Ryobi R18JS-0 18V ONE+ Jigsaw with LED (Battery & Charger Excluded)

I’m at an age when I remember when power tools were something to be held in awe by starry eyed DIY’ers back in the 1970’s when I was a child. One advert has stuck in my mind since then which, was the Black and Decker advert for a jigsaw that is used to replace practically every tool available. Of course, this is nonsense as a jigsaw is a useful but limited device – and a perfect item for cordless use. First off let’s be clear here that a jigsaw does not negate the need for other cutting tools because frankly they are hopeless if you are trying to cut a straight line even with an edge to run against. If you are cutting thick materials, then you had better prepare yourself for a lot of hand planning afterwards because the cut will not be vertical. Those jigsaw blades bend and deform like a blade of grass in thick boards. But, every now and again you need to cut a curve or an odd shaped hole when creating your Grand Design and for that purpose a jigsaw is king. Even better one that does not have a cord to get in the way and just make life miserable. And the lack of a cord really works for this Ryobi tool because the way a jigsaw works means you don’t need a massive amount of torque which, is dependent upon voltage. Thus the 18V One+ battery – the 5AH one I used – is easily hefty enough for most of a day’s work using the jigsaw. That lack of power cord is such a wonderful thing because it makes this tool ten times more versatile. The actual tool is well made from high quality materials. I say that being an owner of Ryobi tools for ten years over which, I’ve noticed a gentle increase in quality, range and target audience. When I bought my first Ryobi tool it was super cheap and cheerful and aimed just above the bargain bin level. Now? It’s easily the match of decent mid-range stuff from the likes of Bosch and DeWalt. The plastics used are high end glass reinforced stuff and the manufacture is very good giving you a robust tool that will last quite a bit of abuse. I know. I’ve been beating mine to death for ten years on a renovation project and my original hard shiny plastic Ryobi drills are still working perfectly despite having been dropped from the roof on more than one occasion. And there is probably a reason for the increase in quality – and price… Ryobi is made by Techtronic Industries of Hong Kong who also own Milwaukee, AEG, Hoover and quite a few other higher end brands. No one is telling me that in the same factory they are making tools with entirely different components. From what I can see and feel, there is little to differentiate between Ryobi and Milwaukee apart from the eye searing yellow. The plus side of the Early Learning Centre colour of the tool is that it’s easy to find… Best of all the batteries. They are big and bulky no doubt about it when you get the higher amp versions. But, they last well. I have one battery that despite being charged routinely for over ten years is still working well. In use they last just as long as Makita ones of similar AHr rating when I compare to my son’s tools who has his own business as an electrician. In hand this jigsaw feels strong and has a bit of weight when a battery is fitted. This is a ‘Good Thing’ as it helps dampen out the vibrations and makes cutting easier. There are four settings for the blade cutting – which simply boil down to how much the blade swings back and forth. There are little pictograms showing you which to choose but it’s not rocket science. The softer materials work well with the blade vibrating back and forth but as you get into the harder stuff like oak and then metals you simply dial that back or stop it. The blades fit without requiring any tools which, to be fair most are today. Still, it's nice to not have to worry about having the correct screwdriver with you. Overall this is a great tool for the money if you have already bought into the Ryobi One+ battery system. It works well, is strong and cuts decently for a jigsaw without the aggro of a power cord.

Great quality. Thanks

Absolutely brilliant, it is heavy though but you do get used to that. It cuts like a hot knife through butter. I cannot fault Ryobi products at all. They are extremely good quality and such a good price. This is the third Ryobi tool I have purchased and they are so good.

It's a useful tool but I suspect I asked too much of it. Pros: Cordless jigsaw is convenient, although it carries a price premium. Multiple cutting settings are easy to configure and make a real difference to the behaviour of the saw. T-shank fitting makes it quick and easy to fit blades and there's plenty of choice in blade type and manufacturer. Pretty efficient - you'll get a lot of cuts from a single charge. Cons: The back-pressure spring on the blade doesn't provide enough pressure for many of the thinner blades (by which I mean from cutting edge to back of blade) which are the ones you want for cutting tighter curves. I've had blades hop off the retainer spring and even had one untwist itself from the t-shank fitting. This was cutting 12mm laminate. Add to this the tendancy of jigsaw blades to wander left or right and accuracy overall is poor. Cutting a 5cm thick piece of timber, the deflection can exceed 1cm between where the blade should have come out and where it does on the reverse side. Not a problem for the job I was doing, but would be signficant if you were (for example) cutting a sink rebate in a worktop. Overall, it's done the job, but I wouldn't want to rely on it for cutting anything that absolutely has to be true first time, every time.

Really impressed with this jigsaw. It’s a fantastic bit of kit for the price, feels solid in hand and performs well across different cuts. The LED is a nice touch and helps keep visibility clear when working. Power is more than enough for typical DIY jobs and it handles smoothly without any issues. Only minor drawback is it doesn’t come with a guide rule, which would have been useful, but it’s not a deal breaker. Overall, great value for money and a reliable addition to the Ryobi ONE+ range. Would definitely recommend.

bit of good kit to add to the collection.

Really good jigsaw, totally adequate for my needs. Cut through 19mm mdf like a hot knife through butter and left a very clean edge. Love the quick blade change system. So nice not having wires trailing everywhere. Nice addition to my growing Ryobi range.£

Good jigsaw