Ryobi 18V One+ Cordless Band Saw P590 Review

Ryobi 18V One+ Cordless Band Saw Fills a Long-Requested Need

The Ryobi 18V One+ cordless band saw has been one of the most-requested in their lineup tools for years. The P590 is finally here and we’ve been cutting a whole lot of metal and PVC with it.

Pros

Good cutting speed
Cordless convenience at a budget-friendly price ($129 bare, $199 kit)
Tool-free blade changes
Cuts wood, plastic, soft metal, and hard metal

Cons

Hex wrench required for adjustments
Not as refined a fit and finish as other cordless band saws

Recommendation

Buy it if you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive cordless band saw that does a good job of cutting material up to 2-1/2″. Pass if you’re looking for the design quality of premium models.

What Can the Ryobi 18V One+ Cordless Band Saw Cut?

The Ryobi P590 comes with a pair of 18 TPI blades, which are great for general-purpose metal and plastic cutting. It will cut wood, but you’ll cut it faster with a lower TPI blade. The same goes for PVC and other plastics.

It’s also possible to cut stainless steel, rebar, and other hard and/or thick metals. Go with a higher TPI blade for those.

Pro Tip: As a basic guideline, use a 14 TPI blade for plastics and wood, 18 TPI for soft metal, and 24 TPI for hard metal.

How Fast Will it Cut?

The brushed motor moves the blade at 560 FPM, giving the Ryobi cordless band saw roughly twice the tooth engagement of a good reciprocating saw. When you’re cutting things like 2″ EMT or PVC for electrical and plumbing, you really notice how much faster it cuts compared to a one-hand reciprocating saw.

The 560 FPM specification is on the higher side of the band saw spectrum, even against traditional Pro powerhouses such as DeWalt, Makita, and Milwaukee. The motor still has to keep that FPM up under load, though, and that’s where we see some of the Pro models outcut Ryobi in tougher and thicker materials.

Even knowing that, we’re very satisfied with the cutting speed we’re getting so far. In cutting 2″ EMT, the blade simply melts through the metal smooth and fast. Even cutting #5 rebar, it does a fine job.

Pro Tip: For the best performance, let the motor keep the FPM up as you cut rather than pushing through and bogging the motor down.

How Hard is it to Change the Blade?

It’s pretty simple to change the blade on the Ryobi 18V One+ cordless band saw and it’s a (mostly) tool-free job. Like most recent cordless saws, start by turning the tension release lever 180º.

Then just work the blade through the rollers and around the pulleys. When you’re taking a blade out, you might need a slotted screwdriver to help work it off around the backside.

Once you have the new blade in place, push the tension lever back to the left, and you’re ready to go.

Safety first: push the switch to the lock position and take the battery out before installing a new blade or making adjustments.

When you’re ready to buy new blades, grab 1/2″ x 32-7/8″.

What Adjustments Can I Make?

There are two major adjustments you can make and both require the 2.5mm hex wrench stored just below the battery.

The work stop has two positions you can set it in. It comes in the upper spot, but we like it in the lower position for the types of material we frequently cut.

There are two screws holding it in place. Remove both and shift it to the position you want.

You can also adjust the tracking by turning the set screws on either side of the tension release lever. You need to turn both of them to make the adjustment. Clockwise moves the blade in and counterclockwise moves it out.

What Else Should I Know?

Design

The overall design is in line with what we see from Pro-level band saws. It has a pommel over the motor that helps you make a stable, accurate cut. With its position on the guard instead of in line with the trigger, it pretty well guarantees you have to cut right-handed.

Ryobi includes a hang hook. I’m grateful for it, but it’s somewhat limited. It hangs the saw well on 2x material, such as rafters. However, it’s too small to hang on the 2″ EMT we were cutting and it doesn’t hold well on thin materials like ladder rungs or 3/4″ PVC.

Compared to what you see in premium Pro models, the fit and finish aren’t quite as refined even though the P590 shares many of the same design elements. A plastic blade guard instead of metal is one example of the differences you’ll see in this model that’s designed for more occasional use.

Additional Features

LED light

Missing Features

Dual trigger safety system
Variable speed dial/trigger
Portable band saw table compatibility

How Much Does it Cost?

You can pick up the Ryobi 18V One+ cordless band saw for $129 as a bare tool with a pair of 18 TPI blades. You can also get it with a 4.0Ah battery and charger for $199. At the time I’m writing this review, the kit is on sale for $179.

It goes without saying that this is a much better price than premium Pro models. When you look around the DIY and Prosumer landscape, Skil, Hart, and Craftsman don’t have a cordless portaband to compare.

The Bottom Line

If you’re debating between something like this Ryobi cordless portaband or a reciprocating saw, the band saw is definitely faster, has much less vibration, and gives you better accuracy.