Comments on: Cheap-Ass Tools: Ryobi 7 1/4″ Circular Saw

By: steve

steve — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:48:51 +0000

I consider Ryobi to be the best of the cheaper end tools. Unlike Black and Decker, which I will not ever buy again.

I had a Black and Decker electric screwdriver, which I loved for a while.

I used it, but it’s not like I’m a pro that used it every day or something.

One day while screwing something in, it all of a sudden just let loose and stopped spinning. I could hear the motor, but something was broken.

Just for the heck of it, I opened it up. Inside was a bunch of stupid plastic gears which broke.

I mean, how retarded is that?? A tool designed to tighten and loosen metal screws, using plastic gears. How the heck do they think plastic is strong enough to deal with metal things??

I’m sure Ryobi uses plenty of plastic in their stuff too, but hopefully they do it in a smarter fashion.

By: Clay Watzke

Clay Watzke — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:42:02 +0000

I agree with the above post. Personally I cannot see why you would not want to make an effort in this regard anyway. Only the other day, at work we had exactly the same conversation and came to a similar decision

By: twomartinis

twomartinis — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:05:25 +0000

I agree with most posters, you have to consider the working environment - e.g. 98% of us will not expect cabinet-shop precision cutting with a portable tool. For the 2% that do, there’s always Festool…

I get by with my Bosch cordless and a nice 40T Delta finish blade. The stock Bosch blades have been used for “smooth cuts” in plaster walls of my 1940 house (lifelong remodeling project)!

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:37:47 +0000

I have essentially the same saw. It has been used twice. Both times were important enough (stuff just had to get done) that it has more than paid itself off. I’m with everyone else. Spend money when you need to (ie, if you’re going to use it a lot, get the best) and save money when you can (if you’re going to use it once a year, get the cheapest).

By: Alex French

Alex French — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:13:12 +0000

A few weeks ago I my father-in-law needed a circ saw while his was loaned out. I broke out a Craftsman all-metal unit that was my grandfather’s, probably hasn’t been used in 20 years, we think it dates from sometime in the sixties. 7″ blade… that’s right, not 7 1/4″.

Threw on a 6 1/2″ plywood blade, ripped a few sheets of plywood down… the only issue was that the show was a little gummy and tended to drag against the wood. A heavy saw with all that metal, but feels solid, extra knob on the motor housing gives you great control, like a worm drive but 90° difference.

I’m not sure if the moral of the story is a) any saw with a decent blade will get you through a pinch or b) a good quality tool from 40+ years ago is a better value than a cheap new tool.

By: Coach James

Coach James — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:06:36 +0000

I have a 15 year old Craftsman 7-1/4″ circular saw that is on the low ends of the power spectrum, 12 amps. About two years ago, I stopped buying 24 tooth general purpose blades and started buying 40 tooth thin kerf blades. They are a little more expensive but the saw cuts like a new 15 amp top of the line. It goes through 3/4 ” plywood like nothing. Cheap saw+ great blade=great combination.

By: Mike Miller

Mike Miller — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:25:45 +0000

I’m of the mind to spend the money where it’s necessary, and don’t where it isn’t.

Expensive Car lift. Cheap air compressor.

My air compressor was $200 and it’s lasted 8 years under the duty cycle I’ve given it. Sure, a $800-$1200 compressor will handle more, for longer, but this thing sees 10 hours of use a year.

I’ve got a south bend lathe that’s stellar, it’s 45 years old and still holds to a thou over 8 inches. I’ve also got a $120 4×6 bandsaw that, while it’s not near as precise, sure has been worth every penny I’ve spent on it.

I figger if I wear out the Harbor Freight tool, it means I’m using it enough to buy a better tool the second time.

By: MeasureOnceCutTwice

MeasureOnceCutTwice — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:43:17 +0000

These are good for their purpose - cheap & dirty. My buddy used one until the bearing started to wear - it got hard to hold a line. Then I needed to cut 6 pieces of 5/8″ aluminum plate, about 40″ wide. I borrowed it (he knew why), got a new carbide blade, goggles, face shield & earplugs and went to town. It worked great, and we didn’t worry about trashing a good saw. After that, he put in an abrasive blade and still uses it for cutting steel.

By: Flabby Boohoo

Flabby Boohoo — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:15:28 +0000

I’ve mixed feelings about Ryobi. Certainly the quality has to be an issue. I stopped buying the cordless tools due to premature failure (batteries to trigger switches to motors). I would be leery of this as well.

I have a B&D that I bought cheap 10 years ago, and though it is still working, there is noticeable side-to-side play that is at best no accurate and at worst dangerous.

Some things you just have to pay a little more for, and a circ saw is one of them, IMHO.

By: Brau

Brau — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:44:27 +0000

OF course it’s the blade that does the cutting. Cheaper saws just don’t stand up to a ton of abuse or last forever. If you take care of them though, they can be an excellent buy for your dollar. And let’s face it, Circ saws are not used for finish work, just fast and nasty rough construction, so just how much “quality” do you really need? I have a $50 Craftsman 12A 7 1/4 saw that’s going on 18 years old (no blade brake), has reno’d two houses, built two garages, numerous sheds, fences, etc, and I’ve never once thought, “Geez this cheap-ass tool has no accuracy.”

By: bajajoaquin

bajajoaquin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:35:01 +0000

This reminds me of the post I found that led me to Toolmonger: a story about cheap 4X6 band saws. If you put a nice blade on a cheap saw, and don’t expect it to perform like a professional piece of equipment, you can get pretty good bang-for-the-buck.

By: apotheosis

apotheosis — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:22:35 +0000

I have the slightly more upmarket version of this saw, the one with the laser. It’s worked great for me for a number of weekend warrior projects…building a shed, some shelves, etc. I need a rip fence, but even freehanding it’s pretty stable.

By: jeffrey immer

jeffrey immer — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:39:20 +0000

i have the same saw i bought it several years ago for maybe around $45, and i too replaced the throw away blade it came with and it serves me at home just fine, i mounted a permanent rip fence on it and it works great

By: tscheez

tscheez — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:15:56 +0000

I have one of these. Probably won’t hold up if I started using it everyday, but for cutting ply and some studs here and there, it works great. Probably should invest in a good Freud blade eventually…..