Ryobi 18V Cordless 6 1/2-Inch Circular Saw Shows Off HP Brushless Upgrades
As the next generation of 18V One + HP Brushless tools rolls out, one of our new favorites is the Ryobi 18V cordless 6 1/2-inch circular saw. We put it to use to see what’s different in both form and function.
Ryobi 18V Cordless 6 1/2-Inch Circular Saw Performance
Considering this model is in the 6 1/2-inch class, the cuts we made were satisfyingly confident. Compared to other DIY/Prosumer-level saws, the brushless motor’s torque puts Ryobi on a different level. That’s not to say you can’t bind the blade—you can on thicker cuts. It’s just stronger than you might expect, especially if you used Ryobi’s previous cordless 6 1/2-inch circular saw.
Let the saw’s 4,900 RPMs do the work, and you’ll be rewarded with smooth, easy cuts. Pairing it with a premium blade such as Crescent’s NailSlicer or Diablo’s Tracking Point framing blade makes it even better.
For runtime, Ryobi tells us to expect up to 350 cross cuts in 2 x 4 using a 4.0Ah High Performance battery.
Ryobi 18V Cordless 6 1/2-Inch Circular Saw Design Notes
Ergonomics
The Ryobi PSBCS01 weighs 7.1 pounds with a 4.0Ah High-Performance and 5.5 pounds as a bare tool. That’s actually about half a pound heavier than its predecessor, the Ryobi P507. That’s alright, though. A little more weight is an easy trade-off worth making for the extra performance.
It stands 10 inches tall, including the blade, and is about a foot long. Plus, it’s 6.75 inches wide so it truly does belong in the compact category.
In general, we like the overall feel of this circular saw. Ryobi made some good improvements from the last model by adding a more stout rubber overmold to the grip. It has a more aggressive texture and larger grooves that allow sweat to easily channel away when the pressure is on.
While this is a compact tool, the spacing between the rear grip and front pommel area is pretty comfortable.
Bevel and Cutting Depth Adjustments
The cut-depth and bevel adjustments are pretty standard on the Ryobi 18V codless 6 1/2-inch circular saw. As you would expect, both are tool-free and very simple. There is a bevel guide on the from which maxes out at 50°, however, there’s no 45° stop, so you’ll need to take a little more time dialing it in compared to saws that have that stop.
At first glance, the saw appears to be missing its depth markings. However, they’re actually etched into the blade guard. Release the lock, line up the bottom of the shoe with the depth marking you want, and then lock it back down. We really like the concept, however, adding some contrast by ink-filling the markings would help those of us with less than ideal eyesight to see it better.
The maximum cut depth is 2 1/4 inches at 90° and 1 9/16 inches at 45°. You’re only losing ~1/4-inch compared to a 7 1/4-inch circular saw and it’s enough to make 45° bevel cuts in 2x material in one pass.
Onboard Tool Storage
I personally love the blade change wrench placement. It’s on the back of the housing indented with room for your thumb to easily take it out. We’ve had some saws where it was a challenge to find where they decided to hide the wrench as if were an unsightly inconvenience. I like this placement and design much better.
Additional Highlights
- Cutline blower
- Vacuum adapter included
- LED light
Ryobi 18V Cordless 6 1/2-Inch Circular Saw Price
You can snag this Ryobi 18V 6-1/2 inch circular saw for $129 as a bare tool or $179 as a kit from your local Home Depot. The kit includes a 4.0Ah High-Performance battery and charger. Both are covered by a 3-year warranty from Ryobi.
The Bottom Line
Looking back at what Ryobi offered previously in an 18V cordless 6 1/2-inch circular saw, this HP Brushless Compact model is far more capable. We recommend swapping out the stock blade for a premium one to get the best performance, especially if you’re going to cut hardwoods. Unless you really need the capacity of a 7 1/4-inch circular saw, this model can handle most any weekend project, home repair, or light-duty professional jobs you care to throw at it.
Click here to see what’s new from Ryobi.
Ryobi 18V Cordless 6 1/2-Inch Circular Saw Specifications
- Model: Ryobi PSBCS01
- Power Source: Ryobi 18V battery
- No-Load Speed: 4,900 RPM
- Max Cutting Depth: 2-1/4 in. (0°), 1-9/16 in. (45°), 1-3/8 in. (50°)
- Blade Location: Left
- Motor Type: Brushless
- Weight: 5.5 lbs (bare), 7.1 lbs (with 4.0 High Performance battery)
- Max Bevel: 0-50°
- Warranty: 3-year
- Price: $129 (bare), $179 (kit)
