Ryobi TS1143L Miter Saw and Ryobi P551 Miter Saw Review

For TTI, in the compact miter class you’ll find the Ryobi TS1143L 7-1/4″ miter saw—actually, you’ll find a pair of saws. The Ryobi TS1143L is the corded model. Its brother is the P551 Ryobi One+ 18V model that you may have seen in Home Depot stores. Neither of these models slide, so your cutting capacity isn’t as large when compared to the other models from our compact miter saw shootout. The fact that they don’t slide puts them in a different class of miter saw.

These shouldn’t be mistaken for chop saws that have neither miter nor bevel capabilities. You’ll still get both features with either Ryobi 7-1/4″ Miter Saw. What you can expect to get out of these is a solid cross cut in 2×4 material. Once you start mitering and beveling, you’ll really notice the difference between a sliding model and these. The non-sliding puts them in a class that’s a good option for quarter round, baseboards, and other small cuts for trim and finish work (or even flooring if you add a higher quality blade). They’re extremely light weight, even compared to the Pro models we looked at. These are going to be great for trim carpenters on smaller jobs, or for homeowners and DIYers that want to add those small details that make a big difference.

We put both the Ryobi TS1143L 7-1/4″ miter saw and the cordless Ryobi P551 miter saw through testing on 2×4’s and some foam crown molding cuts that we needed to complete. Of course, we also played with some scrap wood that we had to get an idea of mitering and beveling experiences to see what these miter saws are really capable of.

Ryobi TS1143L 7-1/4″ Miter Saw with Laser

Motor: 9 amps
No Load Speed: 5800 RPM
Miter Capacity: 45 degrees left and right
Positive Stops: 0, 15, 22.5, 31.6, 45 degrees left and right
Bevel Capacity: 45 degrees left
Bevel Stops: 0, 45 degrees
Cutting Capacity: 4-1/4″ @ 90 degrees, 3″ @ 45 degrees
Weight: 16 pounds
Price: $89 (Saw a couple in our local Home Depot!)
Warranty: 3 years

Pros: The laser on the Ryobi TS1143L miter saw can dialed in to make an impressively accurate cut. Despite the extreme light weight, the 9 amp motor offers plenty of power that will be even more noticeable with a third party blade.

Ryobi TS1143L Compact Miter Saw Miter Cut

Cons: The raised measurements could stand a paint job so they stand out. We’s also like to see a rubber GripZone added to the handle. With a 24T blade standard, you’ll want to upgrade immediately for a smoother cut. While the positive stops are present, they were a little difficult to get locked in accurately. Finally, we’d love to see the laser tied to the trigger and powered by the saw so that we’re not chewing through AAA’s.

Ryobi TS1143L 7-1/4″ Miter Saw Conclusions

This saw is going to be replacing the Ryobi Blue model TS1142L in the near future. Ryobi’s website still shows that it’s coming soon to Home Depot stores even though several companies online seem to have reconditioned models. I found a couple in my local Home Depot store, so maybe their website just hasn’t caught up yet. It’s definitely got more booty (thank you, Matt Kent) than its 18V brother. With a top mounted laser, it’s a bit difficult to see in daylight. However, we were able to get it dialed in to make outstandingly accurate cuts. On a 2×4, we were able to make a complete 45 degree mitered cut, but came up just short on a 45 degree bevel.

Ryobi P551 18V Cordless Miter Saw with Laser

Motor: 18V Cordless
No Load Speed: 4500 RPM
Miter Capacity: 45 degrees left and right
Positive Stops: 0, 15, 22.5, 31.6, 45 degrees left and right
Bevel Capacity: 5 degrees left
Bevel Stops: 0, 45 degrees
Cutting Capacity: 4-1/4″ @ 90 degrees, 3″ @ 45 degrees
Weight: 15 pounds
Price: $99 (bare tool only)
Warranty: 3 years

Pros: It’s a cordless miter saw! The extreme light weight of the Ryobi P551 is what will draw a lot of users. The designers also went with a lower laser mount that is just as accurate as the corded model but much easier to see.

Ryobi P551 One+ 18V Compact Miter Saw Battery

Cons: Several things are shared with its corded brother here including the need for painted miter measurements, more confident miter stops, and the need for an upgraded blade.

Ryobi P551 Cordless Miter Saw Conclusions

If you plan on cutting 2×4’s with the Ryobi P551 miter saw, plan on taking your time. This cordless Ryobi miter saw is really designed for smaller trim pieces. When you’ve got the workload that this is designed for though, you’ll love the portability and lack of a cord to drag around. Plan on investing in a solid third party blade if you plan on working with hard woods with either of these models. That kind of material will burr and dull the stock blade quickly. Strangely, our 2×4 testing had opposite results than the corded model. We were just short of being able to make a 45 degree miter cut yet able to complete the 45 degree bevel cut.

Both of these Ryobi 7-1/4″ miter saws are targeted to the homeowner that’s going to be doing some basic remodeling or improvements. Cross cutting in 2×4 material is likely the most strenuous task you’ll want to try and tackle. Pros may like these for doing simple cuts into quarter round, and either model is going to be great for cutting trim and decorative additions for a home. Think baseboard, chair railings, narrower crown molding, and even wood flooring up to 4 inches wide. Seeing that most of the tasks you’ll be saving these saws for will be finish work, plan on grabbing a good 40 tooth blade to pair it with. The great thing about the 7-1/4″ diameter on these saws is the blades are widely available and less expensive than 8-1/2″ options.