A circular saw are an essential tool for ripping plywood sheets down to workable size, cutting trim, and framing lumber. There is all kinds of them on the market, from cheapskates to the pro grade models. The Skil 9-inch sidewinder fall somewhere in between.
It’s been around for ages and continues to evolve while staying true to its design. Does it still hold up as a viable option against today’s competition? Power tools are hard to put a price tag on.
On one hand, you have no-name tool that costs less up-front but doesn’t last more then a couple of projects. On the other hand, you have high-end tool from brands like Milwaukee and DeWalt where you may be paying for features that you don’t need. And then there’s the Skil Sidewinder.
It’s made for home DIY project, some homeowner work, or even light professional work. This isn’t a 12 hour job-site beast meant to cut through reinforced concrete. Knowing its limitations help decide how much value you place on it.
Is The Skil Sidewinder Worth The Money
Design and Balance Benefits
But Skil’s strongest argument is in design. By swapping out the traditional worm drive (or direct drive) configuration and placing motor below the blade instead of above it, center of gravity drops. You can see what you’re cutting better, too.
It also feel more balanced in your hands. Most entry level saws is top heavy. That balance become important when making a long rip cut across sheet of plywood.
You don’t want the tool fighting you as it tracks through the cut. For such a relatively small motor, Skil has done something right because the tool itself are pretty powerful for its size. Kudos to them for efficient engineering vs. Brute force.
Durability and Build Quality
Skil used to had a reputation as a fragile brand. People would complain that their stuff wouldn’t hold up very well. Current Skil tools is made better than what I recall from years ago, but rugged isn’t necessarily part of that.
They’re designed to be light and not heavy-duty. The housing have plenty of plastic components, but the gear case are metal. On the plus side, the gear case is metal.
If you dropped this thing on concrete from waist high, tool should come through okay. Throw it around a bit at a jobsite though, and you’d probably worry about cracked housings. In comparison, a Bosch or Makita saw tend to feel more like a workhorse.
That’s at the cost of weight. For most people, the trade off of a little less tolerance for abuse in favor of light weight are an acceptable compromise. This tool provide an adequate cut for framing and other trim applications.
Cutting Performance and Safety
At normal cutting angles, I’ve been able to clean through 2 x tens. It can be a bit finicky with dirty, gritty lumber, such as treated wood. While it does have dust blowers to aid visibility of the line they aren’t quite as forceful as others we’ve seen.
If you get carried away pushing the saw, you’ll experience some kickback. The easy to operate trigger lock work well, but doesn’t offer many bells and whistles compared to new versions on market. No electric brake here, for example.
Instead, blade continues spinning for several seconds once the trigger is let go. It is not realy a big deal, but it is something to note when working around little ones or less experienced hands. The last variable in this equation are price.
Price and Value Comparison
For comparable tools, a Skil Sidewinder will be significantly less expensive than its competition from companies like DeWalt, Milwaukee, or Ryobi. If you’re just getting started with tools then each dollar matter. That extra money spent on a Skil saw can go towards something else like a nice drill or good blades.
If you aren’t hammering away at commercial carpentry projects daily, it just make financial sense. While the warranty support isn’t top notch (but that’s fine), it offer an excellent combination of cost/performance. Hard to beat.
If you define value as getting good performance without paying extra for a brand name, then this is a good value. This isn’t the fastest saw on the market. This isn’t the longest lasting saw.
But if you’re going to use it primarily around house for home renovation and weekend projects, it’s reliable. And honestely, that’s where the ergonomic touches pay off. When you need to make long cuts, the balance in your hand won’t let you down.
That physical difference outlast all the marketing hype. As a purchase for the homeowner, it should of been a smart choice.