Skil 15 Amp 8-1/4 In. Compact Table Saw

What it is and who it’s for

The Skil compact table saw is a small-footprint, 15-amp, corded jobsite/garage saw that’s designed to handle everyday carpentry and light woodworking. With an 8-1/4 in blade, a rack-and-pinion fence, and a surprisingly solid aluminum table, it’s built for ripping sheet goods, crosscutting dimension lumber, and even running dadoes up to 5/8 in. After several weeks using it for trim work, shop fixtures, and a few small furniture parts, I came away impressed by its accuracy for the size, with some predictable trade-offs versus a full-size cast-iron saw.

Setup and build quality

Out of the box, assembly is quick. The included guard system, anti-kickback pawls, fence, miter gauge, push stick, and blade-change wrenches cover the basics. The aluminum table is flat and smooth enough that stock slides predictably, and the controls are intuitive. At 39.5 lb, the saw is genuinely portable; I carried it one-handed around the shop and out to a deck rebuild without issue. I ran it on a sturdy benchtop for most tasks, but it’s compatible with a folding stand if you want a dedicated setup.

Fit and finish are better than I expect at this price point. The bevel lock is positive, the height wheel is smooth, and there’s minimal slop in the mechanisms. The only part that feels purely “budget” is the miter gauge—it works, but it’s basic and had a trace of play in the slot that I shimmed with tape. If crosscut accuracy matters to you, plan on a sled or an aftermarket gauge.

Fence and alignment

Fence systems make or break compact saws, and this one uses rack-and-pinion rails. That’s a big win for repeatability. The fence slides parallel and locks down without the tail drifting, which is what makes many small saws frustrating. I checked alignment against the miter slot over the full travel and only needed a nudge of the fence adjustment to get it dead on.

Blade-to-slot alignment is equally important. This saw includes a micro-adjustable blade alignment feature that lets you dial the blade parallel to the slot without wrestling the entire carriage. After a few minutes of tweaking, I was seeing consistent, clean cuts with no burning on hardwoods. The bevel range runs from -2° to 47°, which sounds odd until you use the slight negative to truly zero the blade to 90°—handy for calibration.

Capacity and performance

• Rip capacity: 24.5 in to the right, 12 in to the left
• Max cut depth: 2.5 in at 0°, 1.75 in at 45°
• Blade: 8-1/4 in, 5/8 in arbor
• No-load speed: 5000 RPM, 15 A motor

In practice, that means you can rip a 24 in strip off a sheet of plywood without a track saw, and you can handle most trim and shelving tasks. Breaking down full sheets solo on any compact saw is awkward; I rough-cut with a circular saw and use the table saw for final dimensioning. Two-by stock rips cleanly; the 15-amp motor holds speed well if you respect the feed rate. It won’t plow through thick, wet hardwood at high speed like a heavy contractor saw, but with a sharp blade it’s perfectly capable of clean rips in maple and oak.

The included 24-tooth blade is fine for framing and general ripping, but I swapped to a 40T/50T combination blade for plywood and face-frame parts, which noticeably improved cut quality. The smaller 8-1/4 in diameter limits max depth to 2.5 in, so you can’t single-pass a 4x4. Flip cuts are accurate enough if you’re careful with setup.

Dadoes and joinery

The saw accepts dado stacks up to 5/8 in wide, which is not a given on compact units. I ran 1/4 in and 1/2 in dados in plywood and softwood without bogging the motor, again with a sensible feed rate. You’ll need the correct throat plate for dado work; make sure you have that on hand before the project starts. Removing the guard and pawls for non-through cuts is straightforward, and reinstalling them is quick—good incentive to keep the safety gear in play for through cuts.

Dust collection

The included dust port elbow accepts a 2.5 in hose, and connecting it to a shop vac kept the cabinet area reasonably clean. Like most open-base portable saws, a lot of dust still escapes above the table—especially when the guard is off—and some chips find their way out through gaps. With the guard installed and a vac attached, collection is decent for a compact saw; without it, expect to sweep.

Noise and power

This is a universal-motor saw running at 5000 RPM. It’s loud. Hearing protection is a must. Vibration is modest for the weight, and the saw feels composed on a solid surface. I ran it on a 20-amp circuit with no nuisance trips. There’s no soft-start or brake listed, but the motor spins up quickly and coasts down in a reasonable timeframe. The safety power switch is oversized and easy to slap off with a knee or palm—exactly what I want.

Accuracy in use

After alignment, rips were straight and repeatable. I checked a series of 3/4 in plywood rips with calipers and saw variation within a few thousandths over 36 in—excellent for a portable saw. Bevel cuts to 45° were accurate once I set the stop; the scale is a guide, not gospel, so take time to true it. With a better blade, crosscuts off the miter gauge were acceptable for shop fixtures, though I prefer a sled for anything that shows.

One note on stability: the saw is light. Long rips benefit from infeed/outfeed support or a helper. The fence is solid, but the table size (21.5 x 18 in) is small compared to a contractor saw—plan your workholding accordingly.

Safety and ergonomics

The modular blade guard is clear, so you can see the cut line, and the anti-kickback pawls engage reliably with proper stock support. The push stick is actually usable; I still keep my preferred push blocks nearby. Control placement makes sense, and the fence lock is visible and confidence-inspiring. I appreciate how quickly the guard comes on and off for legitimate reasons, which removes the temptation to leave it off.

Limitations and nitpicks

• Table size and weight mean you must manage long stock with support.
• The stock miter gauge is serviceable but basic; upgrade if you do precision joinery.
• The 24T blade is rough for plywood; budget for a better blade early.
• Open design means dust collection is “good enough,” not surgical.
• With a 2.5 in max cut, some tasks need a flip or a different tool.

None of these are unusual for a compact saw; they’re the trade-offs for portability and price.

Maintenance, calibration, and accessories

The micro-adjust blade alignment makes tuning approachable. I periodically check blade-to-slot parallelism, fence parallelism, and the 90°/45° bevel stops—simple steps that pay dividends in cut quality. Lubricate the gears sparingly to keep the height and bevel controls smooth, and keep pitch off the blade. If you plan on frequent transport, consider the folding stand; it raises the working height and improves stability on uneven ground. Mine arrived with a three-year warranty card; registration was straightforward.

The bottom line

The Skil compact table saw strikes a smart balance: enough power and accuracy for real work, in a package you can carry and store without rearranging your life. The rack-and-pinion fence is the star—it holds the line and makes repeat cuts painless. Add the ability to run 5/8 in dadoes, a sensible safety package, and an aluminum table that’s flatter than expected, and you have a capable small-shop or jobsite companion.

I recommend the Skil compact table saw to DIYers, remodelers, and space-conscious woodworkers who need a reliable, accurate saw for everyday tasks—ripping sheet goods, sizing trim, building cabinets and shop fixtures—without stepping up to a heavy contractor or cabinet saw. If your work demands huge rip capacity, cast-iron mass, or all-day production duty, look higher up the food chain. For everyone else, this saw delivers honest performance, smart features, and portability that make it easy to reach for—and easy to trust.