Power Tools Got Worse on Purpose. Who Owns DeWalt, Craftsman, and Milwaukee?

Post by NetMageSCW » Fri, May 15, 2026, 3:03 PM UTC

randcraw wrote: post #32

senordevnyc wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel the same, but I do wonder sometimes if that’s true. Are there PE firms out there quietly operating great businesses that they’ve acquired? If not, why not? Surely in the long run that’s a better ROI, and private capital should be able to take a longer view, right?

> Surely in the long run… And that's the rub. PE is all about short term ROI at any price. Their business model doesn't take product superiority or brand loyalty into account. If a widget can be made cheaper, you do it, damn the collateral damage.

Post by dfxm12 » Fri, May 15, 2026, 3:04 PM UTC

legitster wrote: post #31

delichon wrote: post #18

> Ryobi handles DIY at Home Depot. Milwaukee handles pros. The two brands don't eat each other. They serve different people at different price points with different expectations So market fit is driving both worse and better products at the same time. Cheap DIYers like me are buying the cheapest stuff we can find, and complaining that it's as cheap as its price. My neighbor the contractor buys the expensive stuff and…

I don't think there's anything to apologize for. Buying a professional tool with tens of thousands of hours of potential runtime and 1000lb+ of torque is wasteful. A Ryobi tool will realistically last for the many decades you need it for and do everything you ask of it. Lower price points doesn't just mean something is junk. It can also be engineering efficiency.

Post by lesuorac » Fri, May 15, 2026, 3:04 PM UTC

nubinetwork wrote: post #43

legitster wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think there's anything to apologize for. Buying a professional tool with tens of thousands of hours of potential runtime and 1000lb+ of torque is wasteful. A Ryobi tool will realistically last for the many decades you need it for and do everything you ask of it. Lower price points doesn't just mean something is junk. It can also be engineering efficiency.

> A Ryobi tool will realistically last for the many decades you need it for and do everything you ask of it Until you buy one of their lawn mowers and the SLA batteries die after a year...

Post by Aurornis » Fri, May 15, 2026, 3:04 PM UTC

arka2147483647 wrote: post #53

jlglover wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ryobi make mostly good tools though. The results produced by most Ryobi users, myself included, are limited by user skill not tool quality.

If you are a DIY, you might use a tool once a week, or once a year. A pro might use a tool everyday, all day. A different durability requirement. A Ryobi is not bad, if it fills your needs, but might not be enough for heavy use.

Post by fatbird » Fri, May 15, 2026, 3:05 PM UTC

jeffbee wrote: post #33

sedawkgrep wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the rule of thumb for non-professionals is: Buy cheap and if you use it enough that it breaks, buy expensive the second time.

By following this rule you could easily end up with a tool that lasts forever but strips out all your screw heads.