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Milwaukee purchased by Ryobi

raybrowne | Posted in Tools for Home Building on September 1, 2004 03:51am

Was reading rec.woodworking and it appears that Techtronic(the maker of Ryobi & Homelite) have purchased Milwaukee Tool Corp. It’s my guess that there will be no US made Milwaukee tools within the next five years, a damn shame. The following website seems to confirm it http://www.ttigroup.com/general/home.php
.

 

-Ray

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Replies

  1. handhewn | Sep 01, 2004 05:12am | #1

    Damn, the junk dealer buys the gem.

    Another one of my favorite brands becomes a mass market "consumer brand". Whoopie!

    Curly

    P.S. going to bed now and having nightmares of joe Depot Lowe using tools he does not deserve or know how to use.

    Hand Hewn Restorations Inc.

    Restoring the past for the future.

    1. Sasquatch | Sep 01, 2004 08:54pm | #20

      Who decides what tools a hobbyist "deserves" to use?  It sounds to me like you think only "professionals" should have the best tools, and that everyone else should get the second-class stuff.  Or am I reading you wrong? Les Barrett Quality Construction

      1. FastEddie1 | Sep 02, 2004 12:13am | #21

        I think what he was saying was ... the hobbyist / DIY person usually is swayed by price and advertising much more than long-term quality.  And sometimes they are right ... they can buy a tool that only gets used on weekends, or once a month, and it will work fine for them.  But for people who make their living with tools, a quality tool is usually worth the extrra money.

        Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!"  Then get busy and find out how to do it.  T. Roosevelt

        1. Sasquatch | Sep 02, 2004 02:16am | #28

          I think it was the word "deserve" that got me thinking.  I think everyone deserves the best they can afford.  And there is some stuff out there that nobody deserves.  This doesn't just apply to tools.  I learned many years ago that when you don't buy the best tool, you will probably regret it.  Many of my tools were collected over the years.  Each one has paid for itself, long before I started to build for a living.  Someone I knew had a saying:  "The best is good enough for me."  I liked that philosophy.  I would even go so far as to say that the best is good enough for everyone. :)Les Barrett Quality Construction

          1. User avater
            IMERC | Sep 02, 2004 02:48am | #29

            This customer that did some work for thought his collection of B&D baby puke green tools and his Wens were the best thing since sliced bread.. He would like to see them brought back... 

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....                                                                   WOW!!!   What a Ride!

      2. handhewn | Sep 02, 2004 01:56am | #26

        Les,

        I in no way mean to say that people should'nt be able to buy what they like. I just get a little annoyed when amateur wood butchers buy the tools and think they are thereby a pro. I see it way too often anymore, and I believe that the big box stores have a lot to do with it. Just my warpped opinion from my warpped part of the world.

        Sorry if I offended you or anyone else.

        CurlyHand Hewn Restorations Inc.

        Restoring the past for the future.

  2. jc21 | Sep 01, 2004 05:18am | #2

    Hope they don't turn into a brand like Chicago Electric. Black & Pecker buying PC/Delta and now this. Not sure  what to think ............. seems like mediocrity wins out over quality/excellence.

  3. User avater
    AaronRosenthal | Sep 01, 2004 05:26am | #3

    I have Ryobi tools that are pretty good. All my Milwaukee tools are fantastic.

    Probably Ryobi can do a lot of good for the lousy customer relations Milwaukee has shown me. Gotta be good for consumers.

    Quality repairs for your home.

    Aaron the Handyman
    Vancouver, Canada

    1. Piffin | Sep 01, 2004 06:09am | #4

      Ryobi makes a ton of tools that NEED customer relations.

      I've never needed to contact Milwaukee to complain about one of theirs. Kinda like the Maytag service man in the commercial, blowing the dust off his knuckles from boredom. Ryobi has more practice dfoing that sort of thing.

      This is bad news for serious tool owners indeed. 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

    2. OverKnight | Sep 01, 2004 06:09am | #5

      I have a Ryobi 5" random-orbit sander and a Ryobi 1/3-sheet orbital sander.  The RAS is okay, but has lousy dust pickup.  The orbital broke one of the clips that hold the sandpaper on.  Overall, I'm not impressed; I won't buy Ryobi again.  It's been worth my while to spend a few dollars more to get something I trust.

      I was recently given a Ryobi reciprocating saw which looked like it had barely been used, and just needed the blade holder replaced.  $30.00 for the parts and shipping and I was in business, or so I thought, until the cast aluminum assembly that holds the gears broke.  Friggin' thing looks almost new; doubtful that I'll spend another cent on it.

      I have my father's old Milwaukee 1/4" drill.  All cast aluminum body, probably pushing fifty years old.  It was the only drill my father ever had.  He drilled everything (he shouldn't have) with it; steel, concrete, you name it.  It only needed a few sets of brushes, bearings and cords over its lifetime.  Still runs like a champ, with plenty of power.  No one makes 'em like this anymore, not even Milwaukee.

      I'm glad you've had good luck with Ryobi, though.  I'm hoping that Milwaukee's quality doesn't go downhill.  Remember when Black and Decker made good power tools?

      1. User avater
        AaronRosenthal | Sep 01, 2004 06:31am | #6

        And Piff too...

        I'll never say Ryobi is the be-all and end-all.

        I have 2 tools, an electric plane and a belt sander, 220V I got whilst living in South Africa. They're good tools, but they ARE 20 years old and ready for replacement. I would NOT buy another Ryobi.

        I needed to contact Milwaukee about my new impact driver and the way it came to me. I called. I wrote by email. I faxed. I never got a reply. I was even told by customer service that they would not do anything to help me even though at that moment I said I would rather buy Bosch in the future.

        All they send me is company brochures.Quality repairs for your home.

        Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada

        1. Piffin | Sep 01, 2004 07:36am | #10

          I have a big R router. It was about $75 less than the Bosch at the time.

          It is functional, but I still regret buying it every time I use the PC and Bosch routers.

          My other ryobi purchases are a dim forgotten memory I'm glad they died. 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          1. User avater
            AaronRosenthal | Sep 01, 2004 08:05am | #12

            Remember I said two, very old Ryobi tools worked well for me.

            I NEVER said I would advocate anyone buying one as a serious workhouse. For that, I'll keep my Milwaulkees lubed and hot.

            My experience shows that contrary to current folklore, Oriental machinery can get worse, not better. I won't be replacing my plane and sander with Ryobis, but with professional tools.

            Piff, Marty, wipe the froth off your mouths and calm down. Suck back a Merlot or a Pabst. Our tastes evolve.

            Didn't you think your first girlfriend was the greatest? Don't you still have fond memories?Quality repairs for your home.

            Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada

          2. User avater
            IMERC | Sep 01, 2004 08:10am | #13

            Her?  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....                                                                   WOW!!!   What a Ride!

          3. Piffin | Sep 02, 2004 03:02am | #30

            "Didn't you think your first girlfriend was the greatest"

            I guess I'm not as young as you. I had to sweep out some cobwebs in the attic to remember that far back, LOL lessee now, which one was first? Her? - or Her? 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          4. Shep | Sep 02, 2004 02:21pm | #32

              Only ever had one girl friend, and I married her.

              I know, I know- bad example.

          5. User avater
            AaronRosenthal | Sep 02, 2004 06:15pm | #33

            I'm Orthodox Jewish. I know the concept - my kids are even following it. Nope, my example was strictly for everyone else out there LOL!!!Quality repairs for your home.

            Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada

      2. Piffin | Sep 01, 2004 07:31am | #9

        Friends don't let friends buy Ryobi 

         

        Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

        1. OverKnight | Sep 01, 2004 01:57pm | #16

          Amen.

    3. User avater
      IMERC | Sep 01, 2004 06:45am | #8

      Read Piffen's posting twice so that I don't have to type the same thing...

      Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....                                                                   WOW!!!   What a Ride!

      1. Piffin | Sep 01, 2004 07:39am | #11

        STP! Yer crackin' me up - like a Ryobi shell casing 

         

        Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  4. User avater
    IMERC | Sep 01, 2004 06:41am | #7

    you really know how screw over the day....

    Now I got despondency to deal with..

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....

                                                                       WOW!!!   What a Ride!

  5. gordsco | Sep 01, 2004 08:29am | #14

    I picked up this snippet from Techtronic's mid year report.

    "Power tools will benefit from the planned introduction of new Ryobi tools in all geographic markets. In addition, with RIDGID¯ now firmly positioned in the marketplace, we anticipate even stronger growth during the second half of the year as we expand further in the professional power tools segment."

    Does this infer that Rigid tools are produced by Ryobi?

    I'm amazed they picked up control of Atlas (Milwaukee and AEG) for only $700m US.

    1. PhillGiles | Sep 01, 2004 08:46am | #15

      Not exactly, Ridgid entered an agreement with Techtronic (sp?) to build several lines of tools exclusively for HD.

      To be fair, Ryobi used to make pretty good tools until they started building for Sears: I have an old RAS and 2 RE600 routers I'm not unhappy with. I wouldn't replace the RAS with a ryobi, but if they still made 600's, I'd buy them again for table-mounted routing (they don't, the only routers worth buying now are the Bosch - for RAS, the best are the pneumatic PC's).

      Phill Giles

      The Unionville Woodwright

      Unionville, Ontario

      1. User avater
        james | Sep 01, 2004 06:24pm | #18

        Phil,

        are the re600 routers the 2.5horse jobs, if they are i have one that i have been trying to kill for about 7 years, it dose not see use often bit when it dose it is doing things that i would never ask my other routers to do ( and secretly giving it praise ) while i am waiting for it to let the smoke out.

        now that is the only ryobi tool i own and it is a stump grinding m.f. but i would never recomend them to anyone else and i am saddened that the big red will now probably be made in the "BIG RED", hoping quality dose not slide will probably do no good but here's hoping.

        james

        1. PhillGiles | Sep 01, 2004 08:00pm | #19

          The 600 is a BIG router, rated at 3hp; it came with a full set of imperial and metric collets; you have to pull the slides apart and lubricate then to make the plunge work better (this is the model without the rubber boots over the slides, they're vulnerable to sawdust and dirt)..

          Phill Giles

          The Unionville Woodwright

          Unionville, Ontario

  6. Pd5190 | Sep 01, 2004 03:49pm | #17

    I would give it a wait and see response. There are times when the new parent company will allow the new aquisition to run its self and do what they do best.

    1. Jlang | Sep 02, 2004 09:27pm | #34

      I agree on the wait and see approach.  With a new parent maybe Big Red can do things the swedish mining company was not capable of allowing them to do.  They still have the best warranty in the industry, five years.  They surely won't put out something that does not stand up to their warranty.

  7. Shep | Sep 02, 2004 12:27am | #22

      Just when I thought it was safe to buy tools again.

      I guess Bosch will be getting a lot more business now with the changes at P-C and Milwaukee.

      I can't imagine the bean counters will be able to leave well enough alone.

    1. User avater
      IMERC | Sep 02, 2004 12:48am | #23

      Quit thinking.... PLEASE!

      Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....                                                                   WOW!!!   What a Ride!

      1. Shep | Sep 02, 2004 02:15am | #27

        Sorry!

  8. m2akita | Sep 02, 2004 01:45am | #24

    Guess it is time for me to start drinking heavily.  Who's left thats not part of some other bigger parent company (besides the smaller, extreme expensives like festool or fein)??   Bosch, Makita,?????

    This seems like it will suck, but maybe not (there's always hope)!!!

    -m2akita

    1. MisterT | Sep 02, 2004 01:52am | #25

      $HIT!!!!

      This is almost as bad as when Lowes bought out FHB!!!

      Mr T

      Happiness is a cold wet nose

      Life is is never to busy to stop and pet the Doggies!!

    2. Piffin | Sep 02, 2004 03:12am | #31

      You actually touched on a ray of hope with your comment here. I quit buying the Skil brand of tools just about 28 years ago. It was eight or ten years back that Bosch moved to America and merged with Skil. For the most part, the financial marriage hasn't hurt the Bosch lineup. Maybe things will go as well for Milwaukee too.

      One company owning three different tool plants producing three levels of tool. Good, Better, and Best is how Sears markets things - really meaning barely acceptable, moderately serviceable, and fine for pros. 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  9. carpenter1tt | Sep 06, 2004 06:21am | #35

    raybrowne

    great , I CANT BELIEVE THE RED AND GRAY WAS BOUGHT BY THAT CRAP OUTFIT.Somethings a guy should be able to count on you cant anymore.Lets hope bosch hangs on. I owned to ryobi tools thats enough for two lifetimes. thanks for the headsup.Tackcare

    carpenter1tt

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