DIYer fan of Ryobi tools over the years

[gtaus]

I was not born old and wise, but I am getting older. Sometimes I think I might even have made a few good choices along the way.

Yesterday, I had to fix my garage door opener. The track rail mount had pulled off the wall and was stuck on my garage door, so nothing was going up or down and no way to override the manual release. The mounting block was nailed to the wall and I suspect maybe there was some ice under the garage door which caused the mount to be pulled off. My car was stuck in the garage until I completed this job. I talked to the pro desk at Menards and a couple of the guys there had installed lots of garage door openers. They told me how to put the rail back up and then use lag screws to reattach it to the wall mount.

Back at home, with some brand new 3 1/2 inch lag screws, I set out to fix the rail mount myself. I knew I would need a drill and an impact wrench for the job. Just so happens that the first drill and impact wrench on my work table was a pair of 15 year old blue Ryobi tools. Those came with 1Ah Ni-Cad batteries back in the day. The Ni-Cad batteries have long ago died, but Ryobi made an agreement that they would keep the same battery format for all their 18 volt tools. So, I popped in a new Li-Ion battery into my old tools and got to work. I knew the old drill would have no problem with drilling a pilot hole into the 2X6 wood mount, but I was not sure that the old impact wrench would drive a 3 1/2 inch lag screw all the way into the wall and stud. To my surprise, I had no problem driving the lag screws at all.

The best thing about my old blue Ni-Cad era Ryobi tools is that they all still work. In fact, with the new Li-Ion batteries, they work better and run longer. Anyway, my old tools got the job done just fine and I suspect I saved maybe $200 on a service call.

I am not saying that Ryobi is top of the line, I know they are not. But I am saying that they get the job done for me at home, and more so, I still am using those same tools I bought 15 years ago with new, and better, batteries. I laugh at the YouTube videos where they compare a DIY class tool to a contractor pro tool and show you that the $300 pro saw will cut a 2X4 a full 2 seconds faster than your $60 DIY tool. You know what, I'd rather save $240 for the few minutes of cutting I expect to have to do at home every year.

I don't know how many other people out there are using DIY class tools and having to apologize for not buying the contractor pro tools, but I say buy what you need and if it works, it's good enough. Over the years, I had other brand cordless tools but I found out that most of them dropped their battery format in a few years leaving you with worthless tools once the battery died. Not so with the Ryobi line. Their commitment to the same battery format has meant I can still use my old tools with their batteries being sold today. That's money in the pocket saved.

FWIW, I built my chicken coop and run using my DIY Ryobi tools. All my raised beds were cut and put together using Ryobi tools. I'm sure I could save a few minutes if I would have bought pro level tools, but in reality, my DIY tools work faster than me at my age anyway.

I know that there are many different DIY class brands to choose from today, but I think the value of Ryobi is their commitment to their 18v battery format, with over 25 years of using the same battery format so your old tools will still run on new battery today. I don't know how many of these new DIY class tools from other brands will keep their battery formats for even a few years.

Anyway, I just saved myself a $200 service call using some old tools and had to give a shout out to Ryobi for building those tools that actually are useful 15 years after purchase.

 

[cavemanrich]

I found out that most of them dropped their battery format in a few years leaving you with worthless tools once the battery died.

You are exactly correct. I have some cordless drills, that still work,,,,,, but the batteries petered out. They hold a charge for about 30 seconds,, and no more. The replacement batteries,, if I can find,, cost close to the price of a new complete unit. (that does take shipping added into consideration.)
It is great that Ryobi standardized their batteries. If you have multiple tools,,, just need to get one replacement battery at a time.

If you were posting with Question,,,, "How to open door with my failure",,, and you needed that car from inside garage to go to store,, I could have helped you.

 

[gtaus]

If you were posting with Question,,,, "How to open door with my failure",,, and you needed that car from inside garage to go to store,, I could have helped you.

Well, I know how to pull the power out rip cord and lift the garage door manually without the aid of the garage door opener. In this case, the track fell down below the top of the garage door and was jammed tight against the door. I could not release the door from the track guide because the block wall mount was jammed into the release mechanism. Even so, the track was hanging below the garage door rails so the garage door would have only gone up a foot or so before hitting the track rail. My only solution was to remount the track rail up and over the garage door and rails.

You are exactly correct. I have some cordless drills, that still work,,,,,, but the batteries petered out. They hold a charge for about 30 seconds,, and no more. The replacement batteries,, if I can find,, cost close to the price of a new complete unit. (that does take shipping added into consideration.)
It is great that Ryobi standardized their batteries. If you have multiple tools,,, just need to get one replacement battery at a time.

Yep, I have some perfectly good cordless tools that are never to be used again because I can no longer find batteries for them. As a DIYer, I have learned that most of my tools will last much longer than the expected 3 years of a battery life. I really don't wear out my tools from use at home. But the batteries are going to die if you use them or not.

I also have a few other cordless tools that I can still special order, but the batteries are at a higher cost than what I paid for the complete tool set. Effectively, another cordless tool that is useless.

About 15 or 20 years ago I bought into the Ryobi line of tools because they promised to stay with the same battery format. And they have. So, my Ryobi tools from 15+ years ago still work with new batteries you can buy off the shelf at Home Depot. In that time,

If you make your living using cordless tools, then buy the best you can afford, wear them out in a few years, and replace them as a business expense. As a DIYer, I don't wear out my tools because they just don't get used all that much compared to a tradesman on the job. Every few years, I try to buy a new Ryobi tool or set (that I don't have) with fresh batteries to keep my battery stock in good condition. I get more than 3 years of life in my batteries, but I know they will have shorter run times as they get older. It's nice to know that all my new batteries will still work in all my older Ryobi tools. Over the years, my Ryobi tool collection has grown quite a bit and they all work off the same 18v format batteries.

I don't know how many other brand tools even come close to the 25+ years Ryobi has supported their 18v battery format. I suspect not many.

 

[cavemanrich]

Well, I know how to pull the power out rip cord and lift the garage door manually without the aid of the garage door opener. In this case, the track fell down below the top of the garage door and was jammed tight against the door. I could not release the door from the track guide because the block wall mount was jammed into the release mechanism.

Apparently you do not know all my capabilities.
I would have jumped into my transporter,,,,, and came over to help.

I use this line frequently.. with slightly different wording.. Beam me up Scotty,, I'm finished.

 

[gtaus]

I would have jumped into my transporter,,,,, and came over to help.

Thanks. Fortunately, I was able to fix it myself. But lots of projects go better with a third hand. As I am getting older, I will wait to attempt some projects until Dear Wife gets home and have her watch me - in case someone needs to call 9-1-1.

 

[NC_Quail]

I’m not the DIYer, my dad is, but we love Ryobi tools!

 

[gtaus]

I’m not the DIYer, my dad is, but we love Ryobi tools!

My dad passed away about 5 years ago, but we used to do lots of DIY projects around the house together. I suggest you take advantage of your dad's experience and learn as much as you can, while you can. My limited knowledge in DIY repairs has saved me thousands of dollars in service calls and repair bills. YouTube is also a great resource for the DIY projects and repairs.

The thing I like best about my Ryobi tools is that the battery platform has not changed in over 25 years, meaning I can still use my tools I purchased 20 years ago with new batteries I can buy off the shelf today. If the tool gets the job done, then I say it's good enough and you don't need to spend extra money on the pro level tools that are much, much, more expensive.

 

[Gizabelle]

My hub is a contractor who's been in residential remodeling for 15+ years... he swears by this brand. These tools will take abuse and keep working, but not break the bank when they do need to be replaced. He's always on the lookout for deals on batteries (just came home the other day super excited about finding a two battery + charger set for the price of one battery at HD)
I can see going with a more high dollar brand if you work with something very specific (cabinetry, etc) but if you need a wide arsenal of tools Ryobi just makes the most sense hands down.

 

[gtaus]

My hub is a contractor who's been in residential remodeling for 15+ years... he swears by this brand. These tools will take abuse and keep working, but not break the bank when they do need to be replaced. He's always on the lookout for deals on batteries (just came home the other day super excited about finding a two battery + charger set for the price of one battery at HD)
I can see going with a more high dollar brand if you work with something very specific (cabinetry, etc) but if you need a wide arsenal of tools Ryobi just makes the most sense hands down.

Ryobi is making better quality tools these days. Some are as good as pro level tools by contractor brands, but, of course, you pay more for those. As a DIYer, I don't need the top line tools. I was talking to a salesman at HD that used to be in the trades, and told me that a number of our local contractors are buying Ryobi tool sets because they get the job done and if someone steals the tools, they are not out lots of money (in comparison to other pro level brands). Also, sometimes someone forgets their tool bag and letting them use the Ryboi tools makes more sense than sending them back home to get their tools.

As a DIYer, my tools just don't get much use, or abuse, and that is why I still am using Ryobi tools from 17 years ago. The old tools work even better with the new batteries we have today. Ryobi's decision to stay with the same battery platform for 25+ years makes that possible.

The batteries are often the most expensive item in the tool set. Ryobi usually has a good sale on kits at least a couple times a year. That is when I buy new batteries. You just have to keep your eyes open and be willing to wait for those great sales. Good to hear that your husband found one of those deals.