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My honest opinion based on personal experience, hands-on use and long-term ownership.
Brand: RIDGID
Model: R8652
Description: 18 Volt Brushless 7-1/4″ Circular Saw
Disclosure: This review may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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First Impressions at a Glance
Evaluation Area
My Initial Assessment
Packaging & Presentation
Accessories & Included Items
Build & Quality
Documentation & Instructions
Setup & Installation
Design & Function
Safety Considerations
Ease of Use
Features & Capabilities
Performance
Overall First Impression
*See How I Review Products for an explanation of my evaluation system.
When I first receive and begin using a product, I detail that initial experience through a First Impression at a Glance evaluation. This gives you a quick look at what I observed during the early stages of ownership, before I have had enough time to judge the product’s long-term performance, reliability, durability, or value.
Purchase Details
Source: Direct Tools Factory Outlet
Condition: Factory Refurbished
Date: November 2017
Price: $45.
Warranty: 1 Year
Always read and follow the manufacturer's operating instructions before using power tools. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including ANSI-rated eye protection, hearing protection when required, and any other safety equipment appropriate for the task.
This table gives you a quick snapshot of my initial experience with the product. If you're shot on time, this will help you decide if the full review is worth reading.
Real-World Experience After More Than Five Years of Ownership
When I began purchasing tools for my workshop in 2017, I wasn’t buying tools for a single project. I was investing in what I hoped would become a long-term home workshop capable of supporting everything from home improvement projects to woodworking as a hobby. This circular saw was the second major purchase after my RIDGID Drill/Driver Combo Kit that included the R86035 18v Impact Driver, R8611503 18v 2-speed Hammer-Drill, two batteries and a charger. This represented another step toward building an affordable cordless tool collection that I could continue expanding over time.
At the time, several factors made RIDGID an easy choice. The tools fit my budget, the Lifetime Service Agreement offered long-term peace of mind, and Direct Tools Factory Outlet gave me local access to factory blemished and reconditioned tools when I wanted to grow my collection without paying full retail.
I wasn’t looking for a professional framing saw. I simply wanted a dependable cordless circular saw that would let me start cutting wood and become another reliable member of my growing workshop.
After more than five years of ownership, that’s exactly what it has been.
First Impressions
The saw arrived in a fairly ordinary cardboard box with a soft carrying bag. The bag is adequate for storing the saw around the house, but I wouldn’t expect it to survive years of bouncing around in the back of a contractor’s truck.
Setup couldn’t have been much easier. The blade was already installed, so after reading the manual and charging a battery, the saw was ready to go.
One thing immediately stood out the first time I pulled the trigger. The motor is remarkably quiet. In fact, the sound of the blade cutting wood is often louder than the motor itself. Even today, it’s still one of the quietest cordless circular saws I’ve used.
How I Actually Use It
Although this saw has been used on numerous projects over the years, it eventually settled into a very specific role in my workshop.
Today I primarily use it to break down full 4×8 sheets of plywood and MDF into smaller, more manageable pieces before moving them over to the table saw for final dimensioning.
That may not sound glamorous, but anyone working alone knows how awkward full sheets can be. Breaking them down first is safer, easier, and much more practical than wrestling an entire sheet across a table saw.
For that task, this RIDGID has proven to be dependable.
The Lesson I Didn't Expect
The biggest thing I’ve learned after years of ownership is that this saw’s performance depends heavily on how it’s configured. Using the factory-installed 24-tooth general-purpose blade with a small 2 Ah battery, the saw can struggle when cutting dense materials like 1-inch MDF.
Initially, that made the saw feel somewhat underpowered. Everything changed when I switched to a Diablo 60-Tooth Finish Blade and paired it with a 9 Ah RIDGID battery. The difference wasn’t subtle.
The saw cut smoother, required less effort, and felt considerably more capable. With that combination, I’ve been able to break down four full sheets of 1-inch MDF into approximately fifty-two 3½-inch by 8-foot strips on a single battery charge, and still have capacity remaining. That experience completely changed how I viewed the tool.
It wasn’t that the saw lacked capability. It simply required the right blade and battery combination for the material being cut. That’s probably the single biggest takeaway from owning this saw.
Long-Term Product Evaluation at a Glance
Evaluation Area
Year 1
Year 2-3
Year 5
Overall Performance
Build Quality & Durability
Reliability
Ease of Use
Features & Functionality
Long-Term Experience
Value Over Time
*See How I Review Products for an explanation of my evaluation system.
These categories represent the key areas I focus on when evaluating product longevity. Each one plays a role in determining my overall long-term satisfaction.
Performance in Real Use
Once properly configured, the R8652 has been exactly what I expected from an entry-level brushless cordless circular saw.
It’s predictable.
It’s accurate.
It’s comfortable to use.
Most importantly, it’s been consistently reliable. I’ve never experienced mechanical failures or unexpected reliability issues. When I pull it off the shelf, it simply works. After more than five years, I’ve noticed what feels like a very slight reduction in power, but it’s subtle enough that most users would probably never notice it. Overall durability has been excellent.
Where It Falls Short
This isn’t a saw I’d recommend blindly for every situation. If you’re expecting maximum cutting power regardless of blade choice, battery size, or material, you may come away disappointed.
The saw rewards proper setup. Using the wrong battery or an inappropriate blade can significantly affect performance, especially when cutting dense sheet goods. That’s less a flaw than a characteristic of the tool, but it’s something prospective buyers should understand before purchasing.
How My Opinion Has Changed
Interestingly, my opinion of the saw really hasn’t changed over the years. It met my expectations when I bought it, and it still meets them today.
What has changed is my wrokflow and shop setup. Since purchasing this saw, I’ve added both a RIDGID R41121 10″ Compound Miter Saw With LED and a RIDGID R4512 10″ Table Saw. As those tools took over more specialized cutting tasks, the circular saw naturally became more of a support tool than a primary one.
Today, I mostly use it for breaking down sheet goods. If I were starting over with the shop I have now, I would probably purchase a cordless track saw instead because it better fits the role this saw now performs. That isn’t a criticism of the R8652. It’s simply a reflection of how my needs have evolved.
Who This Saw Is Best For
I think this saw makes the most sense for:
Homeowners building their first cordless tool collection.
DIY users who don’t yet own a table saw or miter saw.
Woodworkers looking for a dependable general-purpose circular saw.
Anyone already invested in the RIDGID 18-volt battery platform.
If you’re expecting one cordless saw to handle nearly every cutting task around the house, this one is a solid choice. If your primary job is repeatedly breaking down sheet goods with maximum precision, I’d encourage you to look at the Ridgid 18v Brushless Cordless 6-1/2″ Track Saw instead.
Final Thoughts
The RIDGID R8652 has earned its place in my workshop. It has never tried to be something it isn’t. It’s a dependable, light-to-medium-duty cordless circular saw that delivers consistent results when matched with the right blade and battery. More than five years later, it still works exactly when I need it.
The biggest lesson this tool taught me is that accessories matter. Changing the blade and choosing the appropriate battery transformed the saw from merely acceptable into a tool I genuinely enjoy using.
If I were starting over and needed an affordable cordless circular saw, I’d buy the RIDGID R8652 again without much hesitation. It has proven itself to be reliable, durable, and capable after years of ownership.
Today, however, my workshop has changed. Because I now own both a table saw and a miter saw, I would probably choose a cordless track saw instead. That’s not because this saw failed me—it’s because my workflow evolved. For someone building their first workshop, I still think the R8652 is a solid choice.
But, under the right circumstances
- DIY Users
- Woodworking Hobbyist
- Existing RIDGID Owners
- Professional Contractor
- Heavy Duty Users
