Ryobi and Rigid Tool
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 839
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From: outback
Originally Posted by Curtis'70
Right now the best cordless drill is a Bosch.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by elemint
The best cordless drill is Makita. Period. Bosch makes great stuff but only makita and panasonic have nickle hydride batteries. I have used most tools and my top 4 are, Hitachi, bosch, makita, milwaukee. the order varies depending on the tool.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
B&D has been making inferior tools for years, all the craftsman power tool are (or were) re-badged B&D, even the model numbers were the same on some of it... They are fine for the casual user, but if you want a real tool get a makita or hitachi.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 447
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Originally Posted by pfogle
B&D has been making inferior tools for years, all the craftsman power tool are (or were) re-badged B&D, even the model numbers were the same on some of it... They are fine for the casual user, but if you want a real tool get a makita or hitachi.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 1
I think alot of the stuff HD sells is junk, particularly the stuff touted as "HD exclusives", I think they force suppliers to make these "HD exclusives" with inferior parts, cheaper materials, etc.. so they can sell them cheap. I bought a small "Maytag" room AC from HD that was the biggest piece of junk I have ever seen, it would have been too loud for a mortuary never mind a bedroom where I needed it.
New User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Villa Park, Illinois (18 miles west of Chi-Town)
My Buddy Is A Carpenter And Bought The 18v Rigid Kit. The Guy Pushing The Cr_p Was Standing On A Ladder Dropping The Drill From About 6 Or Seven Feet And Showing How It Wouldn't Break. They Were Offering A Lifetime Warranty. He Bought The Tools And Within Six Months Has Gone Through 3 Drills And Two Circular Saws. He Liked It Because He Always Got New Screwdriver Bits On The Drill And Saw Blades On The Saw. The Unfortunate Part Is That Hd Stopped Taking These Things Back And He Has To Go Through Rigid To Get A Replacement. So Now You Have A Carpenter Without His Drill Waiting 2-3 Weeks For His New Tools In The Mail Every Month Or So. Needless To Say, He Has Since Bought A Dewalt 18v Hammer Drill And Loves It (as I Told Him To Do In The Beginning). I Have Had Mine For Over 5 Years With One Battery Replacement And No Other Problems. Basically It Seems That With Tools, You Get What You Pay For.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 887
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From: MN
I own the Ridgid 13" planer and 12" miter saw. I have absolutly no complaints with the planer, and it was regarded as the best "portable" model before Delta and Dewalt came out with their two speed models. It is about 3 years old and has the lifetime warrantee. The saw is a very nice tool. I had problems with two of them, and they gave me a new one no questions asked. It will cut accuartly to less than half a degree repeatedly, but the superfine, sub .1 degree accuracy cuts needed on picture frames and some furniture trim needs additional attention to setting it up. I have never been satisfied by any brand of miter saw with giving me that ultra accurate cut be it Ridgid, Dewalt, or Makita.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 855
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From: Ocean Park WA
I won't touch Ryobi from hd after my last fiasco. Bought a brand new 9" (Ithink the size is right) bench grinder, took it to the shop, pluged it in turned it on started wire wheeling deposits off of a exhaust valve and 30 seconds later it started smoking. I put it right in the box. took it back and the customer service pepole could not believe you still couldn't put you hand on the motor when I got it to the store.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,388
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From: Saratoga, NY
I bought a cheap Ryobi cordless drill to replace a dying B&D drill I had (batt built in) and that thing absolutly sucks. All I bought it for was light duty screw removal and driving, and it takes no time to kill the battery, as a matter of fact my old drill can still out perform and out last it and its like 9 years old.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 118
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Well GasHog, your close, all Dewalt is, is the old Black and Decker industrial line and they put yellow dye in the plastic. They never bought anyone, they made them the whole time. And Elemint, I agree with you that Makita does make good drills, but NiMh batteries retain memories if not charged properly, the Bosch Drills have Platinum cells with are neither NiMh or NiCad and they don't retain memory or require certain charging methods. To each his own, I know guys who wouldn't give up the world for their Ryobi stuff or Black and Decker Firestorm drills, just all boils down to what you like I guess.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,293
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Originally Posted by Smokin_Superduty
TTi, the parent company of ryobi and ridgid power tools, has recently aquired Milwaukee Electric. I sure hope this does not lead to the demise of "Big Red" quality.