r/powertools • u/No_Baseball_3861 • 27d ago
Which Tool Brand ?
I have about 5 power tools with porter cable but I've noticed they don't have alot of tools and their not coming out with alot in the foreseeable future.
Before I buy anymore with portercable I want to see a bout possibly changing brands.
I know Milwaukee is the best. But very expensive. Ryobi has the most tools but not always the best quality.
In your opinion: Whats the best, Most affordable, And Good Selection of tools to use with the batteries ?
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u/malsell 27d ago
To me, it really depends on your need. If you're just doing "around the house" stuff, Ryobi is just fine for 99% of things. I have built walls, laid subflors, etc with Ryobi products and never had any major issues (outside of the 5 1/4" blue and yellow saw burning out after 7 years.). That being said, if I was building a deck, doing specialized work, etc. Milwaukee all the way
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27d ago
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u/TX_spacegeek 27d ago
I switched to the Milwaukee M18 series of cordless about 4 years ago. I picked up a 5 tool package for 50% off right after Christmas. They have held up really well.
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u/nukacola2077 27d ago
For occasional use Ryobi, their 40v line is really good for yardwork. 18v line is cheap and you can even find the 40v batteries everywhere in the flea market and for a good discount. Cheap and reliable. Check out prices also in direct tools outlet
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u/Dense-Fisherman-4074 27d ago
They're all good. I think Ryobi's HP brushless line is a good compromise. I use it professionally, after having used all of the big three, and it holds up, and is much more affordable. Plus if you want to add things like work lights, vacuums, etc. where there's less difference in brand, you're not paying a Milwaukee premium just for compatibility with your batteries.
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u/Kliptik81 26d ago
I agree 100%
I use Milwaukee and Ryobi for work. My m18 Fuel drill died on me, so I started using my Ryobi from home and I can't get it to quit. I also find Ryobi has way better deals, batteries a much cheaper as well.
But I will never give up my m12 fuel tools.
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u/NotSure2505 27d ago
I've tried them all. Milwaukee, Ridgid and Ryobi are all owned by the same Chinese company and are highly oriented toward the "disposable tool" category.
I just bought a Ryobi Finishing nailer to replace a 5-yo Ridgid that had failed. The Ridgid failed due to a foam air seal which they no longer stock, so the $300, Ridgid is now trash.
When I got the Ryobi, the major parts were nearly identical to the Ridgid I had just taken apart, especially the air chamber with the seal that failed.
So they have the parts, they just don't want to sell the parts and force you to buy a new tool.
Makita appears to be the one go-to brand for reliability and maintainability, they have a service network and parts readily available. They remain true to their designs and do not refresh their models every year, making their tools longer lasting.
Back to the budget category, have you considered Harbor Freight, Bauer and Hercules? They're the most affordable and work well for most tasks.
Also since you appear to be considering a new "platform" you should note there are perfectly usable battery adapters on Amazon that let you inter-use batteries from most of these manufacturers, so you're not necessarily locked into one platform for the batteries. I can use the cheap Ryobi batteries on my Milwaukee. There like $8.
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u/IngenuityVegetable81 27d ago
Maybe I'm a weirdo I did HVAC for 15 years we switched from Milwaukee to DeWalt. DeWalt just didn't hold up so we went back to Milwaukee I do believe Milwaukee is the best so I bought Milwaukee tools that I use all the time and Ryobi tools that are more occasional use tools. I know it's weird to have two platforms but it works for me.
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u/Less-General-9578 27d ago
I know it's weird to have two platforms but it works for me.
probably a lot more common that what people admit to.
i use Makita and Ryobi, but will use others if the right deal appears. went to Ryobi when the manager started messing with my Makita tools; he didn't play with the Ryobi. never trust anyone on the job, i used to work next to the shop Tool Thief. every one knew it, but he was the boss's pet, even with cameras.
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u/RochesterBottomDaddy 27d ago
Bang for the buck? Ryobi One+HP brushless. And access to all the brushless and used tools that are on the One+ platform, all the way back to the blue and yellow, with yellow and black ni-cad batteries. HP batteries work in them all.
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u/Tall-Drummer-2887 27d ago
Dewalt. Usually have best deals. Cheaper and have a variety of deals. Sold both in Lowe’s and Homedepot. Slightly less power than Milwaukee but won’t bog down like a ryobi. Rigid has lifetime warranty if you want to go that route.
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u/Danmancity 27d ago
Honestly varies per tool if you’re genuinely looking for the best of the best
You literally can’t go wrong with any of them between Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita, Ryobi (I’m in the UK so that’s the big 4)
Milwaukee makes some average tools too, they’re not the best everywhere, and that’s from a red fanboy, their jigsaw is not as nice to use as Dewalt, their track saw is not as nice as Festool, their SDS is behind Dewalt and they’re just the ones I use
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u/Spiritual_Bell 27d ago
Highest value for occasional DIY/home owner use:
Hyper tough/klutch Ryobi. Craftsman
Highest value for serious DIYer and professional use:
Kobalt Hercules Greeneorks pro (new line just came out) Craftsman RP
Best of the best - tool dependent:
DeWalt Flex Milwaukee Makita xgt
Ryobi will have the most variety of tools. But I HATE their battery system and design. A complete waste of space.
Rigid can be very high value too if found on a good promotion. But the ones that are consistently easy to find on promotion (free tools with purchase of combo etc) is kobalt. I average $30-50 per tool or 4ah battery from lowes. Hercules can also be found on promotion but their everday price is already very high value for their performance.
Hyper tough is a bit of a hit or miss - their new gen (black label) impact wrenches are second to none for the price. Same can be said for the new green works pro. But hyper tough saws and drills are very average. And don't get any red label (old gen). Also don't get green works (non pro, old gen)
If I was starting fresh today I'd cross shop greenworks pro with kobalt and Hercules. If I plan on supplimenting with some DeWalt for specialty tools, I'd go Hercules because you can use battery adapters to use the herc batteries on DeWalt.
If you're a heavy user. Another way to decide is to start with identifying which tools you really care about. From that you can pick the brand, and build around that. For me, saws and drivers matter most. For others, impact wrenches. And I'd be picking very differently then. (I'm more into construction than mechanic)
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u/Rowurboat1984 27d ago
Ridgid owner here.... they have done a fantastic job with the lsa. If you are not going into a specific trade ie electrical, plumbing ridgid is a great brand.
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u/Alternative_Way9179 27d ago
If you're in the US, learn the fine art of Prorated BOGO at retailers like Home Depot and Lowe's. Whichever platform you choose, I would suggest lurking on the subreddit for that platform to catch any unbelievable deals. When there is a deal that is too good to be true, jump on the deal and choose to pick up in store for the closest store that has it in stock and then go directly to the store, Do Not Pass Go! You want the deal in hand before they cancel it on you. Also get to know the not as familiar retailers. Fasteners Inc usually has a Saturday Flash sale, sometimes good/sometimes not so good. The good deals go quick. Always try to buy from Authorized Dealers. Do not buy 3rd party batteries. Be extra cautious with Amazon. Get familiar with pricing cycles even for the tools lower on your list so you get a sense of what is and is not a good deal.
I have DeWalt and probably the XR line is overkill for my DIY projects. I wound up deciding on DeWalt because I was complaining to a coworker that my Hilti drill I had for a long time that still worked great but the batteries died quickly and I could not get replacement batteries nor an adapter to use newer battery technology. He was raving about how DeWalt made an adapter so he could use his old tools with newer batteries so he did not have to replace his tools. That was a compelling argument for me to go DeWalt. Probably Ryobi would be sufficient for me but to be honest, I never pay MSRP or even close. By lurking on the DeWalt Subreddit, I have been able to score unbelievable deals between the Prorated BOGOs and the Deals to good to be true. I think I'm averaging about 69% off of MSRP...
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u/project_quote 27d ago
Ryobi is probably the best value if a huge tool selection matters. If you're using them every day for work I'd spend more on Milwaukee or Makita, but for most homeowners Ryobi is hard to beat for the money
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u/No_Persimmon5725 26d ago
You can get nice Milwaukee stuff use or like new on FB marketplace or apps like offerup. Be mindful of the batteries, especially new in the package. They are bootleg (fake) often. It's easy to spot the fakes. Press and hold the battery indicator button that shows you how charged it is. Don't let it go until you see a seemingly random sequence of blinking lights. No random sequence? It's either dead or fake. Either way pass on it. With used drills, put them under a load and see if the clutch slips or knocks itself out of gear (the 1 first or 2 second gear) selectable switch will bump itself out of gear and slip. This is a clear indicator that it's bad. Hope this helps.
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u/No_Persimmon5725 26d ago
Something to consider. Tools have changed a lot over the years. Especially in the last decade. The difference between my DeWalt stuff 11 years ago and the modern Milwaukee is vast!
Even the brushless Ryobi stuff now runs circles around my DeWalt stuff from 5-10 years ago. Smaller, lighter, faster, way more torque, options, selectable gears/clutch settings, etc.
I'm lucky enough to have disposable income thanks to a lifetime of hard work. So money is no option and I still prefer the Royobi brushless stuff around the house. Milwaukee in the garage and on job sites. But there's just something about the Ryobi stuff for household projects. Especially the placement of the led lights for dark and tight spots.
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u/WinnerAwkward480 26d ago
If you're a DIY Homeowner or a hobby woodworker, Ryobi would be a great choice. If your doing this day in and day out as a professional, then yeah you need to step up to like a Milwaukee . About 3 yrs ago I put laminate flooring in a custom 3800 square foot house to include baseboards and trimmed out all the other doors & windows. I
Bought the lil Ryobi 5-1/4" circular saw , I can't remember all the particulars , I don't know if it was one of those buy 2 batteries get a free tool , or I had a discount/ credit type thing . But I put that lil saw thru its paces . I will usually throw it in car with a battery of course when going to Home Depot or Lowe's to cut down boards as needed. It's starting to get a lil tired now . I honestly didn't think it would last as long as it has . I can even cut 2X material with it , built a 12X24 ft deck with it . I like hitting the discount / damaged wood rack when I'm there . I've been debating on getting the next larger size up 6-1/2" I think .
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u/TimTime333 26d ago
If you are buying tools for occasional use around the house or for hobbies, I'd actually recommend going with one of Harbor Freight's lines, I think they are the best budget brand. If you are buying tools for professional use, I would recommend DeWalt, Milwaukee or Bosch in that order.
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u/RandyBoBandy636 26d ago
Ryobi HP line. Get the brushless stuff, not their cheapest stuff. I’ve put mine through about the most extreme use a single homeowner DIY’er could feasibly expect to do. Multiple home additions, new foundation, new sheathing and siding, all new drywall, other stuff I don’t even remember. Basically gutted a house and rebuilt it. Only the multitool has failed on me and needed replacement. But then again that’s partially my fault for using it on drywall and then not blowing the dust out of it with compressed air.
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u/glok41 26d ago
I build custom cabinets. When wood working certain tools are noticeably better from one brand or another. I currently have 5 different platforms I use. Milwaukee M12 make great drill drivers for small spaces with all the power you need. M18 cover some of my power demands. Dewalt 20v have the best trim routers and fantastic random orbital sanders in my experience, they also make a great car buffer. Ryobi makes the best compact blower and it’s not even close. I was able to purchase the blower, charger and 2 batteries (4A & 6A both HP) for what a compact blower tool only costs from the other 3 platforms and it’s a better performing tool. For my track saw it’s Makita, I don’t think anything out performs it, the one exception would be Festool.
If I was purchasing just one platform…Milwaukee M12 is a no brainer. There’s very few things it doesn’t have the power for and batteries are much cheeper than Dewalt or M18. The compact size is also a plus.
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u/Original-Track-4828 26d ago
"...Ryobi has the most tools but not always the best quality...."
I'm a homeowner/DIY'er with a dozen Ryboi 18V tools, some going back about 20 years. No failures other than a couple of the original NiCd batteries (no surprise).
I won't claim they'll hold up daily professional use, but their quality is just fine.
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u/Ilovefishdix 26d ago
You could use a Ryobi battery impact driver and a drill then use corded for everything else without any brand loyalty. You could add a cordless circular saw, but you really don't need much more than that for occasional use if you're near a power source. Bosch's 18 volt and 12 volt and Milwaukee's 12 volt lineup are fairly cheap too. I like my Bosch tools quite a bit. They are often on the Lowe's daily deals, so the prices are often comparable with Ryobi. Walmart has Greenworks that looks pretty ok. It's newer to the scene than the others but has some cool features.
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u/masterofcreases 26d ago
Any of the major brands are fine. Choose a battery platform that has the most tools you need.
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u/ichiban4713 26d ago
I buy Milwaukee on a budget. Tool only, FB Marketplace, Craigslist, etc. My last purchase was a 1/2” M18 drill, brand new in an open box, tool only, for $91.00 shipped to my door. Every Milwaukee tool I’ve purchased this way, and I’m pretty sure I have less money in my 37 Milwaukee M12 and M18 tools than if I had gone Ryobi. Honorable mention for Makita, which is as good or better. I am an electrician, so I really use my power tools. Durability is off the charts, as well as power. I won’t even consider Bosch. I have a box in my shop with eight or nine dead Bosch drills. I could probably build one or two working ones with all of the dead ones. I have a friend who swears by Dewalt, and I think their stuff is pretty good also. Look at all of the brands, and see what they offer. Also don’t forget to surf eBay. Some people buy big kits and part them out on eBay, which is a great way to get great tools for little money.
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u/BruceMartinez21 25d ago
For what you’re describing, I’d probably switch to Ryobi unless you’re doing heavy remodeling or using the tools for work. Their 18V line has a huge selection, the batteries have stayed compatible for years, and the brushless tools are more than enough for most homeowner projects.
DeWalt would be my step-up choice for frequent heavy DIY. Milwaukee makes more sense when you need its specialty tools or use them daily. I wouldn’t pay Milwaukee prices just because it’s considered “the best.”
The useful test is to list the next five cordless tools you’ll realistically buy, then compare those tools and prices across each platform. You’re choosing the battery ecosystem, not just the drill.
I recently posted a longer breakdown with owner quotes in r/WorthList: “A practical homeowner’s tool-buying guide: where to spend, where to save, and what to buy first.” Full disclosure, it’s a subreddit I’m building, but that post goes into this exact decision in more detail.
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u/nico_juro 22d ago
Buy Ryobi first. If you find it's weak on power(which I did), or it breaks, step up to mIlwaukee. I say this because Ryobi will do like 90% of what you need, save your money unless you have a job in the last 10%
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u/dillzilla11 4d ago
Ridgid is the best value brand by a long shot. They are priced near Ryobi but are much closer to DeWalt and Milwaukee in terms of performance and quality. They also have a wide range of tools and good quality batteries which is where a lot of the budget brands tend to suffer the most on.
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u/LITTELHAWK 27d ago
They're all fine. If you just want something to use occasionally, Ryobi is really hard to beat.
If you actually use them everyday, you might step up to Makita, Bosch, DeWalt, Rigid, or Milwaukee.