Skil Brushless 20V 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw Kit

Why I reached for this saw

A kitchen remodel and a stack of 2x framing lumber gave me the perfect excuse to live with Skil’s 20V 7-1/4-in. circular saw for a few weeks. I used it for everything from ripping OSB sheathing on sawhorses to trimming melamine panels on a guide rail and knocking out a slew of crosscuts in SPF studs. By the end, I had a clear picture of where this saw excels, where it needs a nudge, and who it’s best for.

Build, weight, and handling

The Skil saw feels better than its price suggests. The cast aluminum shoe and guards add rigidity without making it unwieldy, and the bare-tool weight is reasonable for a 7-1/4-in. class saw. With a 4.0Ah pack installed, it’s still light enough to carry all day, and the balance is solid—no nose-heavy lean when you set bevel or depth.

The handle shape is comfortable, the trigger and safety are easy to operate with a gloved hand, and the onboard hex key clicks into the handle so blade changes aren’t a scavenger hunt. Small touch, big win. The rafter hook is beefy and actually holds the saw where you hang it. The blade is right-side, which some right-handed users prefer for guard clearance; if you’re used to left-blade views, the LED helps keep your line visible.

The included 24T blade is what it should be: a general-purpose, jobsite-ready cutter for framing and rough carpentry. It’s not a finish blade, and that’s fine. Swap to a 40–60T when you need clean edges.

Power and cut quality

Skil’s brushless motor spins up to 5,300 RPM, and the saw doesn’t hesitate on typical framing tasks. Crosscutting 2x material is a breeze, and full-depth rips in 7/16-in. and 3/4-in. sheet goods are controlled and predictable. I wouldn’t call it a brute force saw; instead, it’s efficient and surprisingly quiet for the class, especially compared to older brushed, corded models. That lower mechanical noise makes a difference in a garage or occupied home.

Cut quality tracks with the blade you choose. With the stock 24T, edges are serviceable and fast. Upgrading to a higher-tooth blade turns this into a very capable panel saw—clean edges on plywood and melamine with the right feed rate and support. Vibration is well managed, and the shoe glides smoothly over sacrificial foam or a rail.

The electric brake is quick enough that I don’t hesitate to set the saw down after a cut. Guard action is smooth with no sticking at odd angles. These are the confidence-building details that matter on repetitive work.

Bevels, depth, and calibration

Depth and bevel adjustments lock down securely, and the 0–56° bevel range is generous. The scale is easy to read and close enough for typical site work. Out of the box, my shoe was a hair shy of square at “0,” which meant the saw needed a quick tune—loosen, square the shoe to the blade, and retighten. It’s a five-minute fix, but worth noting if you expect factory-perfect calibration.

Similarly, the cutline indicator on the shoe was a bit optimistic relative to the actual kerf. After a few test passes on scrap, I marked the true line and moved on. If you rely on the reference notch, take two minutes to confirm it with your go-to blade; all saws benefit from this, and this one is no exception.

At 90°, the saw cuts up to 2-5/8 in., so 2x lumber is a non-issue in a single pass. At 45°, capacity drops to 1-13/16 in., which is typical for the class and still covers most bevel framing tasks.

Dust management and visibility

The adaptable dust port is better than average for a circular saw. With the included vacuum adapter and a small extractor, I got notably cleaner cuts indoors and fewer chips sprayed across the workpiece. Without a vac, the port still helps direct chips away from the line of cut. The LED stays useful even in daylight and makes a bigger difference on shadowy cuts inside cabinet boxes or basements.

Runtime and batteries

Skil claims up to 250 cuts in 2x4 pine on a 4.0Ah battery. With a mix of tasks—crosscuts, some long rips, and a few bevel runs—I didn’t hit that number. Crosscut-only sessions in SPF studs easily stretch well into triple digits per charge, but ripping sheet goods at depth draws more current and will have you swapping batteries sooner. That’s normal for this class of saw. If you expect a day of ripping, bring a second 4.0Ah pack or a 5.0Ah if you have one, and take advantage of an auto fast charger.

Noise and heat are well controlled; the brushless motor sips power compared to older cordless saws. I never tripped thermal protection, even during extended rip sessions.

Track compatibility

One of the more interesting angles here is the shoe’s compatibility with Skil’s 2 x 27.5-in. track guide (sold separately). Paired with a finer-tooth blade, the saw behaves like a budget-friendly guided cutter for cabinets or built-ins. It’s not a plunge saw and lacks a riving knife, but on a track it delivers straight, repeatable cuts with minimal tear-out if you set your blade just a few millimeters below the work surface and use blue tape or a proper zero-clearance strip. For occasional cabinetry work or breaking down panels in a small shop, this is a compelling option that stretches the tool’s value.

Everyday usability

• Electric brake: Fast, confidence-inspiring.
• Rafter hook: Genuinely useful in framing or ladder work.
• LED: Helpful in low light, supplements the right-blade sight line.
• Onboard hex key: The right tool, always there.
• Shoe glide: Smooth on foam or rail; the cast aluminum resists dings better than stamped steel.
• Sound: Noticeably quieter than many corded saws; feels less fatiguing over time.

Where it comes up short

• Factory setup may need attention. Expect to check square at “0°” and verify the cutline indicator.
• The stock 24T blade is strictly general-purpose. Plan on upgrading for finish cuts.
• Runtime on deep rips will chew through a 4.0Ah pack faster than crosscuts. That’s typical, but worth planning around.
• Blade-right orientation may obscure the cut line for some users used to left-blade saws, though the LED helps.

None of these are deal-breakers, and most are addressed with simple setup or blade choice. Still, they’re real considerations if precision is your priority.

Who it’s for

• DIYers and homeowners who want a capable, quiet, and confidence-building cordless saw that doesn’t feel disposable.
• Remodelers and handypeople who do a mix of framing, trim, and panel work and want track compatibility without buying a dedicated plunge saw.
• Pros who need a secondary saw for punch lists and onsite panel breaking, especially if they already own Skil 20V batteries.

If you’re a production framer pushing constant deep rips in LVL or wet PT, you’ll want more voltage and capacity. If your world is strictly cabinet-grade joinery, a plunge track saw will still be the gold standard. Everyone in between will find a lot to like here.

The bottom line

The Skil 20V circular saw hits the marks that matter: respectable power, balanced handling, a quick brake, useful features (LED, rafter hook, onboard wrench), and a sturdy cast aluminum build. It’s quieter than many peers, doubles nicely as a guided cutter when paired with a track, and stays light enough to carry all day. You’ll likely need to square the shoe on day one and confirm the cutline indicator, and you should budget for a finer blade if you cut sheet goods. Runtime is solid for crosscuts and typical site work; bring a second battery for lots of ripping.

Recommendation: I recommend this saw for homeowners and tradespeople who want a versatile, thoughtfully equipped cordless 7-1/4-in. without spending premium money. Its combination of build quality, user-friendly features, and track compatibility makes it a strong value. Take a few minutes to dial in the shoe, upgrade the blade for finish work, and it will punch well above its price.