Skil Brushless 40V 10 IN. Pole Saw Kit

Why I reached for the Skil 40V pole saw

A late-season storm left my maples and oaks shaggy with crossed limbs and hung-up deadwood, and I wanted a cleaner, safer way to prune than dragging out ladders and a corded saw. I’ve been using the Skil 40V pole saw for several weekends now, and it has settled into that sweet spot of homeowner-friendly power, smart design, and low fuss. It’s not a pro arborist’s workhorse, but it’s a very competent tool for regular yard maintenance and storm cleanup.

Build and design

The heart of this saw is a 40V brushless motor driving a 10-inch, angled bar and chain. The angled head sounds like a small detail, but it makes a noticeable difference: it improves the sightline and lets the bar bite into branches more predictably when you’re working above shoulder height.

The telescopic aluminum shaft extends from 7.5 to 10 feet. Fully retracted, it’s manageable for low limbs without feeling unwieldy; fully extended, it gives useful reach for mid-canopy pruning. The locks feel secure, and there’s less flex than I expected at full extension. At 10 pounds with bar and chain installed, weight is reasonable for a battery pole saw, though any tool gets top-heavy when extended. Plan to work in short sets and reposition often; your shoulders will thank you.

Skil gives this unit an IPX4 rating, which in practice meant I could keep working through a light drizzle without worrying. I still avoid heavy rain—wet wood and chainsaws aren’t a great mix—but it’s reassuring that the saw is built for real-world conditions.

Setup, tensioning, and oiling

Out of the box, assembly is straightforward: mount the bar and chain, set tension, add oil, click in the battery. Tool-less chain tensioning is quick and precise. I like how easy it is to check tension mid-session and give the knob a bump when the chain warms and stretches. Skil uses a worm-type automatic oiler, and mine has been consistent. The 100 ml (3.38 fl oz) tank is on the small side, so keep bar oil handy if you’re doing an extended session. The transparent window is large enough to glance-check levels, which prevents the classic “ran the bar dry and cooked the chain” mistake.

One small note: the bucking spikes are plastic. They work to stabilize the cut on small branches, but they don’t bite like metal spikes. It’s not a dealbreaker for light pruning, just something to be aware of when you’re setting your cuts.

Cutting performance

On green hardwood limbs in the 2–4 inch range, the saw moves quickly and cleanly. The 12 m/s chain speed and narrow-kerf 0.043-inch chain are a good match for this use case—fast enough to avoid bogging, efficient enough to keep runtime up. I’ve also cut a few 5–6 inch limbs at waist height without drama, but above shoulder height I prefer to stay under 5 inches for control and safety. The saw tracks straight, and the angled head helps you keep the bar from rolling out of the cut.

The hybrid chain brake (mechanical and electronic) stops the chain promptly when you release the trigger or trip the brake guard. There’s no variable speed, which means you don’t have that feathering control some users like on delicate cuts. In practice, I didn’t miss it much—the saw is either at speed or not, and for pruning, a decisive engagement is often better.

Noise is lower than any gas pole saw I’ve used. It’s still a chainsaw, so hearing protection is wise, but the lack of engine drone and fumes makes longer sessions much more pleasant.

Battery and charging

The kit includes a 2.5Ah 40V battery and automatic fast charger. Runtime will vary with wood species and cut size, but I’ve comfortably pruned an average suburban yard’s worth of small limbs on a single charge. The fast-charge capability—Skil quotes roughly 0–30% in about 15 minutes—proved handy. I could top up during cleanup and get back to finish a few more cuts without waiting for a full cycle. If you regularly tackle heavier work or multiple trees in one go, a second battery is a smart addition, but for occasional maintenance, one pack and the fast charger are workable.

Ergonomics and handling

A pole saw’s usability is as much about balance and control as raw power. Here, the Skil 40V pole saw does well:

• Reach is practical, not exaggerated. At full extension, I could reach branches roughly 14–15 feet off the ground (depending on your height and stance) without teetering.
• The handle and trigger layout are intuitive, and the main handle brake is easy to engage with gloved hands.
• The shaft feels stiff enough to place the bar precisely without too much oscillation at full extension.

As with any top-heavy tool, fatigue is real. I work in 10–15 minute blocks, plan cuts so I’m not fighting awkward angles, and keep my feet well planted. A shoulder strap is not included; a universal strap helps if you’re doing longer sessions.

Maintenance and reliability notes

• Chain tension holds well between checks; I still retension after the first few cuts of a session and whenever the chain warms.
• The oiler keeps up, but bar oil will find its way out of any chainsaw over time. Store the saw with the oil cap up and a rag under the head.
• The plastic components (housing, spikes, guards) keep weight down but won’t match the abuse tolerance of pro-grade metal hardware. Avoid using the saw as a pry bar and you’ll be fine.
• Keep a sharp chain. The small-gauge, low-profile chain cuts fast but dulls quickly if you clip dirt or hit hidden nails.

Safety and technique

The combination of mechanical and electronic braking is confidence-inspiring. Kickback awareness still matters, especially on dead or knotty limbs. Without variable speed, you’ll want to commit to each cut: set your notch, use the spikes to stabilize when possible, and let the saw do the work. Never cut directly overhead; stay slightly off to one side so you’re not under the fall line.

What could be better

• Variable speed would help with delicate cuts on brittle wood and reduce initial bite on small twigs.
• Metal bucking spikes would add bite and longevity.
• A larger oil reservoir would reduce refills on bigger jobs.
• Including a shoulder strap in the kit would improve comfort for longer sessions.

None of these are dealbreakers, but they’re worth noting if you’re comparing options or planning heavier use.

Who it’s for

This saw is squarely aimed at homeowners and property managers who want a capable, low-maintenance tool for seasonal pruning, storm cleanup, and the occasional limb removal up to about 6 inches. The cordless convenience is a big win if you don’t want to store mixed fuel or fuss with carb issues. For daily commercial work, constant hardwood limbing, or aggressive bucking above 6–8 inches, you’ll outgrow it and should look at heavier-duty gear.

The bottom line

The Skil 40V pole saw gets the fundamentals right: a brushless motor that makes efficient power, an angled 10-inch bar that cuts predictably overhead, reliable automatic oiling, and genuinely useful reach from a stiff telescopic shaft. The kit battery and fast charger make it easy to keep working without elaborate power planning. Trade-offs include plastic spikes, no variable speed, and the usual top-heavy feel at full extension, but none of that undermines its core competence.

Recommendation: I recommend the Skil 40V pole saw for homeowners who want a reliable, easy-to-use cordless pruner with real cutting ability and minimal maintenance overhead. It’s strong on the basics, thoughtfully designed for above-head work, and supported by sensible features like tool-less tensioning, IPX4 weather resistance, and fast top-ups on the charger. If you need pro-grade durability, variable speed, or plan to cut large limbs daily, look elsewhere; for the majority of yard work, this is a well-balanced, confidence-inspiring choice.