Several people wrote in recently, asking about brands that our Best Cordless Power Tool Brand post didn’t cover. Almost a year and a half has passed since I wrote that post, and it made sense to write a quick supplemental, rather than a full update.
Since most of the questions mentioned a DIYer context, this post will focus on brands targeted towards such users. For pro-grade brands, please refer back to the earlier discussion.
With two big brands launching/relaunching new cordless power tool platforms in Q4 2018, with more expansion in 2019, there’s going to be a lot of activity in the market. Expect to see a lot from these brands, and from other brands as they respond.
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The cordless power tool brands discussed in this post are:
- Craftsman (owned by Stanley Black & Decker)
- Skil (owned by Chervon)
- Ryobi (owned by TTI
- Ridgid (developed and produced by TTI under a licensing agreement)
- Kobalt (owned by Lowes, usually produced by Chervon)
Which brand is BEST? Well, that depends on what you’re looking for.
As always your input is extremely valuable. What would you say to a DIYer looking to buy into a cordless power tool system on a budget?
Craftsman
Benefits: Craftsman, now under Stanley Black & Decker ownership, launched a new line of V20 cordless power tools, with modern designs, and competitive pricing. There are signs that they’ll do the same with a V12 lineup.
Stanley Black & Decker acquired the brand for a lot of money, and will surely seek strong returns on the investment. What this means to me is that they are highly incentivized to advance and expand the new Craftsman cordless platforms, to make the line competitive and a potentially favored choice among DIYers, howeowners, and other such users.
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Downsides: Being newly relaunched, selection is limited compared to the more mature platforms, and from what as we’ve heard from some readers, some of the new tools are not yet widely available. It’s uncertain as to whether – or when – Craftsman will be able to satisfy more specialized user needs or wants.
Overall: Despite V20 being a new battery platform, Craftsman’s cordless power tools draw from Stanley Black & Decker’s sizable pool of industry experience. Additionally, although some criticize the new Craftsman tools for being heavily inspired or adapted from existing Stanley Black & Decker products, the practice should allow for an accelerated product launch schedule.
The Craftsman cordless product families are small, now, but there is huge potential for growth. For consumers, this means the potential for wide product selection at competitive and even aggressive prices as Stanley Black & Decker seeks market share.
Notable Products: Craftsman’s V20 brushless drill and impact driver punch above their class.
Availability: As of the time of this posting, the new Craftsman V20 cordless power tools are only available at Lowes.
Skil
Benefits: Skil, also under new ownership, is launching their own brand new cordless power tools. They’re aiming to meet modern DIYer needs with modern cordless technologies. And, like Craftsman, Skil is going to work hard to gain market share. Expect for an aggressive push forward. Skil’s parent company grew EGO into a very popular leader in cordless outdoor power tools. It stands reasonable that they can the same for Skil in the cordless power tool market.
I’ve started testing a couple of PWRCore 12 tools, and I think that they’ll fill a void in the industry. I like what I’ve seen so far.
Downsides: Expansion of the new cordless platforms will take time.
Overall: Skil boasts about its PWRCore tools: The Future of DIY Has Arrived. They just might be right. It’ll take time to see which direction the brand heads in, but for the time being we’re extremely optimistic.
Notable Products: The PWRCore 12 brushless drill/driver has been impressing me with what it can do.
Availability: As of the time of this posting, the new Skil PWRCore cordless tools are only available at Amazon.
Read More: New Skil PWRCore Cordless Power Tools – Here’s What We Know
Ryobi
Benefits: Ryobi has a very mature 18V One+ cordless power tool product family, full of core tools, specialty tools, and also unique tools and accessories. Ryobi recognizes that DIYers want to use their cordless tools for years and years, and won’t readily do anything to jeopardize the loyalty of their huge fanbase. Ryobi seems to be just as loyal and supportive of their users as their users are of them.
Downsides: The design and ergonomics of some Ryobi tools are a little dated. Ryobi is among the last brands to use a stem-style battery pack; most brands have moved to slide-style batteries.
Overall: Ryobi is a tried and true brand with an extensive product selection, and they’re not resting on their laurels, they’re constantly pushing forward with new designs and technologies. It can take a little effort to differentiate their entry-level core tools from their mid-range and higher tiers, but it’s also beneficial that they can suit the needs of DIYers’ varying budgets.
Even if your main cordless power tools are from another brand, Ryobi makes some compelling problem-solvers.
Notable Products: Ryobi’s not afraid to experiment, here are some of the more interesting products they’ve launched in recent years. If I had to highlight just one, it would be their cordless wet/dry vacuum.
Availability: Home Depot
Ridgid
Benefits: Ridgid 18V Li-ion cordless power tools often provide higher-tier features and performance without being premium-priced. They also have a Lifetime Service Agreement, where you can receive free batteries, parts, and service, if you register your eligible tools within 90 days of purchase.
Downsides: Although Ridgid offers a selection of core tools and useful innovations, their selection is not as vast as other brands. Ridgid is sometimes first or at least early in releasing a new cordless tool or technology, but there are other product categories or styles that they might not explore at all.
Some products are not always available. I am occasionally asked “where/when can I buy Ridgid’s cordless miter saw?,” and I can’t answer that. Months ago, I was told it’s “temporarily out of stock,” but it remains absent (technically removed) from Home Depot’s product catalog.
Overall: Ridgid is a mid-to-high price point brand with capable tools and even problem-solving technologies. Ridgid’s 18V cordless power tools are usually a good choice that will save you money compared to similar pro brand products, if their current and announced tools suit your needs.
Notable Products: I recently reviewed Ridgid’s high-powered brushless hammer drill kit ($99), and it left me with a positive impression. It definitely breaks records when it comes to power for the money, Their Octane MegaMax modular tools are a neat innovation.
Availability: Home Depot
Kobalt
Benefits: Kobalt’s 24V Max lineup of brushless power tools offers a theoretical (and seemingly realized) bump-up in power, thanks to the higher voltage battery platform. Their Li-ion battery packs are also surprisingly inexpensive when compared to modern-day standards.
Downsides: Lowes is growing the Kobalt 24V product line, but at a slower rate than competing brands.
Overall: Our impression of Kobalt 24V Max tools has been positive, and we’re not alone in this. They deliver on power, runtime, and a positive user experience. But if you want more than “core tools,” you might be disappointed by the smaller selection of expansion tools.
Notable Products: Kobalt recently came out with a 4″ circular saw that can cut different materials, such as wood, metal, plastic, tile, brick, and concrete.
Availability: Lowes
Generalizations
How do the brands generally compare to each other in different categories?
Power
- Ridgid, Kobalt
- Craftsman, Ryobi
Although all of the brands have some higher-power offerings, Ridgid and Kobalt seem to be at the next level, with brushless saws and other brushless tools beyond drills and drivers.
Skil is left out until we can judge the performance of their 20V Max tools.
Tool Selection
- Ryobi
- Ridgid
- Craftsman, Kobalt
- Skil
Ryobi is king of the hill, and that won’t likely change any time soon.
Features
- Ridgid, Ryobi
- Craftsman
- Kobalt, Skil
It’s a close call between Ridgid and Ryobi, with both offering user-friendly features and capabilities. Ryobi’s cordless grinder, for instance, comes with two guard styles – one for grinding wheels, and one for cut-off wheels. Few brands do this, which makes the user-benefiting decision stand out. Ryobi tools are sometimes more compromised that Ridgid offerings, to allow for the lower pricing.
The other brands are closely behind and seem to be relatively evenly matched.
Value (Bang for the Buck)
- Craftsman, Ryobi
- Kobalt, Ridgid, Skil
All of these brands offer strong value, giving you “more tool for the money,” at least compared to pro brands’ offerings that can be more featured, more powerful, or more durable.
Skil and Craftsman are too new to really judge. When it comes down to Ryobi, Ridgid, or Kobalt, the brands fall into place with Ryobi being the more value-oriented brand, and Ridgid and Kobalt evenly matched for second place. So far, it looks like Craftsman is competitive against Ryobi offerings.
Chris K
Nice overview. Although I like my Ridgid drill and driver and despite triple checking the rather lengthy registration process (to take advantage of the lifetime battery warranty) I was denied online submission of proof of purchase. They did offer to receive these documents via mail….no thanks.
scott
Bad luck with Ridgid warranty. After many attempts to register finally got one to go through.
Lifetime means one replacement!!!
Each battery has to be registered separately, what a pain.
Chuck
Sad..you have a tool that runs with the M12 in torque and you put it in last place? The Skil 12v impact puts out an impressive 1,100 in lbs and sits right next to the M12 Fuel in nut breaking torque. The Drill driver ties the M12 at 350 in lbs of torque. Its also cheaper than any of those other brands. Were are talking about a 12v drill that is equal to the Porter Cable 20v in torque.
Ridgid is like holding an anvil when working and Kobalt is not much better…both at over 4 lbs. Skil has a better charger than any of the other competitors and it only weighs 2.9 lbs w/ the battery
James C
Ryobi’s extensive selection shouldn’t be overlooked. The vacuum options, inflators, and hybrid-powered options (lights, fan, others) are awesome and I don’t think any single pro brand has all those things covered.
Jordan
Unless Porter Cable is getting phased out in favor of Craftsman, I’d put it on this list over Ridgid.
https://www.ebay.com/t/Power-Tool-Sets/177000/bn_7550971
You have to get to #29 on best selling “sets” before you hit the first (what I would consider) “DIY combo” kit. I think the “pro” market is so over-saturated, convoluted and overlapping that the line between DIY/Pro has never been more blurred.. unless you’re just talking Ryobi/Kobalt/Harbor Freight/etc..
Stuart
Porter Cable is already discussed in the other post. Will they be phased out by Craftsman? Hard to say.
In this year’s Lowes Black Friday sale, there isn’t a single Porter Cable deal or listing.
https://toolguyd.com/lowes-black-friday-2018-tool-deals/
There were only 2 deals in their “pre-sale.” https://toolguyd.com/lowes-pre-black-friday-2018-tool-deals/
In my opinion, Porter Cable was never quite fully a value-priced pro brand, and they never quite embraced DIYers as a target audience, or if they did, they didn’t acknowledge it openly.
CT
My local Lowes recently took down their long time Porter Cable aisle end cap and replaced it with Craftsman. Porter Cable is down to a dwindling section in the power tool isle now. Doesn’t look like something that will be restocked after the holidays.
Gordon
Same here. We have a smaller tool section than other Lowes I’ve been in. They put a ton of PC stuff on clearance when the Craftsman stuff started showing up. Now it’s hard to find anything PC, let alone cordless PC stuff.
Nick
Porter cable is a bit oddball, as it’s sold as fatmax in the rest of the world, only yellow instead of red and white.
Could become a house brand for Amazon I suppose?
Stuart
Outside the USA? It’s possible. Here, Craftsman tools are headed to Amazon, or at least that’s the announced plan. SBD could quite possibly leverage FatMax brand popularity to sell similar tools in international markets.
Nick
Fatmax is a bit of orphan brand in the UK, below DeWalt, but above black and decker, always seems to be discounted
CT
Porter Cable’s ties to the Fatmax products is why I think it makes sense that PC heads to Home Depot with their new exclusive Stanley deal. Plus it would give SBD a price range of power tools they don’t currently have available at HD to compliment Craftsman at Lowes.
Ian
Interesting the Walmart ProTools site lists Porter Cable as their pro cordless brand
Stuart
SBD markets Porter Cable as their value-priced pro tool brand.
Redcastle
Which tells you all you need to know about the labels on both the tools and the website.
Greg
I suppose the harbor freight brand could be considered DIYer… maybe?
Alan Karraker
Get a clue!
Stuart
Comments of this kind are not appreciated.
Stuart
I excluded entry-level homeowner tools from the discussion, given their limited product selection and light use nature.
Bill
From what I’ve read, the new Harbor Freight Hercules tools are every bit as good as the ones you included here. I can’t speak from experience, however.
Bryan
Ryobi every day and twice on sundays. Cheap line to get into, always on sale at HD, now have brushless tools that can be had for cheap, decent warranty and they are always coming out with stuff first over other brands.
David
i think that the Milwaukee M12 line belongs here, and that the mainstream Milwaukee M18 and DeWalt systems should at least be mentioned. Pricing ifor the M12 line is reasonably competitive and the smaller form factor can be really well suited to a lot of DIY level efforts. I’m giving and recommending M12 drill/drivers to people as often as I recommend the inexpensive Ryobi One+ setup depending on their mid to long term needs.
I’ve also begun to add more M12 and DeWalt tools to my own long term (15 year) Ryobi DIY kit as I want specific features or tools (the DeWalt battery powered bandsaw was my entry there, and the M12 drill and driver have both been the tools I reach for most often when tackling a quick task that needs one).
David
For clarity – I saw the link to the other article, but I think a bit more explanation of what the cost delta buys or doesn’t buy you, and what tool variety and capabilities yu get here versus with the “pro” tools would be helpful for folks who don’t know the market inside and out.
Stuart
I don’t disagree with that. My plan is to do a combined update in a few months, including all brands.
The bulk of the emails I’ve been receiving the past two weeks are about these brands. For example, Craftsman vs. Kobalt. Craftsman vs. Ryobi. Ridgid vs. Kobalt, and so I drew the line between those 4 brands, and I threw Skil into the mix because it seemed fitting.
Redcastle
Stuart
I think this is because as in real life the majority of the commenteriat are not everyday users earning a living using tools and this reflects the market of people who purchase power tools. So the high end tool makers and the high priced end of manufacturers such as Bosch, Milwaukee and SBD are of academic interest. This means the lower priced tools will generally be of more interest and this is as it should be.
On the topic of Ryobi I agree with almost everyone else on both the value for money and broad range of tools some of which are unique, I gave a set to a friend confident that they would work and they have not let me down. I know why they went for a new colour but given there are at least forty shades of green not sure why they picked that one. Their batteries work very well by all accounts and by maintaining the same form factor there are “no tools left behind” I am not sure they should sacrifice that.
Stuart
No, that’s not it.
Eric
The M12 line would be my pick over the new Skil offerings. The price is pretty close, it would just depend on who had the better deal when you were buying. Even if the M12 was more expensive it would still be worth it with the much deeper ecosystem. They already have a big lineup and it looks like they’ll keep expanding it in the future. Who knows if Skil will continue to expand their line beyond the few tools they have out now.
Mark
I have recently started to build my M12 collection. I really like them. Small and light enough for a tool belt yet powerful for tough jobs. For example, my 3/8″ drive impact wrench will remove lugnuts torqued to 100 flb. I have my M18 for that, but had to try it.
Frank D
Ryobi 18v for value, selection and platform longevity.
The other brands simply don’t have the selection to match, and have changed battery styles and voltages leaving end users stranded, forced to replace fully functional tools to extend their tool selection or go with multiple brands for new items and with aftermarket batteries if you can find them ( makita 12v yes, ridgid 24v no )
Dcl
Ryobi would be my choice. They are inexpensive. have one of the biggest 18v line ups, and seem like decent enough tools. I’ve seen them quite often on job sites actually. The Kobalt stuff intrigues me too. The tools are very nice for the price and the batteries are just insanely cheap, and while their lineup is small its large enough for a DIYer. Ridgid is nice, but they are more expensive and I’d really consider them more of an entry level pro brand than a DIYer brand.
aaron
I think the real key is long term commitment to the system from the manufacturer. We see that from Ryobi in their one+ system. The blue jigsaw I bought used many years ago works with the shiny new batteries I just bought. The pod style is irritating and limiting, and means fat handles, but they are committed to it long term.
Ridgid I tried to switch too so I’d have more contractor grade stuff but whenever there is a tool I need I end up buying the Ryobi version because of Ridgid’s severely constructed line.
I tried to get into black and Decker 20v for my at home kit and my wife for her studio, but who had time for the micromanagement of charging batteries without a smart charger? Never again will I make the mistake of buying tools that don’t have a legit charger, no matter how cheap it’s not worth the brain power.
So far chervon seems to bounce off different tool brands never committing so it’s hard to feel like anything from them is going to be a long term relationship. That rules out kobalt and skil for me.
I have high hopes for the Craftsman reboot, but also I’ve been seeing a lot of Milwaukee and DeWalt entry level stuff selling in the same ranges as the decent homeowner stuff.
Red and yellow both have a future. If you can get combo kit level stuff and then augment with quality where needed I don’t really see the point in the lower end brands anymore.
Craig
For the diy that needs many different types of cordless tools ryobi all the way. I use them for my small buisness and love the. For the diy that only needs the very basic tools (drill, saws) any low cost brand with Li batteries will serve the purpose
Toolfreak
It’s too bad Black & Decker’s 20V tools got left out. I would say they are the best bang for the buck for the DIY user. The 4-pack of tools Lowe’s has now for $99 is also $99 a few times a year, and you can get it for ~$80 with a $20 off $100 coupon with a $1+ filler.
For that $80-99 you get a 1/2″ drill, reciprocating saw, circular saw, LED light, TWO 1.5Ah batteries, and a dinky charger. The fast charger is available For ~$30 (Price match wallyworld/home depot/amazon if buying at Lowe’s) and is worth it.
The same 20V system powers the B&D lawn tools so you can trim hedges and trees and your lawn with the same batteries and charger.
Best of all, you can usually get other 20V tools and sometimes bare batteries on after-holiday clearances, so it’s not too hard to build up a system of multiple batteries and a few extra tools for $200-250. I’d say this results in savings down the road too, since you aren’t stuck paying high prices for replacement batteries, and you don’t have to wind up in a situation where you can buy a new kit for less than the price of the batteries for your old tools.
While I wouldn’t say Black & Decker 20V cordless tools are a match for Pro-grade stuff, since they are indeed less powerful, they really do seem to be the best value overall in DIY-level cordless power tools, and their broad availability is also a plus.
If someone wanted the “best” cordless tools to get on a budget, that’s what I’d probably suggest.
Rami
I also wonder why Black&Decker was left out. I would like to see more Black&Decker tools being covered on Toolguyd as they are mostly on the same level with Ryobi in terms of quality. I just bought into the Stanley Fatmax (Porter Cable in America) line. They feel like good quality, and great value. I wonder whether Craftsman and those new Skil tools will come to Europe. Here, at least in Finland, the DIY -market pretty much consists of Ryobi, Black&Decker and Bosch green line.
aaron
Black and Decker 20v are not on the same level as the entry level discounted Ryobi that you can get in the same price range. They are slower, weaker, and come with overnight chargers that don’t automatically shut off when the battery is done. These chargers are the part that really bugs me. They work great if you use the tool several times a week and have good charging discipline.
If by homeowner we mean enough to hang a curtain rod and a coat hook then maybe they’re a great idea. My wife has a black and Decker she loves. She uses it to assemble bookshelves and such. The handle goes perfect in her hand and she loves using it. She’s charged it once in the year since she’s had it, so not exactly strenuous use.
Toolfreak
The Black & Decker 20V tools are the same entry-level stuff as the Ryobi. The newer B&D tools made in the last several years with the Li-ion batteries are better than the old Ni-Cd tools, which were terrible in a lot of ways.
I’d guess that most if not all of the B&D 20V stuff is really just the same as their bottom-end DeWalt products and maybe even the same as the Porter+Cable/Craftsman. Of course the battery connectors and outer plastic are different, but I mean the internals, the motors, actual battery cells, etc.
The dinky charger they now include with most tools/sets is a problem, but like I mentioned, you can get the fast charger for $30, which, when added to the price of the tool/kit, is about the same as previous models that came with the fast charger.
mattd
I will agree with everything that everyone says abour Ryobi and add one more. Ryobi tools are powered on just the positive and negative, and as such making adapters for them to be used with other platform’s batteries is VERY easy. and becuase most brands have slide packs and ryobi has the post, most adapters can be made to be very minimal. heck one guy has like 6 different versions that he has posted on thingiverse so anyone who wants to can just print one, and with more and more public libraries having 3d printers you may be able to get it done fairly easily.
SteveW
Craftsman?!?! The old is gone and the new is nothing to speak of as of now. Skil is in the worm drive saw game, they don’t care about cordless platforms. Kobalt has always been a here today on clearance tomorrow sort of thing.
That leaves two out of your five, fill the other spots with Bosch, Milwaukee M12 (overpriced in my opinion), and believe it or not Makita. True Blue is fairly reasonable for a top notch tool, most home owners could pop for a nice drill/driver set, and a whole lot better for less dough than M18.
Perry
I almost picked up the craftsman 20v sliding miter saw today at lowes. It was on sale for $199. I’m really interested to see how they flesh out their cordless lineup this coming year, they’ve made a pretty good start so far.
Brett
Ryobi is how I answered this question for myself.
I like the look, pricing, and specs on the Kobalt line but Lowe’s has a pretty long history of being willing to drop a product line in an instant if it doesn’t meet their standards so it’s hard to put enough trust in the longevity of that line to buy into it.
Multifuel
Ryobi all the way for me! I started out with them on the old blue/green line 15 years so when I bought my first house. I then got a job as a assistant builder/warranty person for a National homebuilder in ’05 and caught a lot of gift on job sites but they never let me down, and batteries were dirt cheap so it was a no-brainer. Fast forward to right now and I’ve replaced everything blue with neon green and brushless from the latest offerings and I absolutely adore these tools. I love them all and did a whole 300 linear foot wood fence with neighbor with one battery and only one mis-strike on that nailer. He was amazed and said “i thought Ryobi was supposed to be junk??!!”. I laughed and told him I was certain that isn’t the case. I love their selection, I use the fan whether I’m BBQ to keep me cool and it last for the whole day on a battery. The brushless tools are excellent imo and the hand feel/ergonomics are very good as well. Due to selection, usefulness and value Ryobi is the best all around for DIY/homeowners and dare I say light to medium professional use. The new brushless tools are definitely ” Pro-Sumer” grade.
Dang
I know most of us aren’t big on used tools around here, but the advice I give to friends who are getting into diy is to consider what brand is prevalent in your area. For example, in my area I can readily find used dewalt 20v tools, chargers, etc, often in good shape at great price points.
That said the interesting ryobi selection has me kind of wishing I’d gone that route instead.
Scott K
I bought a Bosch drill/driver combo kit and I love it. In hindsight, I wish I had bought into Milwaukee’s M18 platform instead. I got a great deal on a great kit, but Bosch’s other offerings are more limited and costly than other brands’. A big factor was that I wanted to use Amazon gift cards and Amazon wasn’t an authorized Milwaukee seller.
I recently bought a Ryobi string trimmer and I am impressed.
PAntonvich
So last year I decided I was in the market for a new drill – I end up having to take my stuff to different places – extra home – workdays for a nonprofit – to moms house. I had the old dewalt Ni-cad 18volt drill and driver – I figure I don’t really need all that power and smaller and lighter would be better for my tools – I was set on Bosch as I have few of their corded tools – and for a drill I really wanted a hammer drill as part of a battery drill – I went with the M12 due to the other lots of tools in that form factor. Short story after buying the hammer drill I fell in love with it for its power and form factor – a year latter I now have driver, saw,hackzaw and jig – all are perfect for my needs and moving them to different places – out of all of them the saw is under powered but it still works – I’m not using my tools all day – I love my m12 stuff – and not having to mess with cords is great! I do wish they would come up with a way to join two m12 batteries together to run m18 tools for tools that dont exist – noone wants a different type of batteries for each tool.
Redcastle
Fein now have all their batteries upwardly usable I.e you can use the 12v in 14.4 and 18v tools, the 14.4 in 18v obviously they do not last as long.
skfarmer
why would anyone buy into a diy off brand.?
dewalt, milwaukee and others have brushed value line tools that can be had for slightly more than the off brand stuff. the sky is then the limit for adding other tools, tools with more features or even the latest greatest brushless models. all using the same battery platform.
Stuart
While they can be described as DIYer brands, many pros use them also, just like many DIYers use pro tools.
What does one need to complete a task? Sometimes the value-priced tool is adequate or even ideal for many things. A lot of times, one’s budget is a determining factor.
Redcastle
Stuart
Again with the abuse of language the “profesional” label you like to use is a complete misnomer abused beyond sanity by marketing departments everywhere along with industrial, etc it is now meaningless. The fiasco that is the Wal Mart “professional tools” website should have demonstrated that beyond doubt.
Everyday users need tools which are more robust than those used by occasional users and while most of the tools mentioned on this site can do the job they are not equal in terms of longevity, etc. There are brands which are considered more acceptable among those who earn a living with their tools and others which would result in you being considered as not serious.
This has been reinforced by the “sole trader” branch within branch of the UK’s equivalent of Home Depot posting on their wall a list of tools not considered suitable for trade use, the list includes Dremel, Ryobi, AEG, Black & Decker, their own house brand,etc and would I am sure encompass Craftsman, Skil (Chervon) and Kobalt. They do not envision trade users using DIY tools and they are in the business of selling as much as they can.
Minimum entry level tools would be Bosch (blue), DeWalt, Makita, Metabo, Milwaukee and Panasonic (the Saab of power tools) and from there you move to the German firms such as Fein and Festool and then Hilti.
Hitachi or whatever it is called this week passes for its nail guns and is borderline for its general power tools.
There is an expression you judge a man by his tools and in trades such as carpentry this has proved a good rule in my experience.
Stuart
When I say that some pros use lower-tier tools, such as Ryobi, that is based on direct observations and conversations with such users.
I’m not in any position to judge what anyone wants or needs, unless they ask for specific advice and provide me with some background information. So if I have a post about a Ryobi tool, there won’t be a “wait, you’re a pro everyday user? Get lost” at the top of that post, or a “you’re not a pro everyday user? Don’t read this” message at the top of a Milwaukee tool post.
There are specific labels for different types of users, but their tool needs and uses might be spread across categories in a gaussian-like distribution.
Redcastle
Stuart
The very serious high end craftsmen I know would not be seen dead with a Milwaukee tool.
Without exception they are Festool/Hilti/Maefell/Lamello etc, they only exception being in some cases the small Bosch router with multiple bases they use for hinges.
In my experience many people self identify as “professional” and there is a whole industry devoted to helping them in their fantasies. Bosch are regularly embarrassed by the fact they have to put “professional” on their blue tools to distinguish them from the (pretty much defunct) green on the grounds people could not tell the difference.
I have said in other posts that the market for tools for occasional users is a multiple of that for everyday users which is a multiple of that for craftsmen. I suppose you could call them amateurs, mundane and the real deal.
Other than a possible commercial issue for you I do not see why you are not happy to provide a place where people who are either new to tools or have no access to advice can come and learn and constantly seek to create a false aura around particular tools, to paraphase the old saw about teachers those who can (craftsmen) do not need Toolguyd, there are those who can both learn and provide hands on information (everyday) and those who will learn and grow to provide feedback (occasional).
Stuart
The same has been said about the photography image. There are tons of stories of what happens when people with dSLRs but lacking in training or experience are hired to take wedding photos.
But, there are also some very beautiful images taken by photographers using entry-level cameras.
ToolGuyd was actually created with the goal of creating a Tool Guide, as I’ve seen too many DIYers and hobbyists using the wrong tools or accessories. I’m still working on it. What I’ve learned, though, is that the people who could benefit most from such content don’t often go looking for it.
skfarmer
99 bucks for a name brand drill or driver with 2 batteries, maybe less. the savings hardly seem worth it. can you buy one of you those other brands much cheaper? if so for what 75 bucks? even the biggest cheapskate should be able to see some value in spending just a few more dollars for so much more.
Redcastle
Skfarmer
At one level I agree with you completely in that the incremental cost may be insignificant relative to the improved quality of the tool particularly where it literally is a few USD the problem is in identifying where the extra cost to solely to cover the marketing budget.
Joe
Craftsman is not limited in tools. Lowe’s has a complete line
Craftsman cordless tools, batteries, accessories even radios….while I’m not a fan of the new Craftsman line,they feel very cheap,plastic, weak buttons,thin metal shoes,etc..( I bought 5 tools to test and returned them) more expensive also then the others…I’d love for Craftsman to succeed and especially to All be made in the USA ,not the case right now and I think a huge mistake…
….M12, while a line I own many of, is exceptional,but no where near the line Ryobi has.Ridgid is semi-pro but heavy and expensive.Kobalt just doesn’t have a big line of tools.
.. Generally DIY folks want a wide variety of tools,ope,gadets and only Ryobi can fullfil that need…for the level of quality,power, variety Ryobi is the best choice for DIY/homeowner hands down.,
DeWalt and Milwaukee have entry level tools in 18v/20v but not a line Makita just prices themselves out of entry level tools
Stuart
No, it doesn’t.
One reader cannot find the sander anywhere. Others are asking about when they’re coming out with a [tool that other brands already have]. Others are available, but as part of combos. If you want the jig saw, you have too pay $100 for the kit.
It’s limited and will be limited as the brand gains momentum. There’s nothing wrong or surprising about this, since they entire platform only just launched.
Joe
To say that the Craftsman line is limited is to say the DeWalt line is limited,. DeWalt didn’t have a orbital sander to this month or a router till next month…4yrs after launch…the Craftsman line has all the basic tools out Now, in stores right now to buy…..impact drill,(2) drills(3) sander,jigsaw,circ saw, sawzall, osc tool, lights, grinder, Air inflator,(DeWalt just released) radio,and.. compressor, pneumatic guns,…
…..to say some guys can’t get a bare tool of something is almost ridiculous. The sander is a bare tool item online and in store. The jigsaw is 99 with a battery that’s dirt cheap…..DeWalt 20v isn’t even carried as a Full complete line at most HD till this day…
….it depends on your Lowe’s,but just order online…it has more tools then the 20v max line did for years…and I don’t even like the V20 tools….
Stuart
The potential is not limited. But selection and availability right now are, certainly compared to Ryobi offerings.
The person who asked about the sander couldn’t find it locally, and it’s not available anywhere near me either, although it is available online.
They did a great job with the launch rollout, and personally, if I were to choose a DIYer tool kit right now, it would be one of the Craftsman bundles.
Redcastle
Joe
Do you believe that they could sell enough Craftsman made in the USA tools at the price level they would need to achieve to make this a real business proposition?
This is a serious question as experience indicates they will not be able to do so and therefore will continue to have to try and pay lip service to developing domestic production while trading on nostalgia.
The reason Germany has a strong tool industry is (as they do with cars) the population is prepared to pay a premium for goods from German companies which gives them a platform. Even where they move production outside Germany they are extremely focused on ensuring quality is maintained.
Joe
Yes, seriously.
Example…Snap On, Wright tools, SK,Matco,Mac, Proto…Trusty Crook,.. Woodpecker,.Ford…many many more companies thrive being built in the USA and continue to grow…as a matter of fact SK was declining do to having tools made overseas,what saved them was exactly what I said…they started making tools ,here, again……millions of Pros seek out USA made tools and will pay more ,for that reason and the quality is much better. On eBay original USA made Craftsman tools bring a premium.
……this country has not all gone to buying the cheapest crap ,that is propaganda. Just because Walmart Chinese crap sells doesn’t mean that quality clothes and tools don’t sell just as much.
….if you read my comments, I always ask Stu to label where the things he talks about come from, sometimes he does sometimes he doesn’t., And I promote buying American made tools.Support your country that Supports You.
Many people don’t care or understand that because they never served in the military or have family in the military , it makes a difference.It promotes caring for your fellow American and American companies, providing Americans with jobs…
…..I not saying Craftsman won’t grow by making Chinese crap tools and some American made tools,but it will Never grow to what it could be if it was All American made…we will find out.
Redcastle
Joe
Nothing would make me happier than to see a genuine end to end USA tool industry. This was a much longer response but it fell could of 404.
When yo say Ford I presume you mean the automobile manufacturer.
The only Ford product currently built in the USA and sold in Europe is the Mustang and somehow that seems right. It should not be built anywhere other than Flat Rock or somewhere else in Michigan.
Stuart
If you get a 404, go back, copy/paste the text, delete part of the response until it posts, and then email me the whole comment you want edited-in.
A 404 means that you’ve triggered the spam filter, and not the false-positive or mandatory moderation kind, but the kind where the comment will never even hit the moderation queue because the filter is convinced you’re a spambot.
Thom
I’ve been leaning towards Ridgid since buying the $200 drill/impact kit and getting a 1/2 impact for free. The selection seems good and I’m probably going to buy their wheeled table saw while it’s still on sale.
Coach James
I have cordless tools from several brands, but as far as a “system”, I have been going with Ryobi. To date, I have their cordless drill, circular saw, recip. saw and brad nailer. I have been pleased with all of them. A few weeks ago, I used the circular saw to cut just over 50 feet of 3/4″ plywood with zero problems. The recip. saw has been used to cut down several trees<4" as well as some demo work.
The drill and brad nailer have been used many times in my home and commercial building with zero problems. I currently have only their 1.5 Amp-hour batteries, but they still got the jobs done without too many battery changes.
Overall, I give their line an A+.
Daniel
When I bought my first house I used it as excuse to get into a new power tool line by purchasing the Ryobi string trimmer and leaf blower. I then fairly quickly bought the 18Ga nailer and that’s when I fell in love!
I can’t believe how good that nailer is! It’s a bit heavy and a tad large but it essentially never misfires and was so much cheaper than its other counterparts.
Here is where I think Ryobi excels.
1. They’re always willing to come out with a new crazy product like a cordless wet/dry vac or a 18V cooler and they always have new stuff coming out.
2. I don’t need a top of the line 18GA nailer or angle grinder so I’m okay sacrificing a little quality because I’m not going to work those tools to death.
3. They offer great random tools that the big brands don’t offer like the 18V tire inflator. It’s $20 right now and since I already have a battery, it’s so convenient.
I have Makita and Ryobi and I feel like I have the best of both worlds.
TZi
For me as DIYer it’s Dewalt + Ryobi. To me running on one line of tools is difficult and expensive because of all the odd tools out there that you’d want even if you don’t need/use them often. Plus by running on multiple lines of tools we can actually have a choice when getting tools. Unlike professionals, as a DIYer I don’t need a lot of battery packs, which makes going with multiple brands the optimal route for me.
Dewalt is marketed as a professional brand, but they are sold in at so many places that their prices on many tools are very low due to all the competition. Even the new Craftsman pricing doesn’t look attractive to me compared to what I can buy from Dewalt.
That said, there are still some tools that Dewalt doesn’t sell, or sells at high prices (mainly less popular items that aren’t in kits). I have a lot of more specialized tools with Ryobi, like airstike nail gun, staple gun, blower, trim router, tire inflator, etc. I have Dewalt for standard stuff like drill, impact driver, circular saw, etc.
While all the Dewalt tools I own are also covered by Ryobi’s tool lineup, to me some of the Ryobi tools are poorly designed. The drills and drivers are oversized and overpriced with no real benefit. The circular saws are underpowered. I think they design them to be this way, simply because they need them to be inferior to the Milwaukee/Ridgid equivalents.
Redcastle
And therein lies the seeds of DeWalts destruction, they say history repeats itself what SBD did to Black & Decker it now seems to be doing to DeWalt.
Michael Veach
the new craftsman power tools are at ace now.
TonyT
Just checked out my local Ace, and they have some Craftsman tools – vacuum, miter saws, grinder, etc. Just from talking to some coworkers and a neighbor, Craftsman still has a lot of brand awareness, but SBD Craftsman doesn’t.
My neighbor, who is from India and has totally re-done his kitchen by himself, likes the US-made Craftsman, but stopped buying as Sears declined and went to offshore suppliers. His favorite brands are Dewalt and Makita (“they’re good and they last”)
Of course, my DIY brand choice is Ryobi for the low cost and variety – and some of it is pretty good. I also think 12V tools such as Bosch 12V Max or Milwaukee M12 can be a good choice for many.
Greg
Stuart,
My vote is on Ryobi if we are to stay within the choices stated in the article. They have tools that even some of the prosumer / pro brands don’t have yet. They aren’t afraid of experimenting either which I actually like a lot and they don’t experiment with a high end cost to the consumer. This is what I like most about Ryobi myself. Other brands have tried to think outside the box and in some cases have partially failed but at a much higher purchase price than Ryobi.
I also feel like they are going to stick around for quite some time (as long as TTI is around that is). Rigid will be around for the same amount of time. I think Craftsman will hold out too just the same as Skil. I’m not so sure about the Lowes Kobalt brand. In general Lowes seems to have tool ADHD if that makes sense. You never know when a tool you like and is actually a great design will be phased out. They used to have these wonderful feeling full polish scalloped handle ratchets. Luckily I nabbed two complete sets of all three drive sizes but they are no longer. I think what heavily drives this is if a tool doesn’t sell it doesn’t get a second chance like other brands do. It doesn’t sell it’s scrapped.
Jb
I recently tried ryobi tools for the 1st time and was disappointed. The reciprocating saw felt like a toy. My wife bought me the kobalt set on a whim and I have been really surprised at the performance. The brushless motors make a difference. There aren’t as many tools as ryobi but they are def higher quality. I tried out the weed trimmer and blower as well and really like having the same battery set for my yard tools as well as my woodworking tools. Best part is the batteries are ridiculously cheap!
Joe
Completely disagree. Not sure which Ryobi sawzall you used but Ryobi makes far superior tools compared to kobalt.
And Ryobi has a line of brushless tools that are as good as Ridgid…
Multifuel
Ditto on Joe’s comment- the new brushless is an absolute beast with a 4ah or 6ah battery. I cut through steel tubs with this as well as my Milwaukee corded orbital sawzall and 4×4 fence posts no problems. Now my previous blue Ryobi was adequate for light duty only but the new brushless are exceeding my expectations.
Nancy
Back story >> (I am *below DIY-ER*). I have an apparently ancient 3/8 ” Ryobi 12 v w/ nicad battery + charger for many many years. From day 1, I leave the battery in charger (light turns red on charger and goes off only when I remove battery to place into my drill). Battery is otherwise always in charger. Last week couldn’t finish drilling a hole, power super low. Looked online for new battery. Not made. Called Ryobi. They can sell me battery. But I don’t know if my current battery is bad or the charger is bad. Ryobo does not make the charger. So debating whether to order new battery. SO, I sit here w/ Black Friday Home Depot +Lowes flyers in front of me. Confused at all the offerings. Wouldn’t mind getting a new cordless drill (even though my little Ryobi is still good — but not functional) Want a drill that has a charger where light turns green when charged so to remove the charged battery even if I will not be using it (like cell phone) esp if its a 18 or 20 v…don’t want to keep it plugged in continuously as currently had been doing. Don’t want drill w/ battery that will become obsolete in next 5-10 years. Also, fantasize re having a compatible little cordless saw for tree branch pruning. Any recommendations on my dillema. Don’t think I ‘ll chance/time to take advantage of Bl. Fri. Specials. THX
TonyT
I’d think pretty much any modern brand-name 12V or 18V/20V LiOn system will work for you, and will have all the basic tools such as drill/driver, impact driver, reciprocating saw, and circular saw. 12V has the advantage of light weight, 18V/20V more power.
The chargers for all of my systems (Bosch 12V, Ryobi 18V, Makita 18V) turn off when the battery is charged.
Redcastle
Tony T is completely correct in his comment that a 12v or 18v tool from the producers seen mentioned on this website will be adequate for most people who are not using their tools everyday and even for some of those who do, although if that is the case the safe route is Bosch/DeWalt/Makita/Milwaukee although safety comes at a cost.
I would also say that, if you can, it might be better going to a local tool shop and see and handle the tools. By their nature tools can be either a pain or a pleasure to use and what suits one person may not suit another, something as seemingly insignificant as the size and shape of the trigger can make a lot of difference as to whether you wind up liking or loathing a tool.
If your requirements are not heavy and the shop operates a reasonable returns policy you may find that some of the “house” brands on offer will work for you.
Multifuel
I am a fan of Ryobi as a diy/prosumer grade (their brushless is really excellent imo) however knowing what I know now, I would probably go with Milwaukee 12V line. Lots of options and I use their drill in work setting every work day since 2011 and love its power and battery longevity. It charges up fast and is very lightweight. I think you would like it Judy. Go to HD and put them in your hands and see whatever’s best fit.
My advice- Ignore everything except comfort/handfeel (well, and budget!) as they are all more than adequate for every homeowners needs short of massive projects and go with what is most comfortable.
Q
The 36v Metabo line is great. They also have a corded adapter. These tools can be used cordless or corded. Review them! I recently bought the circular, reciprocal saw; triple hammer, and hammer drill.
Karthik
When it comes to Miter saw, Kobalt is even better than some of the top of the line brands. Absolute beast.
RM
I’ve been flipping/rehabbing houses for 15 years with Ryobi as my main tool source.
Primarily old blue but now green impact driver,blower,weed eater etc. They have performed exceptionally well for me and the price/value ratio to me is remarkable.
My Craftsman & Skil saws are excellent and my PC compressor and guns shine.
I have other more high end specialty tools that are remarkable but for the ROI I have to endorse Ryobi as my go to source.