First thing after purchasing a shiny new circ-saw, most guys toss the blade in favor of a higher quality rig. Talk to any framing guy or contractor, and that’ll almost always be true. Skil’s new contractor series blades might actually entice you to try a few cuts with it.

The new blades incorporate a thin-kerf design which results in a faster cut versus fat-body blades.  “J”-hook expansion slots allow the blade to dissipate heat during cutting, which helps the blade run straight and true. The anti-stick coating also reduces heat, friction, and binding, for smooth, easy cutting.

It’s not earth-shattering news, and you can certainly find other blades out there right now that fit this description — but it’s nice to know that you might not have to blow $12 on a new blade right out of the box when you purchase a new Skilsaw this year.

Skil says these will ship to stores this month, and they should be priced competitively with others in the same class.

Skil [Corporate Site]

Sanding work ranks up there with having a root canal done in most people’s book — it takes about as long, and it’s almost as painful. But the fact is, any project you attempt to finish without sufficient sanding will wind up looking as beat-to-hell as the picnic table at the park. You know the one: it stands alone off to the side, and the kids call it the Splinter-Master. Ray Travers at Skil wrote a great article on basic sanding tips and what to steer clear of.

I could almost hear the collective groan as I wrote the title for this article.

“Sanding…ugh!”

But the truth is, with the proper attitude, the right tools, and the correct techniques, sanding doesn’t have to be a grind. I’ve got a few ideas on each of those topics that should help your sanding time sail by.

The thing to remember about sanding in general: The amount of time and care you put into sanding directly corresponds to how good the project looks when you’re done. You can rush it and half-ass the job, but in the end you’re only hurting yourself.

The Science of Successful Sanding [Skil]

If you’ve moved beyond using two saw horses and a scaffold plank for a work surface, you may want to consider Skil’s new XBench. It may look like a plain table, but some simple details and a variety of accessories set it apart from other work surfaces.

You can adjust the bench’s telescoping legs to work at different heights or different surfaces easily. You can fold it in half to move to the next location. If you’re cutting with a circular saw, you can split the top of the bench to create a channel for the blade to pass through while fully supporting your material. You can even plug that saw into a built-in outlet, complete with bumpable kill switch. All of this would add up to a decent table, but add the accessories and it really starts to get interesting.

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First up in our no-particular-order top ten favorite tools, 2007 edition, is Skil’s ever-popular circular saw — the 7-1/4″ Skilsaw. And we’re not talking about their high-buck worm-drive model. Our 2007 favorite is the model 5400-01, which we snagged for a whopping $25 off a Lowe’s sale table sans operator’s manual. Read on past the jump for details.

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Here’s another tool guaranteed to help holiday shoppers please their gadget-loving friends and family: Skil’s new li-ion Power Wrench. Based on Skil’s proven 7.2V li-ion batteries, the power wrench can maintain its charge even when stashed away for up to 18 months. And with a reversible 1/4″ square drive, the Power Wrench can do just about everything that a socket wrench can do, only quicker and easier.

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Earlier this month Skil posted a recall affecting approximately 811,000 circular saws including the 5650, 5700, 5750, and 5755 models.  According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commision press release, Skil says these these saws’ trigger switches “can be locked on or the switch can be turned on without the use of the safety lock out.  This can case unexpected operation of the saw, posing a risk of laceration.”

Check out the release (linked below) to see a list of the affected serial numbers/date codes, or contact Skil at (866) 761-5572 for more information.

(Thanks, Pat, for the tip!)

Skil Circ Saw Recall [CPSC.gov]

Skil’s new 1560 3-1/4” hand held planer looks like it was designed by Cadillac’s auto designers — you know, the “faceted” crowd.  But despite the over simple appearance, it looks like handy gear to have around the shop.

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The Skil 2100DAF is just what it looks like: a 14″ aluminum level with a swing-out arm for digitally measuring angles from 0 to 220-degrees.  Skil claims it’s accurate to 1/2-degree, and it’ll even calculate miter angles for you on the fly.

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Overstock isn’t somewhere I normally go for tools, however this reconditioned 14.4V Skil drill with a detachable stud finder for $35 caught my eye.  The drill isn’t exactly feature-laden with a single-speed transmission variable from 0-700 RPM, six torque settings, and a 3/8″ keyless chuck.  But when you consider $35 buys you a drill and a stud finder, it sounds better.  The charger, battery, double ended driver bit, and carrying case are also included.

Skil #2567-03 14.4V Drill/Driver [Skil Tools]
Skil-14.4V Drill/Driver with Stud Finder [Overstock]

Check out Skil’s site for instructions and the complete down-low on how to build your own sweet bird bath stand.  You’ll find a complete materials list and instructions on assembly, along with a few tips for the novice builder.  You can put together a bird bath stand like this one in an afternoon, and it’s sturdy enough to provide years of bird happiness.

What’s even better, though, is taking these plans and altering them create your own design, then building a custom bath.

Build A Bird Bath [Skil]

If you’ve been thinking about picking up any of Skil’s power tool offerings, now might be the time.  Amazon’s offering an instant 10% discount on most Skil power tools, as well as discounts on all kinds of cordless tools.

It’s worth a look, but always look around with a quick Google search or Google Product Search first to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

10% Off Skill Power Tools [What’s this?]
All Tool Sales [What’s this?]

Besides six amps of power and trigger-controlled variable speed, the new 4680-04 orbital scrolling jigsaw from Skil features — you guessed it – a ruby colored light show.

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Over at the Skil Tool Shop they’re having a 10% off sale on all reconditioned power tools.  To get this deal, enter the coupon code “RECONTEN” at checkout.  The deal expires April 30th and is limited to one coupon per order.

10% Off Skil Reconditioned Tools [Skil Shop]

If you liked Skil’s 10.8V drill but couldn’t justify $75 for it, you might want to keep an eye on the sales table at your local Lowe’s.  We saw five of ‘em on the sale table marked down to $30.

If you’re a part-time woodworker you probably don’t have dozens of spare jigsaw blades just sitting around.  And staring at the selection of jigsaw blades wondering how many and which ones you’re gonna need for a project sucks. So for those of us who want everything “just to be sure” (to avoid the dreaded second trip), Skil offers their 13-piece U-shank multi-pack.
 
In the multi-pack, Skil thoughtfully stuffed two or three of each type of blade they make into a single package for the decision impaired (or the over-prepared). The pack contains a variety of blades: wood smooth cut, wood fine cut, multi-purpose wood, wood fast cut, metal fast cut, and two “The Ugly” blades for super fast rough cuts. 

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While at first glance Skil’s new iXO2 — the second-generation of Skil’s entry into the low-cost li-ion cordless screwdriver market, the iXO — doesn’t look that much different from its predecessor.  But, after a little hands-on time around the Toolmonger shop, we’ve come to notice some significant improvements. 

Let’s start, however, with things that remain the same: The iXO2 is a li-ion-powered, 3.6-volt driver that fits in the palm of your hand.  Like other small household drivers, the iXO2 isn’t designed for heavy lifting but instead for more day-to-day tasks.  And, at less than $40 street, it doesn’t cost heavy, either.

Read on past the jump for our experiences with the improved iXO2 — and lots and lots of pictures.

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This generally wouldn’t constitute news anywhere but here.  But we are Toolmongers, which means we watch all things tool, even things like this: Skil redesigned their website.

From the press release: “The main goals for the redesign were to provide complete and detailed product information needed by our consumers to make an informed purchase decision, facilitate that purchase decision through our e-commerce partner links and store locater, and supply valuable content to our DIY audience to encourage return visits,” said Linda Mueller, website manager for SKIL Power Tools, probably cribbing from the office’s mission statement and stating the obvious goals of any retailer for their website.

Seriously, though, it’s a nice looking re-design, and the new site offers more pictures of each product and easier naviagtion than the old one, so check it out when you get a chance.

Oh yeah, and swing back by Toolmonger soon for reviews of the iXO2 and the new 10.8V li-ion driver.

The New Site [Skil, English/US]