Skil 20V Brushless Compact Router Kit

Why I reached for this compact router

I’ve been looking for a cordless trim router that could handle day-to-day edge work and quick profiles without dragging a cord across a project. The Skil 20V compact router checked the right boxes on paper—brushless motor rated up to 1 HP, 6-position speed control, LED, soft start, and it comes as a complete kit with a 4.0Ah battery, charger, edge guide, dust shroud, and a small starter bit set. After several weeks of routing roundovers on pine shelves, trimming laminate, and cutting shallow dados and hinge mortises, I’ve got a good sense of where this tool shines and where it tops out.

Setup and what’s in the box

The kit is genuinely “ready to run.” In addition to the router, you get Skil’s PWRCORE 20 4.0Ah battery and 60W charger, a patent-pending edge guide, a spanner, a dust shroud, and three 1/4-inch-shank bits (a 1/4-inch straight, a 3/8-inch roundover, and a 1/2-inch laminate trim). Pop the battery on the charger and by the time you’ve skimmed the manual and installed a bit, you’re set.

The base opening is 1.3 inches (33.5 mm), and the fixed base offers 1.7 inches of depth travel with a fine adjustment down to 1/64 inch. For a compact router, that’s a useful range: plenty for trim work, inlay channels, and hardware mortising.

Ergonomics and controls

This is a small, easy-to-hold router. At 2.45 lbs (tool only), it’s light, and the body diameter works well for one-handed control during edge work. The LED throws clean, useful light at the bit, and the clear base keeps sightlines open. The speed dial is accessible with your thumb, and the quick depth adjustment mechanism is fast and repeatable once you get a feel for it.

Depth control is handled by a coarse adjust to slide the motor up and down, then a dial for fine tuning. I was able to sneak up on hinge depth in tiny increments; the 1/64-inch minimum adjustment feels realistic. The lock holds securely—no drifting mid-cut.

Soft start deserves special mention. On compact routers, initial torque can twist the tool just enough to mar a delicate edge. Here, startup is gentle and predictable, which helps with clean entry cuts along finished edges.

Power and performance

Skil rates the brushless motor up to 1 HP with a dual-range speed scheme: a low range topping out at 15,000 RPM and a high range that stretches to 30,000 RPM, with six speed settings within those limits. In practice, the low range is helpful for plastics, aluminum trim, and burn-prone hardwoods with larger edge profiles. High range is where I lived for 1/4-inch shank bits and small profiles; at higher RPM the cuts were clean and chip evacuation improved.

For a cordless palm router, it has plenty of grunt. Running a 3/8-inch roundover on pine and poplar, I could take full-depth passes at a steady feed without chatter. On maple, I reduced pass depth slightly (two passes per edge) to keep the cut crisp and the motor tone happy. For laminate trimming, it performed exactly as you’d hope—smooth, controllable, and light enough to hover the base flush on vertical work without fatigue.

You’ll hit the understandable limits with big, tall profiles and plunge-heavy operations. With a 1/4-inch collet and a 1.3-inch base opening, you’re capped at small to mid-size bits, which is appropriate for this class. If you regularly spin panel-raising bits or tall ogees, that’s 1/2-inch-collet territory and a different tool category altogether.

Dust management

The included dust shroud is worth using. Connected to a small shop vac, it noticeably reduces airborne dust and keeps the cut line clearer. Without extraction, expect the usual spray of fine chips, especially in high range at 30,000 RPM. The shroud snaps on and off quickly for bit changes and works well in both edge routing and light mortising.

Tip: for laminate trimming, keep the shroud on and set the vac suction modestly; too much pull can affect how the base tracks on delicate surfaces.

Battery and runtime

The 4.0Ah PWRCORE 20 pack is a good match for this tool. Charge time on the included 60W charger landed in the roughly 70–90 minute window in my shop. On runtime, I routed a series of 3/8-inch roundovers on softwood shelving and didn’t need to swap batteries before cleanup. Expect to complete long edge runs on a single charge; with softwood and small bits, you can get hundreds of feet per charge. For more demanding hardwood profiles or a day of production trimming, a second battery will keep you moving, but for weekend projects one pack is surprisingly workable.

Edge guide and accuracy

Skil’s edge guide is simple and practical. It locks down square, slides smoothly, and stays set under vibration. I used it for a series of shallow dados and to reference consistent offsets for decorative grooves on drawer fronts. While routers in this class won’t replace a precision track system, the guide is steady, and with light scoring passes you can get clean, consistent results.

The base has good contact area and doesn’t feel tippy on narrow edges. Paired with the soft start, that stability helped me avoid gouging on entry and exit. The LED again earns its keep when following a pencil line or keeping an eye on grain direction.

What it does best

• Edge profiles and breaking sharp corners on solid wood and plywood
• Laminate trimming with excellent visibility and control
• Shallow mortising for hinges, strike plates, and hardware
• Light dadoes and inlay channels where a full-size router would be overkill
• Quick, cordless touch-up work around the shop or jobsite

Where it falls short

• 1/4-inch collet only: larger 1/2-inch-shank bits are off the table
• No plunge base: it’s a fixed-base-only setup; you’ll need careful start/stop blocks or a different router for deeper, controlled plunge work
• Base opening limits the diameter of specialty bits; check your profiles before assuming they’ll clear
• The speed control scheme is stepped rather than fully variable under load; it’s fine for most tasks, but dialed-in specialty work might benefit from micro-adjustable RPM

Tips for cleaner results

• Use the low RPM range for plastics and burn-prone hardwoods with larger profiles; switch to high range for small roundovers and flush-trim bits
• Take multiple passes in dense hardwoods; shallow cuts keep edges crisp and reduce heat
• Connect the dust shroud to a vac for visibility and a cleaner finish surface
• Mark depth stops for repetitive tasks; the fine adjust is repeatable if you reference off a known stock thickness or a setup block

Durability and build impressions

Fit and finish are solid. The motor housing feels robust, the base locks positively, and there’s minimal play where it matters. After repeated bit changes with the provided spanner, the collet still tightens smoothly and releases reliably. The LED and electronics haven’t exhibited flicker or hiccups. Brushless motors tend to hold up well under intermittent use like this, and nothing in my time with the tool suggests otherwise.

The bottom line

The Skil compact router nails the core promise of a cordless trim router: it’s light, accurate, and powerful enough for the tasks this class is made for. The inclusion of a 4.0Ah battery, a charger, an edge guide, a dust shroud, and three starter bits makes it easy to get to work right out of the box. The soft start and LED improve control and visibility, and the quick, precise depth adjustment keeps setup time down.

If your work fits the compact-router lane—edge treatments, laminate trimming, light mortising, and small dadoes—this is a dependable, easy-to-use option. If you need a plunge base, larger bits, or heavy stock removal, you should pair this with a full-size router.

Recommendation: I recommend this tool to DIYers, trim carpenters, and small-shop woodworkers who want a capable cordless trim router with thoughtful features and a complete kit. It’s especially good as a first router or as a secondary machine dedicated to a common bit. The limitations around 1/4-inch shank bits and the lack of a plunge base are expected at this price and class; as long as those align with your needs, the Skil compact router is a smart, reliable addition to the kit.