Ryobi Table Saw

[James-W]

The guy I am helping build a house just got a new Ryobi portable table saw. Here is a link to the type he bought.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-10-in-Portable-Table-Saw-with-Quick-Stand-RTS21G/205503644

But he only paid $149.95 as it was on sale. This saw is certainly not a super well built saw by any means, but it was pretty cheap and it works quite well and it does everything we need it to do.

I was wondering if anyone else had oner of these and if you do, how do you like it? Is there any peculiarities about the saw that I should know about?

 

[Greeny]

I have the Rigid from HD, a similar saw. I like it a lot, but it isn't getting used for anything close to house building. (Bee hive building).

 

[andys]

I have an older generation one when they were still blue. Mine was an open box return at HD for $75.

It's done very well for me for the past 8 years. It even traveled 500 miles with my brother to lay some floor in his condo when he first moved away. I have no complaints, it does basic tasks and runs every time I turn it on.

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

I also have the old blue one. Runs well, but it has limits. Try to rip pressure treated 2x and you will find the boundaries. Otherwise it has worked well for over eight years.

 

[RVDan]

I have an older Skil version. It's crappy but convenient because of the lightweight nature of it. No soft start on it, and it runs so damn fast, and it's so loud, but it's convenient because I can bring it in the house.

 

[DFB]

We have the earlier blue version one in the barn at work I purchased several years back. It has had serious workouts ripping down different stock even 3/4" red oak, Really have had no problems with it and way better than a similar 10" crapsman I own. Funkiest blade guard I have seen.

 

[Moose97]

No experience with the Ryobi table saw but all of my battery powered tools are Ryobi. I've used them for years with relatively no failures. Have built barns, shops and much other.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

I had an older one, sold it for cheap. Luckily the fence was adjustable to compensate for the crooked blade.

 

[Bruce 993 SEA]

I also have the older Blue Ryobi with the built in wheels and stand. It is accurate and straight and the adjustable scale on the fence stays in place with very little readjustment.

I have reset it 3 time in 14 years. I use this saw hard as a remodeling contractor. The only failure was the on/off switch. Called and they shipped out a new one gratis.

I have also used the Ridgid with the bulky stand and would buy it if I needed another saw. It is a little more than my Ryobi...I think I paid $225. Well worth it.

It is not great for sawing 4 x 8 sheets but I use a saw guide for that now.

 

[James-W]

I also have the older Blue Ryobi with the built in wheels and stand. It is accurate and straight and the adjustable scale on the fence stays in place with very little readjustment.

I have reset it 3 time in 14 years. I use this saw hard as a remodeling contractor. The only failure was the on/off switch. Called and they shipped out a new one gratis.

I have also used the Ridgid with the bulky stand and would buy it if I needed another saw. It is a little more than my Ryobi...I think I paid $225. Well worth it.

It is not great for sawing 4 x 8 sheets but I use a saw guide for that now.

I have an aluminum saw guide that I could use for sawing 4X8 sheets but I find that with a couple guys helping me I can cut the sheet goods with the table saw quicker and easier than with the saw guide.

 

[rlitman]

I have an older Skil version. It's crappy but convenient because of the lightweight nature of it. No soft start on it, and it runs so damn fast, and it's so loud, but it's convenient because I can bring it in the house.

I had two like this. One with a one-piece table, and later upgraded to a Craftsman with a table that extended for larger work. The noise and loud starting were my biggest complaints. But they certainly have their uses.

 

[Fbmoose48]

I had that model, but upgraded and sold it recently as its limitations were (mostly) obvious before I even purchased it. Small table, loud shaky universal motor, lightweight construction, limited - if any dado width, and that terrible fence. Biggest surprise was that the miter slot wasn't standard size - so jigs and aftermarket add on were slim to none and difficult to even make yourself.

If you're expecting an upside-down circular saw for your $150 it will meet an exceed those expectations. If you're expecting a mini-cabinet saw to use jigs and dados as well as cut sheet goods, then save you're money. It will do rough cross-cuts just fine though.

 

[rlitman]

I had that model, but upgraded and sold it recently as its limitations were (mostly) obvious before I even purchased it. Small table, loud shaky universal motor, lightweight construction, limited - if any dado width, and that terrible fence. Biggest surprise was that the miter slot wasn't standard size - so jigs and aftermarket add on were slim to none and difficult to even make yourself.

If you're expecting an upside-down circular saw for your $150 it will meet an exceed those expectations. If you're expecting a mini-cabinet saw to use jigs and dados as well as cut sheet goods, then save you're money. It will do rough cross-cuts just fine though.

Yes to all of this. One more issue is that the "cabinet" is made from plastic. I had one that had a crack in the plastic, and that caused it to not sit flat on the stand, and it would wobble under pressure. I ended up selling it to someone who wanted it for the motor to fix theirs.

 

[Ohmthis]

I have the same saw, but with a different stand. It does the jobs that I need to do and with a roller table I can easily cut sheet goods. I haven't even thought about jigs for it so that doesn't bother me. I replaced the blade for a Diablo branded one and it is much nicer to use. It has more than paid for itself. I have built a cubby system, a closet inset, a vanity, laid about 5 floors (hardwood and vinyl), and other jobs. My brother has some serious wood working tools that I can use if this one can't do something I need it to.