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#60820 01/10/06 12:45 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 21
O
Member
Is anyone here using Ryobi cordless drills? I have been using one for about a year and it has been good and for the money it has been great. I paid $79 at Home depot for an 18v Drill, charger, two batteries and a light. I have been impressed so far.

#60821 01/10/06 01:17 PM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 943
Likes: 2
N
Member
Do not own one, but noticed the price for 18 V. battery is good.(Less then $30.00)

#60822 01/10/06 03:10 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 251
T
Member
For occasional use they are great.

A company I worked for gave everyone the 14v (maybe it was the 12v). They worked great in residential and have lasted a long time.

I use the 18v combo kit and its great for everything I need. Chucks up to a 1" holehog bit for the dozen or so holes I might miss on a rough.

If I was a carpenter it wouldn't be that good. The power might be there but the battery life isn't.


Shake n Bake
#60823 01/10/06 07:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 444
S
Member
The Ryobi was rated pretty good in a recent issue of Consumer Reports. I still wouldn't buy one as the long term reliability and quality is still a question mark. I'm normally a DeWalt guy, but I went out and ordered a Panasonic impact drill. All sources I've checked out highly rate this thing.

#60824 01/10/06 08:27 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 21
O
Member
I always liked Dewalt too. Here lately I have been on a little tighter budget and I could not pass up the Ryobi at $79. Will it last as long as Dewalt, I doubt it but for $79 I can buy two Ryobi with change to spare versus the cost of one Dewalt 18V non XRP drill. Give me another year with the Ryobi and I will have a more informed opinion about them.

Regards,
Ty

#60825 01/10/06 09:01 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 22
K
Member
Ryobi is garbage...I had the 5 pc set the drill and the sawzall broke after like 2 months. The batteries died at about 5 months. The charger broke at 6 months. My foreman got a Ryobi hammerdrill and 2 months later is burned out. The hes also been through many batteries. Remember you get what you pay for. Buy Dewalt

#60826 01/10/06 09:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 89
D
Member
To tell you the truth, I've had my 19.2v EX Craftsman cordless for about 16 months now, use it daily. It's held up so far and has a decent amount of power. I use hole-saws at least 3 days a week, paddle bits, regular bits, I drive screws through whatever, sometimes even force my way for a small hole with a masonry bit (the drill isn't a hammerdrill though) and keeps u without a problem. Has fallen down MANY times off the ladder, not a single problem.

#60827 01/10/06 11:46 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 693
L
Member
Hmmph! Voltages in the teens are for kids!

Kidding, of course, but I love my DeWalt 24-volt drill, recip saw, and circular saw. Strong as corded tools.


Larry Fine
Fine Electric Co.
fineelectricco.com
#60828 01/11/06 04:13 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,876
E
e57 Offline
Member
"Hmmph! Voltages in the teens are for kids!"
How old are you? Better yet hows the arthritis? [Linked Image]

Anyway, I think this type of thread pops up every month or so...

Working with giant batteries is more pain than rolling out a cord.

If you are drilling holes, no cordless can compare to a corded drill. (If there is no power on site... You are an Electrician, right?) If you are driving screws, nothing will compare to a 12-14v impact gun of any make. At which point I would choose Makita, Panasonic, or Dewalt, for a quality work all day long tools.

As for battery life, knowing when to put it on a charger makes all the difference. At the first sign of weakness. I keep seeing people with obsolete battery habits. (thowbacks to the days of battery memory and the turquois bannana Makita) Running modern non-memory batteries down like that is the end of the drill motor, and its battery.

Quote
You should re-charge the battery when you notice a significant decrease in tool performance.Battery packs should not be completely discharged before re-charging. Completely discharging a DEWALT battery pack may cause damage to the cells in the battery.

Battery packs can be left on the charger when not in use with no adverse effects and DEWALT batteries can be re-charged at any time during their use.

[This message has been edited by e57 (edited 01-11-2006).]


Mark Heller
"Well - I oughta....." -Jackie Gleason
#60829 01/11/06 07:24 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 335
S
Member
Mine was $89. It lasted until the second deck I built. I was using 3 1/2 inch deck screws without predrilling the holes. The head gears "kinda died". My old Porter Cable finished the deck ... but it cost me $179.

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