For your small projects around the house, the Ryobi is fine. The other higher priced models are made for daily job site use.

for a half dozen smallish projects , just around the house/yard

I might look at Harbor freight
https://www.harborfreight.com/...e+Rank%2Cf&q=sawzall

at least give them some consideration

My ryobi has failed me so many ti... wait, no it hasn't. It works every time... just as my Ryobi drills and saws have.

If you're a contractor, you may wear out a Ryobi before some of the others. If you're a homeowner, you'll probably be just fine with Ryobi.

I have this one and it has worked well the doxen or so times I've used it in the last year. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ry...-Only-P516/206824275

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:

quote:

Originally posted by Crom:
Stay away from Ryobi.
The others are all decent.
I have a Milwaukee, but I also like Makita very much.

Do you any experience with Ryobi tools? I have around 6 or 7 of the ONE+ 18 volt tools and they have all been great home owner type tools. They always perform the job I use them for with zero issues.

Jim

Yes. I actually have a Ryobi portable table saw and a small, battery-powered drill driver. I would not bee too harsh in my criticism; they have performed "adequately", but are definitely less robust and more fragile than the other brands he was comparing. That's why I would say "stay away". If I want an inexpensive tool for very light duty use I might consider Ryobi, but the top brands are a lot better for just a little more. And Sawzall-type jobs have a habit of always becoming "heavy duty" requirements. But I have also bought Harbor Freight at the economy level and would consider them on par with Ryobi. Just my opinion.

I also have this one and it has been great. A while back I had to cut about 6 pieces of 8" steel channel in half in the mud and muck. It did a great job.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
I have the Milwaukee Super Sawzall:

Amazon link

It's best feature is a counterbalance mechanism that decreases vibration and it really works.

quote:

Originally posted by Mikito:
I also have this one and it has been great. A while back I had to cut about 6 pieces of 8" steel channel in half in the mud and muck. It did a great job.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
I have the Milwaukee Super Sawzall:

Amazon link

It's best feature is a counterbalance mechanism that decreases vibration and it really works.

Love my Milwaukee Super Sawzall as well!

I have had my Porter Cable Tiger saw for 20 years and it still works great. Came in the metal case so I can store my extra blades, etc. Has the quick change on the blade.

Don't know if they are still made as well as 20 years ago.

If you only need if for a few projects:

https://www.harborfreight.com/...q=Reciprocating+Saws

I own a residential construction company and we use our tools every day.
We have three Milwaukee sazalls one of which is 15 years old and they have been flawless.

Another vote for the Milwaukee Sawzall. I worked in industrial maintenance and even the heaviest handed of our mechanics could not seem to damage one of those. Also if you looked in the job boxes of tradesmen on site the Sawzall is what you're most likely to find.

Years ago my tools were all stolen. I took the insurance and bought a new Porter Cable Tiger Saw.

Hated it!! It didn't have the balance of the Super Sawzall. I returned it and purchased the Milwaukee. One requirement I'd need of those you linked is the ability to change the shoe depth to allow you to choose a new part of the blade. That means the Milwaukee or Mikita get my vote.

I believe every tool brand has their "ONE" tool that they do best. Skil has the best worm-drive saw, Dewalt has the best miter boxes, Porter Cable it's routers, etc. For Milwaukee, it was always the Sawzall where they rule.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
My guess would be that neither you or Crom have used Ryobi cordless tools for homeowner type projects. That's what they are for and ...

... and many of us know it, which is why we shun them. Hey, if you're happy with homeowner-/consumer-grade tools, who am I to gainsay your choice?

For me, however: My power tools, in the shop and in the yard, are nearly all commercial-grade. The stuff just plain works better and will likely outlive me.

Just added two more to the stable: A Shindaiwa articulating pole hedge trimmer and a RedMax hedge trimmer. The same stuff lawn crews use. Just finished trimming about 100' of arborvitae and (overgrown) yew. I'd still be at it with homeowner tools.

"Buy once, cry once" is my motto

As for a reciprocating saw: Mine is a DeWalt. I put DeWalt at the low end of what I find acceptable in power tools. This was a tool I expected to use infrequently, and so it has been. But I will say: It works pretty well. Got no complaints.

quote:

Originally posted by Crom:
But I have also bought Harbor Freight at the economy level and would consider them on par with Ryobi. Just my opinion.

That's cold, but I have to admit that's about where I put them. Same for Black & Decker, the ACE Hardware brand and some others. You can't give me that stuff. I've no use for it.

This guy tests a lot of power tools, I believe he’s a Canuck mechanical engineer and he is both knowledgeable and entertaining. He knows his stuff and tears them apart and evaluates how they are built.
https://m.youtube.com/user/ard...l/search?query=Ryobi

Plus one for the Super Sawzall.

But I’d probably go to a pawn shop, pick the best looking corded Milwaukee, and offer them $40 cash.

Makita cordless user here. Done everything around the house I've asked and works great in the yard with the pruning blade.

Used it to cut fallen branches to clear the road in the woods also.

Cheers~

Why does it have to be corded? I've yet to find a task my Dewalt 20v hasn't been able to handle. I detest taking out extension cords then having to put them away.

quote:

Originally posted by vinnybass:
I have the Milwaukee listed in the Home Depot link. It's been good for me.

Same here. I will typically base my decision on the customer reviews and it gets s 4.7 out of 5 stars. It works for everything I need it to do

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
My ryobi has failed me so many ti... wait, no it hasn't. It works every time... just as my Ryobi drills and saws have.

If you're a contractor, you may wear out a Ryobi before some of the others. If you're a homeowner, you'll probably be just fine with Ryobi.

I have this one and it has worked well the doxen or so times I've used it in the last year. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ry...-Only-P516/206824275

This is the one that I have. We have 3 acres with a bunch of trees that need periodic pruning and roots popping up that need cutting plus all of the other needs for a portable saw. I had an older saw that was less than adequate, but when Ryobi went with brushless motors and 4ah batteries I can use it for hours without issue on a single charge.

Like a poster said, I will also never buy another corded portable tool for around the house again.

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by PowerSurge:
For your small projects around the house, the Ryobi is fine. The other higher priced models are made for daily job site use.

This would be my approach. I have Ryobi electric sander and it is just fine, also have Ryobi 40volt chain saw, 40 volt hedge trimmer and 40 volt blowers. All do a great job for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
Why does it have to be corded? I've yet to find a task my Dewalt 20v hasn't been able to handle. I detest taking out extension cords then having to put them away.

Except for my cordless drill, all of my tools are corded. I don't use them all that often anymore, it could be years before I use the saw again and by then I figure the battery will have likely gone bad.