Skil Brushless 12V 3-Tool Combo Kit: Drill Driver, Multi-Tool & Area Light

I spent a few weeks keeping the Skil 12V combo kit in my everyday rotation, tackling a mix of punch-list items around the house and light install work on a remodel. The big question I wanted to answer was simple: can a compact, brushless 12V trio—a drill/driver, oscillating multi‑tool, and an area light—cover most small-to-medium tasks without making me reach for bigger 18V gear? Short answer: most of the time, yes. With a couple of caveats, it’s a capable, well-thought-out kit that’s easy to live with.

What’s in the box and why it matters

The kit includes a 1/2-inch drill/driver, an oscillating multi-tool, and a small area light, plus one 2.0Ah battery, a standard charger, and starter accessories: a PH2 bit and belt clip for the drill, a sanding pad with papers, and a bi-metal plunge blade for the multi-tool. All three tools are brushless, which keeps size and weight down while stretching runtime. On a compact 12V platform, that efficiency shows up in hand fatigue as much as anything—you can work overhead or in awkward corners without feeling like you’re wrestling the tool.

The battery uses cells wrapped with a cooling material. The manufacturer states this improves runtime and cycle life; I can’t verify the long-term claim, but I did notice the pack stayed reasonably cool even during extended sanding and plunge cuts. It’s helpful for comfort and consistency.

Drill/driver: compact, confident, and surprisingly capable

Skil gives this drill a legit 1/2-inch chuck, which is a rare luxury on a 12V. It’s a “Hybrid Chuck,” designed to let you install bits without fully tightening. In practice, hex‑shank bits seat quickly and hold fine. With smooth round-shank bits, I still preferred to snug the chuck the old-fashioned way—once you build that habit, it’s hard to break—but the hybrid setup does make quick changes feel natural.

Performance-wise, the drill offers two speeds (0–450 and 0–1700 rpm) with 17+1 clutch settings and a listed torque of 350 in-lbs. In wood, I drove a steady diet of 2-1/2- and 3-inch deck screws into SPF and poplar without drama, backing off to low gear for the longer fasteners to keep control. It handled paddle bits up to 1 inch in softwood with a reasonable pace; hole saws are doable for small diameters if you’re patient and let the tool work. For cabinet hardware, electrical boxes, anchors, and general repair tasks, it has more than enough muscle.

Ergonomics are a strong suit. The 7-1/8-inch length keeps it tidy in tight spaces, the balance is neutral with the 2.0Ah pack, and the handle shape is friendly on smaller hands without feeling toy-like. The clutch graduations feel consistent, and the trigger modulation is smooth enough to creep screws flush without cam-out.

Minor nitpick: the hybrid chuck is a time-saver for hex bits but takes a moment to trust fully with slick, small-diameter round shanks. Not a dealbreaker—just a learning curve.

Oscillating multi-tool: smooth cuts and sensible speed control

The multi-tool runs 11,000–18,000 opm with a 3.6° oscillation angle and a six-speed control that auto-senses load. That last bit is the star. Cutting drywall for an old work box or trimming PVC, the tool keeps a steady pace and ramps as needed when it hits denser material or binds slightly. It feels less “binary” than some 12V multi-tools, making it easier to keep a clean line and avoid blowouts.

Vibration control is respectable for a compact tool. Swapping between sanding, plunge cuts in soft pine, and bimetal cuts in thin sheet metal, my hands didn’t feel beat up, and the tool didn’t bog unexpectedly. The included bi-metal blade is handy for getting started, and the sanding pad with papers will get you through a few detail jobs. As with any oscillating tool, you’ll quickly want a small stockpile of blades and grits to suit your work.

You will notice battery consumption here more than with the drill. Intensive sanding or thick plunge cuts chew through a 2.0Ah pack faster, which is expected for a 12V. The runtime is fine for patch work and punch-list cuts; for lengthy demo or big sanding sessions, plan your workflow or add a second battery.

Area light: better task lighting than you’d expect

The area light is the quiet hero of the kit. It’s compact, uses eight SMD LEDs, and puts out 400 lumens on high (200 on low) with a two-step control and a lamp head that rotates 120°. Those numbers won’t flood a room, but as a focused task light under a sink, inside a closet, or lighting a junction box in an attic, it shines—literally and figuratively.

Skil’s design reduces work-area shadows effectively for close tasks, and the 120° head tilt lets you park it on a shelf or the floor and aim precisely. The manufacturer lists up to 12 hours on low with the 2.0Ah pack; I didn’t clock it to the minute, but I routinely got an afternoon of supplemental lighting for trim and hardware installs without swapping batteries. It’s the kind of light you set and forget while you work, which makes the whole kit feel more complete.

Battery and charging

The kit includes a standard charger and one 2.0Ah battery. Charging is unremarkable—in a good way. It’s not a fast charger, but turnaround felt reasonable for a small pack. The bigger limitation is the single battery. With the drill and light, one pack is manageable. If you incorporate the multi-tool regularly, I strongly recommend picking up a second battery. That turns the kit from “occasionally waiting” to “continuous workflow.”

Build, ergonomics, and usability

• All three tools feel solid for their size, with clean molding and no rattly panels.
• The grip texture is comfortable without getting grabby when dusty.
• The drill’s belt clip is handy; I wish the multi-tool had a similar solution or a dedicated hang hook, especially when working on ladders.
• LED work lights on the tools illuminate well enough for close tasks; the dedicated area light is still the clear choice when you need real visibility.

Where it fits in a 12V lineup

This kit aims squarely at homeowners, DIYers, and light-trade users who want a compact grab-and-go trio that covers drilling, fastening, cutting, sanding, and lighting. For maintenance techs and installers who live in tight spaces, the size and weight are a win. It won’t replace a high-torque 18V drill for large hole saws, nor will the multi-tool keep pace with corded demolition, but neither is it pretending to. It’s about mobility and control, not brute force.

What I liked

• Brushless performance in a compact footprint across all three tools
• 1/2-inch chuck on a 12V drill adds real flexibility with accessories
• Smooth trigger control and consistent clutch on the drill
• Auto-sensing speed on the multi-tool helps keep cuts clean under varying loads
• Area light is genuinely useful with a 120° rotating head and balanced beam
• Thoughtful starter accessories get you working immediately

What could be better

• Only one 2.0Ah battery in the kit; a second pack would transform the experience
• Standard (not rapid) charger
• Multi-tool runtime can drop quickly under heavy sanding or dense plunge cuts
• Two brightness settings on the light are fine, but a third level or a spot mode would be welcome
• Hybrid chuck has a small learning curve with smooth round-shank bits

The bottom line

The Skil 12V combo kit hits a practical sweet spot for small projects and everyday fixes. The drill is compact but confident, the multi-tool is smoother and more capable than most budget 12V options I’ve used, and the area light elevates the whole kit by making every task easier to see. The single biggest limitation is the inclusion of just one 2.0Ah battery; plan around it or add a second pack and you’ll remove the only real workflow bottleneck.

Recommendation: I recommend this kit for homeowners, DIY enthusiasts, and light-duty pros who value portability, brushless efficiency, and a well-rounded tool set for common tasks. It’s a balanced, easy-to-carry trio that handles 80% of what I do on service calls and around the house. If you anticipate heavy, continuous multi-tool work or frequent large-diameter drilling, step up in voltage or add extra batteries. Otherwise, this is a smart, compact foundation that feels good in the hand and gets real work done.