Power Tool set Ryobi or craftsmen

M

meat cutter

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Aug 30, 2002
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I am looking for a power tool set specifically 2 different ones. I was wondering which you think is a better brand Ryobi and Craftsmen, and which is a better deal?

Set 1 - Ryobi from Home Depot
1 - Flash Light
1- Small Vaccum
1- Reciprocal Saw
1 - Circular saw
1 - Drill
18v with 2 batteries for $169

Set 2 - Craftsmen from Sears
1 - Flash Light
1 - Reciprocal saw
1 - Circular saw
1 - Jig saw
1 - Drill
19.2v with 3 batteries for $199

Please let me know what you think.

Thank You
 
If I'm not mistaken, Craftsman power toolsare predominantly Ryobi.

At least that is what one of their clerks told me when I commented on the simialr appearances of their drills.
 
Keep in mind that the legendary Craftsman Lifetime Replacement Warranty does NOT apply to powertools. :thumbdn:
 
Ryobi used to make decent tools but after they were bought by Home Depot they are junk !!
 
Well I was going to say go for the Craftsman because of the warranty, but as Gollnick already pointed out it doesn't cover power tools. Whether or not Royobi really does make the Craftsman tools I am not very sure. All I can say is that I have used both brands and niether was overwhelmingly impressive. However for most homeowner type use, meaning infrequent use, and gentler use than a pro would give I would say either should do yuo fine. Just buy whichever you can get a better deal on, or whichever feels better in your hands, works more instinctively for you.
 
Ryobi makes the Craftsman cordless sets.

Consumer Reports recently rated those types of sets, and they gave the Ryobi 18 volt set a 'Best Buy' rating, and rated it a bit higher than the Craftsman set.

I have a Craftsman 19.2 volt drill, reciprocating saw, circular saw, an flashlight. I use the recipro and the circular saws all the time, and have been very happy with them. I don't use the drill much; I have a DeWalt 18 volt XRP hammerdrill/ impact driver set that I use instead.
 
I picked up a similar set of Ryobi tools the other week. I wasnt impressed with the 18v drill. My 14.4v Dewalt drill performs better than the Ryobi. I used the jigsaw to cut some sheetmetal with a metal cutting blade with acceptable results. I could feel when I was pushing the saw near its limits, so I had to back off a bit. I have to admit though that I am biased towards Dewalt, Hitachi, Milwaukee and some of the other higher end tools that I have been fortunate to be able to use at work.

If you are a going to be using the cordless tools infrequently around the house, I dont think that it is a bad purchase. For the price of the replacement batteries and other tools in the Ryobi line, I think it a great value for the casual user. If you are going to be using it every weekend for a heavy remodeling job, I would look to other lines.
I haven't used the Craftsman 19.2v sets myself, although a friend has a set and he likes it.

The pricing is close, maybe you would like to go with the one that is easier to get service in your area?

What are you going to be doing with them?
 
Gollnick said:
Keep in mind that the legendary Craftsman Lifetime Replacement Warranty does NOT apply to powertools. :thumbdn:
Click to expand...

It seems that Sears is getting a bit more strict on their Craftsman lifetime warranty for hand tools. I have seen some people trying to obtain replacements and it seemed that they were being scrutinized over how the tool failed.

The quality of some of the Craftsman hand tools and storage cabinets are slipping. The chests that are out now are not as sturdy, even the Professional line seems fragile. For the price of some of the large proseries chests, I would just get a Lista or Vidmar cabinet and be done with it. Their screwdrivers are terrible now, I wear out or crack the tips on a regular basis.

Anyone have suggestions for good screwdrivers?
 
First, I wouldn't recommend cordless tools, unless you absolutely require the portability. The performance and expense are huge trade-offs compared to plug-in power tools, plus the ass-pain and down time for recharging batteries. Are you going to work in areas where power is unavailable? Are you primarily doing light, quick work?

Second, how do the DeWalt cordless tools compare to Ryobi and Craftsman? I have been very happy with all of my DeWalt power tools so far, even after years of heavy use. I've also been happy with my Craftsman and Skil power tools, but they don't seem to run as smoothly as DeWalt.

Just my two-cents.
Best Wishes,
Bob
 
For cordless quality: Bosch, DeWalt, Hitachi, Makita, Milwaukee, Porter Cable


 
I got to play with the Ryobi set you mentioned. on the plus side the level's set is the drill are really slick, and the flashlight that runs on the rechargable battery is handy because it sits flat.

on the minus side: the circular saw is LOUD and ANNOYING and you can hear the plastic gears grind themselvs to bits while you work. and they are heavier than I expected (but not overly so).

EDITED- that's not to say thay wont be just fine for home improvement, but I doubt they will be good for long term shop use.

I was using them for set construction. I'm used to Dewalts and Porter-Cables which will outperform any ryobi or craftsman. Which is why they cost nearly twice as much.
 
Thank you to all who have posted. The facts have changed slightly. On the Home Depot website they have a rebate if you buy the ryobi set that I mentioned. The rebate is for any other cordless ryobi tool up to 99. I chose the miter saw.
 
Wife bought me a 12" DeWalt compound miter saw and I use it for everything! (I really wanted the sliding miter saw, but wife made executive decision that it wasn't worth the extra expense.) The best parts about mine, it has a 12" blade so I can cut a wider range of lumber, it plugs in so it never gets tired, and the motor is super-smooth.

164787_4.jpg


If I were buying one today, I'd want one with the laser (Ryobi or Craftsman). :) I'm a sucker for stuff like that.

Have fun with it and be safe!
-Bob
 
Maybe it's just me but I think I would be much better off with corded tools with an exception of the drill. Build your set it's more fun.

I have a DeWalt 3 speed, I forget the voltage but it's plenty enough.
 
I agree that corded tools would outperform any cordless tool, but in my situation I need some mobility with the tools. I will only be using them for light work every once in awile.
 
In that case the ryobi's will work fine. Like I said, the levels come in really handy when you are trying to shoot a screw in straight or drill a straight hole.

the two batteries are nice. one on the flashlight the other on the drill.

but watch the circular saw, don't use it for prolonged periods without ear protection, it always a good idea to have ear plugs, but after making three cuts with it, my ears hurt.
 
in my situation I need some mobility with the tools. I will only be using them for light work every once in awile.
Click to expand...
In that case the cordless model should do just fine for you. Have fun!

-Bob
 
"I am looking for a power tool set specifically 2 different ones. I was wondering which you think is a better brand Ryobi and Craftsmen, and which is a better deal?"

Ugh none of the above!

As a former home depot employee i'm obliged to inform you that Dewalt is head and shoulders above the competition as far as cordless tools goes, milwaukee coming in second.
 
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