The Contenders
1) Ryobi P508 One+ HP ($139). 2) Ridgid R8654 Octane ($179). 3) Craftsman V20 Brushless ($169). 4) Skil PWR CORE 20 ($149). All 20V-class. All 7-1/4 inch. All bare tools. Tested with matching brand batteries at 5.0 Ah.
Test 1 — Sheet Goods
60 sheets of 3/4 CDX ripped down the middle. Rip speed and blade wander is the metric. Winner: Ridgid Octane by a nose. Loser: Skil, which bogged at the end of every rip and left a wavy edge on the last 8 inches.
Test 2 — Framing Lumber
40 studs of pressure-treated 2x6 crosscut at 15 degrees. Battery drain and heat management. Winner (tie): Ryobi HP and Ridgid. Ryobi ran cooler; Ridgid had more torque. Craftsman needed a battery swap 8 studs before the others.
Test 3 — Real Decking Job
Two 12x16 decks with joists, ledgers, and 5/4 PT decking. All-day use. Winner: Ridgid Octane. It didn't overheat, didn't drop cuts, and its LED work light was the only one that actually helped after 5 PM.
What Broke
Craftsman's blade guard stuck open on day two. Skil's trigger switch got sluggish. Neither is a warranty-killer but both cost us minutes on the clock. Ryobi and Ridgid finished the test intact.
The Bottom Line
If you're already on Ridgid batteries, the Octane is the best in class, full stop. If you're on Ryobi, the P508 HP is genuinely close and $40 cheaper. Skip Craftsman and Skil for anything more than weekend projects. The extra $30-50 for a real pro-grade tool is the smartest money you'll spend this year.