Customer Reviews

Skil 5700-05 13 Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw with Site Light

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

First and foremost, do your homework. If you are planning on making your living with a circular saw being one of your major tools, you might want to choose something a bit beefier. However, if you are a homeowner/occasional user, this saw is great! I would buy it a hundred times over.

After a good deal of research, I settled on this brand and model. My needs are not that great. Brand-wise, Skilsaw has always been known for good, economical saws. Model-wise, the 5700 compares nicely to some of the big names, but at half (or more) of the price.

My first project with the saw was trimming some 5/4 rough-cut oak to square it up. With a straight edge run length wise (over 10'), the 5700 sliced like butter! Now, keep in mind, that this was after I put in a different blade. Like the other reviews say, buy a different blade! The one in the box is, well... junk. I bought a Freud Diablo and it makes for easy work on whatever your project is.

Here are some pro's and con's:
PRO:
+ The saw is light. It doesn't take much to operate it.
+ The boot seems to be flat and true.
+ The "Site-light" is a nice bonus if your shop isn't well lit.
+ The rubber grips feel great, plus add just enough grip for greater control.
+ Plenty of power.

CON:
- The boot could be a bit bigger.
- The case is a touch whimpy, as it is plastic. (Though many of today's circ. saws are.)
... I can't think of any others!

Hope this review helps you in your decision.
A woodworker

Skill has a known defect on this saw. The Depth adjustment lever is made of soft plastic, which strips out very easily. I used my 5700 for only a few days before the lever broke. Just call Skil and they will send you a replacement (re-engineered) lever which should do the job and last much longer.

Overall, i like the saw very much. I used it to build a deck, cutting easily through pressure treated lumber (used to notch out 4x4 posts and trim 2x6's to size). I found that the saw is accurate, if you adujust the sights prior to usage. The instruction manual tells you how to do this, all you need is a screwdriver. The site light is very useful, and the soft grip handles make the saw easy to control, even through kickback. Replaced my 30 year old skil saw with this one.

Skil has come up with a remarkable value in the 5700 model saw. I recently got one and I've used it for a number of projects, and it has some useful features. For instance, the site light. One curse many of us deal with is working in places where the light isn't the greatest. Having a tool that provides its own, and what's more, puts it where it is needed, is a big plus. Also, there is a clear plastic site line plate that you can align to match the kerf position for the blade you have installed.

Speaking of blades, if I had one issue with the saw as it comes out of the box, it is the blade provided. the package I had provided an 18 tooth carbide and a plywood. Both cut, but their results are not the best in the world. I installed a Freud Diablo 40 tooth carbide and the results have been remarkable. I used this combination to trim some maple 1.5 inch butcher block countertop to length and the results were remarkable. Very little finish sanding was needed to complete the work.

Am I going to say this saw will compare straight across with a pro-quality Porter Cable, or a Milwaukee, or such as these? No. But I would recommend this saw as a backup for a professional, and hands down to a homeowner. It is well build, well balanced, and a great value for the money.

I've been a building contractor for 25 years and I've always used heavy-duty worm gear saws, but I bought this saw for my daughter when I helped her remodel her condo. I found I liked it better than my own saw for most work. No, I wouldn't recommend it for a tradesman or for heavy framing, but for a homeowner it's terrific. I love the site light. Had no trouble cutting straight lines, cutting at an angle, notching, whatever. I just ordered a second one - for my son. I'll probably be borrowing it all the time, too.

For $69 you can't go wrong. Features like the light and blade lock make this saw very user friendly. I ordered this saw with the Freud Diablo 40 saw blade and used it today to make a shelf out of 3/4 inch plywood. This saw glided through the plywood like butter and made a VERY clean and STRAIGHT cut. (Use a carptener's square clamped in place as a saw guide. The case is a handy feature that has a blade storage post in the bottom capable of holding about 5 blades. I highly recommend this saw and the Freud Diablo 40 blade, the 18 tooth blade that comes with the saw is OK for rough cutting and ripping but is rough on fine wood work.

I bought this saw for my deck project - I was sold on the site light, which by the way, I still think is a good idea.
However, it was after about a month that I realized there are things much more important than the bells and whistles for a circular saw.
First of, the build quality of the saw leaves a lot to be desired. The base plate is made of some rather thin stell plate, as a result, it feels flimsyand because the edge of the base plate is formed buy bending the sheet metal, it doesn't feel steady when you push it along a saw guide.
There are some serious design flaws with the adjustment levers,
the bevel adjustment is made of a small plastic wing nut, which
is very hard to tighten and loosen, not surprisingly, it broken off after about 2 weeks worth of use. I thought it's not a big deal, and picked up a metal wing nut to replace it. Next, the cutting depth adjustment lever broke and my saw is permanently stuck at 1"+ because I was cutting 5/4 boards when this happened. This not only prevents me to cut 2Xs, I can even put the saw back into its case and close the cover.
Yes, you must have guessed it - I returned the saw and got a Proter Cable 324MAG and I'm really happy with my new saw.

Looks good, but feels real cheap. The height adjustment lever broke on the first adjustment attempt. It was also very difficult to cut a straight line. This is the second skil that I have bought and I've returned both of them. I don't think there will be a third.Guess you get what you pay for. Not recommended!!

I bought this saw January '04 and have used it only about 10 times. I loved it, but then the height adjustment lever broke (I think it's because the lever handle is plastic and it turns a metal nut, so something stripped inside). I took it back to Lowe's, who promptly lost it enroute to I-don't-know-where for returns.
Great saw- when will Skil read this review and many others like it AND FIX THE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT? There must be 1000's of 5700's out there that have broken levers! Skil, where are you? You produce decent products- this one is ruining your reputation.

Update: Lowes made good on the return, but only after I insisted and pressed the issue. Why you have to push companies to have good customer service is beyond me. Anyway, a Lowes manager-type finally let me pick a new Skil saw and I took it home. I works great. End of story.

This saw replaced my 40 year old skil, that had belonged to my dad. The guys at the service center told me it was too worn out to be worth repairing anymore. Could buy a new one cheaper. After all those years of use and abuse, I really did't consider another brand, went looking for a new Skil. I like the worm drives, very robust and comfortable to use, but I don't use a circular saw very often and when I do its mainly for ripping large sheets of stock to a size I can get into my small shop. So I went for the less expensive option and got this one. With a Freud blade it cuts like a champ. Makes short work of 3/4" ply and has plenty of power to cut up 4x4's. It's lightweight and the controls are very convienant. I know there are a lot of more expensive offerings out there, but I'm glad I stuck with the original. If this saw last's half as long as the first one I will be a happy camper. Highly recommend.

This is the only circular saw I own. I have used better from friends, but recently purchased this saw to build a deck. It worked great, and never failed to make true cuts. The site light is overrated, but one can work around it and use it as a regular ol' circular saw. tough enough for average homeowner use. For pro's daily use...forget about it and spend the money for a pro tool.