Skil 15 Amp Heavy Duty Reciprocating Saw

First impressions

Halfway through a bathroom demo, I realized something unusual: my arms weren’t buzzing. This Skil recip saw is built around a full-frame counterbalance that genuinely tames vibration, and it changes the experience of cutting. It’s a big, corded 15-amp unit—no one would mistake it for compact—but it’s composed, confident, and it stays that way when you lean on it.

Build and ergonomics

This is a substantial saw: 27.7 inches long and 11.3 pounds on the scale. The length gives you a long shoe-to-handle distance, which helps you steer a blade in a straight line and reduces hop, though it does limit how deep you can work into tight stud bays. The handle has generous clearance; I could wear thick demolition gloves and still comfortably feather the trigger. The rubber overmold is grippy without being gummy, and the front housing has a toughened edge that shrugged off sparks and abrasion during metal cuts. Skil calls out a diamond-reinforced edge; whatever the specific material, it resisted scuffs better than most front housings I’ve used.

The 8-foot cord is adequate on a jobsite where an extension cord is a given. Strain relief at the handle is flexible and long enough that I wasn’t worried about tugging it mid-cut.

Vibration and control

Skil’s full-frame linear counterbalance (their BUZZKILL tech) is the headline feature, and it earns its keep. Most heavy-duty recip saws transmit a lot of buzz into your wrist and forearm, especially when the blade teeth are skittering across metal or you’re plunge-cutting into lumber. Here, the counterbalance noticeably calms that oscillation. The sensation is that the mass is working for you rather than against you: the saw plants on the work, and your cuts track straighter with less forearm fatigue.

The soft-start electronics make a difference too. Instead of snapping to life, the stroke ramps in smoothly, so the blade is less likely to grab and jump at the start of a cut. That’s especially helpful when you’re starting a flush cut against drywall or tile, where you don’t want the shoe to bang and mar the surface.

Power and cutting performance

This saw runs a 15-amp motor with a 1-1/4-inch stroke and a no-load top speed around 2900 strokes per minute. In wood, it’s fast. I made repeated cuts through doubled 2x lumber with embedded nails using a 6 TPI demolition blade. With orbital mode switched on, it chewed through material aggressively, threw large chips, and cleared the kerf well. The shoe planted without chatter, and the anti-vibe kept the cut from feeling harsh even when I was pushing to bend the blade on a flush cut.

Metal performance is often where recip saws show their quirks. I cut EMT conduit, 1-inch black pipe, and a handful of stainless hose clamps with a 14 TPI bi-metal blade. With orbital mode off and the speed dial set lower, the saw held a steady rhythm and resisted bogging when I leaned in. You can hear the electronics maintaining stroke speed under load; it doesn’t surge and sag as much as simpler corded saws, and that steadiness translates to fewer lost teeth and cleaner cuts.

On thicker materials—cast iron and structural fasteners—the saw’s weight helps. I like to preload the shoe and let the mass do part of the work. The motor stayed composed, and thermal smell never showed up during my test windows. It’s not magic; blade choice still matters more than anything. But the platform gives good blades what they need to perform.

Controls and useful features

• Variable speed: There’s a dial that sets the upper limit and a full-size trigger to modulate within that range. The combination makes it easy to dial in a safe top speed for metal and still have fine control with your finger.
• Orbital mode: A simple switch toggles orbital action. On wood demolition it’s the right choice—faster and more aggressive. For metal or plunge cuts, switching it off reduces chatter and helps the teeth bite cleanly.
• Constant power under load: The electronics keep stroke speed from collapsing when you hit a knot or a thicker wall. It’s subtle but noticeable in how the saw sounds and feels. You can maintain feed pressure with fewer adjustments.
• Soft-start: Smoother starts mean less walking on slick surfaces and more accurate plunge cuts.

I’d like a slightly more pronounced orbital indicator; it’s possible to forget what mode you’re in until the cut tells you. Otherwise, the layout is straightforward and glove-friendly.

Size and weight trade-offs

At 11.3 pounds and nearly 28 inches long, this isn’t the right recip saw for overhead work all day or for surgical cuts in tight mechanical chases. Overhead, your shoulder will feel the mass sooner than with a compact or midweight saw. In cramped corners, the body length can force some awkward hand positions. But the flip side is stability and low vibration when you’re doing the bulk work of demolition, door/window cutouts, or cutting back fasteners flush to framing. In a straight-line cut with the shoe engaged, the saw “feels” lighter in the cut than it does on the bench, simply because it doesn’t fight you.

Noise, heat, and debris

It’s not quiet—few recip saws are—but the tone is less shrill than some high-speed units. Ear and eye protection are still mandatory, and a dust mask isn’t a bad idea when you’re ripping old studs or plaster. After long cutting sessions, the motor housing ran warm but never alarming, and cooling seems efficient with an unobtrusive vent pattern that didn’t pack up with chips quickly. As with any saw, keep the vents clear.

Durability notes

The front housing’s wear edge held up well to sparks and accidental shoe rubs against fasteners. The shoe itself is sturdy and didn’t deform when I leveraged it hard into a plunge. Blade life and cut quality were consistent with expectations for the blades I used. I didn’t experience any electrical or mechanical hiccups in testing. For longevity, the usual rules apply: don’t force dull blades, keep the shoe planted, and let the motor do the work.

Corded versus cordless considerations

Cordless recip saws have come a long way, and I use them constantly for quick cuts and punch-list tasks. But for continuous demolition where you’re running blade after blade, a 15-amp corded model still makes a lot of sense. You get steady power with no battery swaps or thermal throttling. If your work lives near outlets or you’re already dragging cords for other tools, this Skil fits neatly into that workflow. If you spend most of your time on ladders or in attics, the cord and weight may push you toward a lighter, cordless option.

What could be improved

• Size in tight spaces: The long body can be limiting between studs and under sinks.
• Overhead fatigue: Weight that helps on horizontal cuts works against you above shoulder height.
• Mode clarity: A more prominent orbital indicator would reduce second-guessing mid-cut.

Who it’s for

• Remodelers and demo crews who want a smooth, low-vibration corded saw for long sessions.
• Tradespeople cutting a mix of wood, nail-embedded lumber, and common metals who value consistent stroke speed under load.
• DIYers tackling major renovations who prefer corded simplicity and don’t mind the weight.

If your primary need is delicate plumbing cuts in tight chases, or you’re frequently in overhead situations, a more compact tool might suit you better.

Final recommendation

I recommend this Skil recip saw for anyone who prioritizes low vibration, steady cutting under load, and the reliability of corded 15-amp power. It’s heavy and long, but those traits pay dividends in stability and cut quality when the shoe is engaged. The counterbalance makes a real-world difference in fatigue, the soft-start and variable speed controls are thoughtfully implemented, and orbital mode gives you the bite you want in wood. If you work in tight spaces or overhead all day, look to a smaller platform. For general demolition and heavy cutting on the ground or at bench height, this is a confident, capable choice that feels refined where many in this class feel brutish.