Skil 20V 7/8 in Stroke Length Orbital Jigsaw Kit

Why I reached for this Skil 20V jigsaw

There are a lot of cordless jigsaws vying for space in my kit, but this Skil 20V jigsaw won me over for one simple reason: it’s easy to live with. It doesn’t try to be clever—just quick setup, predictable cuts, and a feature set that covers the basics well. After several months of cabinet installs, plywood breakdown, and on-site template work, I’ve formed a clear picture of where it shines and where it falls short.

Build, balance, and ergonomics

The first thing I noticed is balance. With the included 2.0Ah battery, the saw stands upright securely and feels planted in the hand, with low vibration for a compact, mid-tier tool. That matters more than spec sheets suggest—less buzz means cleaner lines and less fatigue when you’re steering tight curves. The top handle has a comfortable contour and a grippy overmold without being tacky.

Blade changes are genuinely fast. The tool-free clamp grabs securely and ejects hot blades cleanly, which saves time during material changes. Likewise, the tool-free bevel shoe is one of the better designs in this price bracket. The release is accessible, the shoe adjusts smoothly, and the angle scale is easy to read. I wouldn’t call the shoe “pro-grade rigid,” but it tracks true enough for cabinet-grade bevels in plywood if you let the blade do the work.

The integrated LED is thoughtfully placed and stays on for 10 seconds after you release the trigger. That afterglow is handy when you pause to check a cut line. It’s not the brightest light out there, and in strong daylight it doesn’t buy you much—but in a dim shop or under a sink, it helps.

Power and cutting performance

On paper, you get a 7/8-inch stroke and a 0–2800 SPM range. In practice, that combination is more capable than the compact footprint suggests. In 3/4-inch plywood, it has no trouble maintaining speed on moderate feed rates. In 2x stock, switch up the orbital action and it keeps pace better than I expected.

The four-stage orbital settings are properly tuned:
- 0 (straight stroke) for clean cuts in veneer, laminate, and thin sheet goods.
- 1–2 for general-purpose cutting where you want a balance of speed and finish.
- 3 for aggressive, fast cuts in softwood and rough carpentry.

The variable speed control and integrated electronic brake make a noticeable difference in control. The brake snaps the blade to a stop quickly, which reduces accidental overcut when you finish a line and keeps the blade from chattering on restart. I kept the speed midrange for most woodwork and slowed it down for plastics and thin aluminum.

With the right blade, it will cut plastic, aluminum, and thin steel without fuss. For metal, the motor has enough low-end control to avoid galling; just use cutting oil, slow the SPM, and keep the orbital action off. The kit includes a wood and a metal blade that are fine for getting started, though you’ll want to step up to premium blades if you care about splinter control and curve precision.

Precision and line-of-cut visibility

Out of the box, line-of-cut visibility is good, thanks to a fairly open shoe and that LED. There’s a built-in dust blower aimed at the kerf, which is better than nothing but not a replacement for extraction. On long rip-style cuts in plywood, the blower struggled to keep the line clear in the last third of the stroke, and I still found myself puffing away dust or pausing to vacuum.

Blade deflection is respectable for a compact saw. Keep in mind that no jigsaw is a bandsaw; if you push too hard in thick stock, you’ll see a bit of wander on the back side of the cut. Using a sharper, stiffer blade and dialing back orbital action in thicker hardwoods keeps things square. For tight scrollwork in 1/2-inch material and below, this saw tracks lines well at low speed.

Bevel cuts and shoe integrity

Bevel adjustments are quick and tool-free, which encourages actually using the feature instead of faking it with sanders. The shoe locks down with enough clamping force to stay put through a typical 45-degree cut in plywood. I measured a consistent angle within a degree when pushing at normal feed rates. If you’re leaning hard through knotty pine with max orbital, expect a hint of flex—normal for this class.

The shoe face is smooth and doesn’t leave marks on prefinished surfaces, but I still recommend a sacrificial tape layer for high-visibility faces or glossy laminates.

Battery, runtime, and heat

The included 2.0Ah PWRCORE 20 battery keeps the package light, and for small to medium tasks it’s adequate. For a sink cutout in a laminate countertop, I had plenty of juice to spare. On a day of intermittent cuts—templatting and trimming plywood panels—I cycled the battery a couple of times. If you plan to do production runs or heavy 2x cutting with max orbital, budget for a second battery or a higher-capacity pack.

Heat management is decent. After extended metal cutting, the pack got warm, and I let it cool before charging. One cautionary note: I did experience an early battery issue with one pack that stopped taking a charge. Replacing it solved the problem, and the saw itself has been rock solid. I’d still suggest keeping a spare battery on hand if you rely on this as your primary jigsaw.

The included charger is a standard unit. It’s not a fast charger, but it’s consistent. If you build out more tools on this platform, consider a faster charger to keep the workflow moving.

Noise, vibration, and user experience

Noise levels are reasonable for a jigsaw, and vibration is lower than average in this price class. That translates directly to smoother curves and fewer “jitters” starting cuts on delicate lines. The trigger modulation is predictable, and the brake gives the saw a tidy, controlled feel that makes it easier to feather up to a line without overshooting.

A small but appreciated detail: because it stands securely on the battery, you can park it upright between cuts without hunting for a safe resting spot or risking a hot blade scratching the bench.

Durability and maintenance

The housing and shoe have held up well to jobsite bumps, and the blade clamp hasn’t loosened over time. Keep the clamp area clean and give the shoe a wipe after dusty sessions. Beyond that, there’s not much to maintain.

I’d like to see a stronger dust blower or, better yet, a more robust dust extraction option. The LED could stand to be brighter, too. Neither is a deal-breaker, but both are areas for improvement.

Who it’s for

• DIYers and serious hobbyists who want a capable, easy-to-use cordless jigsaw for wood and light metal.
• Pros who need a reliable, lightweight jigsaw for punch-list work, cabinetry installs, templating, and on-site scribing.
• Anyone already on the Skil 20V platform looking to round out their kit.

If you’re a production carpenter or fabricator who will run a jigsaw for hours every day, you’ll want a higher-capacity battery setup at minimum, and you might consider a heavier-duty model with a dust extraction port and a slightly stiffer shoe.

Pros and cons

Pros:
- Well-balanced with low vibration; clean, controllable cuts
- Four-stage orbital action tuned for real-world use
- Tool-free blade changes and bevel adjustments that actually save time
- Integrated brake for precise starts and stops
- LED that stays on briefly after trigger release
- Stands securely on the battery between cuts

Cons:
- Dust blower is modest; plan for manual clearing or external extraction
- LED could be brighter
- 2.0Ah battery limits runtime; consider a spare or larger pack
- I encountered an early battery failure and recommend having a backup

Recommendation

I recommend this Skil 20V jigsaw for most users who need a dependable, easy-handling cordless saw for wood and occasional metal. It hits the essentials—control, cut quality, and convenience—with fewer compromises than I expected at this level. The orbital options and brake make it versatile, the tool-free adjustments streamline setup, and the overall vibration control inspires confidence on detailed cuts.

Plan on a second battery (or a higher-capacity pack) if you have longer sessions, and know that the dust blower isn’t a substitute for extraction. With those caveats in mind, it’s a smart, budget-friendly addition to a 20V lineup and a tool I’ve been happy to keep within arm’s reach.