Cordless Power Tools

This post is the first in a series highlighting 18 volt cordless tools series available from major tool manufactures, starting with Ryobi. Lets cut to the chase, what is the initial factor that drives people to buy Ryobi tools. In my humble opinion and solely based on my personal actions in the past, it is price. The Ryobi tool price point is by far the best in the tool business. By business I mean major cordless tool manufacturers, not your K-Mart or Target store brand. If you want a cheap tool that will not go the distance by all means, run to your local discount giant. If you want a lower price cordless tool that does what it is meant to do and last for years, then you should look for the Ryobi Tools name.

Ryobi has nicknamed its 18 volt cordless system as One+ 18V. What are they trying to get at with this name. One battery to power all of your cordless tools, that is there message. It should actually read Two+ now that their Lithium Ion batteries have hit the Ryobi Tools scene. All Ryobi cordless tools can use either the old NiCad batteries or the new Lith Ion batteries.

Let me better explain the “all Ryobi tools” remark. Until recently if you saw a blue cordless tool, your first reaction would be “that’s it is a Ryobi tool“. Well, that is now their old model cordless tool. Don’t be so quick to say “My Ryobi tools are old? I just bought them”. Good news for “old model” users, you can take advantage of the new Lithium Ion batteries the same as the new models. Both NiCad and Lithium Ion batteries fit in both the new and old Ryobi tool models.

The “new” model Ryobi tools are a bright green color. Don’t ask me why they did this, Hitachi tools are already known for the green color. Color trade marking aside, the new tools do offer advantages over the old. The new Ryobi 18v Lithium Ion tools are optimized for weight and balance. Although the new Lith Ion batteries are what make this optimization possible you can still plug the old Ni-Cad battery in if you are in a bind.

So a good question might be, “What tools are available from Ryobi tools”. Here is the short list.

Green Ryobi tools (new)

• 18 Volt Lithium Ion Battery
• 18 Volt Charger (Charges both Ni Cad and Lith Ion)
• 18 Volt Drill
• 18 Volt Circular Saw
• 18 Volt Reciprocating Saw
• 18 Volt Worklight

Blue Ryobi Tools (old, sort of)

• 18 Volt Ni Cad Battery
• 18 Volt Charger (only charges Ni Cad)
• 18 Volt Drill
• 18 Volt Hammer Drill
• 18 Volt Right Angle Drill
• 18 Volt Impact Driver
• 18 Volt Circular Saw
• 18 Volt Reciprocating Saw
• 18 Volt Angle Grinder
• 18 Volt Worklight
• 18 Volt Jig Saw
• 18 Volt Hand Planer
• 18 Volt Rotary Cutter (zip saw)
• 18 Volt Laminate trimmer
• 18 Volt Random Orbital Sander
• 18 Volt “Corner Cat” Finish Sander
• 18 Volt Stapler
• 18 Volt Wet/Dry Canister Vac
• 18 Volt Portable Fan
• 18 Volt Dual Function Inflator
• 18 Volt Caulk and Adhesive Gun
• 18 Volt Wet/Dry Hand Vac
• 18 Volt High Intensity Spot Light
• 18 Volt Blower
• 18 Volt Chain Saw
• 18 Volt Pole Pruner
• 18 Volt Home and Garden Sprayer
• 18 Volt Hedge Trimmer
• 18 Volt String Trimmer
• 18 Volt Car Buffer

I guess that was actually the long list. As you can see from the not so short list above, the New Lithium Ion Ryobi Tools or Green Ryobi, has a way to go. Like I said earlier, the good news is that you can purchase a Ryobi Lithium Ion upgrade kit now. This will allow you to start utilizing the benefits of Lithium Ion tool battery Immediately. As time goes by I certain that Ryobi tools will be redesigning their entire range of old “blue” tools and optimizing them for weight and balance transforming them into cool new “green” tools.

Old or New, Blue or Green, Ryobi 18 volt Cordless Tools is where you want to be for the best price and features.