Skil Brushless 20V 6 In. Pruning Saw Kit

A morning in the yard with this compact Skil pruning saw turned a dreaded chore into a quick, almost methodical clean‑up. It’s not a felling saw and it doesn’t pretend to be one. What it does do—trim branches, clear brush, and tidy up storm damage— it does with surprising confidence and very little fuss.

Design and ergonomics

Skil kept this saw simple and light. The 6-inch bar gives you real-world capacity in the 4-inch range, which covers most homeowner pruning. The bare tool is featherweight; even with the included 20V 2.0Ah battery installed it stays easy to hold at arm’s length or overhead. The grip is neutral and secure, and the balance point sits close to the wrist so the nose doesn’t dive. That’s important for one-handed work, though I still prefer a second hand on the front housing whenever I can for control and safety.

The brushless motor is a big win in a saw this size—quiet, efficient, and with none of the cogging or hot-stator smell you sometimes get under load with brushed motors. Chain speed is rated at 8 m/s. It’s not a racer, but for green limbs and typical yard species it’s fast enough to make smooth, clean cuts without chatter.

Skil’s twist-dial, tool-free chain tensioner is the right choice here. On a small bar, chains settle quickly; being able to bring the chain back into spec in seconds—gloves on, no scrench—kept me moving.

The saw is IPX4 rated. I used it after a light rain and in misty conditions with no issue. Don’t hose it down, but it’s built to shrug off splashes.

Setup and maintenance

Out of the box, the saw needs bar and chain installed and the oil tank filled. The automatic oiler works reliably; I saw a light sheen on the chain after the first prime. The tank is small (just over an ounce), so plan to top off periodically during longer sessions. A couple of practical notes from use:

• Check and adjust chain tension after the first few cuts and again mid-session. The dial makes it trivial.
• Keep bar oil handy. This little saw sips, but the reservoir is tiny.
• It uses a 1/4-inch pitch, .043-inch gauge chain. If you sharpen at home, a 5/32 file and a steady hand will keep it biting well.

Skil includes a wall-mount EASYSTORAGE bracket. I put it near my yard door; the saw clicks in securely and gets off the shelf clutter.

Cutting performance

I worked the saw through a mix of green and seasoned branches: fresh ash and maple in the 2–4 inch range, and some very dry oak closer to 2 inches. In green wood, it bites quickly and tracks straight. The brushless motor keeps torque available when the kerf closes a bit and the cut stays controlled. On the harder, dry stuff at near-full bar depth, you’ll feel the chain speed limit; easing up on feed pressure and letting the rakers do their job avoids bogging and keeps the cut clean.

The lack of aggressive vibration is notable. With a firm grip the saw barely buzzes, which makes it easier to place the chain precisely for flush cuts near the trunk collar. Cleanup is better when you don’t chew the bark up.

If I compare it to other small cordless options:
- Faster and less tiring than a reciprocating saw with a pruning blade.
- More reach and authority than the popular 4-inch “mini chainsaws.”
- Far lighter and more maneuverable than 8–10 inch compact chainsaws.

It slots neatly into that “always close at hand” category, ideal for frequent light jobs rather than occasional big ones.

Control and safety

The two-step start (a thumb button paired with the trigger) prevents accidental activation but is quick enough that you don’t notice it after a few cuts. Chain brake behavior is minimal on tools this size; in practice, control comes from good technique:

• Start cuts with the bumper area planted when possible to minimize kickback potential.
• Let the chain come to speed before touching the wood.
• Keep your off-hand clear of the bar path. There’s no wrap-around front handle like a full-size saw.

Skil’s guard coverage and geometry make it feel predictable. Use gloves and eye protection; chips still fly.

Runtime and charging

Skil quotes up to 115 cuts per charge with the included 2.0Ah pack. My results depended on species and diameter, but a single battery covered a long morning of trimming without anxiety—easily north of 80–100 cuts on 2–3 inch limbs. The motor’s efficiency shows up in how slowly the battery gauge drops during typical pruning.

The 60W charger is practical: a depleted 2.0Ah pack gets back to work in well under an hour. If you’re clearing a whole property, a second battery would keep you truly continuous, but many users won’t need it for routine yard work.

Noise and comfort

Noise is on the pleasant side for a chainsaw: a high-pitched whir, no two-stroke bark, and no fumes. I could converse with a neighbor between cuts without raising my voice. Low vibration and the light overall weight make overhead or ladder-adjacent pruning less fatiguing—though as always, be careful about your footing and avoid one-handed cuts from a ladder.

What it’s best at

• Pruning trees and large shrubs up to about 4 inches in diameter
• Storm cleanup and limbing downed branches
• Trail maintenance and brush clearing where compact size matters
• Homeowners who already own (or plan to own) 20V Skil tools and want to stay on one battery platform

Where it falls short

• Hard, dry hardwood at near full bar depth exposes the modest chain speed; cuts still complete, but take patience.
• The tiny oil tank needs attention on long jobs.
• It’s not a replacement for a 10–12 inch saw if you regularly tackle 6–8 inch limbs or need to buck logs.

None of these are dealbreakers; they’re simply the realities of a compact, light-duty pruning saw.

Durability and build quality

The plastics feel dense and well-fitted, and the battery slides lock positively with no rattle. I didn’t encounter thermal cutbacks even when I pushed a bit in denser wood, which speaks to the motor and electronics. IPX4 is reassuring for real-world yard work where dew, drizzle, and wet bark are common. As with any oiler-equipped saw, I store it on a rag—some weeping is normal across brands.

Value and platform

On its own merits, the saw is a strong value: it ships with a battery and charger and doesn’t require accessories to be useful. As part of Skil’s 20V lineup, it makes even more sense if you’re already invested; the runtime on the 2.0Ah pack is solid, and higher-capacity packs will stretch sessions if needed.

Bottom line

The Skil pruning saw hits the sweet spot for homeowners and groundskeepers who want a nimble, low-maintenance tool for regular pruning and cleanup. It’s light, genuinely easy to control, and has enough torque to cut cleanly through the branch sizes most of us face week in and week out. The brushless motor, tool-free tensioning, automatic oiling, and IPX4 weather resistance make it feel more like a thoughtfully designed system than a gadget.

Recommendation: I recommend this saw. It excels at the jobs it’s built for—fast, controlled pruning up to 4 inches—with better ergonomics and runtime than many competitors in this size class. If your yard work leans toward frequent light trimming rather than occasional heavy cutting, this compact Skil is a practical, confidence-inspiring choice.