RYOBI 18V ONE+ HP Brushless Reciprocating Saw, Tool Only (PBLRS01B) review

The PBLRS01B is the tool-only SKU for RYOBI’s 18V ONE+ HP brushless reciprocating saw. It is a full-size, two-handed saw, not the small one-handed PSBRS compact family; its B suffix also separates it from the PBLRS01K1 kit. The exact U.S. page identifies a 1¼-inch stroke and a maximum of 3,200 SPM, and describes a brushless motor, variable-speed trigger, easy-release blade lever, pivoting shoe and onboard LED. The bare tool comes without a battery or charger.

Brushless design and cutting claims

RYOBI promotes this motor as providing 64% faster cutting and advertises more than 380 cuts per charge using a 9Ah battery cutting 2-by-4 pine. These are manufacturer claims with a specific comparison or test context, not independent results, a field test or a runtime promise for another battery and blade. Its 1¼-inch stroke is longer than the PCL515’s one-inch stroke, while the listed 3,200 SPM ceiling is lower than the PCL515’s 3,400. Neither number alone describes the completed cut or predicts performance in a different material.

The longer stroke, brushless motor and LED make this a distinct option within the RYOBI two-hand lineup. The LED may help illuminate the immediate work area, but does not replace proper lighting or make a cut line visible through obstructions. The manual’s instructions still matter: clamp or support work, keep the shoe against the stock, keep hands away from the blade, let the blade come up to speed and do not force it. A reciprocating saw can kick or bind if the blade catches, especially when a workpiece is not secured.

Package and controls

The product page labels the exact PBLRS01B as Tool Only and states that battery and charger are sold separately. It lists a six-inch wood blade and operator manual with the saw. This means the illustrated tool-only package should not be confused with the PBLRS01K1 kit, which adds a 4Ah battery and charger. Someone already equipped with compatible ONE+ batteries may prefer the B package; a first-time platform buyer should account for those omitted parts before comparing the headline listing.

The maker calls the shoe pivoting, and the operator manual says the shoe pivots up and down in both directions. That is useful contact movement, but the reviewed sources do not establish an adjustable-depth shoe with selectable positions. The lever-operated blade clamp makes a tool-free change possible; remove the battery before changing blades and check that the new blade is properly locked. The exact page and manual reviewed here do not publish bare-tool weight, nor do they document selectable orbital action. Neither missing field is inferred from the HP branding or from the kit page.

How it differs from the PCL515

The PCL515B is also a two-handed RYOBI tool-only reciprocating saw, but it uses the PCL515 saw with a one-inch stroke and a listed 3,400 SPM maximum; PBLRS01B is brushless, has a 1¼-inch stroke and tops out at 3,200 SPM in the source spec. Both families have a lever blade change and pivoting shoe wording. The PBLRS01 page additionally names an onboard LED and brushless motor; the PCL515 sources do not establish those details. Choose based on the supported features and package needs, not on the brand’s speed claim as if it were an independently measured ranking.

Buyer checks

Confirm PBLRS01B rather than the K1 kit, check that the seller’s box includes the blade if it matters, and verify that an existing battery and charger are compatible with the 18V ONE+ system. The manufacturer lists no exact tool weight in the reviewed page, so a weight-limited decision cannot rely on an assembled-kit figure. Use blades suited to the material, keep the workpiece stable, remove the pack for blade service and follow the operator manual’s warnings about hidden services and plunge cuts. This is a document-based assessment; it does not claim hands-on performance, ownership or test measurements.