Ryobi Miter Saw: Is it a terrible buy?

Whether you are considering getting your first miter saw (chop saw) or replacing an existing one, a Ryobi miter saw may be something you want to consider. But before you purchase a miter saw by Ryobi, read through this guide to determine if they have a good option to fit your needs.

What is Ryobi?

Ryobi Seisakusho Co., Ltd. got its started in 1943 and started to sell die-cast products in 1944. It was not until 1968 that they began to make power tools. They formally change their name to Ryobi, Ltd in 1973.

In 1996, Techtronic Industries (TTI), a Hong Kong based company, took over Ryobi brand in America. TTI owns multiple tool brands including HART and Milwaukee.

Currently, Ryobi offers a wide range of power tools, accessories, and outdoor equipment, including several variations of miter saws. They come in both battery operated and corded forms as well as a variety of sizes and available features.

Home Depot carries Ryobi tools and products as one of their two flagship lines. They generally market the brand towards do it yourselfers (DIYers). Home Depot markets their other flagship brand, Rigid, to professional contractors.

While many professionals look down on Ryobi due to perceived inferior quality, for the average hobbyist, DIYer, crafter, weekend woodworker, and some professionals, Ryobi brand products will more than suite your needs. If you use your tools 5 to 6 days a week for several hours each day, you may find that Ryobi brand may be a way to get started, but you will likely be looking to upgrade your tools within a few years.

What is a miter saw?

If you are really new to woodworking, you may need a bit of an explanation of what a miter saw actually is. Next to a table saw, miter saws are one of the more common saws that you will find in most woodworkers and DIY shops if they have the space. Read a guide on which to get if you are tight on space or budget.

The primary use of a miter saw is to make angled cuts for trim, moulding, rafters, and many other carpentry cuts that require an angled cut. They also make straight cuts and can be a very useful tool for quickly cutting long pieces of lumber into equal or varying lengths.

A miter saw contains a circular blade attached to an arm. To operate, you line up the angle you want to cut at, place the piece against the backing or fence, and then turn the saw on by depressing the switch on the handle. You then lower the saw onto the piece of wood and push down until you pass through the other side.

Some miter saws offer a sliding component that allows you cut larger pieces of lumber than the size of the blade would normally allow. They are known as sliding miter saws.

Others offer the ability to both angle the blade and angle the piece. These are called compound miter saws. This is the most versatile type of miter saw that allows you to make compound, miter, and bevel cuts.

You may hear people talk about a chop saw. This is just another term for a miter saw.

Features to consider before buying a Ryobi miter saw

Similar to their table saws, Ryobi offers industry standard sizes and features on their miter saws. The following are features you may want to consider before purchasing a Ryobi miter saw or any other brand of miter saw.

Battery operated vs corded Ryobi miter saw

People looking for flexibility of working away from an outlet may want to consider getting a battery operated version. But if you plan to have the saw mostly stationary or always working near an outlet, the corded version of the Ryobi miter saw may be the way to go.

Here are some considerations for corded vs battery powered miter saws by Ryobi:

Corded	Battery powered
consistent source of power and never needs battery replacement	will need to recharge batteries periodically or purchase more than one, particularly for periods of long use
needs to be close to an outlet or needs extension cord	can use in the yard, during renovations that require the power to be cut, driveway, etc.
comes in larger blade size options	Ryobi may stop making batteries compatible with your model
generally heavier and harder (not impossible) to move	will eventually need to replace batteries or chargers and may want to get more batteries
	may be easier to load and bring to a remote job site

Blade size

Ryobi miter saws differ in their available blade sizes. Currently, Ryobi offers three different, industry standard, blade sizes. While you can replace the blades with Ryobi saw blades, you can use any brand of blade you like as long as it fits the size of the Ryobi miter saw you have.

The available sizes include:

• 7 1/4 inches
• 10 inches
• 12 inches

Sliding

A sliding miter saw means that you can slide the cutting blade forward and backward. This allows you to make a wider cut than the saw blade would allow if the miter saw could not slide. A sliding feature is a simple way to get a slightly larger cutting capability out of your Ryobi miter saw.

Compound

A Ryobi compound miter saw is different than a standard miter saw. A miter saw can make two basic cuts: straight up and down and a single angle. If you want to make a compound cut, which combines both a bevel (cut through the thickness of the board) and miter cut (cut across the face or width of the board) into one motion.

Though you may not use a compound cut frequently, it may be something worth having if you plan to do a lot of different wood working or DIY tasks with your Ryobi miter saw.

Ryobi miter saw stand

An extra feature to consider is whether or not you want to get the Ryobi miter saw stand. The universal stand will work with any Ryobi miter saw model and should work with most other brands that use standard size mounts.

A miter saw stand gives you an easy place set up and work with your miter saw. It can also help support longer boards and trim on either side.

A Ryobi miter saw stand is an optional feature to consider and may be most useful if you plan to use your saw in areas where other tables or benches are not available, want a mobile work space, or you don’t have room to build your own stand.

Certainly if you have the space, you can build your own stand. You could try these plans here or come up with your own design.

Other features of Ryobi miter saws

All Ryobi miter saws come with certain features that don’t necessarily set them apart from the competition, but they may be worth noting. They include:

• dust collection tube that you can connect to a dust collection system, shop vac, or use the build on dust collection bag
• 3 year limited warranty (the batteries also have a separate 3 year warranty)
• single blade that fits the Ryobi miter saw you purchase
• a low to moderate price (think bigger saw and more features = higher price tag)

Available Ryobi miter saws

Ryobi currently offers several different models of miter saws that contain various features listed above. Here are their current selection of miter saws.

Where to buy a Ryobi miter saw

The Home Depot sells Ryobi miter saws at their store locations and online. You can also visit Ryobi’s website and purchase their miter saws (they go through Home Depot’s website though).

You can also find several types of Ryobi miter saws on Amazon.

Both Amazon and Home Depot can help you compare Ryobi miter saws to other brands. You may decide to go with a different brand or model then what you were originally thinking. In their app, Home Depot even provides a side by side comparison of the saw you are viewing and similar models that may help you finalize your decision.

If you don’t mind buying used, you can check out Facebook Marketplace. People often sell tools from small hand tools to miter saws, table saws, and planers. They are not always available or reliable, but I have had some success buying small power tools and bits from Facebook sellers. You may also find other secondhand websites offer some miter saw options from time to time.

When to buy a Ryobi miter saw

Home Depot runs a promotion annually around Memorial Day called Ryobi Days. You can find deals on Ryobi tools and batteries, sometimes getting free tools when purchasing a battery. You can then use it, give it away, or sell it yourself on secondhand markets if all you wanted was the battery or tool.

This is a great time to update or replace your batteries and possibly get a tool you have had your eye on and “can’t justify buying.”

Home Depot also tends to put Ryobi and their other tools on sale around the holiday season in November and December.

Top considerations before purchasing a Ryobi miter saw

Before you make a purchase, here are some top considerations to think about when thinking about a Ryobi miter saw:

1. Generally affordable price: Ryobi miter saws are not the cheapest, but they are also not the most expensive models out there either. And while their batteries are also relatively expensive, they are less expensive than other brands.
2. Great for DIY and casual woodworkers, not as much for contractors: If you plan to use your saw on occasion, weekends, or for generally lighter use than what you would need for contract work, it should serve your needs well. If you plan to use it professionally, you may find that either the 10 inch or 12 inch models will work. But if you don’t need a workhorse, then some of the smaller Ryobi miter saws may be a good choice and should hold up well. I’ve used my own 10″ Ryobi miter saw with no issues for some time now and only ever needed to replace the blade.
3. Similar features to other brands: Ryobi offers similar features to their competitors. For example, you can get a saw with a laser guide, which can make lining up your cuts really easy. They also have standard size mounting holes, dust collection bags and ports, available angles, and so on.
4. Space: Space should play into your decision making process. You don’t want to get a huge saw that won’t fit your space, but you also want to make sure its big enough for your needs. Often a good compromise is to get a smaller, sliding saw.
5. Needed size: Similarly, you should get the saw you need for the work you intend to do. If you cut large boards or mouldings frequently, you will want to get a larger size miter saw or one that can make compound cuts. But if you work with small pieces, a smaller saw may work much better for your needs.
6. Power supply: You may want a battery miter saw if you intend to use it out in the back yard or other areas where you have limited or no access to power supplies. Corded models don’t need battery replacements and provide, in general, more power in their motors, which makes them better at cutting harder woods.
7. Safety equipment: If you don’t already have it, you will want to get ear plugs or muffs, safety goggles or glasses, and a face mask or other filtration system. You should avoid wearing gloves, tie up long hair, and avoid long necklaces.
8. Warranty: Ryobi currently offers a 3 year warranty on both their miter saws and their batteries.
9. User reviews: I’ve used a Ryobi miter saw for years now with no issues. It cuts well, can make several different angled cuts, and never gives me an issue with harder woods. I have a slightly older, corded 10 inch sliding compound miter saw. The only feature I wish it had was a guide laser. Other users on Amazon, Home Depot, Ryobi’s own website typically rate the saws in the high 4 to 5 star review.

Take away

Ryobi offers several models of miter saw to choose from. They differ in size of the blade, sliding and compound cut capabilities, power supply, size of cuts it can make, and overall power of the motor. In general, the more features it offers, the higher the price will be.

Still, a Ryobi miter saw will cost you less than some brands like DeWalt or Milwaukee. But, they may not hold up as well to daily heavy use compared to the more expensive brands, and contractors tend to avoid their use.

If you are DIYer or casual woodworker, you will probably find at least one model of Ryobi miter saw will work for your needs. Just make sure to get a saw that fits your budget, space, and intended use.

Overall, the average woodworker or DIYer should enjoy using a Ryobi miter saw for several years and only need to replace their blades or batteries from time to time.

Need more help?

If you are building your workshop and trying to decide between a miter saw (chop saw) or table saw, check out the benefits and draw backs of each in this comparison post.

If you are new to wood working or DIY, check out this post of suggestions for getting started.