This saw has a feature called “Vari-Torque Clutch,” It’s basically a kickback clutch which allows the shaft to turn while the blade remains motionless in a bind. The check I made showed the blade was only out 1/16”, which is perfectly acceptable for it’s intended use, but I decided to adjust the blade anyway. Also, there is an adjustment to ensure the blade is 90 degrees to the base. For extended tool life, I believe this is a necessity when abuse (like the smoking I gave it) is inevitable. The oil, brushes, and bearings are serviceable. With the task of rip cutting, the factory blade did not perform so well, but it still crosscuts just fine. The motor performed like a champ, plain and simple, and it still does, even after a good smoking.
I reset the circuit breaker and finished the remaining 6 ft rip. After tripping the circuit breaker for a second and third time, I was finally 80 feet into the rips and the saw had literally began to smoke. The factory blade didn’t take long to overheat and bind, so I reset the circuit breaker and purposely pushed it through to keep the amps high (this is what ruins most saws). About 40 feet into the rip, a circuit breaker was thrown. I had four 2X6’s, totaling 86 linear feet and each board required a 45 degree bevel rip. I attached the factory equipped saw blade, which was a 24 tooth carbide tipped blade, and put them both to the test. The motor is rated at 15 amps, so there’s plenty of power for those marathon rips, and I had the perfect job for it. If you dislike the unsteady movements of a standard circular saw when cutting a straight line, then you’ll appreciate the stability and smoothness offered from the Skil MAG77LT. That’s a lot of weight to handle all day long if you compare it to a standard circular saw, but the saw felt very comfortable, balanced, and the weight never became too cumbersome. I weighed the saw, and came up with an unofficial weight of 13 lbs. Skil emphasizes this saw is 4 lbs lighter than one of their other versions. I can’t say that I had high expectations due to past experiences with Skil brand tools, but after testing this saw, it became obvious that Skil is changing, and now it’s time for me to “eat some crow.” I have to admit that I really like this saw, and here’s why….
( ) Some of you may have seen the advertisement on BTP. Recently, I had the opportunity to test the Skil MAG77LT, 7 1/4” worm drive circular saw.