Skil has several miter saws in its lineup, but until recently, its offerings have been limited to 10-inch and 12-inch models. If you’re looking for something a little more compact, Skil’s 7 1/4-inch miter saw might be more your speed. I’m taking a closer look at this saw to see what you can expect compared to the brand’s larger tools and how it fits into your garage or shop.
Skil 10 Amp 7 1/4-inch Sliding Miter Saw Performance
- Model: Skil MS6306 / MS6316
- Blade size: 7 1/4-inch
- Max blade speed: 4800 RPM
- 10-amp motor
- Bevel range: 0° – 45° left
- Nested crown capacity: 3 1/2 inches
- Miter range:
- MS6316: 47° left, 50° right
- MS6306: 47° left, 45° right
- Cut capacity: 2×10 (90°); 2×6 (45°)
To be pedantic, Skil actually recently released two 7 1/4-inch miter saws, although they’re identical in performance. The main area of difference is in design, which I’ll touch on later in the article.
The MS6306 and MS6316 both feature a 10-amp motor that spins the blade up to 4800 RPMs. While this is less power than we see on larger saws, a 7 1/4-inch model doesn’t need as much output as tools with 10-inch or 12-inch blades. In fact, a 10-amp motor is about as large we see on this size miter saw.
Both miter saws have a bevel range of 0° to 45° to the left only. For miter cuts, both tools have a range of 47° to the left and 50° to the right, with detents at 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, and 45° in both directions.
For cut capacity, these saws can perform cuts through 2×10 material at 90° and 2×6 material at 45°.
Skil includes a 24T blade, which is great for general cutting. However, if you’re installing trim and need a cleaner cut, consider swapping it out for a 40T or 60T to reduce how much sanding you need to do.
Skil 10 Amp 7 1/4-inch Sliding Miter Saw Design
- Weight: 24.5 pounds
- LED shadow line
- Quick miter lock
- Compact rail system for flush cutting against walls
- Built-in clamp
- Included dust bag
- 1 1/4-inch vac port
It goes without saying that 7 1/4-inch miter saws are more compact than their 10-inch and 12-inch counterparts. These saws are compact and lightweight, which is ideal for people with limited space or those who need to move the saw around often.
In Skil’s case, both 7 1/4-inch saws weigh right around 24.5 pounds. Their compact fixed rail design also lets you run the saws up against the wall of your garage or workshop. Traditionally, the rails move with the head and require extra clearance behind the saw. The fixed rail design has been popular on Pro saws, but it’s been slower to move into the DIY sector, so it’s a nice upgrade for this model.
Additionally, both saws employ LED shadow cut lines for improved accuracy. We always appreciate LED shadow lines on miter saws, as they’re easier to see in any lighting than laser lines and don’t require any calibrating or guesswork.
Finally, as mentioned above, there’s one main design difference between these two saws. The MS6303 miter saw is equipped with a quick work clamp that makes it easier to secure your material. The MS6316 also has a clamp, however it’s a standard design that needs to be manually tightened.
Skil 7 1/4-inch Miter Saw Price
The MS6306 miter saw retails for $199 at Acme Tools and is coming soon to Amazon.
The MS6316 saw is currently only available at Walmart, retailing for $189. For my money, it’s worth the extra $10 for the quick clamp.
Skil backs your purchase with a 5-year warranty.
Should You Buy It?
While these two saws are identical in performance, I like that Skil gives you the choice between traditional and quick methods of securing your material. These tools have all of the features we expect to see, and their compact design makes them easy to transport and store. Whether you’re a DIYer, homeowner, or even a light contractor needing a more compact tool, Skil hit the mark with its 7 1/4-inch offerings.
