Skil PWRCore 20 7 1/4" Cordless Circular Saw Outperforms Corded Circular Saw
The Skil has been an icon in the world of circular saws for many years, even introducing the concept of a circular saw to the market. We recently got our hands on their 20V XP Brushless Rear Handle Circular Saw, proving that you can get professional grade results without breaking the bank. Today we're taking a look at Skil's newest 20V 7 1/4" cordless circular saw, which features improved ergonomics over traditional Diamondbacks and some very impressive performance specs.
Skil Cordless Circular Saw Performance
- Blade Size: 7-1/4"
- No-load speed: 5300 RPM
- 90° Cutting Capacity: 2-5/8"
- 45° Cutting Capacity: 1-13/16"
- Arbor: 5/8 inch
- Motor Type: Brushless
- Maximum bevel angle: 56°
Skil's PWRCore 20 XP brushless motor powers its 7 1/4" blade at up to 5,300 RPM. This enables it to handle 3 times the cuts of wood in one go. While 3x material isn't a common type of wood these days, this large cutting capacity will allow you to rip up to three stacked sheets of 3/4" plywood.
The big question here is definitely about its cutting ability. Its maximum cutting depth of 2-5/8 inches is second only to the Skil PWRCore 20 7 1/4-inch Rear Handle Circular Saw. In fact, that's even ahead of some of Skil's corded and cordless worm drive circular saws.
As you might expect, bevel and depth-of-cut adjustments are tool-free. The saw blade has a maximum bevel angle of 56°, but the Skil includes a 45° fold-out positive stop for quick adjustments on the fly.
Skil Cordless Circular Saw Design Notes
- Model: SKIL CR5440B-10
- Power: Skil PWRCore 20 battery
- Weight: 7.2 lbs. (naked), 8.8 lbs. (with 4.0Ah battery)
- Aluminum shoe and blade guards
- Dust Port: 1-1/4 in.
To help control the weight of the saw, this saw has an aluminum sole and blade guard instead of steel. Not only does this help with weight management, but the shoe glides easily and smoothly over cutting surfaces.
The ergonomics are quite comfortable too, as the Skil uses an offset fore grip instead of an inset design. This gives your arm more room to breathe while cutting. The right side design of the CR5440 circular saw blade provides excellent sightlines while cutting with either hand. Plus, bright white boot markings on the front of the shoe help you ensure the cut stays true.
Additional features
- folding rafter hook
- Onboard Tool Storage
- electric brake
- Integrated dust collector
- LED work light
- Compatible with track guide
The Skil PWRCore 20 Cordless Circular Saw Kit retails for $169.99. The kit includes a 4.0Ah PWRCore 20 battery, a PWRJump charger, and a 1 1/4" dust port attachment. Skil backs this saw with a 5-year warranty.
the bottom line
The Skil PWRCore 20 series was designed primarily with the prosumer in mind, but we believe the Skil CR5440B-10 aims a bit higher. Its performance didn't falter during challenging editing sessions, and its overall look and feel earned high marks from our team. Plus, from a pure value standpoint, it's hard to ignore, especially at such an attractive price. If you're in the market for an affordable, competitive replacement for your old corded circular saw, you won't want to overlook this one.