Skil Flood Light

A compact task light that earns a permanent spot in my bag

I didn’t expect an ultra-thin, 12V panel light to replace my headlamp for close-range work, but this Skil task light keeps finding its way onto every job. From fishing exhaust hoses behind a dryer to sealing a leaky foundation seam and crawling under sinks, it’s the kind of light you can set, hang, or hook almost anywhere and just get on with the task. The head is slim enough to slide into tight pockets, and the rotating handle is as close as I’ve seen to a universal mount without extra accessories.

Form factor and mounting: deceptively versatile

The standout feature here is the 180° rotating handle. It does triple duty as a stable stand, a carrying handle, and a rafter/pipe hook. I’ve used it on the floor, on a shelf, and hung from joists, conduit, and even a temporary cord. The open handle design makes quick hooks possible when you need light right now. There’s also a keyhole slot if you want a more permanent wall location.

Because the head is so thin, I can tuck the light behind appliances or point it upward into a cabinet without it blocking my line of sight. On a dusty basement floor, the handle’s footprint keeps it steady at shallow angles without wanting to tip. It’s a small detail, but it matters when you’re aiming across a work surface rather than straight ahead.

At 1.51 lb bare, it’s genuinely lightweight, and the compact 12V battery keeps the overall package svelte. Toss it in a tool bag and it disappears until you need it.

Output and beam quality

This is a panel-style LED, not a spotlight, and that distinction matters. The beam is wide and even with a soft edge. On high, it’s rated at up to 850 lumens; low is 550. In practice, high fills a small room or closet with usable light, and low is excellent for task lighting at arm’s length without harsh glare. You won’t use this to throw light across a backyard, but for interior work, the broad flood is exactly what you want—no hot spots and fewer blown-out reflections off chrome traps or glossy paint.

Color temperature trends toward cool white. It renders detail cleanly on drywall, lumber, and metal hardware. I wouldn’t choose it for color-sensitive finish work, but for general repair, maintenance, and rough-in tasks, the output is bright and consistent.

Power, runtime, and ecosystem

This light runs on Skil’s PWRCore 12 batteries (sold separately). That’s a plus if you’re already on the platform and a cost consideration if you’re not. Skil claims up to 4.5 hours on high with a 4.0Ah battery. My results were in the same ballpark: roughly four-plus hours on high and a notably longer stint on low. For intermittent use across a day of repairs, I rarely needed a second battery. If you plan to keep it parked on high for extended periods, a 4.0Ah pack is the right pairing.

Two brightness settings keep things simple. I do wish there were a third, lower “night” mode for very close work or to stretch runtime late in the day. As it stands, the low setting is still fairly bright, which is great in basements and crawlspaces, less ideal if you’re trying not to wake a household at 2 a.m.

Note: there’s no onboard charging or power bank function here; you’ll charge batteries with a separate PWRCore 12 charger.

Build and controls

The housing feels sturdy for its weight. The head is protected by the frame of the handle, and the handle rotates smoothly to set your angle. The hinge holds position well once set, and the whole unit takes bumps without complaint. Battery fit is secure—no rattle, no play.

Controls are minimal: a single button cycles off/low/high. It’s straightforward and glove-friendly. There’s no readout for remaining battery, which would be nice, but most PWRCore 12 packs have indicators on the battery itself.

I wouldn’t treat this as a rain light. There’s no listed weather rating, and although it’ll shrug off dust and the occasional splash, I avoid direct exposure to water.

Real-world use

• Under-sink plumbing: The slim head slips past supply lines and garbage disposals. I’ll set the light on its side or hook the handle on the cabinet frame and aim it up at the trap and tailpiece. Having both hands free makes a huge difference over a headlamp in tight quarters.
• Appliance service: The open handle lets me hang the light from cord or conduit to shoot light behind a dryer or washer without moving the machine farther than necessary.
• Basement and crawl work: On high, it comfortably lights a small room. On low, it becomes a close-range task light that won’t blind you against concrete or white-painted block.
• Punch-list repairs: It lives in the bag. If I need to check a junction box or find a misplaced fastener under a workbench, the light is ready faster than setting up a larger area light.

What it’s not

It’s not a replacement for a high-output 18V area light if you regularly need to illuminate large rooms or outdoor job sites. It also doesn’t have magnets, a tripod thread, or an IP rating, so if your workflow relies on those features, you’ll want a different light or an accessory strategy. Finally, the two-mode output is limiting compared to lights with stepless dimming or three-plus levels.

Little touches that work

• The keyhole mount is handy for a garage wall: hang it where you store it and it doubles as a quick “grab-and-go” lighting station.
• The handle makes a comfortable carry, and because the head is thin, the light packs flat in a bag without snagging other tools.
• At 12V, the weight savings are real compared to bigger lights. For service calls and property maintenance, that matters more than raw lumen numbers.

Specifications that matter

• Output: 550 lumens (low) / 850 lumens (high)
• Runtime (claimed): up to 4.5 hours on high with a 4.0Ah PWRCore 12 battery
• Power: 12V PWRCore 12 batteries (not included)
• Weight: 1.51 lb (tool only)
• Adjustability: 180° rotating handle; keyhole wall hang
• Modes: 2 brightness settings

A quick note for California buyers: the product carries a Proposition 65 warning.

The bottom line

The Skil task light hits a sweet spot for trades and homeowners who need a compact, wide-beam work light that’s easy to place anywhere. Its ultra-thin head and clever rotating handle make it more adaptable than most lights in this size class, and the output is genuinely useful for close and midrange jobs without washing everything out. Runtime is solid on a 4.0Ah pack, the build feels robust, and the interface stays out of your way.

I’d like a third, lower brightness level, and a magnetic base would broaden the mounting options. If you aren’t already on the PWRCore 12 platform, factor in the cost of a battery and charger. Those caveats aside, the utility-to-size ratio here is excellent.

Recommendation: I recommend this light, especially if you’re in Skil’s 12V ecosystem or want a portable, no-fuss task light for tight spaces. It’s bright where it counts, easy to position, and light enough to live in your everyday kit, which means you’ll actually use it—often.