Over the past couple decades we’ve seen many iconic tool brands fall to entry level DIY tools at discount & big box stores. For professionals who depend on their tools and have spent their career building loyalty to their favorite tool brands this can be a real disappointment to say the least. The SKILSAW brand has seen some ups and downs since inventing the circular saw in 1924 but under new leadership from president Roger Amrol, they are looking to again make the SKILSAW brand a leader in the sawing category for professional tradesmen.
The SKILSAW brand looks to be distancing itself from the rest of the Skil Tool brand with a new logo and website (www.SKILSAW.com) focused on just their new professional saws. In addition to the new marketing the SKILSAW brand has partnered with Freud Diablo for all their professional quality saw blade needs (both are Bosch brands). We think this is a very smart strategic partnership as they are both targeting professional tradesmen who do a lot of cutting. It also opens SKILSAW up nicely for expansion into other saws where the Freud Diablo name is already very strong with reciprocating saw blades and metal cutting saw blades.
SKILSAW is also putting their money where their mouth is with a 180 day “STAY TRUE Guarantee” which is a no questions asked money back promise on top of their existing 1 year tool warranty. That’s a pretty bold move considering they are targeting professionals which could put several hundred hours on a saw within that time frame. For those who’ve felt that they have been let down by the SKIL brand in recent history this should go a long way to getting another shot, if they can back it up with high quality tools there could be a lot of old loyalty won back.
SKILSAW 7-1/4” SIDEWINDERS
The first two of the new SKILSAWS are the direct drive 7-1/4” SIDEWINDER SPT67WL-22 ($119) which features a lightweight composite housing and Magnesium footplate as well as the SIDEWINDER SPT67WM-22 ($129) which is very similar but with a Magnesium housing.
SKILSAW 10-1/4” SAWSQUATCH
This new monster saw nicknamed SAWSQUATCH ($449) just launched a month ago at STAFDA featuring a worm drive gearing configuration to get the best power in its class. While there are some competitors from Makita and Milwaukee with 10-1/4″ saws, their offerings are both direct drive which typically don’t provide the torque of a worm drive setup. Their only other competition comes from the 10-1/4” Big Foot Saw which actually uses a SKIL Worm Drive Motor and/or offers an upgrade kit for a standard 7-1/4” Skil worm drive saw to accept larger blades. Looks like they may have been the market leader before they even got into it.
SKILSAW 7-1/4” WORMDRIVES
Starting early in 2015 the SKILSAW brand will of course be launching their extremely popular SKILSAW Worm Drive Saws SPT77WML-22 ($219) with the new branding and packaged with the Diablo Blades. These look to be pretty much identical to the SKIL SHD77, MAG77 & MAG77LT worm drive saws that launched within the last year. These really should have been the first saws to get the new SKILSAW branding in our opinion, as these were the first tools we had seen from SKIL in a long time that were built specifically for professionals. Since their launch these saws have tested very well so if you’re going to throw in a Diablo blade and 180 day money back guarantee on top there probably won’t be many complaints.
We are very optimistic for the new SKILSAW brand and their promise to deliver tools aimed at professionals. With new leadership and the partnership with Freud Diablo who has also been very aggressive as of recently we have a lot of hope we will continue to see new products and innovation. For more on the new saws and branding see the full SKILSAW press release below.
MT. PROSPECT, Ill., The SKILSAW® brand began with the invention of the circular saw in 1924, and for decades their worm drive SKILSAWs have been regarded as the jobsite standard by tradesmen everywhere. Capturing this rich heritage in cutting, SKILSAW Power Tools is launching a new brand identity and expanding its line of professional grade tools that will have the same unstoppable legendary performance tradesmen have come to expect from a SKILSAW. SKILSAW Power Tools will feature a new logo and introduce two new direct drive circular saws under the name SIDEWINDER™ with additional product launches planned.
“We spent a considerable amount of time in the field talking with professionals to learn more about what drives them and how to improve our brand and products to better meet their needs,” said Roger Amrol, president, SKILSAW Power Tools. “The over-arching message was that tradesmen are passionate about the work they do, and they rely on their SKILSAWs to help them meet challenges on the job. Ultimately, there’s a need among trades for a line of saws that are as hard-working and reliable as our legendary worm drives.”
The new SKILSAW Power Tools logo centers around the “diamond knockout” from a worm drive saw blade. “Our logo is instantly recognizable to those that use our saws on the jobsite, further recognizing the community in which these tools are used every day,” said Amrol.
Along with the new identity, SKILSAW is bringing to market two new pro SIDEWINDER circular saws – the SPT67WM-22 with magnesium guards, foot and motor housing and SPT67WL-22 resin housing saw – each designed with SKILSAW Power Tools’ legendary performance and character that reflects the hard-working nature of pro tradesmen.
“This new generation of SKILSAWs will inspire and empower our pro users throughout their career,” said Nancy Struijk, product manager, circular saws. “From the rugged magnesium motor housing inspired by our worm drive to our unique Dual-Field™ motor made specifically for saws these new circular saws will help users optimize their productivity on the jobsite.”
The SKILSAW® SIDEWINDER™ SPT67WM-22 (SRP $129 USD) is the only all magnesium circular saw available, which allows the saw to maintain strength, dissipate motor heat and increase jobsite durability, ultimately extending the tool life. The SIDEWINDER’s 15 Amp Dual-Field™ Motor uses a unique copper winding pattern with increased surface area that allows the motor to stay cooler providing best-in-class torque and power. With its worm drive inspired technology – from the motor to the ergonomic handle design and the motor housing – allowing the SIDEWINDER circular saw to stay true to the 90 year heritage of the brand. This SKILSAW SIDEWINDER includes a Freud® Diablo® 24T carbide blade.
In addition to the all magnesium saw, the brand is also releasing a saw that features resin motor housing to make it the lightest weight pro circular saw, the SKILSAW SIDEWINDER SPT67WL-22 (SRP $119 USD). Weighing in at 8.6 pounds, the lighter weight of the saw means less user fatigue at the end of a long day on the jobsite. It features the same 15 Amp Dual-Field Motor and worm drive inspired technology and a new SKILSAW blade.
To accompany these new products and all future SKILSAW products, SKILSAW is now providing an unmatched Stay True™ Guarantee. The guarantee pledges that users will get the same legendary performance in these new saws they have come to expect. If not, the professional has 180 days to test out the SIDEWINDER and receive a full refund on the saw if not satisfied.
