$69 18v kit

[subharmonic]

Home Depot has a sale on a Ryobi kit
Saw, light, drill, and vacumn

Not the best set but a good start or even a 2nd set for anyone who needs one,

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... 21&cj=true

Edit:
Credit goes to Cfrost on Fatwallet.com for this find.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Home Depot has a sale on a Ryobi kit
Saw, light, drill, and vacumn

The 5 1/2" blade of the saw is a major limitation. Cutting speed is slow, and you can't get good blades for it. For not too much more go for the Porter-Cable saw/drill kit at Lowes. The saw is 6 1/2", which you can get good blades for, and the overall quality is much better.

[Chris_Allen]

I have one and built a pair of T48's with it. I replaced the blade with something better but at 45 degree cuts (equivalent of a 17mm depth on 12mm ply) it really struggles and that wasn't on birch!

It is perfectly possible but the cuts are very time consuming with this saw. You will also flatten a battery in about 30 minutes of use, so you'll need at least 3 normal or a couple of Lithium Ions.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I have one and built a pair of T48's with it. I replaced the blade with something better but at 45 degree cuts (equivalent of a 17mm depth on 12mm ply) it really struggles and that wasn't on birch!

It is perfectly possible but the cuts are very time consuming with this saw. You will also flatten a battery in about 30 minutes of use, so you'll need at least 3 normal or a couple of Lithium Ions.

My Porter-Cable handles 2x4s with ease, and I haven't drained a battery yet in a normal day's cutting. That's with Nicad batteries too. Not all batteries are created equal, I guess, because the Porter-Cable last three times as long as my Ryobi.

[Bruce Weldy]

I have the Ryobi kit....bought it years and years ago. Have added a second saw and drill because the deal was so good and it came with a charger and batteries. Now have two chargers and have bought some new batteries over the years. The Ryobi stuff is just fine for weekend warriors. Now, I would not try to build a BFM speaker with that saw - but then, I wouldn't build one with any circular saw. So, if you are buying it to build with - go with one of the more expensive units. If you are using it for just cutting 4x8s down to size - it is just fine.

And.....their batteries are WWWAAAAYYYY cheaper than any of the others.

Now as to pretty much any other Ryobi stuff......I wouldn't touch it.

[subharmonic]

I cut a lot of my T-60 panels with a 14.4 dewault. She whined like crazy but just kept on her til the cuts were done. Then I used a lot of PL and Bondo.

/palmface

I don't think it is the best stuff out there but for the price if you need stuff for weekends it is great. Considering buying one myself.