Ryobi's 18V and 40V tools are extremely popular with homeowners and DIYers, and for good reason.I'm a huge fan myself and have been buying Ryobi tools for more than 20 years.However, not every tool is a winner, and there are a few Ryobi tools I regret buying.
If you're wandering through Home Depot, here are a few to avoid and what to buy instead.Don't get the base model 18V 5-inch Orbital Sander Vibrates more than it sands Close At this point, I have a good 25–30 different Ryobi tools, over a dozen battery packs, not to mention larger items like a 40V lawn mower.I love just about every bright green tool I buy.
Unfortunately, I can't say the same about Ryobi's 18V 5-inch Random Orbit Sander (PCL406B).I bought it on a whim several years ago while it was on sale, but I quickly realized I should have spent more on a better model.The same can be said for the Ryobi sander model (P411), which has many negative reviews online.
They're both cordless power tools that sound great at first, but once you try to use them, you'll realize you should have gone corded or spent $20 more for something better.Related DIYers are obsessed with Ryobi’s smallest cordless tools And they're USB-C rechargeable.Posts 2 By Cory Gunther Don't get me wrong, if you're on a huge budget, that 5-inch sander will get a small job or two done.
It's not a tool, but it's not a good one, either.Maybe it's because I tried to use it on a huge patio cover job, and things took way too long.It vibrates more than it sands, is underpowered, and has terrible battery life.
Using a larger battery only made sanding more difficult due to the unbalanced weight.Instead, I recommend buying the Ryobi 18V Brushless 5-inch Sander.It's stronger, easier to hold, and runs way better.
Ryobi 18V 10-inch Snow Shovel Heavy, awkward, and short on power Ryobi has several excellent winter tools you'll want to buy during any Black Friday sales.However, you'll want to avoid the smallest 10-inch 18V snow shovel.Before I moved to Texas and had to deal with a lot more snow, I bought one of these, thinking it'd save me time on the driveway.
I was wrong.I scrolled through my Google Photos looking for the photo of me holding it in frustration, but I must have deleted it.Ryobi fans across Reddit seem to agree that older snow shovels weren't that great.
While there's a good chance some newer-generation 10-inch shovels work a little better, it's still an awkward tool that's trying to do a big job.Mine was heavy, not very ergonomic (to put things lightly), and it never had enough power to actually clear my driveway.If anything, it helped a little before I had to bust out the shovel and finish it manually.
So, in a way, it saved me some back-breaking work, but not enough to justify the cost.Power would randomly cut out, especially if the snow were a little too tall or heavy, and it churned through my 18V battery packs a little too fast for comfort.My neighbor bought the bigger, newer, stronger 40V version and said it worked wonders.
This is one of those tools you'll want to spring for 40V over 18V.Ryobi 40V Cordless Snow Shovel Color Yellow Special features Two wheel design Tackle that snowy driveway with ease using the Ryobi electric cordless snow shovel.It comes with the tool, a 40V battery, and a charger. $199 at Home Depot Expand Collapse Ryobi 18V Portable 6-Gal Wet/Dry Vacuum Discontinued for a reason And finally, there's only one more Ryobi tool I've bought that I ended up disappointed with.
Honestly, in over 20 years, that's a pretty decent track record, especially for the price tag.The last item is, shocker, another item that was discontinued.I'm talking about the Ryobi 18V ONE+ cordless 6-gallon wet/dry shop vac (P770).
I loved the dimensions, the oversized wheels, and the come-along front wheel, but it just didn't have nearly enough suction power.I kept it for about a week, then returned it for a RIDGID vac that I love.The only other Ryobi vacuum I own is the weird bucket-top vacuum.
There's a reason this 6-gallon model was quickly replaced by a newer model that boasts "up to 30% more suction." Related Ryobi 18V vs 40V: When do you actually need the extra power? Big jobs might require extra juice.Posts 1 By Cory Gunther Part of the problem is probably being battery-powered and having such a large capacity.I primarily use my shop vac in the garage, so I didn't need one that ran on battery power.
I know Milwaukee M18 vacuums have great reviews, but this Ryobi wasn't it for me.I also didn't really need a huge 6-gallon capacity, and you'll probably have better luck with a 2-to 3-gallon model instead.RIDGID 4 Gal.
5.0 Peak HP Portable Shop Vacuum Weight 18.32 lb Cordless? No The RIDGID 4-Gallon 5HP shop vac is perfect for around the house, at a job site, and more.With plenty of power, a 7ft pull-along hose, and plenty of storage, it's a do-it-all vacuum. $109 at Home Depot Expand Collapse The occasional trial and error to get the best tools Obviously, how you use a tool and the specific job play into whether you'd consider it a worthwhile investment.I've loved pretty much everything from Ryobi, except for these three.
Reviews online and the Home Depot site seem to agree with me, at least regarding the orbital sander and the vacuum.And while there are certainly a few others that fans seem to generally dislike, like the table saws, I haven't tried one of those.Either way, make sure the tool you buy is right for the job and has enough power.
And if you're unsure, look for the 40V version instead.
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