The following article is a preview (and not a review) of the Ryobi P506 Circular Saw with laser as it has not been personally used, and is intended to be an info page with some description, photographs and technical specifications as provided by the manufacturer.
This was one of the cordless power tools from Ryobi I had bought after the P320 AirStrike Cordless Brad Nailer, as I had wanted to ride on the cost advantage of having to buy only the bare power tool without the batteries and charger that normally come with it.
Yes, like the P320, the P506 Circular Saw falls under Ryobi’s One+ series which uses similar 18V lithium-ion battery packs. This way, I only need one battery charger and a handful (that would mean about two to three pieces) batteries, without being forced to pay extra for these normally bundled with every power tool by default. Without redundancies, a lot of money can be saved.
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Truth be told, I wasn’t really in the market for a circular saw, and had been using the Bosch GDM 12-34 Marble Cutter for years as a pseudo-circular saw with satisfactory results. But for the reasons mentioned above, I thought it sensible to have a cordless circular saw in my arsenal of power tools, and this model fit the bill when I came across it online – specs- and price-wise. Plus, I was indeed building a collection of cordless power tools at that time.
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The Ryobi P506 specifically operates with 5½”-diameter saw blades, and is designed to be compact for better handling and manoeuvrability. Cuts to the work material are made on the left side of the blade for higher visibility of the cut line, thus resulting in more accurate cuts and well-suited for the right-handed.
Even then, the Ryobi P506 is equipped with on-board laser to show the forward path of the saw blade. This ExactlineTM laser is automatically activated when the trigger switch is depressed on operating the power tool.
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The handle is wrapped in Ryobi’s new and improved GripZoneTM overmold grip, which offers good traction and comfort. This is similar to the one found on the P320 Brad Nailer and other tools in the One+ series. There is also front pommel handle for two-handed operation and better stability.
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One thing I’ve noticed while dry running the Ryobi P506 is its electric brake, which quickly stops the blade rotation when the trigger switch is released. This feature is built-in for enhanced safety, to prevent accidental cuts after the tool leaves the work material – accidental cuts on the work material. Or human flesh.
Like many power tools under this series, Ryobi has found a neat way to keep the allen key (or hex wrench) on-board, so that mounting or replacement of blades can be done with this wrench within easy reach.
It is always interesting to see how Ryobi find ways to ensure even the unassuming tool can be stored on the power tool body for user convenience, and to avoid its likely misplacement (see following photos).
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The Ryobi P506 can be made to tilt on its axis so that bevel cuts up to 50 degrees from the horizontal can be made. With most cuts being made at the 45-degree angle and fractional parts of it, it is smart on Ryobi’s part to include a 22.5-degree mark on the graduated scale.
Or maybe that comes as standard on most circular saws in the market.
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Manufacturer’s Specifications
| Specifications | Technical Data |
|---|---|
| Battery voltage | 18V lithium-ion |
| Blade size | 5½-inch diameter |
| Arbor size | 10 mm |
| Rotation speed | 4,700 revs per minute |
| Cut capacities | 11/8” at 45o to 19/16” at 90o |
| Tool weight: | 2.1 kg (4.7 lbs) |
SEE ALSO:
- Ryobi P320 18V One+ AirStrike Brad Nailer
- Ryobi P514 18V One+ Reciprocating Saw
- Ryobi P421 18V One+ Angle Grinder