RYOBI 18V One+ 5-1/2 Circular Cordless Saw PCL500B (Review and demo)

Ryobi adds another brush motor product to their 18 volt eco system of tools, the RYOBI 18V One+ 5-1/2 Circular Cordless Saw PCL500B. This 5-1/2 inch circular saw might seem like a toy, but in reality it can handle 2 x 4 post and cut through hard wood. Join us as we unbox, assemble, talk safety, and see if this RYOBI 18V One+ 5-1/2 Circular Cordless Saw PCL500B makes the cut.
Product provided by Home Depot Seeds program in return for an
unbiased written review with no other obligation or compensation.
Home Depot has nothing to do with the making of this video.

[@paulgrabowski]

This video was enough for me to get this saw. I own a couple other Ryobi tools and I think they’re really good and underrated.

[@cfldriven]

Paul, I agree with you, Ryobi tools are underrated. Yesterday I needed to cut a piece of wood, and it was so easy to grab the saw, slap a battery, adjust depth, make the cut and put it all away.

[@jsn23nc]

Good video straight to the point. This is a damn good tool. Worked way better than I expected

[@cfldriven]

I agree with you. While I only use it a few times a year, it certainly get the job done quickly with minimal hassle. Thanks for watching and the feedback.

[@KINGSTONSPRIDE]

Nope! I built my sons entire outside one bedroom house with this saw. Just get multiple battery’s.

[@cfldriven]

Thank you for sharing how mighty this little saw is and congrats on the project.

[@tom2471980]

Thanks for this video I've just brought one and have never used one before so this was really helpful especially the safety tips.

[@cfldriven]

I'm strong believer in finishing each project without bloodshed or injury. Enjoy your tool and stay safe. Thanks for watching.

[@rickhorvath]

You’re a great teacher! Thanks for this informative video.

[@cfldriven]

Rick thank you for watching and taking the time to provide feedback.

[@lindsaysaurus]

Thank you for this! I just got a set with this saw, an impact driver and a drill and I was pretty nervous about using a circular saw for the first time

[@cfldriven]

Actually sounds like a good way to be around any cutting tool. Stay safe and thank you for watching.

[@Dutcharmytent]

I score this video 100/100 for getting everything right. Thumbs up.

[@cfldriven]

Thank you very much for the score, although someone mentioned I shouldn't be wearing gloves, but they help with nerve sensation. Still very much appreciated. Will be doing a video on the new Ryobi 10" 18 volt, sliding compound miter saw in the coming weeks.

[@Dutcharmytent]

@@cfldriven As a Health and Safety Officer that has taught tool safety for over 46 years you did everything correctly, in fact more than was required by a tool review. I retired last month and still have all my fingers. I thought every extra tips you gave us were almost essential . All circular saws can be lethal. I particularly liked the bit about keeping the battery out while fitting the blade. How true is that.

[@cfldriven]

@@Dutcharmytent I feel not enough attention is paid to tool safety, and it only takes a micro second for things to go wrong. I'm always amazed at the number of sandal wearing youtubers.

[@cruzfelix2747]

Best instructional video on KZbin

[@cfldriven]

Thank you kindly.

[@aedembassy]

Thank you so much for this great instructional video. I am about to buy this saw (my first ever) and I am very grateful for all your tips.

[@cfldriven]

A few years back, I built my garage storage shelf using a heavy corded full sized saw and while runtime was never an issue, constantly watching the cord so it didn't get cut or hung up was a hassle. The immediate freedom from the cord and the light weight make this saw a pleasure to work with. Enjoy.

[@cuarajhyrojayju4397]

Thank you, for helping me set up my new circular saw, great video!

[@cfldriven]

And thank you for taking the time to write.

[@refsa01]

I am old school, I always wanted to have cordless tools ,I bought this saw today and can't wait to use it, video post was great 😊

[@cfldriven]

I am not a wood smith, but this saw comes in very handy for the occasional projects. And of course being cordless eliminates the constant watching out for where the electrical cord is. Thanks for watching and taking the time to write.

[@bigonprivacy2708]

Great job. Just watched your video before I'm using this tool for the first time. Thank you!

[@cfldriven]

Thank you for watching and hope you enjoy this little but useful tool.

[@hangtough503]

Beautifully shot video. Excellent editing. So easy to follow. Just got this today at HD. Thank you for sharing knowledge. D😎🇺🇸🤙

[@cfldriven]

Wow, thanks for the wonderful feedback. Hope you enjoy the new saw, I find it great for my occasional use. Thanks for watching.

[@RawFitChris]

Very useful and well done video! Thanks for your excellent tutorial and review. Good man.

[@cfldriven]

The other day I needed to install a cross beam in the ceiling to support an electrical box and this little saw was the perfect tool to get the task done. Thank you for the feedback and for watching.

[@bffpuspin7383]

Thank you for this detailed video. It helped me a lot as a beginner

[@cfldriven]

Thank you for the feedback, glad to hear it was useful. Thanks for watching.

[@davidstinson1458]

Outstanding video! Thank you for taking the time to go over the safety of the saw!!!!

[@cfldriven]

Since it looks so small, some might thing it not as dangerous as a full sized saw, but they are both capable of doing a lot of destruction. Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.

[@lings628]

Thank you for the fantastic video, demo and safety advice. I had no idea. Thanks

[@cfldriven]

Thank you for the kind feedback.

[@erdenesanaa]

Great clear instructional video. Thank you!

[@cfldriven]

Thank you for watching.

[@8izen]

Thank you, this was the information I needed.

[@cfldriven]

While not a framer or carpenter first choice, for my home projects involving 2x4 and paneling it gets the job done. Thank you for the feedback.

[@txb4u]

Helpful! Added to my home playlist!

[@cfldriven]

Thank you for checking us out. If you like it don't forget to subscribe to support the channel.

[@holukea]

Good job on this video, lots of info communicated clearly and efficiently. Thanks.

[@cfldriven]

Thanks for the watching and the feedback.

[@meredithlee12]

Great great video!! Very informative and very helpful!

[@cfldriven]

Meredith, thank you for taking the time to watch and comment.

[@davidnickname4149]

Great Video. Just ordered mine for a small dog house im building. Thanks!

[@cfldriven]

Next to the oscillating saw, this little cordless is perfect for so many little projects. Just have to keep reminding myself it still just as dangerous as a full size saw. Thanks for watching and best of luck with the dog house.

[@BrooklynSailorBoy]

Thank you for this excellent presentation. I've been debating whether to return my Ryobi 5 1/2 inch circular saw along with a few other RYOBI products. It seems to fight me on a variety of levels and simply does not cut as smooth as I see in the videos. I even went out and bought another blade with more teeth for final cuts thinking that would help, but still it's not cutting as smoothly as I would like. Through the videos I see it works great so I'm going to hang onto it and try to find out from one or two of the local hardware stores what I might be doing wrong. Your safety tips are very much appreciated.

[@cfldriven]

Thank you for the feedback. I have been pleased with this saw, but I'm a light user. Due to its lower RPM it is important to let the blade handle the feed rate. Try not to push the saw into the material, but instead just guide it as the blade cuts through the material.

[@jaguar1822]

Hi, maybe you aré using a 1.5ah or 2ah battery, for better results try with a 4ah battery

[@cfldriven]

@@jaguar1822 All my Ryobi batteries are either HP 4Ah or just 4Ah. On this tool using the higher amperage battery gets you only a longer run-time. Thank you for watching.

[@martinmolina3670]

Great video! Appreciate the safety tips!

[@rmmccarthy1240]

Great safety guidance.👍 Nice job.

[@cfldriven]

Keeping your digits on your hands is worth the time and effort. Thanks for watching.

[@rmmccarthy1240]

@@cfldriven you bet

[@13squier]

I know this comment is a year late but at 2:24 this is not a brushless motor. Ryobi has 2 levels of tools and this saw is of the "entry level" kind that all have brushed motors. The "pro" level tools have brushless motors and are identified by the "HP" branding (and of course higher price.)

[@cfldriven]

Clay, thank you for the catch. You are correct this saw uses a brush motor. Currently (July 2023) it is one of the giveaway tools with the purchase of battery kit.

[@MariaGonzalez-ei1pv]

Great video

[@cfldriven]

Maria thank you for the kind feedback.

[@bokehspace-q7w]

Very helpful, thank you

[@cfldriven]

Thanks for watching. I still find this a handy tool to have.

[@REVNUMANEWBERN]

Got mine as a "Freebie" in a sale, sad that NO rip guide came with it, had to order separately

[@cfldriven]

Still not bad for free. Since I don't do much wood working, this has been perfect for the occasion cut. Thanks for sharing.

[@karolinakardona2]

Thank you for a great video, Can I use any Ryobi circular saw to cut thin wood? or what blade whould i use for ?

[@cfldriven]

If you want a nice smooth cut, you will need a 100 Teeth blade. They run about $9 to 11 at HD or ACE.

[@cameraz99]

This looks like a *left-handed* circular saw. Every other circular saw I have owned had the blade on the other side!

[@cfldriven]

Traditionally worm drive circular saws had the blade on the left side while sidewinder saws had the blade on the right side. As the saws went cordless, manufacturers went with blade-right on 7-1/4-inch saws and blade-left on 6-1/2-inch models, but now it can vary within brands and sizes. Regardless of which side the blade is on, I try to keep my body on the other side whenever possible. Thanks for the question.

[@7skanderbeg]

Power=IV = 4A * 18V > 1.5A * 18V. If resistance changes with bigger battery than the power would stay the same.

[@robertabyrd7794]

Thank you so much

[@cfldriven]

Thank you for taking the time to watch.

[@timchan334]

Good tips and all, thx

[@cfldriven]

Tim, thank you for taking the time to watch.

[@victorubiofseismicmanpower7886]

Thankyou helpful vedio

[@cfldriven]

Victor, good to hear the video was helpful. Thank you for watching.

[@jaredwalsh7307]

My question is can it cut through a 2x4 at a 45° angle.

[@cfldriven]

The cutting depth at 45° angle is 1-3/16".

[@KirilNikolov-qd3gp]

@cfldriven Thanks for the informative video, I’ll be using this as a reference when I start my first DIY home project here soon with my new Ryobi 5-1/2”. Question: what’s the difference between the PCL500 and PCL500b saws? I have the former written on my tool’s data plate but I see the latter being referenced in a lot of places as well. I haven’t been able to find an explicit answer to this, but the specs seem to be identical. Are they both one and the same? Also you mentioned the saw having a brushless motor in your video at 2:25, isn’t this a brushed motor? Thanks.

[@cfldriven]

Kiril, it could be that the B is a new version of the same product. Yes you are correct, I misstated when I said it was brush-less, it is actually a brush motor. Two years in and still happy with this tool.

[@KirilNikolov-qd3gp]

@@cfldriven I just got a response from Ryobi customer service, both part numbers are the exact same saw but the “b” means “baretool” and is added onto the part number to signify that it’s just the standalone tool without the battery. Thanks for your help and the great video.

[@cfldriven]

@@KirilNikolov-qd3gp Thank you for taking the time to share what you discovered.

[@Kevinrichardsonministries]

@@cfldriven ... LOL... I just spent over an hour trying to verify that the motor was brushless like you said. Glad I found this post as I was going crazy...

[@Kevinrichardsonministries]

@@KirilNikolov-qd3gp ... Good to know about "the B thing"... Thanks for posting what you found out !!

[@csl9495]

Grewt video. I just bought a 6 piece ryobi kit and im new to diy. I'd like to make use of the 5-1/2 circular saw before i ever investvin a bigger one.

[@cfldriven]

A great way to get into DIY. I find it handy for simple one off cuts, all without the hassle of a cord. Enjoy!

[@Mr_Zimm]

Wearing gloves while using a circular saw? That's wild.

[@cfldriven]

Yeah I know a lot of people recommended not to wear gloves with rotatory cutting tools, but according to the Hand and Power Tools guide by Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA 3080 2002 (Revised) "Use gloves and appropriate safety footwear when using electric tools." The gloves also help with the nerves in my hand. I always try to keep both hands on the saw when the blade is spinning. Thanks for watching.

[@HowItWorks1]

Why is the blade on the left side? All my other saws have the blade on the right side. It seems a little awkward.

[@cfldriven]

You probably don't have a Milwaukee cordless. Traditionally worm drive circular saws had the blade on the left side while sidewinder saws had the blade on the right side. As the saws went cordless, manufacturers went with blade-right on 7-1/4-inch saws and blade-left on 6-1/2-inch models, but now it can vary within brands and sizes. Regardless of which side the blade is on, I try to keep my body on the other side whenever possible. Thanks for the question.

[@HowItWorks1]

@@cfldriven Thanks for the response. I have Milwaukee 7 1/2 cordless and other brands and they are on the right. Just what a person gets used to. Tech service at Ryobi thought it was for use by left- handed folks.

[@cfldriven]

@@HowItWorks1 Your right about it being what you get used to. Looking at Milwaukee cordless, blade size dictates whether you end up with a right or left-side blade. In the current listing only the 7-1/4 rear handle (left) and 7-1/4 sidewinder (right) give you an option.

[@jammaas2597]

I'm more concerned about the direction of the teeth....

[@berserkforeal6953]

Is this brushed or brushless?

[@MrJetDevil]

Brushed one

[@cfldriven]

Surprisingly this is still a brushed motor. I thought they had switched all their new products to brushless since it suppose to deliver more power and longer runtime. The new Ryobi 40 volt 20" mower which arrived today and I will be reviewing soon has a brushless motor.

[@davidqi8073]

can this blade able to cut plywood?

[@cfldriven]

If you are looking to cut more than a few sheets I would get something like the 5-1/2 in. x 100-Tooth OSB/Plywood Circular Saw Blade. They are about $10.

[@davidqi8073]

@@cfldriven I may need cut 2 pics 4*8 into 6pieces for the storage shelves. Wonder what’s the difference, the bigger teeth causing kick back?

[@cfldriven]

@@davidqi8073 You'll get cleaner cut with the correct blade and it will cut easier. I would pop for the blade which adds to the versatility of the tool.

[@poonhandler86]

FYI iv built multiple houses with this saw

[@cfldriven]

Lol, never saw this saw as a pro product for contractors, but seems like Ryobi is up to the challenge. Impressive, thank you for sharing your experience.

[@ryanryan5375]

Never a good idea to wear gloves when using any kinda circular saw. Good video tho

[@cfldriven]

Ryan, thanks for the info, excellent advice. I wear them to avoid hand tremors but always make sure hands are only on the grip handles and no where else.

[@chocotoynk2931]

This saw is junk. Used different kinds of batteries and blade on it hoping it will imprive it's performance and still same thing it stops midway and can't cut at all.

[@cfldriven]

Choco, sorry to hear about your bad experience. I'm going on two years of use and have yet to have any issues with this tool. I find that guiding and not pushing the saw into the material works best as the motor is not as powerful compare to larger saw.

[@loktom4068]

You are absolutely right. I tend to push my saw to fast too.​@cfldriven

[@cfldriven]

@@loktom4068 Yep, I notice a lot of people push their cutting tools, it wasn't until I learned to guide that my cuts got cleaner and smoother.

[@REVNUMANEWBERN]

IF you buy one of these and you HAVE to have a Rip Edge Guide Assembly Part Number: 201985001 they are NO longer available, I have checked 15 "sources" and there are NONE some sources state they are discontinued

[@cfldriven]

Ryobi should have but did not included with this saw. I tried using one from my old jigsaw but it did not work. Thank you for the update.

[@scottjennings9293]

Great video

[@cfldriven]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to write.