September 28, 2010

Ryobi RLS1351 Portable Flooring Saw

Looks like the Skil Flooring Saw now has some competition from Ryobi. The Ryobi Flooring Saw is a pretty similar item with all of the same basic features; rip cuts, crosscuts, lightweight, and decent dust collection.

Comparing the saws side-by-side, the Skil seems to have an advantage in functionality with better cutting ability (at a 45 degree miter, the Skil can cut 8-1/2" and the Ryobi can cut 8" and at 0 miter the Skil can make an 18" cut and the Ryobi an 11" cut). The Ryobi claims, 'best in class' dust collection, but we're not sure exactly how that's quantified.

There are also some odd discrepancies between the Ryobi site and the Home Depot site (where the Ryobi saw is exclusively available). First, HD calls the saw the 'Ryobi Laminate Saw,' which is only annoying because it meant we had to spent an entire three minutes looking for it. Secondly, HD says the tool weight is 23 lbs and Ryobi says 18 lbs. The Skil is 25 lbs, so either way the Ryobi is lighter, but still, what's up with the two different numbers? It's likely that HD means 'package weight,' even though they put the number as the 'tool weight.' If we didn't make so many typos ourselves, we'd call that, 'some sloppy internet work.'

At $150, it's the same price as the Skil as well.

At Home Depot