Skil Brushless 12V Drill Driver & Circular Saw Kit

First impressions and what’s in the box

I put this Skil 12V combo to work over a couple of weeks of punch-list tasks: hanging hardware, drilling pilots in studs, trimming shelves, and breaking down a few sheets of 1/2-inch ply. The kit includes a brushless 12V 1/2-inch drill/driver, a 5-1/2-inch brushless circular saw, one 4.0Ah battery with a built-in USB port, and Skil’s PWR JUMP rapid charger. You also get a belt clip, a PH2 bit, a 24-tooth carbide blade for the saw, an Allen key for blade changes, and a vacuum adaptor. It’s a compact package aimed at homeowners and pros who want something light and quick for everyday tasks rather than a heavy-duty framing setup.

The drill/driver: small size, smart chuck

The 12V drill is the standout. At 7-1/8 inches long and with a brushless motor, it feels balanced and compact without feeling toy-like. The two-speed gearbox (0–450 / 0–1700 rpm) paired with 17+1 clutch settings gives enough control for delicate cabinet hardware while still spinning fast enough for general drilling. The claimed 350 in·lb of torque is on the higher end for a 12V class. In practice, it drove 3-inch construction screws into pine cleanly on speed 2, and larger timber screws went in on speed 1 with a little patience. It’s not replacing an 18V impact driver for structural fasteners, but it covered 80% of the fastener work I do in finish carpentry and light remodeling.

The hybrid 1/2-inch chuck is useful. You can seat standard round or hex-shank drill bits by tightening the jaws like normal, but it also accepts 1/4-inch hex bits without tightening, much like a quick-in mechanism. That meant I could swap from a compact 1/4-inch hex drill bit to a driver bit in seconds. Bite felt secure and I didn’t notice wobble beyond what I’d expect from a 12V drill. The trigger modulation is smooth, the motor brake is predictable, and the onboard LED does a decent job of lighting close work.

If I had to nitpick, the clutch ring is a bit shallow with relatively small print—gloves make it easy to overshoot fine settings. Also, the tool lacks a dedicated bit holder, though the belt clip is included and easy to swap sides.

The circular saw: compact cuts with real control

Skil’s 5-1/2-inch saw is aimed squarely at portability and one-handed convenience, and it hits that brief. Bare tool weight is 4.98 lb with blade (battery excluded), and the brushless motor spins at 4200 rpm. The balance is good; I could steer it easily along a chalk line with one hand while supporting material with the other. Bevel and depth adjustments are simple, and the depth scale was accurate out of the box.

Cut capacity is 1-5/8 inches at 90° and 1-3/16 inches at 45°. That means it will cleanly crosscut 2x material square, but you’ll need to plan around the bevel limitation on thicker stock. On 3/4-inch plywood and MDF, the saw cut confidently with the included carbide blade, and the lower-guard action was smooth. Ripping a 2x4 lengthwise is possible but you need to feed steadily; if you lean on it like a 7-1/4-inch 18V saw, you’ll feel the motor bog. That’s typical for the 12V class.

Dust management is better than I expected. The included vacuum adaptor actually helped keep the cutline clean when I hooked up a small extractor. The LED work light has both a pre-light and after-glow, which sounds minor but is handy when lining up a mark before the blade spins.

A few notes to keep in mind:
- The saw uses a 10 mm arbor. Skil notes compatibility with some 5/8-inch blades; just make sure the blade and any included bushings match the arbor correctly.
- Blade changes require the included Allen key. There’s no onboard storage for the wrench, so have a spot for it in your bag.
- The stamped shoe is flat and true on my sample, but it’s not a magnesium base—avoid drops and keep it out of the bottom of a demo bucket.

Battery and charging: quick top-offs change the workflow

The single 4.0Ah PWR CORE 12 battery is the heart of the kit. On paper, 12V 4.0Ah roughly translates to 48 Wh of energy, and the runtime lined up with expectations. The drill ran through a day of intermittent install work on one charge. The saw is more demanding; breaking down a full 4x8 sheet of 1/2-inch plywood into cabinet parts took most of a charge with the stock blade.

The PWR JUMP charger is the sleeper feature. Bringing a dead battery to roughly 25% in about 5 minutes and to full in about 45 minutes is genuinely useful. I leaned on that quick top-off several times—plug in while laying out a cut, and you’ve got enough juice to finish the task. The battery’s USB port (PWR ASSIST) also saved my phone once on site, though I wouldn’t buy a tool for that alone.

One caveat: fast charging generates heat. I didn’t hit thermal limits, but I made a habit of setting the battery on an open surface during charging and avoided back-to-back rapid cycles unless necessary.

Ergonomics and build

Both tools strike a nice balance between size and sturdiness. The grips are slim without feeling cramped, and the rubber overmold has enough texture to stay put in sweaty hands. Switches and locks feel positive. The drill’s gearbox shift is crisp; the saw’s levers stay put after adjustment. Neither tool introduced excessive vibration. Noise is what you’d expect: the saw is high-pitched but not shrill, and the drill is quiet in low speed.

Fit and finish on my kit was clean—no flashing on plastic edges, and the guards and chucks operate as they should. I appreciate the inclusion of a belt clip and a basic PH2 bit; small touches that make day-to-day use smoother.

Performance boundaries and trade-offs

This is a 12V combo. It shines in tight spaces, overhead work, and on-the-go tasks. It is not intended for repeated cutting of wet pressure-treated 2x stock or drilling large-diameter holes in LVL. Specific limitations I ran into:
- The saw’s 1-3/16-inch capacity at 45° limits beveled cuts in 2x lumber.
- Rips longer than a few feet in thick stock require patience; a sharper or higher-tooth-count blade tuned for the material helps.
- The drill’s 350 in·lb is solid for 12V, but boring big holes with a spade or self-feed bit will challenge it. Use sharp bits and low gear, or step up to a mid-torque 18V when needed.

None of these are flaws; they’re inherent to the class. The upside is lower weight, less fatigue, and easier control.

Where this kit fits

I’d put this combo in a few sweet spots:
- Apartment and condo DIYers who value compact tools and quick charging.
- Pros who want a lightweight secondary setup for installs, trim, and punch-list work.
- Woodworkers needing a small saw for breaking down sheet goods and a precise drill for hardware.

If your daily work is framing, decking, or exterior remodels, you’ll be happier with a 6-1/2- or 7-1/4-inch saw on an 18V/20V platform and a higher-torque drill.

Warranty and ecosystem

Skil backs the kit with a 5-year limited warranty, which is generous in this segment. If you’re already on Skil’s PWR CORE 12 platform, the kit slots right in. If you’re starting fresh, it’s a practical gateway into a compact ecosystem with a decent range of companion tools.

The bottom line

The Skil 12V combo delivers thoughtful features and honest performance in a compact package. The drill is precise, pleasantly powerful for its class, and the hybrid chuck makes bit changes fast. The 5-1/2-inch saw is light, easy to steer, and fully capable for sheet goods and 2x crosscuts, provided you respect its limits. Rapid charging meaningfully reduces downtime, and the included accessories add real value.

Recommendation: I recommend this kit for anyone who prioritizes portability and versatility over sheer power—DIYers tackling home projects, and pros who want a lightweight, reliable set for installs and finish work. If your workload leans heavy-duty or you need deeper cut capacity and longer runtime, step up to an 18V/20V system. For its intended use, this kit hits the mark.