Ryobi days are happening at Home Depot again. Need to pick up 1) a circular saw, 2) a jig saw, 3) compact router (preferably with a plunge base).

Do I buy:

A) Milwaukee M18 "Fuel" Cordless for $$$. I already own the drill/driver with two small and aging batteries.

B) Milwaukee/DeWalt/Bosch Corded models for $$. Mix and match brands based on individual product review or stick to all one brand

C) Ryobi homeowner grade 18v One+ models for $.

D) Mix and match A and B according to needs. Cordless jig saw, cordless router, corded circular saw.

Just a typical homeowner with a desk job that wants to slowly build out a shop to knock out toys/protects. I will never be on a construction site without power. Cordless tools are only helpful in the convenience factor, and perhaps a benefit with routing and jigsawing since the cord stays out of the way. I guess cordless tools might also be helpful during the apocalypse.

I follow Ave on YouTube, he has a series of BOLTR (boring old tool reviews) and I’d recommend you look at a few.


There’s a guy “the handyman” channel who talks about all his tools over the last decade and why he has what he has.

But I’d mix and match based on needs and reviews.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
Cordless tools are only helpful in the convenience factor, and perhaps a benefit with routing and jigsawing since the cord stays out of the way.

I've never experienced a problem with the cord getting in the way with my jigsaw. I haven't used my router enough to say.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
I guess cordless tools might also be helpful during the apocalypse.

Until the batteries need to be charged

I've stated it here, before: Other than drill motors and impact drivers, I've fallen out of love with battery-powered tools. True, my most recent acquisitions, a Hitachi drill/driver combo and a Milwaukee M12 Fuel, seem to do a lot better than my older, NiMH-powered tools did, but still...

Re: One brand to rule them all: There ain't no such thing. When I need a new power tool I go out and research that tool, and that tool only, without regard to the brands of the tools I have on-hand.

I guess that's one advantage of corded, air-powered, and gasoline-powered tools: They all take the same power source

Cordless tools have come a long way. Impact wrenches are really great. Drills and oscillating tools are excellent.

However, I've never had good luck with cordless circular saws or jig saws. Not enough power to cut anything beyond 1/4" ply. Definitely skip the circular and jig saws.

I've never found a cordless circular saw to be useful.

Jigsaw maybe. Actually a cordless jig would be handy when cutting bird mouths in rafters - one less cord to trip over.

Router no, unless maybe it's a little laminate trimmer. Normal routing, ie cutting dadoes and profiles on the edges of stock takes quite a bit of power. Batteries have come a LONG way, but one with enough power and capacity to deal with routing would be expensive. Not worth the $ IMHO when you can do corded for less and not have to fool with batteries.

I have Milwaukee 18v drill/driver, impact and 4-1/2 inch grinder. The grinder gets used with a slitting disc for quickie jobs like going down to my junk inactive inventory pile and whacking off a piece of something for a project. For actual grinding like cleaning up welds or prepping a piece, I use a corded grinder (also Milwaukee)

I tell ya what: For a circular saw I've found this exceedingly handy: Rockwell 4-1/2″ Compact Circular Saw

In my garage remediation project I had to trim eight 2x6's for rafter ties, and various other bits for other things. Did it all with that little Rockwell saw.

I'd originally acquired it because I can't saw a straight line with a hand saw to save my soul, and my big Milwaukee 8-1/4 in. circular saw is way overkill for most things. But it's turned out to be so good I rarely need my larger saw at all.

One caveat: You do need rather large hands to be able to easily depress the safety button at the same time as the switch.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
I've never found a cordless circular saw to be useful.

If you haven't used a modern, brushless motor circular saw with modern, high-capacity lithium ion batteries, you might be surprised.

The issues of battery expense and charge time are still there, but power really isn't an issue any more. They're a little heavier, but not bad.

Between the highly efficient brushless motors and batteries that can put out about as many watts as a 120V 15A circuit, the current high-end cordless circular saws cut about as well as a good corded saw.

Of course, if you're using one around the house or always in a shop or garage, the battery convenience might not outweigh the drawbacks - but the balance is very different from 20 or even 10 years ago.

I love the Ryboi One+ system. I am like you, I have a desk / sales job, and do the occasional project around the house on occasion.

The One+ tools I own; drill, hammer drill, right angle drill, small circular saw, jigsaw, reciprocating saw, router, mouse sander, orbital sander, 2 different LED lights, hand held vacuum, inflator, 2 small fans, 1 large fan, a 150watt power inverter and a pool vacuum. Plus 4 of the 4.0ah and 3 of the 2.0ah batteries.

Last year when the world shut down and my business came to a complete halt, I took to projects around the house to keep my mind occupied and maintain my sanity.



The first project was repair of the wooden privacy fence. I replaced the 4x4 posts as needed and reset the ones that were still good. I replaced the panels as needed and repaired where possible. This required drills and saws.

As that project was wrapping up a relative ordered a pool for us to be delivered to our house. As I pondered what to do with it I decided to lay pavers and build a deck. The deck you see was built from scratch by me with Ryboi tools. I did have a corded 10" compound miter saw and corded 7" circular saw for some of the heavy lifting, but I made plenty of cuts with my Ryobi stuff and all the other Ryboi stuff did 100% of the work.

I know this stuff would never stand up to jobsite type of use, but for homeowner use, I find it hard to beat.

Edited to add - I started this collection shortly after Home Depot and Ryobi released the One+ collection. That was probably back in 2006ish. My drill, hammer drill, circular saw, jigsaw and one or two other things are the old blue color. Back then they were NiCad batteries. Of course those batteries are all gone now, but the tools are going strong.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: holdem,

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
I tell ya what: For a circular saw I've found this exceedingly handy: Rockwell 4-1/2″ Compact Circular Saw

In my garage remediation project I had to trim eight 2x6's for rafter ties, and various other bits for other things. Did it all with that little Rockwell saw.

I'd originally acquired it because I can't saw a straight line with a hand saw to save my soul, and my big Milwaukee 8-1/4 in. circular saw is way overkill for most things. But it's turned out to be so good I rarely need my larger saw at all.

One caveat: You do need rather large hands to be able to easily depress the safety button at the same time as the switch.

Thanks for that tip, I might add that for giggles. It's pretty affordable.

quote:

Originally posted by holdem:
I love the Ryboi One+ system. I am like you, I have a desk / sales job, and do the occasional project around the house on occasion.

Nice! That looks great.

For consumer use, the major brands with lithium ion batteries will be more than good enough. For interior work, I think the Ryobi system will serve you well. I wouldn't use a Ryobi for commercial work as I don't think they're designed for that. When I was homebuilding, it was Milwaukee brushless for me.

My Fuel 1/4" impact has been worked hard for the past few years, overall it's 7 years old. It keeps running.

Two suggestions:

-spend the extra money for brushless.
-stick with the same battery system (very similar to our thoughts on sticking with the same system of hammer or striker fired). This way you can save money by buying only the tools when you already have enough batteries and chargers.

I used the heck out of my 18V bosch circular saw when finishing out my shed (1.5" foam board & 1/2" OSB on interior walls). Works great on sheet goods, the thicker the material, the less useful it is.
My corded circ saw is old & heavy (Great-grandfather's old craftsman that made me a nightstand & bookshelf ~1985). It's blade isn't in the greatest shape (probably about 40yrs old like me).

Jigsaw would be handy, but not necessary IMO. (have 2 corded)
I will probably buy cordless/compact sawzall when I finally find an excuse to own one.
I have a 1HP compact router and the cord makes it less bulky for the same power, IMO.
I grab my 12V drill/driver most of the time, but the 18V driver works better on deck screws.

quote:

Originally posted by snidera:
Jigsaw would be handy, but not necessary IMO. (have 2 corded)

I have to disagree with this. I've a small Makita variable-speed corded jigsaw that gets used regularly. There are things I've done with that little saw that, without it, I'd have been lost.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by snidera:
Jigsaw would be handy, but not necessary IMO. (have 2 corded)

I have to disagree with this. I've a small Makita variable-speed corded jigsaw that gets used regularly. There are things I've done with that little saw that, without it, I'd have been lost.

Yeah, the jigsaw is my main bottleneck for the projects I currently have in mind. I want to cut shapes out of plywood for my next project.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by snidera:
Jigsaw would be handy, but not necessary IMO. (have 2 corded)

I have to disagree with this. I've a small Makita variable-speed corded jigsaw that gets used regularly. There are things I've done with that little saw that, without it, I'd have been lost.

rephrase: Cordless jigsaw would be handy, but I already have 2 corded.

Big fan of the following.

12 volt Milwaukee

20 volt DeWalt

There are tools in the 12 volt line which DeWalt doesn't have;
2" PVC shear
Right angle die grinder
Compact band saw
Quiet, compact, yet very strong vacuum

When I started my house remodel in 1987 I tried Sears, Black and Decker and other homeowner quality tools and got maybe 2 years of good use. I switched to professional grade tools - Makita, Bosch, DeWalt, back then Porter Cable - and still have all of them save one. I sanded the power cord on my Makita orbital sander down to the copper and could not find a replacement cord.


If you go with corded tools get the best you can afford even if you switch brands. If you go cordless try to stick to one brand, maybe two. I have DeWalt, Porter Cable, and Ryobi cordless tools. Three sets of batteries and three chargers, there have been times I wished all my batteries were the same when one gets used up and its mate is still on the charger.

I now buy Ryobi cordless. I'm at the age premium tools will outlive me, I'm not going to do a major remodel again, just basic homeowner stuff and the Ryobi is good enough for that and I still have those professional grade corded tools for anything heavy. The cordless circular saw is VERY handy to have around, easy to hold, easy to use but doesn't have the guts of my Makita hypoid. The cordless impact driver is good too, the cordless reciprocating saw is OK. It does come in handy if fire closures restrict chain saw use and you need to cut some poles for the granddaughters TeePee

So depending on how much use, and how long you expect to be around to use the tools - Homeowner projects, maybe 10 years use I would go Ryobi. Some heavy duty projects in the future, more than 10 years use go with premium tools.

First, never a fan of Ryobi ~ they have always been the cheapest of the cheap both in quality and price - consider accordingly.

Second, you have to evaluate your utility of use with a cord vs cordless.
Fact is that corded always out perform cordless.
Cordless are obviously much ore mobile and convenient albeit less powerful.
Cordless will cost more.
Note: that cordless power and quality has improved over the years.
So consider your use.

I have converted a lot to Milwaukee 12v and 18v.
Still, have and use wired on occasion.
Most general use cordless works great.
I have found that heavy use even on Milwaukee can drain a battery fast such as a reciprocating saw or grinder.
Stick with a similar family (brand) so you can use the same batteries.

Me - anything BUT Ryobi.
I have Makita, DeWalt, Bosch, Porter Cable all in corded units but only Milwaukee in cordless.

YMMV

Of the three you listed I use a circular often. I have both cordless(Dewalt) and corded(older porter cable when they were bulletproof).

I use the cordless 99% of the time. The corded one is much more powerful but a PIA to drag out an extension cord and all that but when I need the power it's unmatched. That said it's not a cheap corded saw.

Most of what I have is all Dewalt. It's what I use all the time. Having one battery system isn't a must but it kinda is. I do use my tools for work so they get used often.

Ridgid