Circular saws are essential for rapidly chopping through a myriad of building materials. But wouldn’t you know it, all machines are not created equal.
If you have some experience with circular saws, SKIL 5280-01 might be a great power tool to utilize in your next construction project.
SKIL has been in the business of power tools for a long time, and a user can reap the benefits of this experience through the quality of their products; the 15amp 5280-1 being no exception.
In this brief SKIL 5280-01 review, we will talk about its features and try to shed some light on this product to help you decide if this is the right one for you.
The tool has a bunch of really good things going for it. Hopefully, as you read on, you will be able to see if your workstation can benefit from this item.
- This is a powerful yet lightweight tool designed to lessen fatigue
- Narrow cut-offs are made easier with its anti-snag lower guard, and a wide footplate gives you stability
- To keep sawdust from the line of cut, it includes an advanced dust blower and provides accuracy in cutting
- It is easy to use, works fast and comes at a reasonable price
- You have to make sure to not use the laser in sunlight directly so that it is clearly visible and cuts accurately
- It does not have an electric brake to make the tool stop as soon as you turn it off
SKIL 5280-1 Circular saw Review
Specifications
- Brand: SKIL
- Model: 5280-01
- Motor: 15-amp
- Weight: 8.7 pounds
- Power: 2.5 HP
- Power source: AC
- Speed: 5300 RPM
- Includes dust blower
Features and Benefits
Design and Safety
SKIL 5280-01 is designed to be user-friendly. It comes with a spindle lock and on-tool wrench, which makes changing blades rather convenient. Its rear-view depth facilitates faster cut-depth changes.
The product has a compact design, giving it a light body, which reduces fatigue considerably. Yes, the base is made of steel instead of a lighter metal, but that might have made the product prone to cracking and more expensive.
You also get a non-scarring shoe and a rubberized handle. There is a wide-foot plate for balance. Snagging during narrow cut-offs is reduced with an anti-snag lower guard.
The safety aspect is more than decent. There is a safety lock that might need both hands to turn on, but it keeps the saw from starting accidentally. An indicator light lets you see if it is powered on.
It comes with a dust blower, which is great for eye protection. Still, you should always wear goggles while working.
Motor
As a saw’s power is determined by its motor’s capabilities, the higher voltage and amps you get, the more powerful your saw is.
It is a 60V saw with a wattage of 30. This has a quite powerful 15-amp motor and uses an AC source for power.
Its motor ensures that you can use the product for heavy-duty jobs. Providing 2.5 HP, it also means that you can work longer hours without fatigue.
This improves the efficacy of the saw and drains your energy more slowly. The cutting speed you get from this is 5300 RPM, which makes your job quicker.
Blade
A good blade means better quality in your handiwork. Thankfully, SKIL 5280-01 comes with a nice one.
The blade in here is a standard 7-¼ inch, which is good for tackling deep cuts through wood. Generally, you can cut plywood, 1.5-inch planks, 2×4s, etc. with it easily.
The deeper you can go, the bigger capacity your blade has. With an arbor size of 5/8-inch, the maximum depth of cut it can provide is more than 2-inch.
It is a 24-tooth saw blade. Being razor-sharp, it lets you run through wood smoothly like slicing brie cheese. The sharpness is protected and lasts longer because of its carbide tips.
According to some users’ opinions, you should not cut anything other than wood or plywood with it.
Cutting capacity
While buying a circular saw, cutting capacity is an important point to consider. That being said, if you want your saw to be able to take a lot of beating, you got it with this guy.
Cutting is made easier with its laser beam guide. It is especially useful for clumsier people. It lets you cut perfectly in a straight line and avoid potential errors.
The laser does not even need calibration to work properly; the single beam goes a few feet across in advance already. It is not for using outside in broad daylight, though, and better use it inside with the illumination of a normal tube light.
You can utilize the saw for bevel cuts, meter cuts, crosscuts, etc. Make sure to align the blade and the laser to achieve better workmanship.
Dust Blower
For convenience in sawing, a dust blower is a blessing. It is possible to work without one, but it will cost you some time and labour as sawdust is going to blur the line of cut repeatedly, requiring you to wipe while you saw.
The dust blower is one of the most amazing things about this product. A circular saw this inexpensive seldom comes with one.
This saw comes with a built-in blower to keep sawdust drifting to the sides so that the surface is visible to you. It lets you work quickly and without hassle.
The blower is not exactly first-class, but it works pretty well. It also makes the machine much safer to use. It greatly reduces the possibility of chipped wood hitting your eyes.
Versatility
Sometimes we just want to spice things up a bit and try different cutting styles. With SKIL 5280-01, you can do that. No more boring stuff.
This saw has a bevel capacity of 51-degree and a positive stop at 45-degree. It means that you have a lot of cutting options to choose from, not just bevel cuts.
It can be frustrating when different sizes of wood cannot be handled with the same saw. But this tool has got you covered. You can also use it for chopping other stuff like plastic and metals.
You can use it in your workshop for a bunch of different purposes. So, if versatility is important for your work, you will not be disappointed.
- Powerful 15-amp motor delivers 5 300-RPM for greater speed and faster cuts
- 7-1 4-inch carbide-tipped blade included. Spindle lock for easy blade changes.
- 51° bevel capacity with a positive stop at 45° for a wide variety of cuts
- Dust blower keeps line-of-cut free of sawdust for improved visibility
- Safety lock/guarded trigger and power-on indicator minimize accidental starts
Final verdict
It is pretty hard to beat SKIL 5280-01 for the price, which is actually one of the key selling points of this product. By no means is it the best circular saw out there, but it probably is the one with the most pluses for a reasonable price point.
Some customers would prefer the carrying bag to be a bit more accommodating. Some think the base should have been magnesium or aluminum. Still, this circular saw supports precision in cutting.
Along with the basic aspects, you get some premium benefits you might not get from other saws of the same price range. Its lightweight body also attracts customers. This is suitable for experienced DIYers.
After conducting thorough research for this SKIL 5280-1 review, we think SKIL did a good job with this one. It will do what it is supposed to do quite well. There may be a few drawbacks, but still, it does come with a lot of advantages. So, as an affordable circular saw, this one might surprise you.
We wish you happy shopping!
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
