It’s the saw made for those who rewrite the rules. Outlaw changes the game because it has the strength and guts to tackle whatever is thrown its way with its worm drive gearing customized for metal. Others settle, but this Outlaw has the edge to see things others never will. The blade window gives you the visibility to make true cuts. And each pass of the Outlaw with the Diablo cermet’s blade leaves no metal chips behind showing metal no mercy. Outlaw is the newest character in the SKILSAW legend that started nearly a century ago.
- First worm drive for metal from the company that invented it for reliable cutting from day one
- Only left blade saw built with a blade window for clean and consistent cutting
- Worm drive gearing and best in class dual-field motor for power, precision and durability
- Designed for cutting metal
- 2-3/4 in. depth of cut at 90 degrees; 3900 RPM
- Largest available chip tray for improved productivity
- 8 in. Outlaw Worm Drive saw for metal with (1) 42-tooth Diablo cermet-tipped blade and (1) multi-functional wrench
- Features Diablo cermet-tipped blade for cutting quickly and virtually spark-free with minimal burrs
Nikko Beahan (verified owner) –
This saw is great and cuts through metal like butter. Only complaint I have is that Home Depot doesn’t sell the replacement blades for it in store or online. I had to go to a competitor to get a replacement blade which was a hassle.
Rhoda Wiegand (verified owner) –
The Skilsaw 8 inch worm drive saw for metal is an impressive saw with many features. Included is a 42 tooth Diablo carbide blade which is a top of the line manufacturer of cutting equipment. It has a blade window that allows you to see where you are cutting and a chip tray in the cover. The motor has plenty of power to tackle the tough jobs. Everything on the saw is positioned well and the adjustments are easy to modify.
Myrl Zulauf (verified owner) –
I do a lot of metal fabrication, and have various cutting tools including a fixed carbide cut off saw. This saw is similar to that one, but portable. It excels at cutting small to medium sized structurals – tubing and pipe, angle iron, small bar, conduit. This past week I’ve been cutting a bunch of 2 x .120 wall mild steel tube for an roll cage project. This saw is really convenient because I can bring the saw to the tube, and I don’t have to drag the tube to the saw. As with any carbide saw, you’ll get clean, weld-ready cuts.The chip tray does a good job at catching most chips, and it is easy to empty. The top handle is at an ‘ergonomic’ angle, making it easy to hold. It’s got a ton of torque, and does not bog down. No-load motor noise is fairly low, but of course when you cut it is going to be loud. The blade mounting nut is used as a clutch to reduce kickback, and is adjustable by varying the nut torque. It has a viewing window in the guard so you can see the cut. It is plastic but is far enough out of the way that it doesn’t get too scratched up.Blade stick-out is 2-3/4, the max cut depth is 2-5/8 (you want the teeth to fully clear the material). I had no problem cutting 2-1/2 inch x .250 wall tube, the kind you use for trailer hitches.Overall build construction is very good, it is all-metal, no significant plastic parts other than things like the grips, etc. It is heavy, but that’s what you get with a worm drive saw with a big motor. The top handle is at a nice ergonomic angle, making easy to hold.Note that this is a “metal only” saw, and you would never want to use it for non-metal things for safety reasons, which is why it uses a blade size specific to metalwork.
Jennifer Moore (verified owner) –
I’ve used other metal saw that are not worn drives that always fail over time. Thermal breaker being a big part of that as well.
Miller Kuvalis (verified owner) –
25 Years ago as i was completing my carpentry apprenticeship I purchased a Skilsaw worm drive that still cuts anything I throw at it. Being that I have been doing more steel studs than wood over the last 10 years, I was excited to hear about the new Outlaw spt78mmc-22 metal cutting worm drive. When I opened the box and removed the saw, I was happy to see and feel the worm drive quality I have come to know. Included was the saw, owners manual, blade and a couple of Skilsaw stickers. I do have to say that I was disappointed that there was not a case or even a bag included with a tool in this price range. Do not be fooled this is not a wood saw with a metal blade, it is designed strictly for cutting metal and does so well. As the wood cutting worm drive excels at cutting sheet goods, this saw is best used for cutting sheet metal and is perfect for cutting steel studs. I cut through everything from galvanized steel pipe to bundles of 20ga to 12ga structural without slowing down. I have even cut through 1/4″ brick lintels with this saw without issue. This saw has the all well known power of a worm drive and unfortunately the weight as well. If you have a need for cutting sheet steel or steel studs this is a must have, increase your productions levels by speeding up your cutting tasks.
Dandre Lesch (verified owner) –
Skilsaw did an amazing job developing this saw. 15 true amps of cutting power and a worm drive train. This is a recipe for an amazingly powerful saw. It hogs though metals as if it was butter. It comes with a very nice diablo carbide blade and it mates perfectly with this saw. The chip collector works like a charm and is easy to clean out. I love the high adjustment because its very easy to set and alter. Overall if you are looking for the perfect metal saw this look no further. This is the king.
Niko O’Connell (verified owner) –
I’ve long been a fan of Skil tools. The best circular saw I have ever owned is a Skil 15 Amp Circular Saw for wood. It’s quality, weight and precision outstrips the other brands I have owned by a wide margin. Naturally, I got really excited to get to test out the new Skil Outlaw 15 Amp 8 Inch Worm Drive Saw For Metal! I dug through my basement for a suitable piece of steel to cut for my test, but alas, I’d recently sent all my scrap to the scrap yard. However, I still happened to have a bunch of aluminum that I need to haul away to the scrap yard. While the Outlaw was really designed for cutting steel, I figured that it should have no trouble at all cutting aluminum. In particular, I have an old aluminum canoe that I planned to scrap. However, the canoe was too long to fit into the bed of my truck, so I was faced with lashing it down up over the cab of my truck. This canoe would be the perfect test-bed for the new Skil Outlaw! Sure enough, the Outlaw cut through that canoe like a hot knife through butter! I was a little skeptical at first how well the Diablo blade would do on metal, being a toothed-circular saw blade. I would have thought you’d need something like a cutting wheel to cut metal. However, the Outlaw and its Diablo blade made a believer out of me real quick! All I can say is, WOW! The Outlaw is bigger than my Skil wood circular saw, and heavier, but once you start using it, it doesn’t feel uncomfortably heavy, and in fact you quickly begin to appreciate the weight and engineering that went into designing this beast of a saw! I have no doubt that you could even cut a car in half with this beast! Now, my old canoe is just the right size to fit in my truck, and I am sitting here thinking up all sorts of ways to put this Outlaw to work! Skil really did a magnificent job creating this tool! Thanks Skil, and Home Depot!
Retha Windler (verified owner) –
It cuts straight and true, and doesn’t bog down in the material – which is all you can really ask for in a saw. The debris moved out of the way quick and didn’t interfere with the sight window at all. The cord was a decent length and didn’t get in the way. That said, it leaves some room for improvement. It’s a little heavy for my taste. Worm drives are inherently heavier than circular saws because of the gearbox weight… but this one felt exorbitantly heavy… maybe that’s a sign of a better than average gearbox. Time will tell.. Also, I wish this was built for 8.25″ blades and an 8″ blade. An 8″ blade is dedicated for metal work, but if it supported 8.25″ you would be able to use standard wood blades. As it stands this is a dedicated metalworking saw, which isn’t a bad thing… but shop space is limited and multi-purpose tools are always a bonus. I’m sure you could fit an 8.25″ blade in the opening, but I couldn’t find any literature in the booklet or their website indicating it was approved for that… so I’m not taking any risks. Who knows, maybe that extra quarter inch would nick or bind on something.
Nia Green (verified owner) –
The Skil Saw 8” Metal Cut Saw at first glance looks just like any other worm drive saw. But when you look closer it is a fine piece of machinery, with the attention to detail expected from this company. The handles are solid and comfortable, wearing both gloves or not. Some tools have handles that are large, making them uncomfortable to hold with gloves on, but this isn’t the case. Trigger feel is smooth, and a nice solid click leaving no guess work on power being sent to the motor. Left of the trigger handle is the depth adjustment guide. A simple lift of a cam lever releases tension for proper depth adjustment. Adjustment marks are clearly marked every ¼”. These cast and black filled markings range from ¼” to 2 ¼” for adjustability of cutting various materials and outlined well in the owners manual. One of the most notable differences from the this saw and other worm drive saws however is the housing and guards of the blade. The blade guard is deep, at around 3 ½” at the leading edge, and 1 ½” after that. The upper part of the saw is also overbuilt to incorporate a “chip catch”. The chip catch can be easily removed from the saw with the push of a single button located at the top front of the cover. Simply push the button, swing the catch away from the saw and lift it out of place. This cover is comprised of a heat shield on top, to help reduce heat, and a metal mesh screen on the side which provides ventilation. The chip catch is filled from the top, and on the main housing of the blade, there is a feed that chips are channeled through, guiding them into the catch. The chip catch is also simply enough emptied out by turning it upside down and shaking. While the chip catch did a great job, it didn't catch all of the chips made when cutting. Some were still noticed on the saws shoe, the ground, and workspace. I liked the arbor washer, with it's raised letter writing and directional arrow for removing the arbor screw, it really gives a classic feel. Other markings, beautifully crafted let you know that it is a true Skilsaw Wormdrive saw. The 77 stamped in the handle screw, the Skilsaw markings around the saw, all give it a nice quality feel. There are some other things though, that will reveal themselves in time to be problems or not. The vent holes for the motor, and motor housing are large and open. While they will be able to keep the motor filled with fresh air while being used, I have some concern that they may become filled with metal chips, and thus ruining the motor. Causing shorts, or maybe some other issues. As I mentioned previously, not all of the chips are caught. I think it may be possible at a sight that isn't kept clean, chips could find their way in there. I'm am also interested to find out how well the cut view windows hold out. Being that they are made out of glass I saw the possibility of them being broken if the saw is thrown around too much. So, on to the meat and potatoes of the review. How did the saw cut for me? I used this saw to cut extruded aluminum, roll formed foam filled aluminum, galvanized steel tubing with .6mm walls, and 2″ x 2″ x ¼” angle iron. The aluminums were no work for the saw, and it cut through them like butter leaving clean crisp cuts. Both of these materials fed the chip catch with fine aluminum chips that were easy to empty out. The galvanized steel tube also was cut smoothly by the saw. These tubes are constructed of rolled steel, with a fold over and pressed seam. On the seam, the saw slowed slightly, but cut through without issues. I never felt that I had to actually use force to get the saw through the material. Checking the chip catch after 10 cuts, there was significantly more particles contained within. This saw, according to the manual which was included states that 2 ½” x 2 ½” x ¼” as the maximum. After cutting the stock that I had available, I can only assume this restriction is based only off of the blade size. I had no problems cutting the angle iron and the weight of the saw itself was enough to pull the saw through when it was angled 45* downward. I actually held some of the saws weight. All of the cuts were smooth, with only slight burrs at the end of the cuts where the metal would fall to the ground. The chip catch for the angle was much fuller than the other metals, and after cutting the angle, the chip catch was almost hot to the touch. Since I could touch it though, I don’t believe thatit was hot enough to create any issues, and it cooled off quick. It was of course a thicker material. After 10 cuts in the angle it was about as full as I would want it to be. Cutting any of these materials was simple. In the end, I could cut them as thin as I wanted without issue. In all, the Saw is a great buy, and I expect it to serve me for many years to come. If someone does a lot of metal cutting, this is definitely a saw to purchase.
Peggie Wiza (verified owner) –
We received our metal cutting worm drive not long aga and to be honest we weren’t quite sure how it would preform with the big tasks we had lined up for it. We had a sizeable cut list, everything from 3/8” plate to 1” flat bar. The cuts were clean and accurate which is critical when making the kind of custom furniture we make. The chip catcher works very well. It is amazing to see how much you collect through the duration of a project, especially when cutting 4 x 8 plate. The saw took on all challenges with no issues, to be honest it exceeded our expectations. Check out the images to see what we built! Would definitely recommend this product to anyone.
Declan Stoltenberg (verified owner) –
Bought this saw six months ago after using these blades on my regular wormdrive,I still say to myself every time I use it -that’s amazing !! It contains the chips very well and the cuts are burr-free,you have to train yourself to follow guide on front of saw or offset you’re lines to edge of base plate as seeing blade is impossible but it’s not hard to figure out why as the guard and chip collector do a great job of catching chips ( no brainer tradeoff ) if this saw ever breaks I’ll have to quit until I replace it with another ! Blades last much longer due to the slower rpm and triple wound motor ,I love the reaction when I pull it out of the truck and cut a structural member to length just like cutting wood people are amazed !
Neil O’Keefe (verified owner) –
This saw makes cutting steel so easy! Way more accurate than a torch. No grinding or a lot of cleaning up you cuts. The guards really keep the sparks to a minimum. I love this saw!
Cole Schroeder (verified owner) –
This thing has POWER! Those who know worm drives already know about the extra torque worm gears deliver. This saw has been geared down, like a granny gear in a car transmission, to slow the blade for metal cutting. It draws current like a real 15 amp motor should, and then multiplies that power with the lower gear ratio. That means it is even MORE powerful than other worm drives. Slower blade speed is necessary when cutting metal, but that does not mean this cuts slowly! It not only cuts fast, but it makes smooth clean cuts that are cool to the touch when done. That’s a huge advantage in my book. Use it with a straight edge for long cuts. The clear line of sight is perfect for right handers, and allows free hand cuts on shorter pieces. The saw has a “spark arrestor cage,” which is an enclosed housing around the blade where you would normally find a dust collection chamber. Part of that “cage” is a metal screen so it allows cooling air in to keep the blade cool and allow sparks to dissipate. That reduces the flying sparks dramatically. Good feature!The arbor is THICK and STURDY! It has a special insert that effectively DOUBLES the gripping strength of the nut. The wide flange keeps the blade in plane with no noticeable wobble. That’s a necessary upgrade when cutting thick sheet steels. This comes stock with it! I love the blade-guard retraction lever! ALL saws should have that. It keeps your left hand safely on the handle where it belongs. You will never be tempted to grab the guard with you left hand again! Besides, with this much raw torque, you want both hands on the saw at all times. The base plate is smooth plated metal and fairly heavy gauge. The switch is sturdy and instantly applies full power. If you’re accustomed to worm drives, that won’t scare you. If you have never used one before, BRACE YOURSELF. This thing kicks like a mule when it starts. Captive power cord is long enough and very heavy duty… 12 gauge I think. It sounds, looks and FEELS like my old American made SkilSaws I used decades ago. It ain’t light, (about 13 pounds) but it’s well balanced so it’s easy to handle. I LOVE this thing.The only minor quibble I have is the angle of the handle. I understand Skil wants to make the handle up high for deep cuts, but I feel it is a little awkward on shallow cuts when the handle is up too high. That is a small issue. I’ll get used to it. Other than that, I can’t think of anything I don’t like about this new beast of a saw. If you work metal, get one!
Casper Langworth (verified owner) –
I know I am not the first to say it……but I agree…This saw is a BEAST. You won’t be disappointed with the power of this saw. However, I think this saw does a nice job with some of the smaller details. Depth adjustment is simple and includes a ruler (see picture), There is a nice window to keep the metal shaving from obstructing your view as you are making the cut(see picture). It seems like a simple thing, but there is a directional arrow on the bolt to aid you when changing the blade(see picture). The handles are very well placed to make cutting comfortable. Cons:CORD – the power cord is only 8 feet long. I would like to see a little longer cordHEAVY – The downside to the BEAST is the weight. Not bad for making cuts here and there, but I wouldn’t want to be lugging it around all day.
Cristobal McDermott (verified owner) –
This saw rocks! I have been cutting metal for years. I have used a cutting torch, a reciprocating saw, and abrasive cutoff blades on a chop saw. Nothing, not anything does as good a job as this Outlaw circular saw. With a torch you have to clean up the slag. With a reciprocating saw the cut is never straight and it is really slow. My chop saw with an abrasive blade does a pretty good job but there is a huge cone of sparks that can be a real fire hazard. Also, the hot metal stuff coming out just about ruins the chop saw. Finally, it is also slow and eats the abrasive discs in short order. The first thing I cut with the new metal saw was a piece of ¾” galvanized pipe. I literally had cut through the pipe before I had realized that I had started. Left a perfectly square cut for threading. I have also cut out a square of 3/8”steel plate and the saw zipped through it like I was cutting plywood. The specifications say that the max plate thickness is ¼” but it did just fine on 3/8” plate. The chip tray does an incredible job of catching the chips. It substantially reduces the fire hazard that is often associated with cutting metal.
Ramona Koss (verified owner) –
This skilsaw cuts like knife through hot butter
Donato Stamm (verified owner) –
I use this saw everyday as a carpenter it takes a beating but hasn’t failed me yet. This is the 3 rd skilsaw in 30 years
Marjory Koepp (verified owner) –
I have to say I am very impressed by how powerful this saw is and what a great job it does on metal. It is very heavy and feels well made in the hand. The power cord is long enough for most jobs. Even though the saw is very powerful, it still has enough finesse to handle any detail work you might need. I have used it a couple of times and the blade seems to be holding up really well too. Overall it seems like a great saw I will use for a long time.
Aliyah Schamberger (verified owner) –
I received the 8” Skil Saw Outlaw Worm Drive Metal Cutting Circular Saw for review. Upon inspection the saw it appeared very substantial, nothing less than I would expect form a Skil. To install the blade, the blade guard / chip catcher is easily removable and the on board blade wrench made the installation a snap. The only thing that slowed me down, installing the blade, was having to grab a screwdriver to get the on board wrench loose. I suspect that the clips holding the wrench will loosen up over time, and if they do not, that would not be all bad either. I have lost enough on board wrenches over the years due to loose holders that a solid attachment is fine.Once installed, I cut several materials of varying thicknesses, from light tubing, heavy tubing, heavy channels, angles and rebar. The saw powered through all of the materials with ease. I was very pleased with the quality of the cut on all of the materials tested. When using the saw with the blade at full depth, the saw contained the metal shavings extremely well. I was amazed how much the Chip catcher collected the first time I dumped it. This is a nice feature that the Fein Metal cutting circular saw I have does not have. I did make a few cuts with the blade set at only about ½” deep the containment of the shavings was not as good, but understandable with the amount of the blade exposed. The sight guide is very easy to use to line up your cut and the guide showing when your blade will enter the material is helpful so as not to start the saw too close to the material that the teeth will strike it and break teeth.Overall I would highly recommend the saw for anyone who cuts metal on a regular basis.
Queenie Davis (verified owner) –
Freakin awesome. All I’ve used it for so far is cutting 3/16″ mild steel plate and its just impressive. Plenty of power and has a beautiful cut, the chip collector works great and was about 3/4 full with 50-60″ worth of cutting. The size is good, I’ve handled the evolution 9″ saw and the motor sticking out the side makes the thing huge. Weight isn’t a huge concern to me in the way I’ll be using it, but it does have some gravity to it.