There are several power tools and accessories that I want but don’t necessarily need. I’m constantly thinking about which new Ryobi tool I might buy next, even though I already own plenty. With that in mind, I started tracking which tools I use the most around the house to help me decide. I figured my trusty drill would top the list, but surprisingly, it came in fourth place.
I thought I knew my habits and needs, but after manually logging all my projects and tasks over the summer, I quickly realized some of my most expensive tools barely left the shelf.
The old-fashioned way with a pen and paper
Keep in mind that this list might be different in the winter, and while some don’t consider them “tools,” I also tracked the usage of my Ryobi battery-powered fan and flashlight. Those might not be “power tools,” but they take up space, use the same battery, and come bundled with tools — so they count. Plus, they’re listed as a tool in those combo kits.
I didn’t, however, track how much I used my outdoor 40V tools like the lawnmower, as those would certainly top the list. Instead, this was mainly geared towards handheld power tools and accessories.
As for the method to my madness, I decided to put a pen and paper out by all my tools and take note every single time I reached for something. Even if I only used it for 1–2 minutes, that counts. The results actually surprised me.
My Impact Driver topped the list
I built several things that required screws
As a new dad, this wasn’t my busiest summer for DIY projects or home renovations, but I did manage a couple. Combining that with endless new toys for the baby, like slides, kid chairs, and a water table, I ended up reaching for my impact driver far more than I expected.
I came into this random experiment expecting my drill/driver to be the tool I used the most, which is why I have three of them in the garage. Turns out that when I’m not drilling holes and such, the impact driver does all the heavy lifting. I reached for my impact driver 14 times over the last two months, my drill only three times, and my expensive high-torque impact wrench only once.
Here are my results:
- Ryobi 18V Impact Driver
- Ryobi Hybrid Fan
- Ryobi LED Hybrid Light
- Ryobi 18V Brushless Drill
- Ryobi 18V High Torque Impact Wrench
Honestly, I didn’t expect these results at all. That being said, if I allowed more items or hand tools on this list, it would look very different. I used my Ryobi Bluetooth speaker in the garage constantly, my trusty multi-tool at least a dozen times, and I went for a wired Dremel or hand ratchets multiple times.
It’s no secret that an impact driver is one of the best tools you can own around the house. While an impact driver might look a lot like a drill, there’s no drilling that happens at all. Instead, it’s a tool designed specifically for one thing, and that’s “driving” fasteners like screws and bolts. Sure, you can add a Phillips bit to your drill and use it, but an impact driver is faster, better, easier, and won’t strip screws or drive too far.
Impact Wrenches are great when you need them
My most powerful tool was only used once
While most of Ryobi’s tools are fairly affordable, one of the more expensive items worth saving up for is the High Torque Impact Wrench. I typically use this big tool on projects like my new patio cover with a louvered roof, car maintenance, or throwing huge lag bolts into the wall to hang TVs, but I only ended up using it once this summer to rotate my truck tires.
I certainly didn’t need it, but when it’s over 100 degrees outside, using my impact to remove all the lug nuts is much better than manually cranking them on all four tires. It came in handy, and I’ve used it plenty of times to make it worth the investment, but it’s something worth thinking about.
All my power tool accessories get used a lot
Ryobi gets a lot of hate online, but there are several reasons DIYers everywhere love them. The tools are powerful, capable, and affordable. Plus, Ryobi does an excellent job of offering a wide range of accessories, lights, fans, speakers, and other oddball tools. I’m so used to using my Ryobi hybrid LED light, BT speaker, and portable fan that I didn’t realize how much I’ve come to rely on them. As you saw above, I actually used the fan and light more than my drill or impact wrench, and that’s surprising.
In closing, I expected my Ryobi drill to top the list, followed by an impact driver and an oscillating multi-tool or sawzall, and maybe even my Brad Nailer, but that wasn’t the case. Then again, everyone is different, and this list might look a lot different later this year. It did tell me that the next time Ryobi offers a buy-one-get-one deal with a free tool, LED work light, or clamp fan, I should probably grab one of the latter, since I use them far more than Iexpected.