Skil PWRCore 20 Brushless Reciprocating Saw Blends Solid Performance with Budget-Friendly Pricing
Skilโs PWRCore 20 compact reciprocating saw hits the DIY market well. Itโs compact, lightweight, and well under $100 for the kit. On the other hand, the Skil PWRCore 20 brushless reciprocating saw performs on a completely different level with a design thatโs much closer to professional models.
Pros
- Excellent cutting speed in wood
- Orbital action switch
- Excellent vibration control
- Handle doubles as a rafter hook
- Very good value rating
Cons
- Hex wrench required for shoe adjustment
How Fast Does the Skil PWRCore 20 Brushless Reciprocating Saw Cut?
We didnโt invite many DIY brands to our reciprocating saw shootout, but Skil held its own very well against Ryobi. In fact, it even out cut some of our Pro brands along the way.
If you havenโt checked it out already, you can see the details of our testing methods on our main shootout page and the full results of the 18V/20V Max testing group here.
In our nail-embedded wood cutting test, we ended up with a range of averages from 9.09 seconds to 16.16 seconds. The Skil PWRCore 20 brushless reciprocating saw was on the fast side of the scale, needing just 10.71 seconds to make the cut. Itโs an impressive result that shows off why having orbital action is such a huge benefit when youโre cutting wood.
While the results werenโt as high in our metal cutting tests, Skil kept up with relevant speed in both thin and thick metals.
In out 2โณ EMT speed test, Skil needed just 5.40 seconds on average. Itโs on the lower side of the results, but the group had a tight range of 3.75 seconds (Milwaukee) to 5.81 seconds (Metabo HPT) with Ryobi as an outlier at 7.00.
Skilโs ranking improved a bit when we switched to #5 rebar in our thick metal test. Its average cutting speed was under 10 seconds (9.97) in a group that was as fast as 7.59 seconds (Kobalt) and as slow as 14.18 (Hilti).
Even when youโre comparing to the top professional brands, the takeaway is that Skil has excellent wood-cutting speeds and handles metal-cutting tasks on par with what we expect from anything weโd consider professional. As a Prosumer/DIY tool, its cutting speed is as good as it gets.
How Much Vibration Does it Have?
With brand cousin Skilsaw developing Buzzkill technology for their corded reciprocating saws, youโd hope thereโs some trickle-down technology that makes its way to the Skil brand as well.
Skil doesnโt use the full-frame counterbalance system we see there, but itโs clear the design team has learned some things. Scoring 93 points for vibration control, the Skil 20V brushless reciprocating saw sits even with Milwaukeeโs M18 Fuel One-Key Sawzall and only Boschโs GSA18V-125 earns a better score in this class.
When youโre cutting, the vibration controls give you more forgiveness than most saws on the market. As a brand that focuses on the Prosumer/DIY market, itโs an important characteristic for a reciprocating saw. When youโre teaching the next generation of tool enthusiasts or maybe still honing your own technique, having some built-in grace is something your arms will thank you for.
Pro Tip:ย When youโre cutting, keep the shoe engaged against the material to reduce the vibration.
How Big is It?
The Skil PWRCore 20 brushless reciprocating saw looks and feels much more like a Pro model than a reduced size and performance version for DIYers. Its performance already proved it means business.
The saw measures 17.3โณ from tip to tail, putting it among the more compact models in this class. Bosch (19.5โณ) and Hilti (18.6โณ) are the larger ones while the rest of the group settles in between 16.6โณ (DeWalt) and 17.5โณ (Ryobi).
Its weight is a very reasonable 6.3 pounds bare and 7.9 pounds with a 5.0Ah battery. With batteries, DeWaltโs DCS380 is the lightweight at 6.6 pounds, and Hilti tips the scales at 9.7 pounds.
What Other Features Does it Have?
Skil doesnโt pack a ton of extra features on this saw, but they hit the most important ones. A brushless motor and orbital action are the big ones that affect performance.
The saw doesnโt have a rafter hook in the traditional sense, but the handle is designed to work as one. Anything rigid enough to support the sawโs weight the thickness of 2x material (1-1/2โณ) or smaller is fair game.
In an ideal world, Iโd like to have the show adjustment be tool-free. Realistically, I can live without it, especially if the performance is there. Skil has the performance and I donโt think its more basic feature set should discount it from your consideration.
Additional Features
- Pivoting, adjustable shoe (hex wrench required, stored onboard)
- Twist lock blade release on the shaft
- LED light
Missing Features
- Variable speed dial
- Rafter hook
- Spring blade ejection
- Smart controls (only found with Milwaukee One-Key)
How Much Does It Cost?
As a kit with a 4.0Ah battery and upgraded PWRJump charger, this model runs $189.99, but weโve seen it at $149.00 recently. Thereโs no bare tool option at the moment.
As a kit, itโs the least expensive option in this class, though there are definitely some differences in the number and capacity of the batteries that come with others.
Overall, Skil still earns the highest value score in this class, with Ridgid and Makita also competing as good value buys.
If youโre looking for something on the lower side of the price scale and donโt mind slower cutting speeds, Skilโs 20V compact reciprocating saw is just $89.99 as a kit.
The Bottom Line
The Skil PWRCore 20 brushless reciprocating sawโs performance and design make it a great option as an entry-level professional tool. If youโre looking for something for serious DIY/Prosumer use without the professional price tag, itโs the best weโve tested.
Buy it as a budget-friendly option for professional use or as a primary saw for serious DIYers. Pass if youโre looking for something on the DIY side thatโs lighter weight and more compact than Pro models.
Skil PWRCore 20 Brushless Reciprocating Saw Specs
- Model Number: Skil RS5884-1A
- Power Source: Skil PWRCore 20 battery
- Stroke Length: 1-1/8โณ
- Weight: 6.3 pounds bare, 7.9 pounds with 5.0Ah battery
- Length: 17.3โณ
- Warranty: 5 years
- Price: $189.99
