makita grinders M12 Fuel for me personally M18 for big stuff. Hilti for concrete, Mastercraft for Mixing drills.
Milwaukee's newer M18 impact drivers actually have pretty well known reliability issues BECAUSE of their impressive power. The torque overburdens some internal components they cheaped out on. Their customer service is good about replacing them though.
@andrewb8074 That was the last gen high torque 1/2" unit. They made a change on the internals, but then the issues arose & they would replace the unit with the original design thay didn't break. The new one is solid like always.
I started with Ryobi because the tools are affordable and they are good enough as entry level contractor. I started my own Handyman business and now I use them more than ever and sometimes really big jobs. What I can tell you is they can definitely handle more than you would think. That being said a couple tools have gotten damaged so they are being replaced as needed by Milwaukee and it's clearly a massive upgrade but Ryobi is no slouch with their HP line and HP batteries.
im a milwaukee guy but if you already got ryobi i say stick to it and any skilled trades person will agree all tools are pro tools all that matters is the best warranty you can get and if the tool can do the job. i have a few nice tools like a mac tools ratchet but i would say 99.9% of the work ive done with it couldve been done with any flex head ratchet. good luck in your entrepenurship
Keep an eye out for a really good deal on a combo kit. I got a solid start on DeWalt kit; $300 a 6¼" circ saw, then 4 brushless atomic tools: drill, impact, orbital sander, and oscilator/mulitool. It also came with 2, 4, and 5ah batteries with a single battery charger (not rapid), and a carry bag. I got some Hilti tools for free, but have to fix the batteries, luckily scavenged some 18650s from a bad hoverboard, and a bad vac. Just gotta modify the battery case now (original fit was tight and I have to widen it a couple mm to account for the wires). Main gem of it is the rotary hammer and a bunch of masonry bits. Point is keep a sharp eye you just might get lucky.
I’m an active DIYer, meaning I use all my tools on my days off of work. The first battery drill I ever purchased was a Ryobi 18volt (and it was before Lithium batteries were available). I have purchased lithium batteries now, but I am still using my original drill! That is money well spent when the tool pays for itself over the many years of heavy use!
That's the huge plus for Ryobi, you can still use your original NICAD tools with the Li-Ion battery packs....can't do that with other brands, unless like Dewalt they come out with a bulky adapter to retrofit your old NICAD tools to a Li-Ion battery, rather than just making the new batteries the same style like Ryobi has done.
I’ve transitioned to all Milwaukee. Batteries are amazing. You can almost always find deals for free tools/batteries and except for cleaning triggers on 2 tools I’ve had no issues. Been running the 1/2 impact, 3/8 impact and impact bit drivers professionally, daily since 2017. Still going strong.
Jumped down, mostly, from Snap-on to Milwaukee. Still pro grade with better warranty, better accessibility and a lot more power tools to choose from. So far I'm liking it.
When I first spent thousands of dollars on tools for my construction business I chose Dewalt because they were the only ones with a service center in the area. That made warranty exchanges and repairs (which are inevitable no matter what brand you use) very simple and included over the counter battery swaps for crap batteries. They were also the only ones with a cordless table saw at the time. After a few years the service center shut down :( so I started buying more and more stuff from Home Depot, and was less intent on remaining all yellow. My van now has a ton of Milwaukee m18 and m12 tools. I can run my red tools with my yellow tool batteries via a 20$ adapter if need be, so its a very good system for me.
@matthewgiddings7280 I use generic ones that don’t have a brand name for my m18 tools. Although I made sure I didn’t buy any adapters that have the USB port on them because they will continually draw current from the batteries is left on.
@matthewgiddings7280 my wife has a few ryobi glue guns and things and the adapters I use for those are branded “badaptor” I think. Those are great and low profile.
I use Milwaukee at home and for my small fine woodworking business. Is it too much tool for that? Probably. But will I ever need to buy another set? Probably not. Unless my small business can grow into more than a side hustle, then I’d gladly buy more, but it’ll still be Milwaukee in my shop.
Couldn’t agree more! I had a set of blue Ryobi from 2010 that it was time to upgrade as there were things I was doing that they couldn’t get done. I was weighting green Ryobi vs Milwaukee and I had to go Milwaukee. They’re not that that much more expensive than Ryobi HP and I’m confident my tools will get ANY job I need done. (I still like having Ryobi batteries for tools Milwaukee doesn’t make it power isn’t a concern). I have 0 regrets. Buy once cry once!
@@billsedutto8824 I have some older green brushless (non hp) Ryobi tools I keep around as loaners. They’re not bad, but like you, I was pushing them beyond their limits and was smoking them. Like the old saying goes, I’m not rich enough to buy cheap tools lol.
Yeah they are overkill but just run 2 brands. I have Dewalt and Ryobi I will probably buy mostly Ryobi from now on as they have gotten very good recently and I don't work in the trades.
I have a set of ryobi tools and a few Milwaukee ones. In some cases its too much tool but in some cases (like a drill) you'll be annoyed with low quality, trust me lmao
@@Somebody2687 coming from a Milwaukee guy, I can tell you first hand, the new Dewalts that are out and still coming are fantastic. My step-dad uses Dewalt while i use Milwaukee, he recently killed his drill, so I bought him the brand new Dewalt drill. He was blown away by it. I was really impressed with how far Dewalt stepped up with this most recent gen of theirs. I look forward to more from them.
Been a handyman for over 2 years now and I use Bauer of all brands. I have a harbor freight right near me and if anything breaks (only a drill and grinder so far) it’s cheap enough to replace. Their warranties are cheap too so I just buy the 2 year warranty for any tool that breaks and I replace.
I’m a licensed electrical contractor and it’s mostly Milwaukee here at Classic Electric. I have Dewalt woodworking tools in my garage workshop. I also have some Makita and even some Ryobi Link stuff.
I like Makita as a homeowner because they have a huge line of accessory and oddity type tools that go with the 18v system. Yard tools, inflator, radio, etc. and their saws, drills, are also pretty stout.
@ERP are u residential and commercial? I'm commercial and industrial as a electrician apprentice. Just bought from Makita due to getting my first power tools now. Wondering how they hold up and ur thoughts
@@mateoandkaralinevillarreal139 I don't use the cordless versions of Makita (german Metabo instead, because of battery capacity) but the corded versions are almost up to the lower Hiltis.
Makita have legendary reliability and excellent battery technology. They're also not owned by a massive conglomerate like Hong Kong's TTi. Milwaukee SOUNDS American... but in the end, it's Chinese all the way. Yes, Makita make some stuff in China as well... they all do, but I'd trust Japanese R&D over cost cutting I've started to see in some of TTi's stuff.
My dads used Ryobi drills for years, primarily working on windows, doors and conservatories. He's never had any major issues still uses Dewalt for his table saws and such but I think for some use case the distinction between DIY, Prosumer and Pro for every product done by a brand is a bit vague. I know my dad hated Dewalts cordless drills because if I remember rightly they had a stupid battery/charger design that constantly broke and he was expected to pay a fortune to get it repaired or buy a new one whilst new batteries for a Ryobi were far more affordable at the time. I could be wrong though been a long time since I remember him ranting about it.
I work in heavy construction and you are right HILTI is the best, they also come to the site if there is an issue with the tool. In order of commonality on the job site after HILTI its BOSCH, DEWALT, MAKITA, and HUSKY at the very low end. SKIL tools you find are mainly heavy chainsaws and related tools, it is and excellent brand for saws.
Each brand has its strengths, find the one that excels at what you do the most, and I’m sure the rest of their line will be sufficient enough. It’s nice now that you can basically have one platform for everything and its unlikely any of it is going to totally suck.
You are pretty safe with the Big 3 in North America, Makita, Dewalt, and Milwaukie for about 99.99% of use cases. I have a hard time justifying the "pro" brands like Festool and Hilti especially because where I live has repair and distribution centers for all 3 brands, Hilti, Snap on, Mac, pretty much everything but a local festool center. So the allure of a "pro grade" Hilti in that the seldom break just isn't there. I am a M&M user though, Makita and Milwaukie and primarily because I am invested into both battery platforms. But I have friends who use dewalt and do own some corded dewalt tools. I haven't really been let down by any of the big 3 yet... except for angle grinders but as a welder I view those as consumable tools that have a 4-6 month life span.
All the cordless grinders are pretty much disposable. I run dewalt at home, Milwaukee at work. I'll bet we go through 2 Milwaukee grinders/year at the shop...and I'll bet I get a new dewalt every other year at home. For whatever reason, the Milwaukee porta-bands are pretty much indestructible compared to dewalt though. I'll bet I've killed 4 yellow ones (both sizes) and I'm still running the original variable speed Milwaukee that was at the shop when I started working there.
I mostly use Makita tools. I find it interesting that many company's have such different lineups worldwide. Here in Germany Bosch has still the green lineups for DIY, your Metabo HPT is Hikoki, FLEX is red with different tools (flying under the radar)
Coming from Europe, my electrical engineer dad always told me that Black & Decker is a quality brand. When I got my pressure washer last year from B&D and I couldn't connect the hoses easily, the whole system was pissing water everywhere, I knew the brand had changed.
Bro if you are buying a pressure washer from a power tool company you deserve the shitty product you get. Pressure washers are their own ecosystem with a few specialized companies that make the quality ones
30 years ago was a great brand like craftsman and Mastercraft. Now it's all garbage including the top brands. In order to make tool light and cheapish, plastic for as many parts as possible. It's like zebco spincasters, the cheap ones with Disney cartoons will suck, but their top of the line, mostly metal construction reels are top of the class and last a long time.
@@johncoops6897yup and even worse, they used to be known for certain things that they did well, but now they’re just another brand slapped on generic everything.
I am a Fence & Deck Contractor. In the job trailer all our power tools are Kobalt 24V with the exception of our miter and table saws, which are Bosch. I am also a finish carpenter on the side as well as do woodworking at home, and have all Ryobi tools for that trade. The Kobalt cordless stuff is serving us well, and the massive Ryobi selection of common and niche tools make it a no brainer for personal stuff.
When it comes to corded tools, I'm all over the map. I have a Bosch table saw, a Dewalt chop saw, a Milwaukee hammer drill, etc. But my cordless stuff is almost exclusively Makita, because the batteries interchange with a bunch of very good yard tools, and in particular that Makita electric chain saw is just awesome for somebody who needs a chain saw every now and again. When I first started out I bought Black & Decker stuff because it was cheap and so was I, but I soon learned that the better quality tools designed for professional use last essentially forever when you don't use them hard every day, and it is better to buy once and cry once. I don't think there is a vast difference in quality among the pro-grade stuff, but look carefully at the full lineup of tools you might want at some point before deciding on a battery platform, because once you have 10 batteries, you are going to buy that brand of everything, forever. It makes no sense to have a different set of batteries, chargers, etc. for different cordless tools when everybody makes one of everything now.
I roll with milwaukee cordless but I don't think I'll find a better table saw than the dewalt 8 1/4. Best fence, and adjustment and lock is right on every time to where I don't ever have to check with a tape. I do high end kitchens and finish work and it does a hell of a job
When I first started construction I opted for DeWalt simply so I could share batteries with my workmates. Having invested so much in them over years it's hard to make a switch to a better albeit more expensive brand.
I'm in the exact same boat. Started with nothing, borrowing everything. Everyone used Dewalt. Bought all my own tools now I feel like I can't switch which I mean, Dewalt makes decent tools so it doesn't matter all that much. Though I do think now there could of been a better option.
@@TheOfficialDjProduct What are the "better options" that you think one should invest in if they are going from scratch? I have a few Makita corded-tools, but am looking at Dewalts battery-lineups. I notice most of them are 18V (which most likely will be more than enough, Not sure about the circular saw though. I'm looking at the DCD791 and DCF887 package that I probably would start with
Love everything about the video. The history, the slideshow, and the transparency of it all tied together real nas like. As a long time tool enthusiast myself, I didn’t expect to learn anything on this video. I couldn’t be more wrong. Lots of fun facts. Thanks for sharing it.
As an Aircraft Mechanic in the Air Force we used DeWalt drills which always held up. I don't think I remember any DewWalt drills ever breaking (although it's been over 13 years since I did that kind of work). I even worked in the tool crib for a while where we maintained all the tools used on the flightline. I guess I fell into first love brand loyalty and always viewed DeWalt as superior. Thank you for the insight! This video was very helpful.
I’ve used Dewalt ever since I can remember, only ever burnt out one drill it still worked but it was week ( drilling through concrete with a regular drill constantly is not good for it 😂 )
Great video. One thing that is worth mentioning is that its always best to take future tools into consideration. Its great to start cheap and upgrade as tools wear out but its not always so easy with the cordless stuff when it comes to battery compatibility between different brands. In my country Ryobi has a line of tools in each category (similar to Bosch) but the DIY line does not have battery compatibility with their more pro tools.
You covered a lot of ground and History. Well put together, well thought out and concise. I am impressed and this is good information. Thank you, Clint. I have my concentrations mostly Ridgid and some Ryobi. Ridgid is a prosumer brand and with some help of the internet dictionary, "an amateur who purchases equipment with quality or features suitable for professional use"-Prosumer. Ridgid's new release of Bench and Stationery tools has a mix of Delta Machinery tools. I own the Delta Table saw which is the New Ridgid Table saw. Delta is owned by the Chang Type Industrial CO. Ltd. Just thought I would share that information. Ridgid Ron
This big brother, you should be a related person in the tool industry. You even know a company in Taiwan. I worked in Changtai many years ago, but DIY tools have gone to the road of Evergrande.
I use hercules from HF, I love it I use it on a daily basis. Only got it cause I didn't want my tools to be mixed up with my co workers since majority use dewalt and to just give it a shot and I was very impressed and now I almost have the whole line up they have to offer. Haven't replaced a single tool or battery. Still on my original battery 6 years later.
I have Bauer tools from harbor freight. It's definitely on the cheaper side of quality, but it's also dirt cheap, and works for whatever I need it for at the moment. When I first got my impact driver I used it to change all the studs on my truck, and that impact was getting some brutal treatment. It was over 105 degrees outside and it was in direct sunlight for a very long time. Toward the end, it completely burnt out and stopped working. So I went back to HF and they swapped it for a brand new one for free. It was definitely a worst case scenario, and it fell just short, but considering they replaced it for free and how cheap all the tools are I can't really complain to be honest. In the future I'm gonna upgrade, probably to milwaukee, and all the tools I have now will be for around the house DIY, while my better tools will stay in my truck.
@@iamnotafraid I just want my tools to last. Idc if a Milwaukee or dewalt screws a screws in 2 seconds faster than my hercules that 2 seconds is nothing as long as it gets the job done efficiently sometimes in my field of work we are literally in the middle of no where I mean like in the middle of corn fields next towns 45 minutes away (cell phone towers) we don't care what drill or impact or just tools in general came from the Dollar tree as long as it will get the job done efficiently.... From what I noticed herc tools are right there with with dewalt Milwaukee Makita etc. I personally buy them now for the batteries not the performance even they i habe nothing bad to say about the performance its the batteries for me, to have a shit ton of batteries is really inconvenient witch seems to be a problem with dewalt I've noticed, never used buaer but I like Milwaukee cause they have everything for everything there the best tool brand to buy into but but hercules is my favorite imo also HF they have some shitty cheap tools there but they have some gems in there to... I say get what ever tool brand you want what ever is comfortable and does the job efficiently. Most people that actually work everyday with tools we dont give 2 shits what tool brand you use as long as it gets the job done efficiently most of these tools perform the damn same there no more than a few seconds of each other quality is the best thing to look for get a tool that last even some the most expensive tools are garbage and some of the cheapest tools are great and never break. This is just my opinion
@@papichulo8442 Especially if you get the warranty on your hercules tools, I could definitely see that being worth it and saving you some money in the long run. Bauer is one of the lesser brands that HF offers, with performance a bit lower than hercules, for a lower price as well. The reason I'd want milwaukee over cheaper options is for the extra power, the bauer tools I have get the job done for the most part, but struggle to complete some difficult jobs like loosening brake caliper bolts, effectively tightening studs, or loosening lug nuts. Most of the time I'm just using my tools for vehicle repairs on my truck or my wife's car, sometimes I also help a friend or coworker as well. But occasionally I use it for other projects too. But with these tools, it takes much longer to get the job done, or sometimes you just need a better tool all together. It can be frustrating.
Ryobi used to be junk but their newer line of green colored battery powered tools are downright fantastic for the price. They've really struck a great balance of quality and affordability. They're not the cheapest, but they also don't break the bank and feel great to use. So far I've got a drill, two nail guns, a miter saw, and a jigsaw, and I think I'm not turning back any time soon.
Here in norway dewalt and ryobi had max 20% price difference. Here Dewalt is the best tools compared quality/price. Ryobi is getting pretty expensive with the new hp+. My drill sett of 2 powerstack/805/850 + charger cost way less than the equivalent ryobi sett
For me as a DIY person who likes to buy quality without breaking the bank, it's mostly DeWalt because for the tools in interested in (Drills, Drivers, Shop Vacs, Circular Saws) they are excellent. However for other tools I have crossed brands. I went with the Milwaukee M12 Fuel oscillating tool because it's just better and has less vibration, and if I shopped sanders, it would be Bosch or DeWalt. I almost went Makita for how smooth their circular saws are but the ergonomics couldn't match DeWalt. Each company has tools that they really excel in so if you want the best tool within your budget for various jobs, you may find yourself with 2-3 different brands.
I'm proud to be part of the DIY group..us DIYers need tools that will last a while most people can't afford to replace tools all the time. tools such as Dewalt or milwakee have low longevity value compared to their pricing
I'm super-happy with my collection of Ryobi 18v tools. I have enough experience with other brands to state that Ryobi is most definitely Prosumer and not merely DIY. The batteries are great and most of their tools punch above their price. 🙂 Oddly enough, the very first Ryobi product that I purchased was their most expensive, their battery powered riding mower! ($3000 at the time about 3.5 years ago) I was so impressed with the quality of that mower that I started looking into the 18v tools. I took maximum advantage of their $99 for two batteries and free tool a few years ago to collect quite a few. 🙂
Ryobi might have used to be a diy tool but for sure nowadays they aren't especially when considering their brushless series being even better quality. While I do love me some milwaukee tools and they are usually better, my ryobi tools have been working alongside milwaukee tools for years and are closing that gap.
I've used Ryobi for three years (handyman service use). Just put them back in their respective bags to give away. That's about what they're worth, in my estimation. For example, compare a Ryobi 1/4" impact vs Porter-Cable, a similar price point tool. The chuck alone makes Ryobi a non-starter; I hated its stupid design. The drill/driver is similarly VERY lame: won't hold onto anything, especially in reverse. The circular saw is so weak it barely cuts 2x soft pine, that is if the battery that comes with the tool lasts the duration of the cut. The oscillating tool is a (very bad) joke vs, for example, a Porter-Cable (or any other brand, I imagine) given that it doesn't cut anything well and, again, has a stupid, clumsy chuck design. I could go on. The only Ryobi tool I've used that was any good is the reciprocating saw, except that the stupid designers put a spring-loaded trigger release on it. If you've ever pruned a tree with a reciprocating saw you may agree with me (unless you happen to have three arms/hands or six fingers). Should change the brand name to Cheep-N-Shoddy, or Cheep-N-Stupid; more fitting of quality, functionality and ergonomics, or lack thereof. Just OMO.
when i worked in construction we had three brands: stihl for the big jobs, ryobi for the jobs that would wear out a drill in a month, and milwaukee for the shelf princess tools that worked when needed but were seldom used
I use Milwaukee FUEL exclusively. Over the years I watched my mechanic work on my vehicles with Milwaukee tools and was always impressed by the power of the tools. I now own Milwaukee FUEL tools exclusively and they have yet to disappoint. FACTS
DIYer here. I used to buy cheap tools, many years ago. I bought my first Makita drill for work when my 24v £50 drill gave up trying to drill into a concrete railway platform edge, working in Wembley, UK. I came back the next night with a freshly bought 18v Makita drill driver. Drilled and fixed 25 plates (100 holes) in about 40 minutes. I have a mixture of Makita, Dewalt and Milwaukee tools now and will never buy cheap again. Dewalt is probably my preferred brand right now but I tend to buy tools when there’s a great deal on and I’m not restricted by brand. Great video!
I have my Dad's cordless Black&Decker drill. It's nearly 40 years old (!) and I still use it, today. It fits beautifully in the hand, too, while so many modern tools are clunky and awkward. Black&Decker used to be it, but they have fallen a long way 😢
I've been using porter cable hammer drill, drill driver and impact drills for 8 years. Got the 20v combo kit back then. Have used them 5 days a week for all 8 years and still using them.
Kinda bummed not to see them mentioned (besides the one screenshot), I have the drill and impact and they have been awesome for me as a DIYer. Seems like it's not a good system to buy into if I want to expand to more tools though.
Had a spare set in my old work truck. They were good for the price but the reciprocating saw burned up the first time I used it, the replacement was good for quite a few years until the batteries started dying and I switched to Milwaukee.
I am jumping on the Ryobi band wagon. Started when my brother gave me a small kit like 25 years ago. I still have that blue drill and use it constantly! Not even a p### whatever. Something like a WA model number or whatever. It's old and works. A number are still blue, but keep adding/replacing with the green. Like others, I appreciate that their batteries use the same casing and are backward compatible, so the 18V lineup still works. Also in agreement with others, they are cheap. Consumer Reports had them at a value buy. They punch above their weight class, yet don't break the pocket book so you can buy more of them. Lost/stolen/broke, affordable to replace. My old boss (I'm a stay at home dad now) had Dewalt cordless and Milwaukee electric. Great tools and loved them. But a few times I brought my own Ryobi impact driver and it ran with the big dogs on the job sites. Ryobi has my loyalty, definitely prosumer, and is perfect for my at home projects.
My ryobi drill lasted a while but the selector broke. Went milwaukee and huge power difference. One key tech is also way cool, you can program settings into the tools. So, red all day
For the average DIY-er Ryobi offers a good line up and with a 6 year warrantee they'll probably last either for as long as you like or until something ground breaking comes along to entice you to upgrade to one of their new models.
I work in underground utility construction (sanitary, watermain, storm water installation etc.) and I can say I’ve never used anything but Makita. The drivers and drills get consistently drowned, dropped, thrown, beat up, have mud and concrete on them and they keep going. They are on the higher end but I’ve never had any issue with them. That being said…when we haven’t replaced one of our Makitas, with another Makita, we replaced it a DeWalt and they are also a well made brand. I have Ryobi at home but I wouldn’t bring it to the job site. Makita and DeWalt is the way to go from someone who constantly beats on tools. (Yes I realize I should take better care of the tools, but sometimes you’re just in a hurry when you’re breaking mega lugs in a 9’ hole that’s collapsing because your operator didn’t want to put a trench box in. And yes operators like that exist.)
Great job. I think the biggest lesson in all this is, what are these companies producing today and how does it fit my needs? Craftsman, how a giant has fallen. Hercules, the latest David in a world of Golilaths. Flex, flash in the pan or are they here to stay. Festool is raising the bar but how high before the other titans can step up their game… Most importantly, We got Clint to let me know what the real deal is. Thanks Tool Review Zone!
I am fully invested in the 18/36v Makita battery platform, both yard tools and power tools (drills/ driver, grinder, oscillator, dust extractor, laser level, track/ plunge saw, etc); have a couple 12v tools, but 40v is beyond my need. I also have a couple 20 year old dewalt 18v running with the new 20v adaptor. Corded tools run a gamut, Bosch, Porter Cable, SkilSaw, Milwaukee. At the time, cordless was kinda gimmick and under powered for the application I was using them for, so had much more freedom selecting where each brand was strongest.
In the old Sears days Craftsman was a good purchase because they basically had a lifetime guarantee. I read about someone that used one of their sanders to strip paint from shingles on a house, and just kept getting a replacement from Sears every time they died.
Lowes sells Craftsman and backs their guarantee. I'm not at all impressed with most of their tools. I do but their 25' tapes and return them to Lowes when they break in less than a year.
I’m a Master Plumber and have used several different brands, but have all Milwaukee now because they have alot of plumbing based tools and just easier not having to worry about keeping up with different brand batteries
Id argue in recent years Ryobi has stepped up to prosumer at least. Their tools are getting far better quality and durability. Also the same battery for every tool makes it very convenient on the job site. I'm an auto mechanic and i use ryobi while my other guys use Milwaukee or snap on. I still get my job done and today i surprised them with my impact wrench which in their mind was whimpy but after taking a torque wrench to it they got wide eyed when after just a 1/2 second of hammering it would tighten lug nuts up to 180. For context tires should be tighten up to about 140. Felt good to see them walk away just all surprised like i just performed a magic trick
Frist and most important question before making a decision: Do you want/need to be cordless? If yes, then check the range of tools. Example: If you have a garden, then go for a brand that offers gardening tools and not only drills and impact drivers. Go for a brand , that covers all field of work that YOU need. Go for one band and share the batteries between tools while saving on the ecosystem aka chargers (and batteries.) In the end I went for Makita 18 volt, it covers all the bases for ME. But if I would only care about gardens I would choose Stihl. If I would be a builder, I would go for something else. And so on...
I use all Ryobi tools (for the most part) for car audio installation Been solid for years! Some specialty tools Ill get milwaukee snap on etc when needed
Used to have bunch of ryobi tools but switched to milwaukee. Ryobi was fine for the price and DIY projects, but my biggest issue with them was quality and battery. LED light on impact died on week one, poor quality of measurements on tools, etc but dang battery would overheat and 1 of extra capacity battery died on me only after a year. This was early time when ryobi started to introduce brushes less so maybe things are a lot better now based on what other people say, but even milwaukee m12 produce as much power (if not more) as ryobi 18 line ups m18s are just beast.
Great video! I’ve been using a Flex impact and hammer drill all year, and they’re still running just as strong as the day I bought them. I’m actually very impressed with them. Longer battery life than DeWalt, more power (easier to start and drive screws, even 6+ inch lags), batteries charge in 30-35 minutes, and great durability. I will definitely be buying more Flex tools as needed.
I rarely heard of flex until after I started buying milwaukee. But I’ve literally never heard a bad thing about them, only good things. Might get some of their tools if I could find a good kit deal.
Damn good video - I appreciate the information on the history of the brands and their divisions, as well as where they would be typically found in everyday use. For the vast majority of folks (those who aren't apprentice level or higher in the trades) DIY will be a good choice, I myself own DeWalt, Ridgid and Milwaukee Tools. I tend to be a little hard on my tools so the "Prosumer/ProGrade" works well for me. Thanks for also covering Metabo Hitachi a line of tools I knew little about. Keep up the great work 👍
I disagree on one brand. Ryobi’s new one plus HP line especially the 1/2” impact and 3/8” extended ratchet are prosumer grade bordering pro. The p262 blows away the snap on mid torque 1/2” impact. The thing can’t even take off semi lugs but the p262 can. Was hoping I would see the 1 year later review on the p262 I’m really waiting for the new cordless 18v carpet extractor cleaner and I’m hoping they put out a compact 3/8” impact as well to compete with dewalt as well as their orange and big red brother. If I could afford to have makita impact I would but for the price ryobi has done really good with the last year of new products. I used to think they were just a cheap tool brand but now for any serious diy auto work they’re the go to. And I could even see myself starting a little Mobile mechanic service with ryobi tools. Interested in trying Hercules but I’ve committed to the ryobi battery. Guess I’ll have to buy an adapter lol.
Bought a Ryobi drill 5 years ago for $35 and it is still running strong for the 3-4 times a year that I use it. Probably the best drill I could have bought for my use case.
Well said. For an average homeowner doing a few repairs here and there, plus maybe some hobby usage, a cheap Ryobi drill will last decades. In my experience it's the chuck that will wear out on a drill over time. I've thrown out two drills in my life and in both cases the chuck became stripped and no longer held the drill bit securely. That is my experience with Ryobi tools in general. They're clearly not the best but they're an enormous step up from Black+Decker or WalMart crap and for "average" homeowner/hobbyist usage they will last decades.
Makita and Dewalt has always been my go to. Makita for small tools such as sanders, drills, imapact, nailers, multitool. But for dewalt i prefer the heavy tools like table saw miter saw and shop vacs.
The tools I use are mixed. I have a blend of DeWalt and Makita, tending towards makita's lineup that uses the same batteries. lately I've been investing more in Festool, but solely for my woodworking. They are simply amazing tools, and if I have to save a few extra months to pay for it, It's worth it to me. But I take care of those tools, and for daily house use it's usually Dewalt/Makita
I tend to do my research and buy the best I can so have Metabo 36v hammer drill , Makita drill for core holes and 18v , dewalt nail gun and drill , Milwaukee 12v drill , assorted hand tools and I am looking at a Mafell track saw and ukj pocket hole jig . I wait for the job and buy the best tool then for that job. I steer clear of diy brands as I don’t like buying twice .
Just a DIY guy doing small projects here and there. Ryobi is good enough for me. No reason to break the bank for Milwaukee when I probably only use the tools maybe a few times a year. If I was a pro contractor, for sure I'd go with Milwaukee.
Years ago, I had some B&D drill and some other cheap tools just for simple repairs around the house.. until I saw my friend's entire Dewalt tools set in his truck...I was like wow...But I can't justify the cost for what I do...Fast forward, got my very first set of Milwaukee fuel impact driver & hammer drill about 5 years ago and now I have both M18 and M12 system mainly for our personal vehicles and our delivery van. As small business owner, I deserved pro grade tools 😁
My dad is a construction tradesman with 40 years experience in the field He uses Ryobi My brother-in-law worked as a mechanic, he has a single snap on wrench but uses Walmart and amazon brand drills and impacts wrenches There's also a maker-space in city within my city with all sorts of professionals of all trades and engineers of all types, they use ryobi for the power-tool wall The worker and their skills makes the tool, not the other way around (same debate in programming too on language and editors but it comes down to skill and experience regardless) That said, I have felt the difference between a ryobi and Milwaukee miter saw, and the ryobi wasn't as smooth, but it gets the job done
As a diy i bought one of those craftsmen 20v sets. No complaints. After 2 years now they all work great still. I use the drill, impact and saws all the most.
Thanks for all the time & work you put into this video, just wanted to mention that Dewalt has some cheaper brushless tools that aren't even prosumer grade, but I know if you are talking about most of there tools, pro grade would be correct, but that brings me to my next point some of Craftsman Brushless tools are just rebranded Dewalt's, so I think for the brushed Craftsman's tools those are DIY tools, but I think there brushless should be at least prosumer grade if not Pro Grade, Thanks again
The newer Ryobi tools really are transcending the diy zone. They are a pretty amazing balance of price and quality. The sheer diversity of their tools is getting crazy. I bet they will have a battery powered jobsite microwave oven before long... for the pricing and versatility they are really killing it. Very good for someone beginning a trade, etc... without breaking the bank one can quickly amass a huge collection of very good tools
Well done video. I work at lowes and it’s fun to purchase new things for friends and family so I got my brother a FLEX combo kit…good tools…overkill for him. I use Bosch…I authorize A LOT of craftsman returns. It’s all fun and fascinating. Thanks for the vid!
I bought a blue Ryobi cordless impact drill kit almost 20 years ago: it came with a charger and two Ni-Cd batteries. In due course, the batteries died and I bought a 1.3 Ahr One+ battery and hybrid charger around 2009. Since then I have expanded my range of Ryobi 18v tools extensively, I still use that hybrid charger now but only on lithium One+ batteries as the Ni-Cd ones are long gone. The P204 impact drill is still going strong and generalkly I'm quite impressed with the durbility and capability of the One+ range.
Makita also has a prosumer/DIY line called Makita MT. Much cheaper tools, but the bang-for-buck remains high. Great for people starting out their tool hoarding journey.
The best, most well rounded tradesperson/maker I know runs ryobi tools...He's one of those guys that forsakes spending money...The point is the person is more important than the brand. I run M18's...I have fuels for the most commonly used tools and regular ones for the less used tools. I've added some yard tools. I'm a prosumer grade user. They do well for me and have the options I need.
I just bought my first set of power tools today and decided to go with Milwaukee. Seems to be the company with the least amount of complaints online and with my buddies in construction who are familiar with most brands said they're a good buy as well. Won't be using them religiously, but I'd rather buy quality and have the tools for many years than have some cheap chinese tool that breaks in months.
I have a home workbench full of Ryobi tools and have never had any problems. I've done flooring, deck repairs, moulding, tree branches, wallboard, and general lumber work. A couple of batteries went weak but I just replaced them; the tools keep marching on.
I like to see Metabo HPT getting put in the pro grade of tools, I always felt like Hitachi (Hikoki, Metabo HPT) was underrated. I've been using their tools for years and they have never let me down. I have been shifting toward Milwaukee in recent years, but I still have a soft spot for Hitachi.
I was looking for someone to mention Hitachi. First time I saw them was with a lady framer who had all pink tools, they had at one point (2decades ago) a pink set. I borrowed her driver and it felt light but had some decent power. I think they get a bad rap, im not sure if they are the same or worse now that they are metabo
The only Hitachi stuff I have and used is their pneumatic stuff. Works great, built solid. All of it 10+ years old and still going strong. I’d imagine they’ll still be good after being bought out by Metabo.
I think the M12 tools are really good! I bought them off ebay and the drill and driver were like $35 each and 10 years later they’re still as good as new! And the light weight really does come to matter in a lot of situations!
Bought me first drill a Dewalt last year and have recently bought a mitre and circular saw and router, I’m only a DIY guy but I’m sticking with Dewalt since the drill battery fits the circular saw and router
I use Ryobi. I have been using the same old blue ryobi tools for years. I have tried to kill them, so I could buy new ones... I haven't been able to. Edit: my drill I just now starting to go. It still works. It just whines. I have used it to drill holes in concrete many times. I don't mean the hammer drill. I mean the regular comes in a set drill.
When I ran auto installation shops I bought Makita and Bosch power tools because I used them every day. Now that I'm retired, the Ryobi line is inexpensive and good enough for the kinds of projects I occasionally do. I think their brushless HP tools and batteries should be in the Prosumer category, definitely an improvement over the standard DIY line.
I own some of everything and there’s no difference. Mostly on the Ryobi system and have no complaints except their miter saw is less capable than other brands, but is totally fine for DIY.
Before starting my collection, I consulted many contractors/ex-contractors (about 40), almost unanimously the answer was Milwaukee or DeWalt. Some said "construction-grade" DeWalt that couldn't be found in big-box stores so I should go Milwaukee, and some said Bosch. I chose Milwaukee because the biggest thing I heard about DeWalt (even from the DeWalt guys) was how their brushes go out "often" (contractor amounts of use in sure).
Meh, I never had brush problems with Dewalt, and ran them for years on the job site. The point is pretty much moot now though since everything has gone brushless.
Maybe regional bias, but most recommend Makita. Everyone at work that uses my Makita stuff notices how we made it is and the ergonomics. Well balanced and silky smooth motors. Less noise is less vibration. Milwaukee has a lot of power but it reduces its durability. Dewalt... Well I have had 4 dewalt tools xr made in America and had 5 repairs. At least I was able to buy and install the new chuck twice. I work in an industrial setting with steel. If you are not doing pro level stuff, ridgid is pretty good.
@@thorinbane yeah Midwest. Every home improvement store has red and yellow on the biggest displays. Some regional farm stores (runnings, fleet farm) they are the only 2 brands of power tools offered.
Which Tool Brand do you use?
Dewalt!
Milwaukee. Specifically M18 platform.
Milwaukee M18 & M12 platforms. Just depends on what I'm doing that day
Tool Review Zone.. I use Ryobi and Milwaukee. Ryobi has been just as good.
Mostly Makita, Hilti and Bosh Professional but Milwaukee is hitting very hard on the Finnish market too.
Buying Ryobi because I can't afford to spend double the money on 5% more performance with deWalt or Milwaukee. But the best advice I heard is buy the cheap tool first, if it breaks, then you actually use that one a lot and it's worth it to upgrade.. if it collects dust, good thing you didn't buy the pro stuff.
That’s why I bought a hypertough drill..i only need it for light duty things, and in the past three years, I maybe charged the battery once. No wasted investment there lol
I was a Ryobi owner, but they sold me a couple bad chargers that destroyed my batteries. Not a bad strategy on the tools, but if the battery chargers are bad, it’s going to go terribly wrong.
Hilti service is terrible 😢
Terrible advice. My dad has tons of cheap tools and he spends more time working on the tools than on the job. Buying good tools that should last me a lifetime was a great investment.
Sounds like your dad forgot the exception to the rule.. some people say “always be frugal, never be cheap” I would say how much you use a thing should be considered before buying either the cleapest or best line of tools.
Honestly as someone that works in construction if you're just starting I would recommend picking up whatever pro grade brand tools your coworkers use, you will almost certainly need to borrow tools/batteries when you're starting out and everyone using the same tool brand makes that much easier. MAKE SURE TO RETURN THE TOOLS YOU BORROW AT THE ENDOF THE DAY.
If you're just starting out you get the brand your coworkers don't have so your stuff doesn't grow legs and walk away, protect your investment. My buddy made the mistake of buying milwaukee and he "lost" several batteries and an impact before spraypanting his whole toolkit pink
It's for that exact reason that I went out and bought the brand they all hate. That way I get to keep my tools at the end of every day lol.
And mark your own tools
lol, good thing you said the last part because I was going to mention that everyone using the same tools also makes it easy for someone to steal your tools. Let's be honest most construction companies don't care about background checks and criminal history.
I was working on my barn’s roof in Autumn a couple years ago and I accidentally left my DeWalt impact drill up there. Winter came along, then summer. I thought I lost the drill at a job site. Then I went back up on the roof of the barn that next Autumn to fix any leaks and there it was all faded from extreme sun exposure on the metal roof. The damn thing worked just fine and the battery was fully charged! I still use it today and it works wonderfully.
Modern brushless tools with lithium batteries are very durable. I saw a video of a milwaukee that was in a house fire and half melted to a bench that still worked just fine.
my Dewalt brushless impact driver was semi broken at the handle and i gotta use tapes to put them together. Summer using involved lotta mud and dirt so I decided to shower it with garden spray head, shake shake air dry then ... The speed selections went nut but after 1 week, it decided to work normally. I'm like: so the plastic shell is garbage but the motor and battery are quite good.
Started as contractor like 10 years ago with Dewalt tools. Few years later was thinking to move to Milwaukee when my Dewalts start breaking but damn tools dont want to break whatever I do with them 😂😂
amaze
@@Nick-sx6jm The fact this man's house burnt down, plus his workshop and tools (I'm assuming that's his source of income if he has Milwaukee) and he STILL thought to test the melted drill shows that it's some sort of primal drive in our DNA
I bought Ryobi because everyone just said by the tool you need with the money you can afford to invest in tools. I bought it with full intentions of upgrading to makita after the ryobi broke or started to fail. 8 years later the ryobi still hasn't pooped out on me yet. I even dropped the drill 15 feet from a ladder by accident 3 years ago and it's still working.
Yea you probably use it once a year
@@danielredziniak2996 no, it's because most of the power and reliability of the expensive brands is unnecessary. You're just like a kid who buys Apple products because the brand is a fashion statement.
@@presetregret184its not unneccesary at all if you are using them for more than just random stuff around your house. ryobi is fine for that, but not for construction work where you plan to use it all day and be fast. its a massive difference for that application, and well worth the price difference. thats why you wont ever see ryobi power tools on construction sites. and this is coming from a very frugal person that refuses to buy apple products for the same reason you mentioned
@@danielredziniak2996well yeah. Why waste money on Milwaukee if you're only going to use the tools a few times a year? Ryobi is perfect for that.
@@presetregret184lol
a more structured list:
DIY:
Ryobi, Hart, Bauer, Craftsman, Black and Decker
Prosumer:
Kobalt, Rigid, Skil, Hercules
Pro:
DeWalt, Milwaukee, Flex, Hilti, Festool, Skilsaw, Makita, Metabo, Bosch
but not Bosch green. Bosch green is max DIY. Worse than Ryobi.
I would rank Craftsman above Hercules. Harbor Freight is still Harbor Freight.
@@patison001dude I used my 12v bosch green drill for fcking 10 years
@@DenizKaanKahramanYes, but the blue line is professional, the green line something lower.
@@neuffatator despite the fact that the Hercules line out-performs the Craftsman line?
I use ryobi. Do alot of concrete work so if it breaks, I can always go for the "buy one, get one free" deals. Needless to say, that was 9 years ago. Original set still going strong.
Only thing I'd say is for concrete work there's simply more powerful options that will make your job smoother. There are certain tools I've used over the years of ryobi, like the sawzall, that were sufficient, but upgrading to a pro tool was night and day. A proper rotary hammer from milwaukee, makita, hikoki, or dewalt will get you a lot further
Milwaukee as a whole is professional grade. They don't win in every single tool category, but they are close. There power and reliability are unreal.
I can attest to their power.
As a DIYer, I didn’t know a drill could kick that hard.
Their M12 line is great for anyone who isn't a contractor, so close to the m18 with savings going directly to your pocket. And most tools come with combo 12v and 18v chargers so you can start with one and get others that makes sense like a m18 drill and a m12 circular saw for example
Yeah, I'm a tradesman and I see a lot of work sites, dewalt makes a lot of good stuff, makita grinders M12 Fuel for me personally M18 for big stuff. Hilti for concrete, Mastercraft for Mixing drills.
Milwaukee's newer M18 impact drivers actually have pretty well known reliability issues BECAUSE of their impressive power. The torque overburdens some internal components they cheaped out on. Their customer service is good about replacing them though.
@andrewb8074
That was the last gen high torque 1/2" unit. They made a change on the internals, but then the issues arose & they would replace the unit with the original design thay didn't break.
The new one is solid like always.
I started with Ryobi because the tools are affordable and they are good enough as entry level contractor. I started my own Handyman business and now I use them more than ever and sometimes really big jobs. What I can tell you is they can definitely handle more than you would think. That being said a couple tools have gotten damaged so they are being replaced as needed by Milwaukee and it's clearly a massive upgrade but Ryobi is no slouch with their HP line and HP batteries.
im a milwaukee guy but if you already got ryobi i say stick to it and any skilled trades person will agree all tools are pro tools all that matters is the best warranty you can get and if the tool can do the job. i have a few nice tools like a mac tools ratchet but i would say 99.9% of the work ive done with it couldve been done with any flex head ratchet. good luck in your entrepenurship
Funny I’m doing the same thing
Keep an eye out for a really good deal on a combo kit. I got a solid start on DeWalt kit; $300 a 6¼" circ saw, then 4 brushless atomic tools: drill, impact, orbital sander, and oscilator/mulitool. It also came with 2, 4, and 5ah batteries with a single battery charger (not rapid), and a carry bag. I got some Hilti tools for free, but have to fix the batteries, luckily scavenged some 18650s from a bad hoverboard, and a bad vac. Just gotta modify the battery case now (original fit was tight and I have to widen it a couple mm to account for the wires). Main gem of it is the rotary hammer and a bunch of masonry bits. Point is keep a sharp eye you just might get lucky.
One more thing is the only grade I disagreed with was the ryobi one; imo they're prosumer.
Haha so crazy i did same thing lol
Started ryobi went straight Milwaukee
My employer provides me Dewalt but once i held a milwaukee i was a fan
I’m an active DIYer, meaning I use all my tools on my days off of work. The first battery drill I ever purchased was a Ryobi 18volt (and it was before Lithium batteries were available). I have purchased lithium batteries now, but I am still using my original drill! That is money well spent when the tool pays for itself over the many years of heavy use!
That's the huge plus for Ryobi, you can still use your original NICAD tools with the Li-Ion battery packs....can't do that with other brands, unless like Dewalt they come out with a bulky adapter to retrofit your old NICAD tools to a Li-Ion battery, rather than just making the new batteries the same style like Ryobi has done.
I’ve transitioned to all Milwaukee. Batteries are amazing. You can almost always find deals for free tools/batteries and except for cleaning triggers on 2 tools I’ve had no issues. Been running the 1/2 impact, 3/8 impact and impact bit drivers professionally, daily since 2017. Still going strong.
Jumped down, mostly, from Snap-on to Milwaukee. Still pro grade with better warranty, better accessibility and a lot more power tools to choose from. So far I'm liking it.
When I first spent thousands of dollars on tools for my construction business I chose Dewalt because they were the only ones with a service center in the area. That made warranty exchanges and repairs (which are inevitable no matter what brand you use) very simple and included over the counter battery swaps for crap batteries. They were also the only ones with a cordless table saw at the time. After a few years the service center shut down :( so I started buying more and more stuff from Home Depot, and was less intent on remaining all yellow. My van now has a ton of Milwaukee m18 and m12 tools. I can run my red tools with my yellow tool batteries via a 20$ adapter if need be, so its a very good system for me.
Which adapter do you use?
Nice!
Whats your experience with the Milwaukee M18 surge? I've multiple collet issues
@matthewgiddings7280 I use generic ones that don’t have a brand name for my m18 tools. Although I made sure I didn’t buy any adapters that have the USB port on them because they will continually draw current from the batteries is left on.
@matthewgiddings7280 my wife has a few ryobi glue guns and things and the adapters I use for those are branded “badaptor” I think. Those are great and low profile.
I use Milwaukee at home and for my small fine woodworking business. Is it too much tool for that? Probably. But will I ever need to buy another set? Probably not. Unless my small business can grow into more than a side hustle, then I’d gladly buy more, but it’ll still be Milwaukee in my shop.
Couldn’t agree more! I had a set of blue Ryobi from 2010 that it was time to upgrade as there were things I was doing that they couldn’t get done. I was weighting green Ryobi vs Milwaukee and I had to go Milwaukee. They’re not that that much more expensive than Ryobi HP and I’m confident my tools will get ANY job I need done. (I still like having Ryobi batteries for tools Milwaukee doesn’t make it power isn’t a concern). I have 0 regrets. Buy once cry once!
@@billsedutto8824 I have some older green brushless (non hp) Ryobi tools I keep around as loaners. They’re not bad, but like you, I was pushing them beyond their limits and was smoking them. Like the old saying goes, I’m not rich enough to buy cheap tools lol.
Yeah they are overkill but just run 2 brands. I have Dewalt and Ryobi I will probably buy mostly Ryobi from now on as they have gotten very good recently and I don't work in the trades.
I have a set of ryobi tools and a few Milwaukee ones. In some cases its too much tool but in some cases (like a drill) you'll be annoyed with low quality, trust me lmao
@@Somebody2687 coming from a Milwaukee guy, I can tell you first hand, the new Dewalts that are out and still coming are fantastic. My step-dad uses Dewalt while i use Milwaukee, he recently killed his drill, so I bought him the brand new Dewalt drill. He was blown away by it. I was really impressed with how far Dewalt stepped up with this most recent gen of theirs. I look forward to more from them.
Been a handyman for over 2 years now and I use Bauer of all brands. I have a harbor freight right near me and if anything breaks (only a drill and grinder so far) it’s cheap enough to replace. Their warranties are cheap too so I just buy the 2 year warranty for any tool that breaks and I replace.
I’m a licensed electrical contractor and it’s mostly Milwaukee here at Classic Electric. I have Dewalt woodworking tools in my garage workshop. I also have some Makita and even some Ryobi Link stuff.
I like Makita as a homeowner because they have a huge line of accessory and oddity type tools that go with the 18v system. Yard tools, inflator, radio, etc. and their saws, drills, are also pretty stout.
18v coffee maker
Makita is a titan in a pro enviroment too imo. I am team makita as an electrician and they make excellent tools.
@ERP are u residential and commercial? I'm commercial and industrial as a electrician apprentice. Just bought from Makita due to getting my first power tools now. Wondering how they hold up and ur thoughts
@@mateoandkaralinevillarreal139 I don't use the cordless versions of Makita (german Metabo instead, because of battery capacity) but the corded versions are almost up to the lower Hiltis.
Makita have legendary reliability and excellent battery technology. They're also not owned by a massive conglomerate like Hong Kong's TTi. Milwaukee SOUNDS American... but in the end, it's Chinese all the way.
Yes, Makita make some stuff in China as well... they all do, but I'd trust Japanese R&D over cost cutting I've started to see in some of TTi's stuff.
My dads used Ryobi drills for years, primarily working on windows, doors and conservatories. He's never had any major issues still uses Dewalt for his table saws and such but I think for some use case the distinction between DIY, Prosumer and Pro for every product done by a brand is a bit vague. I know my dad hated Dewalts cordless drills because if I remember rightly they had a stupid battery/charger design that constantly broke and he was expected to pay a fortune to get it repaired or buy a new one whilst new batteries for a Ryobi were far more affordable at the time. I could be wrong though been a long time since I remember him ranting about it.
I work in heavy construction and you are right HILTI is the best, they also come to the site if there is an issue with the tool. In order of commonality on the job site after HILTI its BOSCH, DEWALT, MAKITA, and HUSKY at the very low end. SKIL tools you find are mainly heavy chainsaws and related tools, it is and excellent brand for saws.
Love, Ryobi inexpensive tool easy to replace. I’ve had their 18 V platform for two years and never had an issue gets the job done.
Not the best tool out there but don’t feel bad when it breaks
Each brand has its strengths, find the one that excels at what you do the most, and I’m sure the rest of their line will be sufficient enough. It’s nice now that you can basically have one platform for everything and its unlikely any of it is going to totally suck.
You are pretty safe with the Big 3 in North America, Makita, Dewalt, and Milwaukie for about 99.99% of use cases. I have a hard time justifying the "pro" brands like Festool and Hilti especially because where I live has repair and distribution centers for all 3 brands, Hilti, Snap on, Mac, pretty much everything but a local festool center. So the allure of a "pro grade" Hilti in that the seldom break just isn't there. I am a M&M user though, Makita and Milwaukie and primarily because I am invested into both battery platforms. But I have friends who use dewalt and do own some corded dewalt tools. I haven't really been let down by any of the big 3 yet... except for angle grinders but as a welder I view those as consumable tools that have a 4-6 month life span.
All the cordless grinders are pretty much disposable. I run dewalt at home, Milwaukee at work. I'll bet we go through 2 Milwaukee grinders/year at the shop...and I'll bet I get a new dewalt every other year at home.
For whatever reason, the Milwaukee porta-bands are pretty much indestructible compared to dewalt though. I'll bet I've killed 4 yellow ones (both sizes) and I'm still running the original variable speed Milwaukee that was at the shop when I started working there.
Have had the same Milwaukee portable drill for the past 3 years. Beaten the crap out of it and it still shows me that same day 1 love
I'm an electrician. "Grab the Hilti" is what we say when actual work needs to be done.
Hammering concrete? Driving a ground rod? Hilti doesn't play.
I mostly use Makita tools. I find it interesting that many company's have such different lineups worldwide. Here in Germany Bosch has still the green lineups for DIY, your Metabo HPT is Hikoki, FLEX is red with different tools (flying under the radar)
is your avatar name GUNSHIP? GUUUUNNNSHIP
@@mos8541 yes :)
hands-down, the best comprehensive explanation, history of the major power tools.
Coming from Europe, my electrical engineer dad always told me that Black & Decker is a quality brand. When I got my pressure washer last year from B&D and I couldn't connect the hoses easily, the whole system was pissing water everywhere, I knew the brand had changed.
Bro if you are buying a pressure washer from a power tool company you deserve the shitty product you get. Pressure washers are their own ecosystem with a few specialized companies that make the quality ones
Black and Decker USED TO BE a quality American brand that manufactured elsewhere to the same high standards. It is now just a cheap Asian product.
30 years ago was a great brand like craftsman and Mastercraft. Now it's all garbage including the top brands. In order to make tool light and cheapish, plastic for as many parts as possible. It's like zebco spincasters, the cheap ones with Disney cartoons will suck, but their top of the line, mostly metal construction reels are top of the class and last a long time.
Definitely didn't attach the hoses
@@johncoops6897yup and even worse, they used to be known for certain things that they did well, but now they’re just another brand slapped on generic everything.
I am a Fence & Deck Contractor. In the job trailer all our power tools are Kobalt 24V with the exception of our miter and table saws, which are Bosch.
I am also a finish carpenter on the side as well as do woodworking at home, and have all Ryobi tools for that trade.
The Kobalt cordless stuff is serving us well, and the massive Ryobi selection of common and niche tools make it a no brainer for personal stuff.
When it comes to corded tools, I'm all over the map. I have a Bosch table saw, a Dewalt chop saw, a Milwaukee hammer drill, etc. But my cordless stuff is almost exclusively Makita, because the batteries interchange with a bunch of very good yard tools, and in particular that Makita electric chain saw is just awesome for somebody who needs a chain saw every now and again. When I first started out I bought Black & Decker stuff because it was cheap and so was I, but I soon learned that the better quality tools designed for professional use last essentially forever when you don't use them hard every day, and it is better to buy once and cry once. I don't think there is a vast difference in quality among the pro-grade stuff, but look carefully at the full lineup of tools you might want at some point before deciding on a battery platform, because once you have 10 batteries, you are going to buy that brand of everything, forever. It makes no sense to have a different set of batteries, chargers, etc. for different cordless tools when everybody makes one of everything now.
I roll with milwaukee cordless but I don't think I'll find a better table saw than the dewalt 8 1/4. Best fence, and adjustment and lock is right on every time to where I don't ever have to check with a tape. I do high end kitchens and finish work and it does a hell of a job
When I first started construction I opted for DeWalt simply so I could share batteries with my workmates. Having invested so much in them over years it's hard to make a switch to a better albeit more expensive brand.
I'm in the exact same boat. Started with nothing, borrowing everything. Everyone used Dewalt. Bought all my own tools now I feel like I can't switch which I mean, Dewalt makes decent tools so it doesn't matter all that much. Though I do think now there could of been a better option.
@@TheOfficialDjProduct What are the "better options" that you think one should invest in if they are going from scratch?
I have a few Makita corded-tools, but am looking at Dewalts battery-lineups. I notice most of them are 18V (which most likely will be more than enough, Not sure about the circular saw though. I'm looking at the DCD791 and DCF887 package that I probably would start with
Love everything about the video. The history, the slideshow, and the transparency of it all tied together real nas like. As a long time tool enthusiast myself, I didn’t expect to learn anything on this video. I couldn’t be more wrong. Lots of fun facts. Thanks for sharing it.
As an Aircraft Mechanic in the Air Force we used DeWalt drills which always held up. I don't think I remember any DewWalt drills ever breaking (although it's been over 13 years since I did that kind of work). I even worked in the tool crib for a while where we maintained all the tools used on the flightline. I guess I fell into first love brand loyalty and always viewed DeWalt as superior. Thank you for the insight! This video was very helpful.
I’ve used Dewalt ever since I can remember, only ever burnt out one drill it still worked but it was week ( drilling through concrete with a regular drill constantly is not good for it 😂 )
I have tons of Ryobi stuff. I’ve had good luck with it. I use my impact driver and half inch impact the most.
The best general brand review i see, is good definition of the brand offers
All my power tools are Ryobi and I have no issues with any of them. They do what I want when I want.
Great video. One thing that is worth mentioning is that its always best to take future tools into consideration. Its great to start cheap and upgrade as tools wear out but its not always so easy with the cordless stuff when it comes to battery compatibility between different brands. In my country Ryobi has a line of tools in each category (similar to Bosch) but the DIY line does not have battery compatibility with their more pro tools.
I know nothing about tools and yet somehow I still enjoy watching these videos
Lol, love it!
You covered a lot of ground and History. Well put together, well thought out and concise. I am impressed and this is good information. Thank you, Clint. I have my concentrations mostly Ridgid and some Ryobi. Ridgid is a prosumer brand and with some help of the internet dictionary, "an amateur who purchases equipment with quality or features suitable for professional use"-Prosumer. Ridgid's new release of Bench and Stationery tools has a mix of Delta Machinery tools. I own the Delta Table saw which is the New Ridgid Table saw. Delta is owned by the Chang Type Industrial CO. Ltd. Just thought I would share that information. Ridgid Ron
This big brother, you should be a related person in the tool industry. You even know a company in Taiwan. I worked in Changtai many years ago, but DIY tools have gone to the road of Evergrande.
I have been migrating everything to Milwaukee M18 line for use on my farm. These are durable tools and worth the $$ for me.
I’ve had the same set of Ryobi tools for about 20 years now… They helped build a small house and they have never failed me. I stick with Ryobi.
I use hercules from HF, I love it I use it on a daily basis. Only got it cause I didn't want my tools to be mixed up with my co workers since majority use dewalt and to just give it a shot and I was very impressed and now I almost have the whole line up they have to offer. Haven't replaced a single tool or battery. Still on my original battery 6 years later.
I have Bauer tools from harbor freight. It's definitely on the cheaper side of quality, but it's also dirt cheap, and works for whatever I need it for at the moment. When I first got my impact driver I used it to change all the studs on my truck, and that impact was getting some brutal treatment. It was over 105 degrees outside and it was in direct sunlight for a very long time. Toward the end, it completely burnt out and stopped working. So I went back to HF and they swapped it for a brand new one for free. It was definitely a worst case scenario, and it fell just short, but considering they replaced it for free and how cheap all the tools are I can't really complain to be honest.
In the future I'm gonna upgrade, probably to milwaukee, and all the tools I have now will be for around the house DIY, while my better tools will stay in my truck.
@@iamnotafraid I just want my tools to last. Idc if a Milwaukee or dewalt screws a screws in 2 seconds faster than my hercules that 2 seconds is nothing as long as it gets the job done efficiently sometimes in my field of work we are literally in the middle of no where I mean like in the middle of corn fields next towns 45 minutes away (cell phone towers) we don't care what drill or impact or just tools in general came from the Dollar tree as long as it will get the job done efficiently.... From what I noticed herc tools are right there with with dewalt Milwaukee Makita etc. I personally buy them now for the batteries not the performance even they i habe nothing bad to say about the performance its the batteries for me, to have a shit ton of batteries is really inconvenient witch seems to be a problem with dewalt I've noticed, never used buaer but I like Milwaukee cause they have everything for everything there the best tool brand to buy into but but hercules is my favorite imo also HF they have some shitty cheap tools there but they have some gems in there to... I say get what ever tool brand you want what ever is comfortable and does the job efficiently. Most people that actually work everyday with tools we dont give 2 shits what tool brand you use as long as it gets the job done efficiently most of these tools perform the damn same there no more than a few seconds of each other quality is the best thing to look for get a tool that last even some the most expensive tools are garbage and some of the cheapest tools are great and never break. This is just my opinion
@@papichulo8442 Especially if you get the warranty on your hercules tools, I could definitely see that being worth it and saving you some money in the long run. Bauer is one of the lesser brands that HF offers, with performance a bit lower than hercules, for a lower price as well. The reason I'd want milwaukee over cheaper options is for the extra power, the bauer tools I have get the job done for the most part, but struggle to complete some difficult jobs like loosening brake caliper bolts, effectively tightening studs, or loosening lug nuts. Most of the time I'm just using my tools for vehicle repairs on my truck or my wife's car, sometimes I also help a friend or coworker as well. But occasionally I use it for other projects too. But with these tools, it takes much longer to get the job done, or sometimes you just need a better tool all together. It can be frustrating.
Ryobi used to be junk but their newer line of green colored battery powered tools are downright fantastic for the price. They've really struck a great balance of quality and affordability. They're not the cheapest, but they also don't break the bank and feel great to use. So far I've got a drill, two nail guns, a miter saw, and a jigsaw, and I think I'm not turning back any time soon.
Here in norway dewalt and ryobi had max 20% price difference. Here Dewalt is the best tools compared quality/price. Ryobi is getting pretty expensive with the new hp+. My drill sett of 2 powerstack/805/850 + charger cost way less than the equivalent ryobi sett
What is the power tool for cars wheels nuts?
My favourite is their one handed reciprocating saw. It's so nice and small and I can cut 2x4s no problem.
@@Carlos.Riverausually an impact driver.
@@fenix144 sure, either
For me as a DIY person who likes to buy quality without breaking the bank, it's mostly DeWalt because for the tools in interested in (Drills, Drivers, Shop Vacs, Circular Saws) they are excellent. However for other tools I have crossed brands. I went with the Milwaukee M12 Fuel oscillating tool because it's just better and has less vibration, and if I shopped sanders, it would be Bosch or DeWalt. I almost went Makita for how smooth their circular saws are but the ergonomics couldn't match DeWalt. Each company has tools that they really excel in so if you want the best tool within your budget for various jobs, you may find yourself with 2-3 different brands.
I'm proud to be part of the DIY group..us
DIYers need tools that will last a while most people can't afford to replace tools all the time. tools such as Dewalt or milwakee have low longevity value compared to their pricing
I'm super-happy with my collection of Ryobi 18v tools. I have enough experience with other brands to state that Ryobi is most definitely Prosumer and not merely DIY. The batteries are great and most of their tools punch above their price. 🙂 Oddly enough, the very first Ryobi product that I purchased was their most expensive, their battery powered riding mower! ($3000 at the time about 3.5 years ago) I was so impressed with the quality of that mower that I started looking into the 18v tools. I took maximum advantage of their $99 for two batteries and free tool a few years ago to collect quite a few. 🙂
Ryobi might have used to be a diy tool but for sure nowadays they aren't especially when considering their brushless series being even better quality. While I do love me some milwaukee tools and they are usually better, my ryobi tools have been working alongside milwaukee tools for years and are closing that gap.
I use my ryobi 18 3/8 impact everyday at work . The battery life with the 4.0 amp battery is better then I was getting with the Milwaukee m12 .
@@jamesp9998 milwaukee m18 is the best
I've used Ryobi for three years (handyman service use). Just put them back in their respective bags to give away. That's about what they're worth, in my estimation. For example, compare a Ryobi 1/4" impact vs Porter-Cable, a similar price point tool. The chuck alone makes Ryobi a non-starter; I hated its stupid design. The drill/driver is similarly VERY lame: won't hold onto anything, especially in reverse. The circular saw is so weak it barely cuts 2x soft pine, that is if the battery that comes with the tool lasts the duration of the cut. The oscillating tool is a (very bad) joke vs, for example, a Porter-Cable (or any other brand, I imagine) given that it doesn't cut anything well and, again, has a stupid, clumsy chuck design. I could go on. The only Ryobi tool I've used that was any good is the reciprocating saw, except that the stupid designers put a spring-loaded trigger release on it. If you've ever pruned a tree with a reciprocating saw you may agree with me (unless you happen to have three arms/hands or six fingers). Should change the brand name to Cheep-N-Shoddy, or Cheep-N-Stupid; more fitting of quality, functionality and ergonomics, or lack thereof. Just OMO.
Ryobi is junk from my experience. Wouldn't even give them away just throw them in the trash.
when i worked in construction we had three brands: stihl for the big jobs, ryobi for the jobs that would wear out a drill in a month, and milwaukee for the shelf princess tools that worked when needed but were seldom used
I use Milwaukee FUEL exclusively. Over the years I watched my mechanic work on my vehicles with Milwaukee tools and was always impressed by the power of the tools. I now own Milwaukee FUEL tools exclusively and they have yet to disappoint. FACTS
DIYer here. I used to buy cheap tools, many years ago. I bought my first Makita drill for work when my 24v £50 drill gave up trying to drill into a concrete railway platform edge, working in Wembley, UK. I came back the next night with a freshly bought 18v Makita drill driver. Drilled and fixed 25 plates (100 holes) in about 40 minutes.
I have a mixture of Makita, Dewalt and Milwaukee tools now and will never buy cheap again. Dewalt is probably my preferred brand right now but I tend to buy tools when there’s a great deal on and I’m not restricted by brand.
Great video!
I have my Dad's cordless Black&Decker drill. It's nearly 40 years old (!) and I still use it, today. It fits beautifully in the hand, too, while so many modern tools are clunky and awkward. Black&Decker used to be it, but they have fallen a long way 😢
And you can still get batteries for it?
Yeah, Black&Decker are basically toy manufacturers at this point. It's a shame!
I've been using porter cable hammer drill, drill driver and impact drills for 8 years. Got the 20v combo kit back then. Have used them 5 days a week for all 8 years and still using them.
Kinda bummed not to see them mentioned (besides the one screenshot), I have the drill and impact and they have been awesome for me as a DIYer. Seems like it's not a good system to buy into if I want to expand to more tools though.
Had a spare set in my old work truck. They were good for the price but the reciprocating saw burned up the first time I used it, the replacement was good for quite a few years until the batteries started dying and I switched to Milwaukee.
@@00fordxlt so my batteries are giving out and I'm slowly replacing with milwaukee.
I am jumping on the Ryobi band wagon. Started when my brother gave me a small kit like 25 years ago. I still have that blue drill and use it constantly! Not even a p### whatever. Something like a WA model number or whatever. It's old and works. A number are still blue, but keep adding/replacing with the green. Like others, I appreciate that their batteries use the same casing and are backward compatible, so the 18V lineup still works. Also in agreement with others, they are cheap. Consumer Reports had them at a value buy. They punch above their weight class, yet don't break the pocket book so you can buy more of them. Lost/stolen/broke, affordable to replace. My old boss (I'm a stay at home dad now) had Dewalt cordless and Milwaukee electric. Great tools and loved them. But a few times I brought my own Ryobi impact driver and it ran with the big dogs on the job sites. Ryobi has my loyalty, definitely prosumer, and is perfect for my at home projects.
My ryobi drill lasted a while but the selector broke. Went milwaukee and huge power difference. One key tech is also way cool, you can program settings into the tools. So, red all day
For the average DIY-er Ryobi offers a good line up and with a 6 year warrantee they'll probably last either for as long as you like or until something ground breaking comes along to entice you to upgrade to one of their new models.
I work in underground utility construction (sanitary, watermain, storm water installation etc.) and I can say I’ve never used anything but Makita. The drivers and drills get consistently drowned, dropped, thrown, beat up, have mud and concrete on them and they keep going. They are on the higher end but I’ve never had any issue with them. That being said…when we haven’t replaced one of our Makitas, with another Makita, we replaced it a DeWalt and they are also a well made brand. I have Ryobi at home but I wouldn’t bring it to the job site. Makita and DeWalt is the way to go from someone who constantly beats on tools. (Yes I realize I should take better care of the tools, but sometimes you’re just in a hurry when you’re breaking mega lugs in a 9’ hole that’s collapsing because your operator didn’t want to put a trench box in. And yes operators like that exist.)
Great job. I think the biggest lesson in all this is, what are these companies producing today and how does it fit my needs? Craftsman, how a giant has fallen. Hercules, the latest David in a world of Golilaths. Flex, flash in the pan or are they here to stay. Festool is raising the bar but how high before the other titans can step up their game… Most importantly, We got Clint to let me know what the real deal is. Thanks Tool Review Zone!
I am fully invested in the 18/36v Makita battery platform, both yard tools and power tools (drills/ driver, grinder, oscillator, dust extractor, laser level, track/ plunge saw, etc); have a couple 12v tools, but 40v is beyond my need. I also have a couple 20 year old dewalt 18v running with the new 20v adaptor. Corded tools run a gamut, Bosch, Porter Cable, SkilSaw, Milwaukee. At the time, cordless was kinda gimmick and under powered for the application I was using them for, so had much more freedom selecting where each brand was strongest.
In the old Sears days Craftsman was a good purchase because they basically had a lifetime guarantee. I read about someone that used one of their sanders to strip paint from shingles on a house, and just kept getting a replacement from Sears every time they died.
Lowes sells Craftsman and backs their guarantee. I'm not at all impressed with most of their tools. I do but their 25' tapes and return them to Lowes when they break in less than a year.
I’m a Master Plumber and have used several different brands, but have all Milwaukee now because they have alot of plumbing based tools and just easier not having to worry about keeping up with different brand batteries
Id argue in recent years Ryobi has stepped up to prosumer at least. Their tools are getting far better quality and durability. Also the same battery for every tool makes it very convenient on the job site. I'm an auto mechanic and i use ryobi while my other guys use Milwaukee or snap on. I still get my job done and today i surprised them with my impact wrench which in their mind was whimpy but after taking a torque wrench to it they got wide eyed when after just a 1/2 second of hammering it would tighten lug nuts up to 180. For context tires should be tighten up to about 140.
Felt good to see them walk away just all surprised like i just performed a magic trick
Frist and most important question before making a decision: Do you want/need to be cordless? If yes, then check the range of tools. Example: If you have a garden, then go for a brand that offers gardening tools and not only drills and impact drivers. Go for a brand , that covers all field of work that YOU need. Go for one band and share the batteries between tools while saving on the ecosystem aka chargers (and batteries.)
In the end I went for Makita 18 volt, it covers all the bases for ME.
But if I would only care about gardens I would choose Stihl. If I would be a builder, I would go for something else. And so on...
I am a home builder remodeler. We've used Ryobi for 15 years. Definitely not just a diy brand.
I use all Ryobi tools (for the most part) for car audio installation
Been solid for years! Some specialty tools Ill get milwaukee snap on etc when needed
Used to have bunch of ryobi tools but switched to milwaukee.
Ryobi was fine for the price and DIY projects, but my biggest issue with them was quality and battery.
LED light on impact died on week one, poor quality of measurements on tools, etc but dang battery would overheat and 1 of extra capacity battery died on me only after a year.
This was early time when ryobi started to introduce brushes less so maybe things are a lot better now based on what other people say, but even milwaukee m12 produce as much power (if not more) as ryobi 18 line ups
m18s are just beast.
I'm a dork and I personally enjoyed this and it was pretty informative thanks for covering it.
Great video! I’ve been using a Flex impact and hammer drill all year, and they’re still running just as strong as the day I bought them. I’m actually very impressed with them. Longer battery life than DeWalt, more power (easier to start and drive screws, even 6+ inch lags), batteries charge in 30-35 minutes, and great durability. I will definitely be buying more Flex tools as needed.
I rarely heard of flex until after I started buying milwaukee. But I’ve literally never heard a bad thing about them, only good things. Might get some of their tools if I could find a good kit deal.
Thanks for the historical context and the Clear distinction between the numerous brands. Much appreciated.
Damn good video - I appreciate the information on the history of the brands and their divisions, as well as where they would be typically found in everyday use. For the vast majority of folks (those who aren't apprentice level or higher in the trades) DIY will be a good choice, I myself own DeWalt, Ridgid and Milwaukee Tools. I tend to be a little hard on my tools
so the "Prosumer/ProGrade" works well for me. Thanks for also covering Metabo Hitachi a line of tools I knew little about. Keep up the great work 👍
That thumbnail was absolutely created to spark rage and I am so here for it 🍿
I disagree on one brand. Ryobi’s new one plus HP line especially the 1/2” impact and 3/8” extended ratchet are prosumer grade bordering pro. The p262 blows away the snap on mid torque 1/2” impact. The thing can’t even take off semi lugs but the p262 can. Was hoping I would see the 1 year later review on the p262 I’m really waiting for the new cordless 18v carpet extractor cleaner and I’m hoping they put out a compact 3/8” impact as well to compete with dewalt as well as their orange and big red brother. If I could afford to have makita impact I would but for the price ryobi has done really good with the last year of new products. I used to think they were just a cheap tool brand but now for any serious diy auto work they’re the go to. And I could even see myself starting a little Mobile mechanic service with ryobi tools.
Interested in trying Hercules but I’ve committed to the ryobi battery. Guess I’ll have to buy an adapter lol.
Interested in going from DIY to Pro so this video gives me a perspective what tools to start with and what tools you cant live with out! Good video
Bought a Ryobi drill 5 years ago for $35 and it is still running strong for the 3-4 times a year that I use it. Probably the best drill I could have bought for my use case.
Well said. For an average homeowner doing a few repairs here and there, plus maybe some hobby usage, a cheap Ryobi drill will last decades.
In my experience it's the chuck that will wear out on a drill over time. I've thrown out two drills in my life and in both cases the chuck became stripped and no longer held the drill bit securely.
That is my experience with Ryobi tools in general. They're clearly not the best but they're an enormous step up from Black+Decker or WalMart crap and for "average" homeowner/hobbyist usage they will last decades.
Makita and Dewalt has always been my go to. Makita for small tools such as sanders, drills, imapact, nailers, multitool. But for dewalt i prefer the heavy tools like table saw miter saw and shop vacs.
The tools I use are mixed. I have a blend of DeWalt and Makita, tending towards makita's lineup that uses the same batteries.
lately I've been investing more in Festool, but solely for my woodworking. They are simply amazing tools, and if I have to save a few extra months to pay for it, It's worth it to me. But I take care of those tools, and for daily house use it's usually Dewalt/Makita
I tend to do my research and buy the best I can so have Metabo 36v hammer drill , Makita drill for core holes and 18v , dewalt nail gun and drill , Milwaukee 12v drill , assorted hand tools and I am looking at a Mafell track saw and ukj pocket hole jig . I wait for the job and buy the best tool then for that job. I steer clear of diy brands as I don’t like buying twice .
I'd say ryobi is prosumer. Although for most tools I'd say brushless only for that though.
Just a DIY guy doing small projects here and there. Ryobi is good enough for me. No reason to break the bank for Milwaukee when I probably only use the tools maybe a few times a year. If I was a pro contractor, for sure I'd go with Milwaukee.
Years ago, I had some B&D drill and some other cheap tools just for simple repairs around the house.. until I saw my friend's entire Dewalt tools set in his truck...I was like wow...But I can't justify the cost for what I do...Fast forward, got my very first set of Milwaukee fuel impact driver & hammer drill about 5 years ago and now I have both M18 and M12 system mainly for our personal vehicles and our delivery van. As small business owner, I deserved pro grade tools 😁
As a small business owner to another… you cannot afford down time with fzcked tools. I run both M18 and Dewalt 20V. M12 for around the house.
My dad is a construction tradesman with 40 years experience in the field
He uses Ryobi
My brother-in-law worked as a mechanic, he has a single snap on wrench but uses Walmart and amazon brand drills and impacts wrenches
There's also a maker-space in city within my city with all sorts of professionals of all trades and engineers of all types, they use ryobi for the power-tool wall
The worker and their skills makes the tool, not the other way around (same debate in programming too on language and editors but it comes down to skill and experience regardless)
That said, I have felt the difference between a ryobi and Milwaukee miter saw, and the ryobi wasn't as smooth, but it gets the job done
As a diy i bought one of those craftsmen 20v sets. No complaints. After 2 years now they all work great still. I use the drill, impact and saws all the most.
I love my Black+Decker Matrix system tools. Perfect for a DIYer who just doesn't have the space and budget for a ton of power tools.
Thanks for all the time & work you put into this video, just wanted to mention that Dewalt has some cheaper brushless tools that aren't even prosumer grade, but I know if you are talking about most of there tools, pro grade would be correct, but that brings me to my next point some of Craftsman Brushless tools are just rebranded Dewalt's, so I think for the brushed Craftsman's tools those are DIY tools, but I think there brushless should be at least prosumer grade if not Pro Grade, Thanks again
I generally agree with your ratings, though when shopping for specific tools, it's still best to do your research.
The newer Ryobi tools really are transcending the diy zone. They are a pretty amazing balance of price and quality. The sheer diversity of their tools is getting crazy. I bet they will have a battery powered jobsite microwave oven before long... for the pricing and versatility they are really killing it. Very good for someone beginning a trade, etc... without breaking the bank one can quickly amass a huge collection of very good tools
Makita has a battery powered coffee maker
@@buddahkz9980makita also has nice TC guns for structural steel
ryobi is cool, but still just for homeowners. they arent up to par with the pro level tools
Makita has a microwave about a $1000 for it.
This video helps pick out tools that people may want. I like Hilti, Bosch and Ryobi. Ryobi has a massive category list.
Well done video. I work at lowes and it’s fun to purchase new things for friends and family so I got my brother a FLEX combo kit…good tools…overkill for him. I use Bosch…I authorize A LOT of craftsman returns. It’s all fun and fascinating. Thanks for the vid!
I bought a blue Ryobi cordless impact drill kit almost 20 years ago: it came with a charger and two Ni-Cd batteries. In due course, the batteries died and I bought a 1.3 Ahr One+ battery and hybrid charger around 2009. Since then I have expanded my range of Ryobi 18v tools extensively, I still use that hybrid charger now but only on lithium One+ batteries as the Ni-Cd ones are long gone. The P204 impact drill is still going strong and generalkly I'm quite impressed with the durbility and capability of the One+ range.
Makita also has a prosumer/DIY line called Makita MT. Much cheaper tools, but the bang-for-buck remains high. Great for people starting out their tool hoarding journey.
The best, most well rounded tradesperson/maker I know runs ryobi tools...He's one of those guys that forsakes spending money...The point is the person is more important than the brand. I run M18's...I have fuels for the most commonly used tools and regular ones for the less used tools. I've added some yard tools. I'm a prosumer grade user. They do well for me and have the options I need.
I just bought my first set of power tools today and decided to go with Milwaukee. Seems to be the company with the least amount of complaints online and with my buddies in construction who are familiar with most brands said they're a good buy as well. Won't be using them religiously, but I'd rather buy quality and have the tools for many years than have some cheap chinese tool that breaks in months.
I have a home workbench full of Ryobi tools and have never had any problems. I've done flooring, deck repairs, moulding, tree branches, wallboard, and general lumber work. A couple of batteries went weak but I just replaced them; the tools keep marching on.
I like to see Metabo HPT getting put in the pro grade of tools, I always felt like Hitachi (Hikoki, Metabo HPT) was underrated. I've been using their tools for years and they have never let me down. I have been shifting toward Milwaukee in recent years, but I still have a soft spot for Hitachi.
I have a Hitachi impact and a Metabo brushless drill and they’re great. Only downside is just that there’s not a lot available in stores.
I was looking for someone to mention Hitachi. First time I saw them was with a lady framer who had all pink tools, they had at one point (2decades ago) a pink set. I borrowed her driver and it felt light but had some decent power. I think they get a bad rap, im not sure if they are the same or worse now that they are metabo
The only Hitachi stuff I have and used is their pneumatic stuff. Works great, built solid. All of it 10+ years old and still going strong. I’d imagine they’ll still be good after being bought out by Metabo.
Hahaha isn't that the brand that makes vibrators/"massagers" hahaha
I think the M12 tools are really good! I bought them off ebay and the drill and driver were like $35 each and 10 years later they’re still as good as new! And the light weight really does come to matter in a lot of situations!
The thing you can't knock about ryobi is that make everything.
I personally have a mix is milwaukee and ryobi. Just behinds on the tool
Bought me first drill a Dewalt last year and have recently bought a mitre and circular saw and router, I’m only a DIY guy but I’m sticking with Dewalt since the drill battery fits the circular saw and router
You are in the zone...the Tool Review Zone featuring Professor Clint. Excellent video, informative with great perspective. Thanks 😊
The machinery technicians at my duty station use Ryobi and they have been working for years.
I use Ryobi. I have been using the same old blue ryobi tools for years. I have tried to kill them, so I could buy new ones... I haven't been able to.
Edit: my drill I just now starting to go. It still works. It just whines. I have used it to drill holes in concrete many times. I don't mean the hammer drill. I mean the regular comes in a set drill.
Just bought a Milwaukee v18 fuel 1/2 hammer drill, 1/4 impact and 1/2 impact came with a free gift and I chose the tire inflator
When I ran auto installation shops I bought Makita and Bosch power tools because I used them every day. Now that I'm retired, the Ryobi line is inexpensive and good enough for the kinds of projects I occasionally do. I think their brushless HP tools and batteries should be in the Prosumer category, definitely an improvement over the standard DIY line.
I own some of everything and there’s no difference. Mostly on the Ryobi system and have no complaints except their miter saw is less capable than other brands, but is totally fine for DIY.
Before starting my collection, I consulted many contractors/ex-contractors (about 40), almost unanimously the answer was Milwaukee or DeWalt. Some said "construction-grade" DeWalt that couldn't be found in big-box stores so I should go Milwaukee, and some said Bosch.
I chose Milwaukee because the biggest thing I heard about DeWalt (even from the DeWalt guys) was how their brushes go out "often" (contractor amounts of use in sure).
I use Milwaukee but brushes going out shouldn’t really be a thing in modern tools.
I replaced the brushes in my dewalt angle grinder. Was pretty simple That thing has been an absolute workhorse
Meh, I never had brush problems with Dewalt, and ran them for years on the job site. The point is pretty much moot now though since everything has gone brushless.
Maybe regional bias, but most recommend Makita. Everyone at work that uses my Makita stuff notices how we made it is and the ergonomics. Well balanced and silky smooth motors. Less noise is less vibration. Milwaukee has a lot of power but it reduces its durability. Dewalt... Well I have had 4 dewalt tools xr made in America and had 5 repairs. At least I was able to buy and install the new chuck twice. I work in an industrial setting with steel. If you are not doing pro level stuff, ridgid is pretty good.
@@thorinbane yeah Midwest. Every home improvement store has red and yellow on the biggest displays. Some regional farm stores (runnings, fleet farm) they are the only 2 brands of power tools offered.