Are Skill Wood Working Tools Still A Good Brand

[ironpig70]

i know in the past skill made some kick ass hard charging circular saws. well i found a compound mitre saw with the head tilting 45 degrees both ways and the table turns 45 degrees both ways. its a 10" and on sale for $100. wondering if this thing will be good for the weekend home improvement warrior. would like the 12" dewalt but it's 3x the price.

[D60]

I got skillz.

And I've heard of Skil. But dunno nuttin' about Skill power tools.

In all seriousness, while you can still get the legendary Mag 77 circular saw, their lower-end stuff seems pretty damn cheap. In fact THE lowest price circular saw at Home Depot may very well be the $38-ish Skil, which I used and abused w abrasive blades cutting steel grating. I bought a cheap saw 'cause I knew I would kill it. I wasn't impressed, even before I started using it in a manner in which it was not intended. This very same Skil went on sale over the holiday for something like $25.

My point being that it's just like Sony; their low-end stuff is low end. Their high-end stuff is sweet. Ya get what you pay for.

[ChiScouter]

You get what you pay for, other than a 77 I wouldn't buy anything Skil

[D60]

And even tho ironpig is looking at a miter saw, I'll say the 77's are all over the place used. I bought mine in the local paper for $75, a week later I went to a garage sale and they had one for $50.

[Rat70FJ]

X3, The model 77 or really the 77Mag or it's derivitaves are the only thing worth a fuck that Skil makes. Professional opinion.

[tkr]

if your talking weekender use it 6-7x a year, i say go for it...i wouldn't trust the marks and would check square and angles yourself, but i think it would be silly to spend 3-400 on a makita,hitachi,or bosch compound if you are using it that infrequently.....i bought a low end hitachi 10 single compound from lowes for around 150....great for little stuff and cutting aluminum....lasers cool too

[u2slow]

I had a 12V Skil cordless drill at work a couple years back. It was a CHEAP imported harbour freight type tool. (red plastic body on this one)

[stock 87]

Skil worm drive Model 77 as stated above, thats the only tool worth mention.

Bosch bought Skil about 8 or more years ago. Even started cheaping out on the internals of the model 77. They don't seem to last as long as the older Skil manufactured ones. Only Bosch tool I would buy again would be their corded hammer drill.

jim

[bigdreamin]

This makes me think of a question, how many people call it a 'skil saw' when referring to any circular saw? My one buddy and his dad do, I also tell them to quit insulting my tools.

[nate379]

I do as do most people I know.

It's like bitching about someone calling a tissue a Kleenex.

[bigdreamin]

I do as do most people I know.

It's like bitching about someone calling a tissue a Kleenex.

Not bitching, I say it jokingly. I call a recip saw a sawzall some times. Him and his dad are the only ones I've ever hear refer to a circ. saw as a skil saw.

[jmhinescj]

Not bitching, I say it jokingly. I call a recip saw a sawzall some times. Him and his dad are the only ones I've ever hear refer to a circ. saw as a skil saw.

so do you go thru the trouble of calling it a circular saw every time? Around here thats what we call a 7 1/4" circular saw.

On the original subject that's all I would own (and I own a couple) is the hd77 or mag 77. They used to make 1 or 2 decent sidewinder type saws...they were the last ones I remember making a saw with a little lever that would let you retract the blade guard with your trigger finger hand...beat the hell out of wedgeing it open or holding it open with the other hand.

[eschoendorff]

X3, The model 77 or really the 77Mag or it's derivitaves are the only thing worth a fuck that Skil makes. Professional opinion.

Even then, I think that the Skil 77 is made in China now. Bosch makes a really nice version of teh Skil 77 ... might want to take a look at it.

[RTA]

Skill makes good worm-drive saws such as the Mag 77. I would not waste my time or money on anything else from them. :mr-t:

[supervert]

Even then, I think that the Skil 77 is made in China now. Bosch makes a really nice version of teh Skil 77 ... might want to take a look at it.

i have the bosch one and love it, much better built than my last 3 or 4 skils.

[bigdreamin]

so do you go thru the trouble of calling it a circular saw every time? Around here thats what we call a 7 1/4" circular saw.

On the original subject that's all I would own (and I own a couple) is the hd77 or mag 77. They used to make 1 or 2 decent sidewinder type saws...they were the last ones I remember making a saw with a little lever that would let you retract the blade guard with your trigger finger hand...beat the hell out of wedgeing it open or holding it open with the other hand.

Actually yes I do call it a circular saw.

[tkr]

he wants a miter saw not a skilsaw:flipoff2:

[Joe_88k5]

I've got the "cheaper" Hitachi compound saw and love it. It's the step below the one with the laser, essentially the same saw just with out the laser attachment. I got it on sale/clearance at Lowe's for $75 and can't complain. The angles are right on and it cuts great.

[aallison28]

I own a woodshop and work with tools of this type every day. Skill is shit. For a fairly cheap line of homeowner tools, by Ryobi at HD.

FOr a mitersaw, Dewalt makes a good one. I have a hitachi with a digital readout and a lazer. Nice saw.

Generally, you get what you pay for in tools.

[Bmf24]

i have had delta, hitatchi, and dewalt compond saws. i have used just about every other kind. i would buy a delta shop master for a weekend warrior saw. there decient quality and a good price. the dewalt we have is huge. 12" slider. way too big to be portable, and pretty over priced. i have a 12" non slide hitatchi that i used most. its a good saw and it wasnt that much money. you just have to check it every so often and adjust it back to square.

so to answer your question: No, skill is junk. its what i call a one use tool.