Skil Brushless 20V 1/2 in Compact Hammer Drill Kit

First impressions and setup

I put the Skil 20V compact hammer drill to work the way most people will: unbox, charge, and go. The kit includes the drill, a 2.0Ah battery with a built‑in USB port, and the PWRJUMP fast charger. The battery arrived with a partial charge, but I topped it off and immediately noticed the charger’s active cooling fan. It’s not whisper‑quiet, yet it’s purposeful—there’s real cooling happening so the pack can accept charge quickly. The promise of getting to roughly a quarter charge in just a few minutes wasn’t hype in my experience; it’s a handy safety net when you need to finish a few holes or wrap up a hardware install.

At just over 2 lb bare, the drill feels genuinely compact. With the 2.0Ah pack, it stays light and well balanced. The overmold is grippy without being too tacky, and the belt clip sits high enough to keep the drill from banging into my knee. Fit and finish are better than I expected at this price: the mode collar clicks positively, the clutch ring has distinct detents, and the chuck spins true with minimal wobble.

Power and speed

This is a brushless drill rated at 450 in‑lbs of torque with a two‑speed gearbox (0–500/0–1,800 RPM) and a hammer mechanism that tops out at 27,000 IPM. On paper that puts it in the compact/mid‑tier category, and in use that’s exactly how it behaves: plenty of muscle for real work, without the brute force (or weight) of a flagship pro model.

In low speed, it has the grunt to spin 1‑1/8 in self‑feed bits through SPF studs and 3/4 in spade bits through treated lumber without stalling. For a quick deck repair, I predrilled and countersank half a dozen ledger bolts; the drill stayed composed, and the trigger control made it easy to feather torque as the bit broke through. In high speed, it’s crisp and quick for smaller twist bits and pilot holes in softwood and sheet goods.

If your day‑to‑day involves 6 in lag bolts or continuous 3 in hole‑saw work in hardwoods, you’ll want more torque. For everything else most homeowners and prosumers do—furniture assembly, cabinet installs, framing punch‑list work, and general maintenance—this compact size‑to‑power ratio is right on target.

Drilling metal and masonry

In 1/8 in to 3/8 in mild steel, the drill held a nice pace using quality cobalt bits. The brushless motor delivers smooth power, and the variable‑speed trigger gives you the slow starts needed to avoid skating. The 1/2 in ratcheting chuck grips well; I didn’t have any bit slip, even with step bits.

Hammer mode is the pleasant surprise. No, it’s not a rotary hammer, and I wouldn’t reach for it to set a dozen 1/2 in anchors in cured concrete. But for light masonry—brick, block, mortar, stucco—it works. I bored several 3/16 in and 1/4 in holes in brick for Tapcons; the drill maintained speed in high gear with the hammer engaged, clearing dust effectively as long as I let the bit do the work. In older, harder concrete, I stepped down to low speed for more control. If you do occasional masonry, this mode saves a trip to the truck.

Driving fasteners

Seventeen clutch settings plus dedicated drill and hammer positions give you enough granularity to protect hardware. For cabinetry and furniture, I lived around clutch 6–10 and got consistent, repeatable recess without stripping heads. Driving 3‑1/2 in exterior screws through fence pickets into 4x4s, low speed with the clutch off provided solid driving power without wrist‑snapping kickback. Trigger modulation is excellent; it’s easy to start slow and ramp up, which matters with long screws in dense material.

Lighting and usability

Skil’s strip LED is brighter and more useful than the typical pin‑light under the chuck. There’s pre‑light when you graze the trigger and a long after‑glow that can stay on for minutes. I like that you can switch the light on without spinning the motor when you just want to aim or mark, though it still comes on any time you pull the trigger. Working inside cabinets and closets, the extended after‑glow serves almost like a task light; I didn’t have to juggle a flashlight.

The control layout is straightforward: a top‑mounted 2‑speed slider, a front mode collar for screwdriver/drill/hammer, and the rear clutch ring. The chuck is a single‑sleeve ratcheting design that genuinely locks down one‑handed. Bit swaps are quick, and the ratchets are positive without being hard to release.

Battery, charging, and runtime

The included 2.0Ah pack is the right pairing for a compact drill. You’ll get a morning of intermittent work—furniture installs, hinge adjustments, small hole drilling—without needing a charge. On heavier drill‑and‑drive sequences, especially with hammer mode, you’ll drain it faster. That’s where the fast‑charge is valuable: plug in during cleanup or layout, and you’re back to a workable state in minutes. The pack stayed cool under load, and I didn’t encounter thermal throttling. The USB port turns the battery into a power bank, which is more than a gimmick; I topped off a phone and a laser measure on site.

I’d still buy a second battery if you plan full‑day projects. Fast top‑offs are great, but having one pack on the charger and one in the tool keeps the workflow smooth.

Noise, vibration, and ergonomics

In drill/drive modes, noise is modest and vibration is low. Hammer mode adds the expected chatter, but the tool remains controllable. The handle angle and balance are comfortable for overhead tasks; hanging shelf standards and working over my head didn’t fatigue my wrist. The compact head helps in tight spaces like between studs and inside cabinets.

Durability and build

Nothing about this drill feels flimsy. The gear selector is confident, the chuck collar has zero slop, and the plastics feel dense. I inadvertently dropped it from waist height onto a plywood subfloor; it picked up a scuff and kept going without any functional change. Skil’s recent battery packs with internal cooling material seem to manage heat well, which bodes well for battery longevity. The kit also includes a belt clip and a basic driving bit; both are fine to get started.

What could be better

• Power ceiling: 450 in‑lbs is ample for most DIY and maintenance work, but it’s not a replacement for a high‑torque flagship. If you routinely drive large structural fasteners or run big hole saws, you’ll want more motor.
• Single battery: The kit ships with one 2.0Ah pack. It’s a reasonable choice for price and weight, but a second battery would make the kit universally ready out of the box.
• Charger noise: The active cooling fan enables fast charging but adds audible fan noise. It’s not loud, just present in a quiet shop.
• No onboard bit storage: There’s a belt clip, but no integrated bit holder. Not a deal‑breaker, though I miss it for quick swaps on cabinet hardware.

Who it’s for

This drill is a sweet spot for homeowners, DIYers, and prosumers who want a compact, capable tool that handles wood, metal, and occasional masonry without weighing them down. It’s also a strong pick for trades as a second drill/driver—especially for punch lists, finish work, and service calls where weight and size matter more than maximum torque.

Recommendation

I recommend the Skil 20V compact hammer drill. It balances size, performance, and price with thoughtful features that matter day to day: a bright strip LED with practical pre‑light/after‑glow, a genuinely quick top‑off charger, a solid ratcheting chuck, and a pack that stays cool. It won’t replace a rotary hammer or a high‑torque drill for heavy structural work, but it isn’t trying to. For most drilling and driving tasks around the house or on light‑to‑medium duty jobs, it’s reliable, comfortable, and efficient—and that’s exactly what I want from a compact hammer drill.