There are few tools that I use quite as much as a Miter Saw. Like most woodworkers, there are endless uses. As well, the accuracy is hard to duplicate with any other saw. Recently, Skilsaw produced the world’s first worm drive miter saw. Promising more power and unique features that certainly had me intrigued. I have had this saw a few months now and used it for a lot of projects, including my dining table and benches. With thousands of cuts under my belt, I think it is time we take a look at what makes this saw stand out in the Skilsaw Miter Saw Review.  

A Little About The Brand

Skilsaw Miter Saw Review

Skilsaw is well known for a few things. Founded in 1924, Skilsaw has been around for a long time. Their biggest claim to fame was their invention of the first portable circular saw, often known as the “saw that built America”. Additionally, their dual-field worm drive motors are well regarded for their power and consistent performance. Skilsaw has had a few owners over the years, and today they are owned by Chervon. Often times a brand is sold and their core values shift to follow their new owners. Thankfully, Chervon has set their sights on bringing what we all loved in classic Skilsaw tools and pushing it into today’s market. Chervon is the same powerhouse behind brands like EGO and Skil, and without a doubt, we will see some exciting things coming from Skilsaw in the coming years!  

Detailed Look

Skilsaw Miter Saw Review

Worm Drive Gearing allows for incredible power for longer life and efficiency, while the Dual-Field motor allows the saw to stay cool and extend performance. Magnesium Motor housing and aluminum table construction allow ultimate durability while keeping the saw lightweight. At 51-pounds it is the lightest in its class.

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Extendable wings allow for additional support of a workpiece but retract easily for compact storage and travel. LED Shadow Light provides incredible cut line visibility, a definite standout when precision matters most. A 12-inch 60-tooth blade made by Diablo is included for a wide range of applications. The sliding rails provide a maximum cross cut capacity of 4-by-14 inches at 0 degrees. You also can lock the rails with a small knob when the full crosscut capacity isn’t needed in the traditional “chop saw” style of miters.

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The Max Miter angle is 50 degrees to the left and 60 degrees to the right. Detent stops at 0,15, 22. 5, 31.6, 45 degreed right and left, with stops at 50 degrees left and 60 degrees right as well.

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Adjustable bevel scale allows for easy and precise adjustments when needed, with stops at 0, 22.5, 33.9, 45, and 48 degrees both left and right, with a maximum bevel angle at 48 degrees. A depth adjustment set up is available when a full depth cut is not desired, such as in certain joinery. This is easy to set up and engage, and stood out as a great feature for this saw. A clamp is included with multiple attachment points for versatility. Included crown stops for finish carpentry work, particularly crown molding Included Dust Bag collects a fair amount of dust, although all saws I would recommend to use a vacuum style dust collector. Includes a 180-day guarantee and a 1-year limited warranty.  

Value

Skilsaw Miter Saw Review

Skilsaw priced this tool fairly competitive to similar saws on the market, coming in at $599.00 at Ohio Power Tool. Miter Saws are a shop staple, and like most users, particularly professional users, I don’t mind spending the few extra dollars on a tool that performs. It is hard to find a true comparable for this tool because it has a few unique features, but its right in line with other well made professional Miter Saws. When you consider the overall features this saw has, and the performance, it’s a tool I am glad to own.  

My Thoughts

Skilsaw Miter Saw Review

I have mentioned before that I am a Miter Saw Junkie. Of all the tools I use consistently, a Miter Saw is one of the tools that get constant use in my shop. Why? Well, Miter Saws are the king of precise and accurate cuts. Carpenters, General Contractors and of course, Woodworkers rely on them to perform a wide range of functions. I had really high expectations when I talked about this tool in the First Look, and I haven’t been disappointed.

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Before I get too far into my thoughts on this tool, I want to mention that some testers did have minor issues with this saw. Because I knew of some of the issues I was careful to double and triple check each small detail on the saw to make sure I missed nothing. In my case, there were very minimal adjustments I had to make out of the box, in fact, significantly less than I generally have to take on a new saw. I truly feel mine was exactly the quality I would expect from Skilsaw. Let’s get into some of my favorite features. First- the shadow light. Lasers on a tool like a Miter Saw just haven’t been perfected enough, they tend to get out of alignment and often don’t provide crisp enough lines, especially in high light situations. I would take this over a laser any day of the week! The fences were well constructed, with the extendable wings that provide a solid support for your workpiece. I also found the fences to be easy to square up and they maintained that calibration well. On a sliding Miter Saw, one of the most important parts is the sliding mechanism. This is also one of the parts I think is the hardest for manufacturers to get right. The Skilsaw rails provide a smooth and well-balanced sliding movement. There is enough tension on the rails to feel well controlled, but not so much that it becomes cumbersome to use. This is a huge shining point with the Skilsaw Miter Saw, it is comfortable to use and after hundreds of cuts, I still felt like it was a shining spot in the saw.

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The miter detent plate is metal, and it is easily adjusted with a few screws. The positive stops were well organized and make sense for the common uses of a miter saw.  Additionally, the bevel stops were really well placed for common bevel angles, allowing repeatable cuts at common angles easy to achieve. The bevel adjustments are easy to operate and were incredibly accurate. I love the depth stop on this saw too. It was another addition I really felt was executed well. This makes cutting half lap joints or other partial depth cuts a breeze. All in all, I have nothing but love for this Miter Saw. This is Skilsaw’s first Miter Saw, and to include so many well-designed features on the first launch, was impressive. When it comes down to it, this saw has been nothing short of a well-made and well-calibrated tool.