Ryobi P507 Review
Pros: Inexpensive, light-weight, clear sightlines
Cons: Paltry battery life, below-average cutting power
Manufacturer: Ryobi
Our Verdict
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 This Product
Ryobi P507 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | ||||
| Price | $69 List $74.99 at Amazon | $80 List $64.37 at Amazon | $79 List $79.00 at Amazon | $60 List $63.93 at Amazon | $55 List $43.65 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Inexpensive, light-weight, clear sightlines | Long-lasting battery, good sightlines, inexpensive | Good sightlines, light-weight, decent cutting power | Inexpensive, decent blade changing system, average cutting power | Very inexpensive, light-weight, accurate sightlines |
| Cons | Paltry battery life, below-average cutting power | So-so cutting power, no positive stops, fiddly bevel adjustments | Limited battery life, so-so blade changing system, minimalistic features | Limited battery life, poor sightlines, fiddly adjustments | Short battery life, limited cutting power, difficult to change blades |
| Bottom Line | An affordable 6 1/2" saw that will satisfy most DIYers with light saw work in mind | A capable and inexpensive saw that is perfect for handy homeowners and DIYers | This moderately priced saw delivered a middling performance except in battery life where it floundered | This inexpensive saw is for light-duty applications only | This light-duty machine will appeal to novices and pros looking for an inexpensive trim saw |
| Rating Categories | Ryobi P507 | SKIL CR540601 | Craftsman CMCS500B | Porter-Cable PCC660 | Black+Decker BDCCS20B |
| Ease of Use (50%) | |||||
| Cutting (30%) | |||||
| Battery (20%) | |||||
| Specs | Ryobi P507 | SKIL CR540601 | Craftsman CMCS500B | Porter-Cable PCC660 | Black+Decker BDCCS20B |
| Blade Side | Left | Left | Left | Left | Left |
| Blade Size (inches) | 6.5 in | 6.5 in | 6.5 in | 6.5 in | 5.5 in |
| Brushless Motor? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Blade Brake? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bevel Positive Stops? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Linear Feet of 3/4" Plywood Cut per Charge | 202 ft | 324 ft | 184 ft | 157 ft | 52 ft |
| Measured Weight w/o Battery | 5 lbs | 5.8 lbs | 5.9lbs | 5.9 lbs | 4.6 lbs |
| Measured Max Depth of Cut w/ Framing Blade (inches) | 1-7/8 in | 1-15/16 in | 2-1/8 in | 1-29/32 in | 1-1/2 in |
| 6x12" Cross Cutting Time | 7.6 sec | 6.6 sec | 5.8 sec | 6.9 sec | 11.1 sec |
| Rafter Hook? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Battery Used in Testing (Amp hours) | 4 Ah | 5 Ah | 4 Ah | 4 Ah | 1.5 Ah |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Ryobi P507 was a contender for our Best Buy Award. This saw brings entry into circular the saw market down to a level that will accommodate most budgets. Better still, it performs at a reasonable level. This saw will execute the most common tasks and some tougher ones, too. Our cutting tests revealed a saw that can handle full depth crosscuts of hardwood if you take it slow. However, the lower price comes with some reductions in ease of use features as well as battery life.
Performance Comparison
Likes
We like that this saw is both inexpensive, and decent quality. This means that people can step-up their tool kit for around the house tasks without breaking the bank. The Ryobi is way better than a hand saw — like night and day better — and yet it's not that much more expensive.
The saw offers users several ease of use features. Specifically, the Ryobi has accurate and clearly visible sightlines, an easy to change blade and, weighing just 5 pounds, it's relatively light. Additionally, the blade depth and angle adjustments are simple and easy to set.
Dislikes
At 1 7/8", the Ryobi has one of the shallower max cutting depths that we have seen in our saw evaluations. The Ryobi also lacks many of the higher-end ease of use features such as positive bevel stops, a cutting light, and levers for the shoe adjustments. It also has a below-average battery, even when compared to the other saws with 4 amp-hour battery cells.
Value
We find the Ryobi P507 to be one of the better values that we've seen on the cordless circular saw market. While the saw isn't a leader in any of our metrics, it is effective. Add to this a very competitive price, and you can see why the model raised some eyebrows around our lab. That said, if you're planning on really putting this machine to work, its value will necessarily decrease as this saw was not designed for heavy workloads.
Conclusion
The Ryobi P507 is a moderately priced saw with a level of performance that will appeal to greenhorns or those needing a light-weight saw for odds and ends tasks. The saw has ample power to handle modest cutting work. It's also reasonably easy to operate and will render positive results. That said, this is not a high-end saw and should not be purchased if you plan to use it on a regular or otherwise heavy-duty basis.
— Nick Miley and Austin Palmer
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