Thread: Ryobi ETS1526AL is it worth it?

Originally Posted by Cub

Hello all new guy on the block!
Any way i have been looking at the Ryobi ETS1526AL at my Local Bunnings and i am just
wondering is it worth it for me, all i will be doing is little stuff like furnitue making etc.
Any help would mean alot

I wouldn't go for Ryobi or something that cheap in a table saw. You will save money but ultimately you will be left wishing for something more and then you will have to fork out for something more expensive whilst still having wasted money on something cheap.

I bought a triton workcentre because it was cheap and I thought it would be all the I needed. I was hoping to save money but I ended up regreting it because it did not meet my expectations (which were unrealistically high for the money I was paying). I have now sold the workcentre which I paid $500 for and got $350 back. I have now had to spend another $1600 on buying a Jet Proshop but now I am confident that I will not upgrade in the forseeable future and am very happy.

It all comes down to expectations - if you are willing to put up with a very loud universal motor, joints that "sort of fit" and dust all over your workshop then the Ryobi is probably fine. If you want something decent that you will be happy with in the long term then I would probably raise the budget a bit and get a contractor's/hybrid saw or similar.

If you are new to the game like me, many people get very good results with a Triton Workcentre but I would say that despite its relative low price someone with a lot of experience is more likely to get the best performance from it and an entry level contractors saw or basic cabinet saw is probably easier to use for someone new to woodworking (like me) to get good results with. Ultimately anyone who starts out on a Workcentre and sticks with woodworking upgrades to something better. They are also an absolute pain in the #### to setup accurately and keep them that way.

If you haven't got much space and need something about the same size as the Ryobi I would look at better brands like Makita, Hitachi or Dewalt.

Cub

I have bought a number of Ryobi tools and have some pretty scary experiences.

I bought one of there compound mitre saws because I didn't think I could justify buying a Makita. The first time I used there was load Bang and little pieces of plastic spewed out of the motor vents.

The second incident involved their laminate trimmer. Again I bought it because it was cheap. I had done prbably 5 or 6 jobs with it. On this particlar occassion I was cutting a small chamfer on a work piece when the thing started vibrate uncontrollably and I was showered with fragments of metal. A diecast metal component inside the motor had shattered an fallen into the spinning router bit. If I hadn't been wearing a full face shield I would have had metal shards in me face.

I won't trust Ryobi again.

B.O.B.

Hello Cub,

If you buy a cheap tool, it will be noisy and dusty and it won't last you very long.
Your work you do on it will take longer and won't be as accurate.
I recommend you research the table saws and find a bargain.
These are just a few ...

The Hitachi selling for 529,
Features:
• Hand wheel control for depth adjustments
• Solid die cast table
• Massive 610mm ripping capacity
• Extends right
• “Fold & Roll” design incorporating stand, handle, and wheels
• Mitre gauge
• Drop down rear support rod
• On-board storage for all accessories
• Accurate Rip Fence with easy to read scale
• Dust collection port supplied as standard
Specification:
• No Load Speed : 5000/min
• Weight : 33kg
• Blade Diameter : 254mm
• Power Input : 1430 watts
• 90 Degrees Cut Depth : 73mm
• 45 Degrees Cut Depth : 63mm
• Table Length : 486mm
• Table Width : 625mm (886mm extended)
• Standard Accessories : Stand, wheels, mitre guage, spanners, support rod, push rod and side extension

The Metabo with 2000watt motor selling for 899,
Features:
• Work anywhere with real power 2000 Watt
• New 2000-watt, TS 250 Table Saw is light and compact enough to easily move around.
• It’s got the power you need for big cuts and the precision you’d expect from a much more expensive saw.
• The innovative extendable table gives you 630mm of rip cutting capability.
• It's got soft start for smoother start-ups and quiet performance, and has a cord wrap facility for easier transportation.
• If you work on-site, this table saw will make your life much easier.
• Toolless adjustment of entire bevel range: -1.5º- 46.5º
Specifications
Dimensions L x W x H 760 x 760 x 490 mm
Table size 755 / 985 x 645 mm
Cutting height 90/45° 77 mm/52 mm
Rated load speed 2.600 /min
Cutting speed 34 m/s
Saw blade Ø 250 x 30 mm
Mains voltage 230 V
Rated input power 2 kW
Output power 1,2 kW
Weight 32 kg

The Dewalt selling for 1050,
DW744-XE Features
Exclusive, telescoping fence delivers 622mm to the left and 406mm to the right rip capacity without sacrificing portability
Dual rack and pinion design allows for fast, smooth and accurate fence adjustments, ensuring that the fence is always parallel to the blade
Telescoping rails retract within the saw top for easy portability
Features a 1,600W high torque motor with the power to cut pressure treated timber and hardwoods
Features a heavy duty internal motor mechanism which stabilises the arbor, keeping vibration to a minimum
Dust collection port easily connects to a vacuum for efficient dust extraction
673 x 489mm table surface provides superior material support
Quick bevel lock allows for quick and accurate bevel cuts
Polymer coated aluminium top will not snag or scratch materials such as melamine or laminates
Tool free fence for easy removal and features drop down support for sheets of ply
On board adjustments ensures years of accuracy
Large on/off paddle switch easy to turn on and off
Height adjustment wheel allows for quick height adjustment
Motor dust shroud keeps harmful dust particles away from motor
Specifications
Watts In 1,600 W
No Load Speed 3,650 rpm
Blade Size 254 mm
Max. Depth of Cut at 90º 79 mm
Max. Depth of Cut at 45º 57 mm
Max. Ripping Capacity [left] 622 mm
Max. Ripping Capacity [right] 406 mm
Tool Weight 29 kg

The Makita selling for 1149,
Features,
Machine saw table with high rigidity delivers accurate cutting work
Powerful motor enables ripping 4"x8" wood with telescopic sub table
Rip fence with very smooth sliding movement with anti-lifting T shaped rail
Specifications
Blade Diameter 255mm
Capacity - at 90 degrees 91mm
Capacity - at 45 degrees 63mm
Continuous Rating Input 1,650W
No Load Speed 4,800rpm
Dimensions 665(L)x766(W)x344(H)mm
Net Weight 30kg
Power Supply Cord 2.5m

Also Woodfast table saw selling for 1495,
The Woodfast name is synonymous with quality and this Woodfast table saw is no exception to that rule. The sliding table is mounted right next to the blade just like on a panel saw to provide accurate trimming and to minimise chip-out when cutting brittle materials. Twin dust ports take dust away at the source, meaning less mess in your workshop. The fence is mounted on a heavy round bar and is supported by a large casting. An aluminium extrusion forms the cross piece of the fence. This cross piece can be taken off and turned 90° counterclockwise so that small pieces such as those used in boxmaking can have proper support. This is also useful when cutting thin sheet materials like laminates and plywood.
motor 2hp 240v
motor type induction
motor speed 2800rpm
dive type single belt
blade diameter 254mm
dado capable no
arbor diameter 30mm
max cut at 90° 78mm
max cut at 45° 58mm
max rip cut (left / right) 0 / 615mm
max crosscut 620mm
table size (W x D) 620 x 650mm
table height 850mm
blade to table front 210mm
blade to table rear 205mm
fence type aluminium - micro adjusting
blade guard opaque - tilting
riving knife style rise and fall splitter
switch type NVR safety
dust port 1 x 4" (100mm) and 1 x 2-1/2" (60mm)
stand type enclosed cabinet
workshop footprint 1330 x 1600 x 1160mm
shipping weight 110kg
net weight 105kg
packing size 1000 x 650 x 500mm

Originally Posted by Cub

Hello all new guy on the block!
Any way i have been looking at the Ryobi ETS1526AL at my Local Bunnings and i am just
wondering is it worth it for me, all i will be doing is little stuff like furnitue making etc.
Any help would mean alot

Hi. I think it depends on how much you are going to use it and how much you want to spend. I imagine you are just starting off with this hobby and wouldnt want to spend the kind of money that some of the saws cost to start off with.
The cheaper saws are not as good as as the more expensive ones but they do a job and I have built furniture using some of the cheaper saws and the finish has been quite acceptable. So guess its horses for courses. What suits you and what suits your budget. Good luck whatever you choose.

I got one of these four months ago and at first I hated the thing.

- The fence only locks one end and won't sit straight when it's locked on and will lift, wobble and cause long cuts to be different thicknesses at each end.
- The riving knife had to be ground down a bit for it to curve around the blade evenly without the end being too close the blade.
- The mitre slots are inverted Ts which means making rails for them difficult and/or not as tight as I'd like if I just go for a straight edged rail.
- The mitre gauge/sled thingy that comes with it is ridiculously loose in the slots.
- The plate doobywhacker next to the blade is plastic and mine bowed in the heat.
- The measurment guides are just stickers and not particularly accurate consistently.
- The top surface is aluminium and leaves marks on the material.
- The blade height and angle controls are one thing and I find them difficult to use and not very smooth.

Having said all that though...I've begun to like the table because it was cheap and suits most of my needs.

- I've replaced the blade with something better/finer.
- Made a few sleds, taking care to be as accurate as I could and they now negate the need for the fence a lot of the time.
- I've taken to squaring the fence up and clamping a block of wood behind the far end of the fence to keep it straight.
- While the rear dust port works with my dust collector, a lot falls out the base of the unit so I've got (or am going to have very shortly) a kind of plate under it which redirects the fallout into the collector.
- Made a hardwood plate thingy for next to the blade instead of the warped plastic one.
- Bought a magnetic digital angle reader to make setting the blade easier
- And unfortunately tend to guesstimate and make A LOT of test cuts to get widths right if I have to use the fence.

It's been fun but a bit of a pain having to come up with ways around the tables' problems but it's now working pretty well for me and it has been a good learning table.

Even though I'm liking it now, I wouldn't ever get another one, nor suggest it to you unless your budget is tight and there's nothing else available and you don't have to the time or inclination to create the "fixes" for it. Sorry to be a spoilsport too.

Thankyou all
I now have some serious thinking to do

Thank you to the members who offerred advice on this post.. I was considering the Ryobi saw myself. I will now do more research and weigh the alternatives before spending my hard earned.. - thanks..