Ryobi P591 18V One+18-Gauge Offset Shear

Joining the growing line of Ryobi cordless power tools is the Ryobi P591 18V One+ 18-Gauge Offset Shear. This cordless shear brings convenience and power to the jobsite. It has an angled cutting head, making it the ideal choice for cutting sheet metal, wire, roofing shingles, and other material you might prefer to avoid cutting with hand shears. Launched in August, the Ryobi P591 is available at your local Home Depot.

This one came in just in time to help us put a metal roof on Tim Johnson’s house. And with a very wet cold front bearing down on us, we needed all the help we could get!

Versatile Cutting Power

Several Pro features stand out on the Ryobi cordless offset cutting shear. You have a rotating head design for adjusting the angle of your cut and the blades are replaceable for when they inevitably begin to dull.

It features a variable speed trigger for control throughout the cut. And yes, there’s a belt clip.

Ergonomics

The Ryobi P591 weighs in at 3.5 lbs, making it a fairly comfortable and lightweight option. It features Ryobi’s Gripzone microtextured overmold to help with the grip.

And like we see with the new brushless reciprocating saw and brushless circular saw, the handle is getting some additional curve for a better fit in your hand. However, this model doesn’t have a brushless motor.

Performance

There’s a bit of a learning curve if you’re new to using a cordless metal shear. You have a jaw adjustment that you’ll want to dial in before you start making your primary cuts. The jaws come set for thicker gauges, and we had to adjust it for the 26-gauge metal roofing we were working on.

Can’t you just leave it set to cut thicker material? Not unless you want a cutting experience that’s very poor. Setting the jaws correctly is a critical step in ensuring this tool cuts well.

You also need to ensure that you’re cutting at the correct angle. The tool’s balance is fairly neutral in your hand, but you need to tilt it forward to position the jaws correctly. Once you get the width and angle right, the cutting is much smoother – more like cutting gift wrap than hacking through metal.

We made cuts both left- and right-handed and it’s easier to cut to the right with the jaw angle. Full disclosure – all of us on this project are right-handed. However, we can normally use tools pretty effectively with either.

Runtime

This new shear is compatible with the whole line of Ryobi 18V One+ batteries. When coupled with a 18V One+ 4Ah battery, Ryobi tells us it can cut through 1000′ of sheet metal on a charge. We haven’t come across a need to do that much cutting in one sitting, so we’ll take their word for it for now.

Final Thoughts

The Ryobi P591 is a good product for someone doing occasional sheet metal work. If you’re cutting material by hand now, it’s a compelling upgrade considering the $99 price point. Just be sure to practice cutting at the right angle and jaw width with some scrap material if you’re new to power shears. There are some other cordless options out there, but there aren’t very many, if any, that enter the market at this price while giving you a level confidence that it’s a capable tool.