Skil Miter Saw Review: I Tried a SKIL Miter Saw and It’s Worth the Hype
Updated: Mar. 11, 2024
My miter saw has always been the workhorse of my garage shop. Will the Skil miter saw be a reliable replacement?
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When it was time to replace my old hand-me-down miter saw, I kept coming back to the Skil 10-inch Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Saw . More versatile and powerful than my old 7 1/2-inch miter saw, it’s also roughly half the price of similar miter saws by competitors like Dewalt or Ridgid.
Over the last several years, I’ve graduated from being a novice DIYer repairing things around the house to an aspiring fine woodworker. I needed a saw that was powerful, versatile, and, most of all, clean and accurate. Can the Skil Miter Saw help me on my quest? I was about to find out.
What is the Skil Miter Saw?
A miter saw allows DIYers to cut down pieces of wood or metal at various angles. The ability to change cutting angles is the main difference between miter saws and chop saws. The Skil MS6305-00 can make left and right mitered cuts, as well as beveled cuts from the left or right. The saw fence slides to allow for deep beveled cuts of up to 48°.
Removing the saw from its box, I set it up temporarily on my workbench. It was surprisingly light, probably around 40 pounds. The saw features a lot of plastic parts, but at this price point, it’d be almost impossible to include more metal. Nonetheless, the saw felt sturdy and, from the first cut onward, powerful. It was incredibly easy getting started.
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I Tried It
Skil Miter Saw
The Skil miter saw is a powerful, easy-to-use tool that will be a welcomed addition to your garage workshop.
Skil Miter Saw Features
Powered by a 15-amp motor that spins the 40-tooth miter saw blade at 4,800 RPM, the Skil MS6305-00 ripped through every species of wood I cut. The saw spun up quickly and stopped nearly instantaneously when I removed my hand from the safety lever. Straight cuts were spot-on right out of the box. The sliding function was smooth as silk. I was cutting pieces of lumber much wider than I ever dreamed possible with my old saw.
Users can cut miters up to 51 degrees in both directions. I loved how the saw would immediately slip into the more common angle slots, 11 in all (Left: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, 45° / Right: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, 45°). Bevel cuts were slightly more difficult, requiring loosening a knob on the back, then finding the correct angle before tightening the knob and cutting. (Rinse and repeat.) Only the 90-degree/center position locks in for the bevel cut.
The sliding feature took a little getting used to, but it allowed me to cut hardwood boards in levels, preventing the blade from bogging down and reducing tear-out. The extended reach allowed me to quickly tackle cuts that I would have been forced to use the table saw on before this saw.
Like most miter saws, dust collection was not great. The built-in dust port didn’t fit my vacuum attachment, meaning I needed to buy an adapter to work with my Harbor Freight dust cyclone. When I took video footage of me cutting into a board, I was amazed at how much sawdust went flying through the air.
As an added bonus, the saw comes with a three-year limited warranty, when registered within 30 days of purchase.
How We Tested It
My first project with the Skil miter saw was building a mobile cart for the saw itself. If you’d like to make your own, follow our plans for a convertible miter saw station.
After breaking down the plywood on the SawStop table saw, I moved over to the Skil miter saw to cut pieces for the drawer and wings.
I made multiple miter cuts, including a run of pine strips that I’ll make into picture frames. The cut miters were perfect, with no gaps. Using a stop block, all of the cuts were the same size, with no burning on the edges or tear out.
Pros
- Surprisingly lightweight, an ideal portable jobsite saw
- Incredibly easy to use
- Cuts are clean and accurate right from the box
- Miter and bevel cuts are easy to set up
- Stunning value for its feature set
- Three-year limited warranty
Cons
- Dust collection was not great
- The slider bars protrude quite a bit (10 inches) from the back of the saw, meaning it might not perfectly fit a pre-built workshop miter station
- The shadow line feature doesn’t show up well on sunny days outside
FAQ
What company owns Skil tools?
Chervon owns Skil, Ego and Flex power tools, as well as the Devon and X-Tron brands that are well-known in the Chinese trades.
Did Skil invent the circular saw?
Skil’s founders patented the first electric circular saw in 1921. Edmund Michel and Joseph Sullivan tested their prototypes with West Coast construction workers, who were in the midst of a massive building boom at the time. Using that design, Skil employee Art Emmons created the more rugged Model E several years later. For decades, Skil was the only company making circular saws, which is why the company name is still synonymous with the product.
What other reviewers had to say
On Amazon, reviewer Richard Albanese wrote, “compared to my 20-year-old Delta miter saw, this saw is a dream. Compared to other saws with the same features, you can’t beat the price, especially with a respected brand such as Skil.” His main complaint was about the dust collection, saying even with his shop vac running, the dust collection is “not that great. This guy can throw a lot of dust around.”
Kristi Parella, another Amazon reviewer, wrote the Skil was “powerful enough for framing lumber, but also precise enough for trim work. Very accurate, smooth on the rails and bevel adjustments. If you are a homeowner/DIYer, this saw is an incredible value. It has all the features of products that are more expensive.”
Over at Lowe’s, recent verified purchaser Lazlo wrote, “Setup was straightforward and the blade came square out of the box.” Lazlo also appreciated Skil’s “commitment to quality while remaining competitive with their pricing.”
Skil Miter Saw vs. DeWalt Miter Saw
Had I not gone with the Skil MS6305-00, I more than likely would have purchased the DeWalt DWS779 12-inch sliding miter saw. It shares most of the features and basic design of the Skil, but collects dust much more efficiently. Likewise, if space is an issue, Bosch GCM12SD features an axial glide system that takes up much less room. Though both of these options cost twice as much, if not more, than the Skil.
For most enthusiasts and weekend woodworkers, the Skil MS6305-00 is going to be up for nearly any task you can throw at it.
Final Verdict
Although I had a few minor nitpicks with the Skil miter saw, overall, I was incredibly impressed by its power, utility and accuracy. Not only was it everything I wanted in a miter saw, but it was also very affordable. The Skil 10-inch Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Saw was an amazing addition to my workshop, and I look forward to building many projects with it in the years to come.
Where to Buy the Skil Miter Saw
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We Tried It
Skil Miter Saw
With its 15-amp motor and 5,000 RPM, this dual bevel sliding miter saw delivers extended power and durability.
The Skil miter saw typically retails for about $250 at Amazon, Lowe’s, Walmart, Menards and many other retailers. You can sometimes find it for $200 or less on sale.
Originally Published: March 11, 2024
