Skil 20V Brushless Reciprocating Saw Kit

Overview

I’ve been using Skil’s 20V recip saw for yard cleanup, quick cuts on remodel days, and the inevitable “cut the thing that won’t budge” moments. It’s a compact, brushless, cordless saw that tops out at 3,200 SPM with a 1-inch stroke, and it comes as a kit with a 2.0Ah battery, charger, a wood blade, and a hex key. What stood out in my time with it is how light and well-balanced it feels for a tool in this category, and how confidently it handles the kind of small-to-medium tasks most DIYers face.

Setup and Ergonomics

Out of the box, setup took a minute: charge the PWRCORE 20 battery, slide it in, click a blade into the one-touch collet, and go. The tool-free, one-touch blade change is genuinely convenient—no fiddly levers or stuck sleeves—and it’s easy to operate with gloves. Blade ejection is positive enough that removing a hot blade isn’t a hassle.

The saw weighs 3.62 lbs (bare tool), and the 16-inch length strikes a nice balance between reach and maneuverability. The soft-grip handle and contouring keep your wrist in a neutral position, and the trigger is smooth with a broad modulation range. I could feather it for delicate cuts in trim and PVC, then pull full speed for pruning or rough demolition. The lock-off is easy to find and actually prevents accidental starts, and the electric brake stops the blade promptly when you release the trigger.

Cutting Performance

With a 1-inch stroke and up to 3,200 strokes per minute, this saw leans on speed and control over brute-force throw. In practice, it cuts cleanly and predictably, especially when you let the blade do the work. In wood, it zipped through 2x stock and fence posts with a good demo blade, and it’s an efficient limb lopper for branches in the 1–4 inch range. The included wood blade is fine to get started, but a quality pruning blade makes a noticeable difference outdoors.

In metal, matched with a fine-tooth blade, it handled EMT conduit and threaded rod without drama. It’s not meant for thick structural steel, but the listed capacities for metal and aluminum align with common site tasks. PVC and ABS pipe were easy, and the saw was controllable enough to slot cuts without overshooting.

If you’re coming from a pro-grade recip with a 1-1/8-inch stroke and a big battery, you’ll notice this Skil gives up some outright aggression on heavy demolition. But for homeowners and remodelers who value precision and confidence over raw thrash, the tradeoff makes sense.

Vibration and Control

Vibration management is better than expected at this price and weight. The counter-balanced gearbox and the short stroke work together to keep the front end composed. With the pivoting shoe planted, I could make straight, repeatable cuts without wrestling the tool. One-handed trimming felt plausible in soft materials when I had solid control of the workpiece, though two-handed is still the safer, steadier choice for most tasks.

The adjustable, pivoting shoe helps stabilize awkward cuts. It’s a meaningful feature: nose the shoe in, roll onto the work, then pick your speed with the trigger. That technique alone improves cut quality and blade life.

Battery, Runtime, and Charging

The kit includes a 20V 2.0Ah battery and PWRCORE 20 charger. Runtime with the 2.0Ah pack is solid for intermittent cuts, pruning sessions, and project work where you’re making a handful of cuts at a time. On continuous demolition, you’ll drain it predictably—no surprise there. If you plan longer sessions, a second battery or a higher-capacity pack is the smart upgrade. The charger’s pace is reasonable and gets you back in the game quickly enough for DIY rhythm; pros or frequent users will want a spare battery regardless.

Brushless efficiency shows up here: the tool runs cool, and power delivery feels consistent most of the way through the discharge. I didn’t run into thermal cutouts under normal use.

Blade Changes and the Shoe

The one-touch collet is a highlight. Insert and remove blades with a single motion, no twisting or tug-of-war. It’s reliable and doesn’t loosen up mid-cut. The shoe adjustment is straightforward and locks firmly enough for typical tasks. You can extend blade life by shifting the shoe to use a fresh section of teeth—a small feature that pays off over time.

If you’re new to recip saws, a quick tip: match the blade to the material and let the saw’s speed and weight do the cutting. For wood, a coarse tooth count works; for metal, go finer; for pruning, choose a long, aggressive blade and use the shoe to steady your approach.

Visibility and Lighting

There’s a single LED that helps in shaded corners and under decks. It’s not a floodlight, and it can be overshadowed outdoors in bright daylight, but it’s better than flying blind. The sight line along the shoe is decent, and the shorter stroke helps keep the nose steady near your cut line.

Durability and Maintenance

Nothing in my use raised red flags about durability. The brushless motor should outlast brushed counterparts, and there’s no obvious slop in the mechanism or shoe. Keep the collet clean, blow out dust from the vents, and store blades dry. As with any recip saw, most “durability issues” people encounter usually track back to using the wrong blade for the material or leveraging the tool where a sawzall shouldn’t be leveraged—use the shoe, pick the right blade, and you’ll be fine.

What Could Be Better

• Battery capacity in the kit: The included 2.0Ah pack is great for portability and weight, but heavy demo drains it fast. A higher-capacity option adds useful runtime for bigger jobs.
• Stroke length: The 1-inch stroke is smooth and controllable, but big demo blades can feel slower compared to 1-1/8-inch saws when you’re chewing through dense material.
• LED reach: Helpful indoors and in shade, limited in bright conditions.

These aren’t dealbreakers; they’re tradeoffs that fit the saw’s compact, easy-to-use design.

Use Cases Where It Shines

• Yard work and pruning: Fast, tidy cuts on limbs and roots with a pruning blade.
• Remodeling punch lists: Cutting out nails, pipes, and drywall openings without cords.
• Small to medium demolition: Studs, sheathing, pallets, and hardware removal with good blade selection.
• Plumbing/electrical rough-ins: Cutting PVC, ABS, EMT, and making quick trims where a jigsaw can’t reach.

The Bottom Line

The Skil 20V recip saw hits a sweet spot for homeowners, DIY remodelers, and anyone who wants a light, well-behaved reciprocating saw that’s easy to control and ready to work out of the box. It’s not a sledgehammer saw for all-day demo, but it doesn’t pretend to be. Instead, it gives you confident speed control, low vibration, quick blade changes, and a compact form factor that makes awkward cuts feel less awkward.

Recommendation: I recommend this saw for users who prioritize control, low weight, and versatility around the house and yard. Pair it with a quality blade set and consider a higher-capacity battery if you plan longer sessions. If your day-to-day is heavy demolition or you demand maximum stroke length and runtime, look to a more aggressive, higher-capacity setup. For everyone else, this is a thoughtfully designed, capable tool that makes the most common recip saw tasks easier and more enjoyable.