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  1. #1
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    Default Are the older ryobi circular saws any good

    I just bought an older ryobi W-840c 235mm circular saw to permanently mount in a triton Mk3 new series work center that I bought a week ago seeing the 185mm makita isn't cutting the mustard on deeper cuts as I do alot of ripping to get the timber sizes I want as I mainly work with untread timber from pallets that businesses put out side of the road for firewood. I have heard older ryobi saws are good but looking for info based on experience from actual owners and I am also trying to find a manual for it but online searches come up with nothing.

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  3. #2
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    Older Ryobi stuff was good these days they just make rubbish I have older Ryobi mitre saw it has a cast iron base it is built like a tank, if it is any thing that I don't think you will have
    problems

  4. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by China View Post
    Older Ryobi stuff was good these days they just make rubbish I have older Ryobi mitre saw it has a cast iron base it is built like a tank, if it is any thing that I don't think you will have
    problems
    This is the saw I am talking about I got the pictures from the auction I won
    955251886.jpg
    955251907.jpg
    955251927.jpg

  5. #4
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    I've got an old 7 1/4" Ryobi circular saw I bought at a garage sale for $5. It works well enough. Ryobi stuff was always handyman grade though, but I guess compared to some of today's stuff 80's handyman is 2019 trade duty. Can't imagine it outperforming a makita though...
    I'm just a startled bunny in the headlights of life. L.J. Young.
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  6. #5
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    Try it as it is on some bigger sections of hardwood and see how accurately it cuts

  7. #6
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    sorry about the double post folks refer to my post below
    Last edited by Skilsaw; 10th February 2019 at 06:13 PM. Reason: accidentally double posted

  8. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by damian View Post
    I've got an old 7 1/4" Ryobi circular saw I bought at a garage sale for $5. It works well enough. Ryobi stuff was always handyman grade though, but I guess compared to some of today's stuff 80's handyman is 2019 trade duty. Can't imagine it outperforming a makita though...
    I am not expecting makita performance from a ryobi but I do expect better than an ozito, main reason I got the old ryobi is that it will be permanently mounted on the triton MK3 which I currently have a brand new 185mm makita running on it but I want to take it out and save it for work that needs to be done freehand as I got the triton mainly for ripping and splitting timber down to the sizes and thicknesses I want and be able to go past 50mm also looking into a bit of router related stuff as I have the router top for it as well

  9. #8
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    I dont think you can compare different size saws for the same task. That Ryobi is 1750w what was the makita? The right blade and sharpness also is a BIG factor on how a saw performs. Chances are the old Ryobis were better made than todays offerings. I think an old saw is the way to go for firewood but for ripping stock a good sharp rip blade will make things easier. That blade in the picture is about 40t so is likely a combination blade you need about a 24t blade for deep rips.
    Regards
    John

    PS On a second look I see it is a 30t so may be okish for the task, Sandvik were good. Sadly no longer around.
    On my 10'' table saw I use a 24t rip and it glides through wood that would stall the saw trying to rip with the 40t blade.
    Regards
    John

  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by orraloon View Post
    I dont think you can compare different size saws for the same task. That Ryobi is 1750w what was the makita? The right blade and sharpness also is a BIG factor on how a saw performs. Chances are the old Ryobis were better made than todays offerings. I think an old saw is the way to go for firewood but for ripping stock a good sharp rip blade will make things easier. That blade in the picture is about 40t so is likely a combination blade you need about a 24t blade for deep rips.
    Regards
    John
    The makita has a 1200 watt motor ,I did not have the intention of using the blades that are coming with the ryobi as I do not know the usage history of them or what they have been used on and my intention was to buy a new 24 tooth blade for it anyway.

  11. #10
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    You beat me to it as I made an edit.
    The blade is the bit doing the job.
    Regards
    John

  12. #11
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    Here in the states, most ryobi stuff was low grade (the older - really old - blue and yellow stuff). There were a few tools here from ryobi that were as good as anything, though (like 15 amp routers) and were made in japan, and must've made their way here through woodworking supply. My understanding at the time was that the positioning of the brand in japan was not econo - that was here, so if you got a tool designed to be econo, that's what it was. If you got a tool that was designed to be pro, it was every bit as good as anything else available at the time (like makita or dewalt before they started cheapening the brand).

    Here in the states now, the ryobi brand is cheap but tougher tools, and my experience with them is that they're not always particularly comfortable, but they have better longevity than a lot of the other compromised brands (the newer porter cable, dewalt, and here in the states - ridgid. I've had some of the light green ryobi tools since they first came out, and the aforementioned at the same time, and of those, half of the ridgid tools have gone kaput, I have one working dewalt tool, and i had to throw the porter cable tools away - cordless post brand change tools, not the older PC 262 sander or 15 amp router type stuff - that's still good.

    I wouldn't be afraid of a ryobi saw with enough amperage to do the work. If it was made in japan (unlikely, but you might get lucky), I'd consider it on par with anything. Still waiting for my first ryobi cordless tool to give out, as I expected it would wither away and I'd be left with ridgid stuff - which can be found on sale here. The latter felt better in use, but didn't last.

  13. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by D.W. View Post
    Here in the states, most ryobi stuff was low grade (the older - really old - blue and yellow stuff). There were a few tools here from ryobi that were as good as anything, though (like 15 amp routers) and were made in japan, and must've made their way here through woodworking supply. My understanding at the time was that the positioning of the brand in japan was not econo - that was here, so if you got a tool designed to be econo, that's what it was. If you got a tool that was designed to be pro, it was every bit as good as anything else available at the time (like makita or dewalt before they started cheapening the brand).

    Here in the states now, the ryobi brand is cheap but tougher tools, and my experience with them is that they're not always particularly comfortable, but they have better longevity than a lot of the other compromised brands (the newer porter cable, dewalt, and here in the states - ridgid. I've had some of the light green ryobi tools since they first came out, and the aforementioned at the same time, and of those, half of the ridgid tools have gone kaput, I have one working dewalt tool, and i had to throw the porter cable tools away - cordless post brand change tools, not the older PC 262 sander or 15 amp router type stuff - that's still good.

    I wouldn't be afraid of a ryobi saw with enough amperage to do the work. If it was made in japan (unlikely, but you might get lucky), I'd consider it on par with anything. Still waiting for my first ryobi cordless tool to give out, as I expected it would wither away and I'd be left with ridgid stuff - which can be found on sale here. The latter felt better in use, but didn't last.
    The saw is definitely a japanese made ryobi it turned up today and it is built like a tank just waiting to get a new blade for it then it will be mounted onto the bracket for my triton MK3 saw and router table where it will stay for good

  14. #13
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    Dec 2017
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    Default

    I had the 7 1/4 inch version of this saw from new and found it very solid and reliable but fairly heavy. Disposed of it recently & was still in good order.
    Used it with a diamond blade for a long time for pavers, tiles etc.
    Supposed to have superior bearings and generally higher quality than usual consumer stuff of that time.
    I found however that the base was not parallel to the blade and that gave grief until I fixed it.
    Think it could be heavy for raising and lowering under the Triton.
    Don't think you could go wrong with it though.

  15. #14
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    Default

    We had a talk on power tools at last nights TTTG meeting and it was mentioned that the original Ryobi tools were powered with Towa motors.
    I know from personal experience how well Towa stuff was made and it lasts forever.
    H.
    Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)

  16. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Skilsaw View Post
    The saw is definitely a japanese made ryobi it turned up today and it is built like a tank just waiting to get a new blade for it then it will be mounted onto the bracket for my triton MK3 saw and router table where it will stay for good
    Well done. The router that I was thinking of yesterday was sold in the US as the RE-600, made in japan. I see them from time to time used on ebay (there's one for $100 now).

    A friend has the same thing - it's a no-bs solid 1990s tool. He's a tool snob, so I only remembered this because I poked fun at him at one point for having a ryobi tool and he corrected me about that particular router post-haste.

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