Tools, Sharpening and Power Machinery - 18v Cordless combo packs
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kharris
04-16-03, 08:53 PM
Between the Black & Decker Firestorm, and the Ryobi 18V cordless combo packs which is better?
millertime
04-16-03, 10:37 PM
id say B&D. They build DeWalt tools, and ryobi has had a few tool recalls lately.
LewMac
04-18-03, 08:14 PM
I treated myself to the Ryobi 18V cordless tool set for my Christmas present last year (2001). Got it at Home Depot, and at that time it had a drill/driver, recip saw, 5" circular saw, a hand light, and 2 batteries.
I have used the heck out of the set on lots of projects. I've dropped the drill on a lot of occasions and it still works great. The recip saw is pretty powerful for its size--not the power of a corded Sawzall, but decent for most DIY projects. Same for the circular--good for smaller jobs where portability is convenient. I stlll use my Skilsaw on bigger cuts, but it's much heavier than the cordless.
My batteries are seeming to lose their life, in spite of trying to use them effectively by letting them run down all the way. That's the only negative I can add, but that may be the case for all cordless tools.
Hope this helps!
LewMac
I have used the heck out of the set on lots of projects. I've dropped the drill on a lot of occasions and it still works great. The recip saw is pretty powerful for its size--not the power of a corded Sawzall, but decent for most DIY projects. Same for the circular--good for smaller jobs where portability is convenient. I stlll use my Skilsaw on bigger cuts, but it's much heavier than the cordless.
My batteries are seeming to lose their life, in spite of trying to use them effectively by letting them run down all the way. That's the only negative I can add, but that may be the case for all cordless tools.
Hope this helps!
LewMac
millertime
04-19-03, 09:53 AM
Originally posted by LewMac
My batteries are seeming to lose their life, in spite of trying to use them effectively by letting them run down all the way.
thats the wrong way to use batteries
"Finally, no matter what contradictory advice you may have heard, never fully discharge a battery. For years, carpenters have passed along the myth that batteries have memories, and if not fully discharged, they won't fully charge. I've even seen carpenters tape a drill's trigger down to extract every last electron from a battery. This action reverses cells and makes your batteries die young. Use the battery only until you notice a power loss that affects performance, and then recharge the battery."
http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/pages/h00106.asp
My batteries are seeming to lose their life, in spite of trying to use them effectively by letting them run down all the way.
thats the wrong way to use batteries
"Finally, no matter what contradictory advice you may have heard, never fully discharge a battery. For years, carpenters have passed along the myth that batteries have memories, and if not fully discharged, they won't fully charge. I've even seen carpenters tape a drill's trigger down to extract every last electron from a battery. This action reverses cells and makes your batteries die young. Use the battery only until you notice a power loss that affects performance, and then recharge the battery."
http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/pages/h00106.asp
fuller911
04-20-03, 09:49 PM
I'd go with Ryobi. I have had a B&D Firestorm and it didn't last 6 months before the clutch fried. I've had a Ryobi for 2 years and it has yet to let me down.