Skil PWR CORE 20 Brushless 2 x 20V 7-1/4 in Rear Handle Circular Saw

First impressions and setup

I brought the Skil 2x20V rear‑handle saw to a site where power wasn’t guaranteed and put it straight to work. The kit includes two 5.0Ah PWRCORE 20 batteries, a dual‑port charger, and a 24‑tooth blade—so you’re truly job‑ready out of the box. The saw feels purpose‑built: aluminum shoe, aluminum guards, and an aluminum gear housing, with a no‑nonsense layout that keeps the balance exactly where you want it for a rear‑handle—forward over the cut line.

Bare tool weight is listed at 10.23 lb; with two 5.0Ah packs installed, it moves into the “pro rear‑handle” weight class. That sounds heavy on paper, but the balance and handle geometry keep it manageable over a long day. The soft‑grip overmolds are comfortable, the switchgear is positive, and the rafter hook is robust enough to trust when you’re staging on joists or ladders. There’s also a tether notch if you’re working at height.

Power and cutting performance

This saw runs a brushless motor at 5300 RPM and pulls from two 20V packs at once. In practice, it has the torque you expect from a rear‑handle: it doesn’t bog when you lean into it, and the blade speed holds under load. I used it for:

• Ripping pressure‑treated 2x and wet framing lumber: fast, clean, and with excellent tracking. With a 24T framing blade, the motor stayed in its sweet spot, and the electric brake stopped the blade in about a second when I let off the trigger.
• Crosscutting LVL and full‑depth 2‑by material: depth at 90° is 2‑9/16 in., so you can clear standard framing without a second pass. On LVL, it kept pace with corded rear‑handles I’ve used.
• Sheathing and subflooring: visibility on the cut line is good, and the guard retracts smoothly without snagging on bevels or edge grain.

Out of the box, the included blade is a serviceable 24T carbide for framing. For plywood or finish work, swapping to a higher tooth count improves the cut quality—as you’d expect on any 7‑1/4 in. circular saw.

Bevels, depth, and accuracy

Bevel capacity runs 0–53° with detents at 0° and 45°. The extra few degrees beyond 50° are genuinely useful for fascia returns and oddball cuts. Depth of cut at 45° is 1‑7/8 in., which covers beveled cuts through typical 2x stock.

The bevel and depth locks are chunky and secure. The bevel scale is legible and reasonably accurate; for critical angles, I still set the shoe with a digital gauge, but right out of the case the saw was square at 0° and repeatable at 45°. The aluminum shoe is flat and stiff—no flex that would telegraph into the cut. The sightlines to the blade are clean, and the notch alignment matched the kerf well once I tuned the blade to the shoe.

Dust management and visibility

Skil integrated a dust port into the auxiliary handle. Running without a vac, it directs chips forward and to the side so they stay off the cut line—especially handy on rips where you’re following a chalk line. Connected to a vac with an adapter, collection is better than average for a circular saw in this class and keeps the surface dust‑free enough to see your marks. The LED work light is well positioned for shadowy interiors; outdoors at noon, it’s less noticeable, but on subfloor in a dim room, it helps.

Runtime, charging, and the dual‑battery approach

The saw draws from both batteries simultaneously, which is how it delivers corded‑like performance. With two 5.0Ah packs, runtime was impressive: I framed and sheeted small sections without swapping, and on a longer day, the included 2×150W dual‑port charger made battery management easy. It will charge both packs at the same time, and the PWR JUMP feature gets you from empty to roughly 25% in around 15 minutes—enough to keep the saw moving while the next cuts are laid out. Full charges landed under an hour per pack in my testing.

Skil claims up to 600 crosscuts in 2x4 SPF under lab conditions; real‑world results will vary with blade choice, material, and temperature. What matters is that with two packs and a fast dual‑port charger, I never felt “battery‑bound.” If you already own other PWRCORE 20 tools, the shared battery ecosystem is another plus.

One small note: I noticed a faint residue on one pack out of the box that wiped away easily. It didn’t affect performance, but it’s worth inspecting your packs when you unbox and giving contacts a quick check.

Ergonomics and day‑to‑day use

Rear‑handle saws live or die by their feel. This one lands in a sweet spot:

• The rear handle and forward auxiliary handle put your wrists in a neutral position for controlled rips and long pushes.
• The trigger and safety are well placed; I could feather starts and stops in one‑handed scenarios without strain.
• The spindle lock is easy to reach, and blade changes are straightforward with the onboard wrench.
• The electric brake consistently catches the blade quickly, which matters when you’re moving between cuts and setting the saw down on framing.

Noise and vibration are typical for a high‑output circular saw—no better, no worse. Hearing and eye protection are a must.

Durability and serviceability

Aluminum where it counts (shoe, guards, gear housing) gives it a leg up over composite‑heavy saws when it comes to staying true after knocks and drops. After a few weeks bouncing in and out of the truck and getting used on joists and concrete slabs, there’s no play in the hinges or locks. The lower guard spring is strong and returns cleanly. Skil backs the tool with a 5‑year limited warranty, which is competitive in this category.

What I’d change

• Weight and bulk: With two 5.0Ah packs, the saw is undeniably heavier than single‑battery models. The balance mitigates it, but overhead cuts and long carry‑ups are still tiring.
• LED brightness: Useful indoors, less so in bright daylight. Not a deal‑breaker, just temper expectations.
• Accessory ecosystem: The dust port is “adaptable,” but including a basic vacuum adapter would help more folks use extraction on day one.

Highlights that stood out

• Power that keeps pace with corded rear‑handles
• Reliable electric brake and smooth guard action
• 0–53° bevel range with solid detents and a stiff aluminum shoe
• Integrated dust port that actually keeps the cut line clear
• Dual‑port fast charger included, charging both packs simultaneously

Who it’s for

If you’re framing, decking, fencing, or doing remodel work where extension cords slow you down, this saw makes a strong case as a primary. It has the cut capacity (2‑9/16 in. at 90°), bevel reach, and torque to handle structural lumber, LVL, and sheet goods without babying it. For DIYers stepping up to a serious rear‑handle, the kit is complete and the learning curve is short. For pros already invested in PWRCORE 20, it’s a no‑brainer upgrade. If weight is your top concern and you rarely push a saw hard, a lighter single‑battery sidewinder may suit you better.

Recommendation

I recommend the Skil 2x20V rear‑handle saw. It delivers corded‑class performance, accurate cuts, and practical dust control in a well‑balanced package. The inclusion of two 5.0Ah batteries and a dual‑port fast charger means you can work continuously without juggling packs, and the build quality inspires confidence on site. The trade‑off is weight, but if you value power, capacity, and runtime in a cordless rear‑handle, this saw earns a spot in the truck.