Ryobi has expanded their rotary tool lineup recently, with a new 18V One+ HP brushless rotary tool, model PBLRT01B, being one of the biggest surprises.
I had quite a few “I didn’t think they’d do that” moments when first looking over the new Ryobi cordless rotary tool.
To start off, Ryobi says that their 18V brushless rotary tool delivers 2X more power under load, which sounds reasonable for a more premium tool with brushless motor.
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They also advertise their precision handpiece with durable aluminum construction. The metal handpiece with knurled grip looks to be a major highlight.
It’s hard to tell from the product images, but the new aluminum handpiece looks to be a nice size. The handpieces features a 1/8″ collet size.
From the product images, the Ryobi battery, motor, and controller unit can be hung from a vertical support, similar to the default nature of higher-end flex-shaft tools by Foredom and others.
Ryobi shows off the new brushless rotary tool being used for a wide range of tasks, including wood carving.
The main appeal of a flex-shaft rotary tool like this is that the big weight – in this case the battery, motor, and controls – are removed from the handpiece. Yes, you have to contend with a shaft, but a good handpiece is going to be more nimble than a one-piece rotary tool.
Additionally, flex-shaft tools means you can have a more powerful motor than one-piece rotary tools.
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Key Features & Specs
- 1/8″ collet size
- Variable speed
- 1,000 to 25,000 RPM
- 36″ shaft length
- 40pc accessory set
- 4X faster accessory changes
- Aluminum handpiece
- Integrated hanger
- Compatible with foot pedals
Although Ryobi doesn’t show it very clearly, the base unit is said to have “foot pedal capabilities,” which implies that you can connect standard foot pedals for hands-free power control. It’s not clear if a foot pedal allows for variable speed control or simple on/off control.
Lastly, it looks like Ryobi has adopted a Dremel EZ Lock-like interface for their new cut-off wheels.
Price: $149 (tool-only)
Discussion
This looks to be a huge step up from Ryobi’s new and existing cordless rotary tools.
You get a brushless motor, a base station with built-in speed control and foot pedal compatibility, which will be a big deal to some users. The tool also comes with a robust-looking aluminum-bodied handpiece.
Let’s talk about the speed range, which goes from 1,000 to 25,000 RPM. Most handheld rotary tools top out at 35,000 RPM, and so it might be strange to see a lower max speed on what’s supposed to be a more premium tool.
The average rotary tool on the market today, such as from Dremel, might operate at 5,000 to 35,000 RPM. Here, you don’t get to as high a max speed, but you get a much lower minimum speed. For context, Foredom’s SR series motor, which is their go-to flex-shaft tool motor, operates at up to 18,000 RPM.
In other words, 25,000 max RPM should be okay. That you can take the motor speed as low as 1,000 RPM could be the bigger deal.
The downside of a flex-shaft rotary tool is that it’s not very portable. Ryobi’s cordless brushless motor and control unit definitely changes things a but, but this is more of a “bring your work to the tool” type of hobbyist, crafter, and maker product.
But if you want a more portable tool, there are other options, such as the new Ryobi 12V cordless rotary tool and USB Lithium rotary tool.
MM
Looks like a nice option for someone who needs more than a basic rotary tool and wants more options than a Foredom or the $$$$ industrial machines above Foredom.
One feature I REALLY wish this had, though, would be the ability to run it on AC power. The “base station” design just screams “benchtop tool” to me rather than “portable cordless tool”.
fred
I’d buy it in a minute if it were compatible with my Foredom shafts and handdpieces.
Jared
I think it looks great! That knurled aluminum handpiece looks awesome!
I own the first version and I think it’s a very handy tool that’s fun to use. I still might go for an upgrade though.
Joatman
I don’t understand…….This really isn’t portable like a cordless tool. So why not buy a corded version if you’re going to be confined to a bench or table. If you want portable there are a lot of options like the M12 rotary tool. The size is certainly appealing on the Ryobi but the cord sort of negates that.
JD
I completely agree. I’d much rather have a corded version and not have to change the batteries.
Kh
“In other words, 25,000 max RPM should be okay. That you can take the motor speed as low as 1,000 RPM could be the bigger deal.”
Who the hell uses a rotary tool at 1k rpm?
This seems more like a covert ad disguised as a review tbh.
Stuart
High speeds can sometimes burn, melt, or otherwise damage certain materials.
No, Ryobi didn’t pay for this. But if they’d like to, I could certainly provide much better usage examples than shown in the product images.
Venus Mae Snyder
I use this machine on low RPM to sand, polish and drill Clay jewelry, My husbands big corded Dremel wouldn’t go low enough without burning my pieces. I can use this all day (at least 8 hours) without needing to change the battery, I have used this for many craft projects, the glue gun, heat gun and soldering iron sit next to it on the shelf. As for portability, I love that I can use it at different stations in my craft room without having to find a plug, my old farmhouse doesn’t have enough!
fred
I do power carving with my Foredoms. They work great at the bench in my shop. Take the carving outdoors to a picnic table – then I’d need to run my Honda generator. This might well be a better option.
Jimbo
It looks to me that the stand could be looped into a belt. You really could move around with this thing and the orientation of the tool holder supports that.
King duck
I think the big advantage is you can move it around and not be attached to a cord. Want to carve outside in natural sunlight and fresh air no need to run a cord just grab and go. It has all the advantages of a hand held rotary tool with more power and lighter weight in your hand.
Matt E.
Id say its still portable; its bot like its very heavy or cumbersome. Figure a lot of tasks that you use rotary tools for kick up a lot of dust, so being able to run this outside without fiddling with extension cords seems a plus. Also seems easier to move it around the shop.
Ren
Not a fan of this at all .. U don’t know if others had this problems but mine within the first week was making a weird noise maybe the second time used and then in the third time just stopped working all together
And if course I couldn’t find recipt so waste of money, as much as it great to use the first time U refuse to take the chance and waste monet.. massive let down as I own all and double kf some things if Ryobi
Fazal Majid
If you want a smaller head, consider a Proxxon Micromot MM60, as endorsed by Adam Savage of Mythbusters. The motor is in the head, not via a shaft, so it’s more maneuverable.
JoeM
By that same logic, you can just get the Dremel 225-01 Flex Shaft attachment, and not be limited by the speed of the Proxxon, or the Ryobi. Since a 4000 or 4300 Corded can reach up to 35000 RPM, the Dremel Flex Shaft is really only limited by which Dremel model you put it on.
But, make no mistake, I do want to get myself one of those Proxxon Micromot sets. Long story short, I bought a set of Brass Collets off AliExpress (In the Rotary world, a Brass Collet of any quality will grip tighter than the Steel/Aluminum Collets that usually come with Rotary tools in the North American market.) and needless to say, I feel like a total idiot because they’re designed to fit Proxxon nuts, not Dremel. They’re Metric, like Proxxon. So they’re tiny hair’s width too large to fit in my Dremel rotary tools.
But yes… one can achieve the flex-shaft tool experience using more narrow tools that are already on the market, not limiting one’s self to this Ryobi one. Though the Ryobi is cordless on the power source, so… that’s a little bit of a head scratcher if you need it. You can put the Flex Shaft on one of the Cordless Dremel tools, but I believe they top out at 30000 RPM, which might be a disadvantage for removing rust or tarnish… I don’t know there.
Stacey Jones
If it really rips rust off like that, take my money.
MM
I nearly choked on my coffee when I saw that photo. No way would I choose this tool to wire-brush a brake rotor. I have no doubt the tool did that–a brand new wire brush cuts pretty well–but I think it would take you 20x the time to do the job compared to an angle grinder. That was a poor choice for a marketing photo, where this kind of tool shines is not big heavy parts but rather small areas that a big wire wheel can’t get to.
Stuart
I purchased a brake rotor for a random potential DIY project before (it was under $2 at Amazon), and so it’s possible the product image depicts an in-progress craft/hobby/maker project.
I’d say I cannot imagine anyone doing that, but I once used a rotary tool to cross-cut an oak board. I also used a rotary tool with a sanding drum to create a roundover-like effect. You can do a lot with a rotary tool, a small budget, and a limited workspace.
MM
I’m 100% sure these are staged photos carefully set up to make the tool look good but if you pay attention to the details I don’t think they’re showing any real work.
The brake rotor looks worn out to me, note the lip around the perimeter, so there’s no point in brushing it clean. If the person were repurposing it into something totally different then wouldn’t the finishing be among the last steps to be done, not the first? I think this was simply the case of someone (the photographer?) simply asking for some rusty metal thing they could use for the photo without much more thought given to it.
-Starting back at the top: first pic is using the cutoff wheel…with a very curious grip on the handpiece and no support from the off-hand? Yeah right.
-A sanding drum for sanding the outside of a curved feature on a chair leg? That’s got to be the worst choice of tool ever. Completely backwards.
-Note the photo that appears to show a hole being drilled in some kind of metal disc (pendant? name tag for a pet?). There’s a lot wrong with that. First, would you hold the handpiece like that for good control of the tool for drilling? Or does it instead look like the whole thing is posed so the user can get a good view of the handpiece (and the bokeh on the power unit in the background)?
2) If you were going to drill a hole like that, why would you have the metal disc so high in the vise jaws? Because it looks good in the photo, that’s why. If this were actual work being done they’d lower the disc in the vise so just a little bit is sticking out and it is less likely to flex or go flying out of the vise when that 5,000 rpm drill bit catches exiting the hole. (or better yet, a drill press would be used)
I’m not knocking the tool or it’s uses but these pics are a laugh and a half.
Stuart
Oh, absolutely.
Product photos as sometimes best considered to be loose thematic depictions.
Farid
I was laughing at the pictures with the wedding ring held by an alligator clip (from a soldering third-hand thingy) that would surely gouge a real gold ring, and working on top of portable workbench. Now, that’s really asking to be in the doghouse!
Mopar4wd
Have to agree I once cut all the bed bolts on a rusty toyota pickup bed with a dremel. Would I recommend it, no, did it work yes.
Farid
Way back in my college days, I used a Dremel to cut two engine mounts off my my car (the bolts had deformed and the mounts were stuck). I also cut a corroded water pump housing after a bolt in a tight spot snapped, not to mention the multitude of metal, PCB, and wood projects that I got into. So, yes, you can get creative and do quite a bit with these, albeit it might be slow work.
Regarding the top speed, the Dremel is rated at 35000 without the shaft. I have rarely needed the full 35000 rpm, and sometimes, I wished for lower RPM, so I can see 1000 rpm being handy sometimes, as long as it’s steady. I have several Dremel tools, including the 4300, and they all drop speed with the shaft attached. I have not checked with a tach yet, but I seriously doubt they run at full speed with the flex shaft. The flex shaft starts feeling warm after a while, so there is considerable resistance.
MM
Speaking of lower RPM, one feature that the high-end industrial Flex Shafts have that I’d LOVE to see come to the DIY models is a gearbox. The industrial machines usually have one gear for each speed instead of a variable speed knob, but even just a simple high/low range would be great. Not only can you get a nice slow speed but you also get more torque at the same time.
Franck B.
If it fits that new RHS01 hobby station, I would get it… otherwise I am satisfied with my flex-shaft P460 that only cost under $50. Even though it’s brushed, it does go up to 34,000RPM. Moar power. But really, my friend used to do a lot of automotive/motorcycle work with a Dremel. One day I lent him my Dewalt 20V angle grinder (and now the die grinder) and he’s relegated the Dremel back to his hobby stuff. I used to regularly melt the nylon shafts on Dremels so it was clear I was expecting too much from them. Yes, expecting moving parts to be made from metal is too much.
Woodclaver
I see myself using this at a picnic table while camping. I’ve been using my battery powered Dremel for about twelve years. Cannot believe original battery still works. Plug in Dremel has right-angle attachment permanently glued on, (kept vibreting off), and it also still works perfectly after a dozen years. Love them both. And now Ryobi has made a 120 v.a.c. inverter, sits on 18 vdc battery! Works fabulously! 150 watts output is roughly 1.5 amps of 120.
PictishWolf
Unless this is much quieter than my brushed P460, I would not appreciate someone using it near me while camping. I guess it depends on where you’re camping, though. If you mean a parking lot for massive RVs/TTs, fine. I never camp at those.
JoeM
Aren’t we missing a really big key feature here? It’s the only one in this class, across Dremel, Foredom, and their many immitators (Immitation in this case being the height of flattery, not in the sense of them being knock-offs.) to be a fully Cordless flex-shaft based rotary tool. Foredom and Dremel haven’t gone that direction themselves. (fred, this would be a good time to correct me if I’m wrong. You’re a Foredom user, right? You’d know their lineup better than I would.)
Dremel does have the 9000 still… I think… Unless they’ve tossed that model out for not selling well enough, or some other stupid reason to lean away from what they’re historically dominant at, and more toward a junk tool brand off of Bosch. Last I checked, also, the initial launch version of the 9000 could reach up to 45000 rpm. It also was designed to be 100% compatible with Foredom hand pieces, in both directions. Foredom could use the Dremel hand pieces, Dremel could use Foredom. As such, both brands could step up to 1/4″ accessory shanks, where called for. I know I have some Foredom ceramic polishing sets from Lee Valley that I was dumb enough to buy before reading that they were 1/4″… so I know some models of Foredom have some seriously high specs, and power, even if you have to dig deep into their catalogue to find them.
Either way you look at it, this Ryobi has something none of the major competitors do. Cordless Power. Not sure if that’s good or bad, but… it’s something one has to consider.
fred
Foredom make this cordless tool:
https://www.amazon.com/Foredom-Cordless-Micromotor-System-Collet/dp/B00M26QX2O
Some reviews that I’ve seen were not very complimentary.
The Ryobi implementation – powering the shaft off of a battery-powered motor – would have the potential for allowing interchangeability of handpieces. Too bad that Foredom did not take this approach.
Koko The Talking Ape
A huge step forward.
Like others, I’d want an option to run it off a wall plug. And the handpiece is a little odd. It’s knurled where you’d want if you grip it like a hammer, but not if you grip it like a pencil, which is how everybody in the photos are doing it. You’d want knurling up on the tapered section, where your fingers grip it, especially because the weight of shaft can flip the handpiece out of your fingers. Though maybe the weight of the aluminum handpiece helps with that.
Also, it’s tapered near the tip. If it can be that thin at that point, why can the entire thing be thinner? Maybe it needs to flare at both ends to hold bearings or such, but even so, it would be lighter and easier to handle for delicate work.
Franco Calcagni
I had a Craftsman. It was pretty old, probably made in USA at the time. It was green depicting being an anniversary edition. The internal shaft broke.
Then had a no-name in store brand. Also did well till the shaft broke.
I now have a Milwaukee 2460-20 M12 for about 10 years. Has worked very well and used it under some really tough conditions, probably more so than the 2 previous that died on me.
It fits in your hand very well, similar to the Ryobi pic I see above, the Ryobi being a tiny bit smaller, but not much.
Unless I am sitting at a bench all day carving, cleaning or cutting items, for me personally, I don’t see any reason for this Ryobi. The portability is so much easier on my M12. And if I never used it anywhere other than my bench, something like a Foredom would be much better power wise and durability.
I guess there will be some that can use and like the Ryobi’s format, but my M12 does what I need very well for my needs.
If ever I really got into heavy use, a Foredom (which I have looked at wanting to get for years but never did to date) and my M12 when portability was needed would have all the bases covered.
John
Will it work with the new Hobby Station?
Stuart
I do *not* believe it will. It’s not included in the compatibility graphic.
https://toolguyd.com/ryobi-rotary-tool-hobby-station-rhs01/
MT
That would be a really dumb move. Release a new hobby station for using rotary tools you’re not going to move around a lot, then release a new rotary tool whose design suggests it’s not intended to be moved around a lot, and… they don’t work with each other? I really hope that’s not right.
AJ
That a really, really chunky cord for a cordless tool.
I’ll pass thanks.