Skil HD5510 5 1/2 Inch Circular Saw :: Education by Design Store

Editorial Review
We’d wager that about 95 percent of the instances you use a circular saw, this little dynamo would be your saw of choice. Stacked up next to the 7-1/4-inch saws, some of which weigh twice as much as this one, it sacrifices nothing in power or performance, but it’s so much easier to use that the bigger boys in your toolbox would be gathering some dust.

It’s an amazingly light 6-1/2 pounds, and quite honestly, it feels like a toy when you first pick it up. But don’t be fooled by its petite dimensions. It plows across a 2-by-8 like nobody’s business, and if you’re used to a bigger, heavier circular saw, you can’t help but be delighted by how beautifully it handles. Taking it through a ¾-inch sheet is a joyride.

The left-side blade is perfect for right-handers, offering a nice clear sightline, and all the adjustments are convenient and easy to use. The bevel lever is up front, and the action is smooth and easy to set precisely. Depth of cut adjusts from the back, and that, too, is done easily.

If there are any caveats, we think it would be only that your capacity is slightly less with this little Skil as opposed to a bigger model, in that you can’t cut a 45-degree bevel on 2-by stock with this, and you’re at your max depth of cut at 90 degrees on a 2-by.

For everything else, this is an absolute beauty of a saw that will never tax your back, your shoulder or your arm. Contractors who find themselves climbing ladders or working on scaffolds will especially love this saw, as well as homeowners who don’t feel confident taking on a beefy saw but still want to get the job done. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste

What’s in the Box
Saw, blade wrench, combination blade

Cached date: AWS Called=true

Customer Reviews

workhorse tool

2007-01-07
I am very pleased with the combination of power and light weight with this saw.
This is now my cutting tool of choice, and I use my 7-1/4 inch saw only for thicker stock.

Excellent tool!

2006-08-01
Well made, quality tool with ample power for most tasks. Well balanced too. Only drawbacks are lack of wrench storage, cheap original blade, and no case (but this saw gets used enough it would spend little time in case anyway). Deduct 1 star for these faults if you see fit.

The Mighty Mite

2005-10-19
90% of the work I do is installing doors and windows in older homes. I use this saw to cut siding back and interior trim to allow for the new windows or doors to fit properly. This saw is perfect for this. It is light weight and the right size to get into those tight spaces. It hasn't lacked in power to do any of this. The one disappointing shortcoming of this saw however is it will not cut all the way through a 1 3/4" door. It lacks an 1/8" at the most to be able to do it. I have to pull my 7 1/4" saw out for that. You should also be careful of the base. My saw fell from 3 feet onto carpet and the base bent on the corner. I was able to bend it back but be careful.

The right tool for the right job.

2005-04-20
I agree with these reviews. It is a very useful saw and I prefer it over the PC saw boss. I hardly evey have this saw out alone but it sees a fair amount of use. We treat it a little specail and make sure we don't through it around. I do wish it came with a case because like I said I think of it more of a precision tool. I have over the years bought hundreds of tools worth tens of thousands of dollars. I would rate this little saw in my top ten.

Great little saw

2005-01-03
I got this saw to replace my 18v DeWalt 5-3/8" cordless trim saw, which is underpowered and can't handle much more than thin plywood and short cuts on 2x4s. The Skil saw completely blows it away in terms of power. I did like the fit and feel of the DeWalt better, but that was probably due more to the fact that it was cordless than anything else. The Skil saw is a terrific alternative to bulkier and heavier 7-1/4" circular saws. I almost never need to cut wood that thick except on my table saw anyway. I have a feeling my 7-1/4" circular saw is going to collect a lot of dust now that I have added this smaller Skil saw to my shop.

The only reason I gave it four stars rather than five is that it didn't come with a rip fence and because the arbor hole in the saw blade that came with it is considerably larger than the arbor on the saw. The rip fence can be purchased separately, but it seems kind of chintzy that they wouldn't include it. As for the blade, well, I'm not sure what they were thinking.

A true classic of a saw. You won't regret buying this saw!

2008-05-23
I've owned one of these for over 20 years. I love the left sided blade, it's light weight, very easy to handle and will perform about 90% of what a bigger heavier circular saw will do. I'm almost temped to buy a second one as a backup but my saw shows no signs of failing me.

Great Small Job Saw

2008-02-13
Bought this because I wanted a smaller corded circular saw with the blade on the left, like my ridgid cordless circular saw. I was tired of the batteries being dead all the time. I like the blade on the left because I am right handed and like to see what I am cutting when I am cutting it. I think this is a perfect saw for small jobs. It is very lightweight and small unlike the bohemoth 7 1/2 inch circular saws. The only possible problem is you can pretty much only cut through 2" stock with the 5 1/2 inch blade. This is however not a problem to me. It has great power and feels very sturdy. If I dropped it I know it would be a problem because it would bend out of alignment, but any circular saw would. I would definitely recommend it to everyone who is looking for a light duty compact circular saw.

Best Saw I ever used...

2007-07-07
This is the best saw for your money. It's light in weight, and has the power of a big saw. I have cut lumber for hours on end, and It don't make your arm feel tired. It's got power to burn, and it's light weight. Ron

delicate

2007-05-21
At first I was very happy with this purchase, but the depth adjustment bar got bent and tweaked everything else out of alignment. It is ok for occasional use, but if you intend to use it a lot I would go with the 7-1/4" porter cable.

~~~WOW~~~ AMAZING

2007-04-12
I have never in my life used a skil saw and let me say this, the ease of use was simply amazing, I am a lefty who have no prob with this really light saw what-so-ever. I have never been happier with a tool then i am with this one...