When tradesmen think of Skil they think of wormdrives, because Skil invented the wormdrive and it's the one tool the company makes that has always been pro-grade. The same could not always be said for the company's other offerings, which in the decades following its acquisition by Bosch (in1991) came to be oriented towards the DIYer.
In 2009 Skil re-entered the pro sidewinder market by introducing the HD5687. By all reports, it was a good saw that didn’t catch on to the degree its maker hoped it would. The brand label probably had something to do with it.
Last year, in an effort to distinguish its pro-grade tools from the tools it makes for DIYers, Skil rebranded its wormdrives under the Skilsaw label and introduced a couple new models. What’s more, they also introduced two pro-grade sidewinders, the SPT67WM and the SPT67WL.
The new sidewinders carry the Skilsaw label and are identical but for the motor housing. Both have magnesium shoes and blade guards, but the motor housing on the WL model is resin while on the WM model it’s magnesium. The SPT67WM is the only sidewinder with an all-magnesium body; you can see it reviewed in the video below.
SPT67WM Specs
Motor: 15 amps
RPM: 5,300
Blade: 7 1/4-inch
Weight: 8.8 pounds
Bevel: 0-56 degrees
Max depth at 90 degrees: 2 inches
Cord: 10 feet long
Country of origin: China
Suggested retail: $129
Available: now