Welcome to Ryobi. Many people cant get Ryobi products fixed. I myself have
to travel over an hour to someone who will fix a ryobi product. I bought a
ryobi weedwacker one time from lowes. It broke and no-one would fix it. I
went to lowes, bought a new one, took out the parts I needed and returned
it. Serves them right for selling garbage.

Sam

"MSH" jjd@jaacom wrote in message ...
I recently bought the Ryobi 18v set at HD, torn between that and a DeWalt
set, I couldn't resist the price. I have used Dewalt cordless previously
and
was quite impressed with the versatility of the saws and long life of the
batteries.

Within a week I had a problem with the Ryobi charger, an HD employee was
kind enough to just slip me a new one.

The batteries were not lasting well at all, but that seemed to get better
with use. Never did hold a charge like the Dewalts tho.

The Ryobi saw is a 5", barely(just) big enough to cut a 2x4. Seems there
are
fewer blade choices so prices are higher than the 6 inchers.

Last week I took the drill to a jobsite where I was tightening up a
squeeky
subfloor. My drill, with a fresh battery would not countersink the 3 1/2"
screws. I borrowed another workers Dewalt 18v and it sucked those screws
in
without a problem, in fact it had enough torque to twist the screw bit to
bits, so to speak...Clearly, the Dewalt has more torque and *seemed* to be
smoother running.

OK, so I figure, I got what I paid for and could live with it.
Well...today,
one of the batteries is dead. Flat dead and when I put it in the charger,
the red light is dimm, flickers and goes out. Charges the other battery
fine. I had been considering buying the cordless vacuum to so I'd have 3
batteries but at this point, I think its time to cut my losses and just
buy
a set of Dewalt. Price may be attractive, but you still get what you pay
for. In this case, I think I just got a toy.

M Hamlin

"Sam Hopkins" wrote in message
.. .
Welcome to Ryobi. Many people cant get Ryobi products fixed. I myself
have
to travel over an hour to someone who will fix a ryobi product. I
bought a
ryobi weedwacker one time from lowes. It broke and no-one would fix
it. I
went to lowes, bought a new one, took out the parts I needed and
returned
it. Serves them right for selling garbage.


Is that where that old saying "Two wrongs makes a right" comes from?

I have a Ryobi 18v drill that's at least five years old and the batteries
still hold a charge. It doesn't get used every day, but it's done it's
share. I guess they don't make 'em like they useta, or I'm the guy that got
the good one.

Lionel


"MSH" jjd@jaacom wrote in message ...
I recently bought the Ryobi 18v set at HD, torn between that and a DeWalt
set, I couldn't resist the price. I have used Dewalt cordless previously
and
was quite impressed with the versatility of the saws and long life of the
batteries.

Within a week I had a problem with the Ryobi charger, an HD employee was
kind enough to just slip me a new one.

The batteries were not lasting well at all, but that seemed to get better
with use. Never did hold a charge like the Dewalts tho.

The Ryobi saw is a 5", barely(just) big enough to cut a 2x4. Seems there
are
fewer blade choices so prices are higher than the 6 inchers.

Last week I took the drill to a jobsite where I was tightening up a
squeeky
subfloor. My drill, with a fresh battery would not countersink the 3 1/2"
screws. I borrowed another workers Dewalt 18v and it sucked those screws
in
without a problem, in fact it had enough torque to twist the screw bit to
bits, so to speak...Clearly, the Dewalt has more torque and *seemed* to be
smoother running.

OK, so I figure, I got what I paid for and could live with it.
Well...today,
one of the batteries is dead. Flat dead and when I put it in the charger,
the red light is dimm, flickers and goes out. Charges the other battery
fine. I had been considering buying the cordless vacuum to so I'd have 3
batteries but at this point, I think its time to cut my losses and just
buy
a set of Dewalt. Price may be attractive, but you still get what you pay
for. In this case, I think I just got a toy.

M Hamlin

My Ryobi set is 2 years old. The batteries (and everything else) are good
as new. You are right about the circular saw being too small, but otherwise
I love them.
I haven't found a situation where they weren't powerful enough.

My Ryobi set is 2 years old. The batteries (and everything else) are good
as new. You are right about the circular saw being too small, but otherwise
I love them.
I haven't found a situation where they weren't powerful enough.


Have the Ryobi 14.4 drill/saw combo, and the 9.6 drill/radio combo. Happy with
them both.

My Ryobi weedwhacker is going on 7 years and still doing it's thing in a long
growing season (9 months/year).

I realize they are not the best, but my own experience has been good value for
the money.

Rich S.

I have a Ryobi 14.4 drill. It is about 7 years old and still going strong.

I also have a Ryobi rechargeable weed cutter that is about the same age. It
still holds a good charge.

I think Ryobi is a great overall value. Many magazine reviews agree.

Rob

"Rich Stern" wrote in message
...
My Ryobi set is 2 years old. The batteries (and everything else) are
good
as new. You are right about the circular saw being too small, but
otherwise
I love them.
I haven't found a situation where they weren't powerful enough.


Have the Ryobi 14.4 drill/saw combo, and the 9.6 drill/radio combo. Happy
with
them both.

My Ryobi weedwhacker is going on 7 years and still doing it's thing in a
long
growing season (9 months/year).

I realize they are not the best, but my own experience has been good value
for
the money.

Rich S.

"Wade Lippman" wrote in
:

My Ryobi set is 2 years old. The batteries (and everything else) are
good as new.


I have a Ryobi set (complete with 3 batteries). I have been using the
tools quite heavily for over a year now -- no problems with the tools or
the batteries.

You are right about the circular saw being too small,

I will have to disagree there -- I actually prefer the small blade,
especially for things like cutting out part of an existing deck board.

but otherwise I love them.
I haven't found a situation where they weren't powerful enough.

I don't even use the 18V drill unit. Most of the time, my 9.6V Dewalt is
the tool of choice (smaller, lighter).

I would certainly get more Ryobi tools based on my experience to date.

I have a 14.4 Ryobi drill. Has worked flawlessly for 5 years. I did have one
of the original 2 batteries die after about 3 years of use. Bought 2 more on
Ebay for the price of one at HD. Both still going strong. Just built a new
fence and had no problem driving 3 1/2 screws countersunk into 4x4s. Also
have Ryobi weedwacker with edger attachment. Mechanically it has been going
strong about 7 years with very little maintenance. It gets used year round
since I live in Central Florida. Only complaint is the wheel on the edger
wouldn't stay tight so height kept changing (JB Weld fixed that problem).
"MSH" jjd@jaacom wrote in message ...
I recently bought the Ryobi 18v set at HD, torn between that and a DeWalt
set, I couldn't resist the price. I have used Dewalt cordless previously
and
was quite impressed with the versatility of the saws and long life of the
batteries.

Within a week I had a problem with the Ryobi charger, an HD employee was
kind enough to just slip me a new one.

The batteries were not lasting well at all, but that seemed to get better
with use. Never did hold a charge like the Dewalts tho.

The Ryobi saw is a 5", barely(just) big enough to cut a 2x4. Seems there
are
fewer blade choices so prices are higher than the 6 inchers.

Last week I took the drill to a jobsite where I was tightening up a
squeeky
subfloor. My drill, with a fresh battery would not countersink the 3 1/2"
screws. I borrowed another workers Dewalt 18v and it sucked those screws
in
without a problem, in fact it had enough torque to twist the screw bit to
bits, so to speak...Clearly, the Dewalt has more torque and *seemed* to be
smoother running.

OK, so I figure, I got what I paid for and could live with it.
Well...today,
one of the batteries is dead. Flat dead and when I put it in the charger,
the red light is dimm, flickers and goes out. Charges the other battery
fine. I had been considering buying the cordless vacuum to so I'd have 3
batteries but at this point, I think its time to cut my losses and just
buy
a set of Dewalt. Price may be attractive, but you still get what you pay
for. In this case, I think I just got a toy.

M Hamlin

"MSH" jjd@jaacom wrote in message ...
I recently bought the Ryobi 18v set at HD, torn between that and a DeWalt
set, I couldn't resist the price. I have used Dewalt cordless previously
and
was quite impressed with the versatility of the saws and long life of the
batteries.

I've had a DeWalt 18v for several years now, and I'm still on my first set
of batteries. After several other brands, I was absolutely sold on the
DeWalt.

At an auction, several months ago, I ended up with two, brand new Black and
Decker Ranger (6v.) Cordless Drills. I tried giving them away to some
relatives, ("I'd don't want those toys!") but with no takers. They set in
their boxes for a couple of months. One day, in a very tight spot that my
DeWalt just wouldn't fit, I chucked up a phillips bit in one of those "toys"
and was astounded at the ease that it sank those screws.

Bottom line, both of those "toy" cordless drills now reside on my workbench,
one chucked with a phillips bit and the other chucked with a square drive
bit. For intermittent home use, they are invaluable.

I sure haven't thrown that DeWalt away, but it receives much less use now.

James...