Skil sent over their new DL529002 PWRCore 12 brushless drill/driver kit for review. After talking with them about the new PWRCore cordless power tool lines that will be aimed at DIYers, I started the review with an eager and optimistic attitude.
While optimistic about what the new Skil PWRCore 12 brushless drill can do, I was still very surprised.
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If I had to sum up my experiences in one sentence, it would be this: The Skil PWRCore 12 cordless drill delivers more power and faster speeds than I expected, and can hold its own against other brands’ entry 18V drill/driver offerings.
Price: $80 $60 via Amazon (12/30/20 Update)
Update: This post was first published on 12/18/2018, and republished on 12/30/2020. Rather than write up a deal post around the current sale price of $60.14, I figured it would be better to republish the original review and mention the lower pricing.
First Impression
Physically, the Skil PWRCore 12 brushless drill is a little large – about the size of the latest Milwaukee M18 Fuel brushless drill, not including the battery, although it is quite a bit lighter.
It feels comfortable in-hand, with a good grip and solid feeling all around.
Specifications
- 350 in-lbs max torque
- 0-450/0-1700 RPM
- 1/2″ chuck
- 18 clutch settings (17 plus drill mode)
- 7-1/4″ length (measured)
- Weighs 2.90 lbs with battery, belt hook, and included bit (measured)
- LED light
- Bundled with (1) 2.0Ah battery with USB charging port
- Bundled with PWRJump charger
Controls
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Everything is standard on the drill – well, almost. More on that soon.
The chuck is easy to tighten and loosen – and it didn’t slip in any of my tests, the clutch dial is easy to adjust, the speed selection switch toggles easily, and the trigger and direction selection switch are just as good.
There is one peculiarity. In my notes, I wrote that there was an ever so slight trigger lag, where pressing the trigger switch didn’t immediately turn on the drill. This happened sometimes, and I wrote that the delay could probably be measured in milliseconds. It was ever so short, but still observable.
However, I did not observe anything of the same sort when handling it since then. In my hand right now, it’s instant-on.
I did push it really hard during testing, so maybe that had something to do with it.
Comfort
As much as I really like the compactness and performance of Bosch and Milwaukee 12V-class drills and drivers, drills with slide-style batteries are a little more comfortable, due to the slimmer pistol grip handles.
On the other hand, having the battery at the bottom does increase the tool’s size. But, you can also stand it upright on a compact battery.
Neither style is really “best,” there are tradeoffs for both.
But what I can say is that the Skil PWRCore 12 drill has been really comfortable to use.
The Hybrid Chuck
Here, a standard 2″ power screwdriver bit is being held in the 3-jaw chuck. However, there is also a 1/4″ hex recess all the way at the bottom, and it does 2 things.
First, it allows the bit to sit a little deeper in the chuck. Second, it’s quicker to insert the bit into the recess than it is to tighten the jaws. It’s basically a quick-change bit holder.
Here’s a look inside the chuck, as best as I could photograph it.
I should mention that there’s a little wobble than when the bit is held by the chuck’s jaws – about the same as with a 1/4″ impact driver.
Lastly, the 3-jaw chuck has a 1/2″ capacity. Most 12V-class drills, except for M12 Fuel (are there others?), have 3/8″ chucks. This means that you can use it with a wider range of accessories, such as hole saws that have 1/2″ shafts.
Power and Performance
As with other recent drill/driver tests, I used the Skil to drill holes and drive screws in 2×4 stud material.
Drilling Applications
- 1/8″ twist drill
- 1/4″ twist drill
- 1/2″ self-feeding spade bit
- 3/4″ self-feeding spade bit
- 1″ self-feeding spade bit
- 1-1/2″ self-feeding spade bit
The Skil PWRCore 12 brushless drill actually fared better than the new Craftsamn V20 cordless drill which I recently reviewed.
It drilled a 1″ wide hole with ease, taking it to a full 3.5″ depth.
I managed to jam or stall the drill with a 1-1/2″ self-drilling spade bit at a depth of 1.25″, nearly through the face of a 2×4. A second attempt pushed it through. Drilling a fresh hole, it cleared through the full 1.5″ depth.
Smaller diameter holes were no problem at all. In comparison, the Craftsman V20 drill stalled when pushed hard to drill deeper 1/2″ and 3/4″ holes.
The Skil performed speedier (subjectively, as I didn’t measure the actual application speeds), and with less effort.
Driving Applications
- #6 x 5/8″ self-drilling wood screw (Philips #2)
- #8 x 1-1/4″ self-drilling wood screw (Philips #2)
- #10 x 2″ self-drilling wood screw (Philips #2)
- #10 x 3-1/8″ self-drilling wood screw (Torx T25)
- 1/4″ x 3″ self-drilling lag screw (3/8″ nutdriver)
The #6 x 5/8″ screws were driven in perfectly flush (clutch setting 7), and regardless of slow or fast approach. Unlike some other drills I’ve tested in recent months, the Skil PWRCore had no problem driving the smaller screws flush consistently and repeatedly.
Driving the larger and longer screws was uneventful, with perfect finishes. I did accidentally over-drive the #10 x 3-1/8″ screws, but that was because I set the drill to full power. Dialing back the clutch I was able to get flush and even sub-flush heights.
The lag screws were fully driven in without trouble. For one screw, it finished just 1/16″ away from the surface, but a second trigger pull seated it flush. I’m considering that to be a fluke occurrence because subsequent lag screws were fully seated in one go.
Overall, I felt that the PWRCore 12 brushless drill had more power and speed than its 12V Max battery and motor size would typically suggest. The fact that it can compare with and even best the Craftsman V20 entry-level drill/driver did surprise me.
Skil PWRCore 12 Charger
I didn’t use the PWRJump feature, which brings a depleted battery to 25% in 5 minutes, but it’s good to have available. There’s also a USB charging port on the front.
On the rear, you have two keyhole slots, for mounting the charger to a wall or other vertical surface. The power cord guide is a nice touch.
Skil PWRCore 12 Battery
The kit comes with the fully-featured PWRCore 12 2.0Ah battery.
It has a built-in battery charge capacity fuel gauge, with (4) green LED indicators.
And then there’s the built-in USB charging port, with rubber door.
Ratings Explained
- Power: 5/5
- Speed: 5/5
- User Experience: 5/5
- Value: 5/5
For a 12V-class cordless drill/driver, the Skil PWRCore 12 drill is simply superb. There’s nothing lacking so far, at least not that I can tell.
Verdict
I have no shortage of good things to say about the new Skil PWRCore 12 brushless drill/driver.
It delivered more than what I expected in benchtop testing, and it has been perfect in the few real-world applications I’ve used it on since then. It doesn’t just offer ample power, for a 12V-class drill, it has an abundance of power.
If Skil’s other PWRCore 12 tools are this good, and their PWRCore 20 tools even better, they will absolutely make waves in the DIY cordless power tool industry.
If I had to complain about something, it would be that… sorry, I can’t think of anything negative. There was the slight trigger delay that I experienced a few times during testing, but I’m having trouble replicating it.
Ah – the LED… no, it’s useful.
Aha – the belt hook! You can only mount it on the left side of the tool, which lefties might not be perfectly thrilled about. But there’s a minor bonus in how the belt hook has a keyhole-like cutout, which should make it easier to mount on a screw on the wall.
I like a lot of things about a lot of cordless drills, and am happy to once again have a sub-$100 12V-class drill I could heartily recommend.
I know that Skil is marketing this towards DIYers, but it *might* serve other types of users as well. I’ll do my best to test its durability and longevity with more testing and use.
Chervon is a seasoned cordless power tool manufacturer, and so I perhaps shouldn’t have been so surprised at the drill being as powerful and capable as it is. Overall, I am impressed, and think this is a good buy.
Price: $80 $60 for the kit (as of 12/30/2020)
The battery charge was very long-lasting. I will sometimes advocate for 2-battery cordless tool kits over 1-battery kits, but not in this case. Here, the battery lasted longer than I expected, and can be recharged to 25% in 5 minutes. A full charge takes 45 minutes.
With the Craftsman V20 drill kit, it’s $69 for the 1-battery kit, but that battery is a 1.3Ah pack that didn’t last as long as I would have liked. With this kit, you only get one battery, but it’s a 2.0Ah battery. That and the charger’s speed and PWRJump feature help to balance things out.
Thank you to Skil for providing the review sample.
Toolfreak
Thanks for the review, I was really curious about the new Skil tools. Hopefully they’ll send over some of the others, including the 20V.
I wonder if the USB port on the battery works both ways, as a way to charge the battery and a way to charge devices plugged into the battery? Does the manual have any warning about not plugging a battery into the USB port on the charger while also charging a battery in the regular slot?
$65 is a pretty good deal, though when you can get a 20V 1/2″ drill kit with two batteries, a charger, and a carrying bag for $99, the $80 seems a bit less of a deal.
Maybe Skil will win over the market on the thoughful features as noted in the review.
Stuart
Thanks! The brushless 20V tools are a few months out, right now only the brushed ones are available.
No, the USB is only for charging devices.
The charger manual only says that the charger must be plugged in for the USB charger to work. I don’t see why it wouldn’t work when a battery is being charged. I’ll try to test this the next time I need to recharge the battery.
There’s a Bosch 18V drill kit for $89 at the moment, and a better one for $99. The $89 kit has the same torque rating, but slower speeds. It does come with (2) 1.5Ah batteries.
$20 might not seem like much, but if compared to the $99 Bosch, or say the Dewalt DCD777 that is $99 at holiday times, those are 25% more expensive than the Skil’s $80 price tag.
And when taking into account the current promo price of $65, which might return for Father’s Day or next year’s holiday season, $35 more reflects a more than 50% bump-up in budget. Most DIYers shop according to budget, at least at first.
I think it’s a big deal that this 12V class brushless drill bested Craftsman’s 20V class entry-level drill, at at similar pricing ($65 on sale vs $69 on sale, or $80 vs. $79 regularly). I have an entry-priced Ryobi that I’m going to be looking at soon too.
CountyCork
Looks very promising. Just curious with 1/4 bits can you secure with the recess and tighten down with the chuck?
Stuart
Not really, as the jaws end up placed at the lower part of the tip. It’s going to be best to use one or the other.
Peter Lindstrom
Doesn’t show up under the Amazon $15 off 75 promotion for me.
Stuart
It should. Clicking via the above link, the product page comes up, and it mentions eligibility there, and the $15 discount appears at the final checkout screen.
Peter Lindstrom
Oh okay, it came up in the cart – thanks!
Corey
That size seems to be contradictory to the appeal of 12v, much like the gen 1 fuel 12’s. I’ll have to get one in hand, I suppose. Great write up as always, Stuart ?
Stuart
Possibly, but it’s also that 18V drills are getting smaller and smaller. Even so, this is lighter than an 18V drill, and smaller in the battery area, and in the girth of the top. It approaches the size of smaller 18V drills, but the subtleties and lower weight help make it feel smaller. Plus, there’s the cost difference.
Matt
Do we know if these will be available in physical stores?
I’ve seen Skil products in Lowe’s but am wondering if Chervon will find other outlets like Ace or Walmart to distribute these
Stuart
For now, Amazon is the only launch partner.
Ecotek
Just to play Devils advocate, over at Home Depot.com, they have a Ridgid drill kit (R861162SB) on sale now for $79. It is a brushless hammer drill and includes two 1.5Ah batteries, charger, belt clip,and side handle. The drill has 750 in lbs of torque and the kit qualifies for Ridgids lifetime warranty which covers everything, even the batteries. I know I sounds like a Ridgid sales rep, but it has more then double the power, double the batteries, hammer function, and its on a well established battery platform, likely to be supported for years to come. Granted $79 is a sale price, but even at $99, it’s still hard to argue. Thoughts?
PS. The integrated 1/4″ hex adaptor built into the chuck is a nice touch.
Stuart
The Ridgid is a really, really good buy.
I bought one in early November and reviewed it here: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/ridgid-18v-brushless-cordless-drill-review-black-friday-2018-deal-edition/%3C/a%3E .
It’s a tough comparison. Ideally, I’d want both. The Skil for the light and medium duty tasks, and the Ridgid for the heavier duty stuff.
For lighter tasks, the Ridgid is like using a serving spoon to eat ice cream. Or a chef’s knife to prep strawberries.
If I can’t have both, would I rather have a 16oz nail hammer, or a 22oz framing hammer? Depends on the task.
For many DIYers, I think the Skil might be enough. For others, the Ridgid is more capable of meeting any challenge.
Here’s what complicates the comparison further: In 2 months, the Skil will still be $80, and the Ridgid holiday promo kit will be gone. The regular 2-battery kit is $149, and that’s going to be the only option.
fred
If I were buying a drill as a Christmas or other present right now – I think the $79 for the 2 battery Ridgid would be the way to go. It ‘s downside is a bit more weight – but it provides more than a bit more capability at a very good price.
Travis
Ridgid service work is a big pain and it is listed as a lifetime service guarantee the last I checked. And they definitely do not keep parts around that long to fix tools. I found that out on a table saw I tried to repair.
Rick
big pain, vs bigger pain of having to buy something new. I’ll take big pain.
Diamond Dave
You can also purchase the Drill and Impact combo with 2 batteries for $119 (before $15 gift promo) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F21KB3R/
The impact only with (2) batteries is $99 at Amazon (before $15 gift promo) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F21HN5C/
Batteries 2.0ah are $29.99 or $39.99 for the 4.0 ah https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F21HN5C/
I think the best deal is the drill and impact combo with (2) batteries shown above!
Joe
Thorough review….I’d say it will sell based on it’s brand and price. Quality tool, highly doubt it. I would hope a homeowner is smart enough to buy into a better line.
Stuart
Nope; having actually used it, I think it’s a great good quality choice for homeowners and DIYers.
“Better” would require greater investment that a lot of more casual users aren’t willing to spend.
ToolOfTheTrade
I noticed that you’re testing is only based on wood applications and nothing thicker than a 2×4 using spade bits predominantly. How can an honest rated evaluation be made if based on one single material. How does it fair when drilling into metals such as brass, tin, aluminum, mild steel, etc.? Or plastics, composite wood, pt wood, 4×4, etc ? I’m not suggesting that you have to test on every building material known in the world, but to say that you can’t find anything wrong with it should definitely be taken with a grain of salt. Drills are used on many different materials of different densities, hardness, thickness, etc on a regular basis. Whether it be a diy or professional brand. So to make an overall evaluation of its performance without results from drilling into other materials seems hardly accurate as to what its performance capabilities truly are and what they are not. Anyways, it’s good to see chervon doing what Bosch wouldn’t do when they had the opportunity to improve upon skil. It would be great to see skilsaw release a line of cordless professional grade tools. They’ve already established the name which is synonymous with all circular saws and their worm drive 77 is legendary and the buzzkill recip saw is badass and is definitely the most comfortable saw available for heavy duty demolition use that I’ve ever used. If they applied those same efforts to a cordless line of tools, they might possibly give Milwaukee, dewalt 20v, makita, etc a run for their money. I guess we’ll have to see what chervon has lying in wait for the future. So far they’ve been doing a good job.
Stuart
Consistency.
Self-drilling spade bits in soft pine are remarkably good at pushing drill to their limits, allowing for easy comparison. A range of fastener types allows for the same.
If I’m able to stall a drill using a spade bit and 2×4, what more will adding steel, aluminum, or plastic drilling to testing accomplish, aside from wasting pricier test materials?
Sheet metal isn’t much of a challenge, neither is plastic. Most drills can drill smaller holes in hardwood and plywood without issue.
So, consistency. Using the same bits for the same tasks allows for the easiest comparisons. I used to use more materials, but it tended to drag things out without providing any added insights or conclusions.
I’ll continue testing drills in “natural” applications as well, but such testing is much more for subjective observations.
Christopher Trafnik
I will have to check it out and let you know.
M. Jones
Can we expect other Skil reviews from you Stuart? More specifically the 12v impact and oscillator…
Stuart
Yes, in time.
lavardera
Did you compare the size weight to the Makita sub-compact (black) drill?
Stuart
Not yet. I didn’t think to, given the very different target users and price points.
A-A-ron
It’s bigger in terms of length than the Makita sub, doesn’t feel much different weight wise as the 12v battery is lighter than the Makita 18v.
Perry
Stuart, have you heard what (if any) tools will come later to expand this line-up?
Stuart
Not yet. I expect to hear more in a month or two – the next round of releases should be launching in the early Spring.
DJA
Good luck to those who buy their stuff. I swore off this Skil after several really crappy experiences. I understand the target audience but the quality was poor, at best, for any user level. Hopefully they’ve turned it around for those who’re interested.
Stuart
As mentioned, Skil is now owned by a completely different company.
blocky
The variable speed trigger on this drill has only 5-6 steps, which in my use, was a real disservice. I’m definitely not against the new platform, but I would steer a DIYer or millenial towards entry offerings by Milwaukee, Bosch, Makita, Dewalt, Hitachi (Metabo HPT)– even the older brushed versions are solidly capable with better finesse.
KR
I recently received this drill as a present, which I had hinted at. I’ve also got a 20 year old 9.6 V Porter Cable and an 18 year old Bosch 14.4 V drill that I still use (I have had the batteries rebuilt). So far I am astonished with the over all value and power of the Skil 12V drill. It even survived a tumble down a flight of wooden stairs a few days ago.
I’ve already driven some 1/4” 3” lag wood screws into pine with it and the speed and the torque was very impressive.
I plan to test the same with the P-C and Bosch on fully charged batteries, I think the P-C may not have the torque, the Bosch I think may be able to drive the lags.
I did notice that it does have 5 or 6 distinct speeds, I’m not sure yet how I feel about that aspect but for $70 for the kit and reasonably priced batteries I think Skil has a very solid performer.
Flotsam
so i want to know the relationship between these new Skil tools that seem targeted at the Walmart shoppers and their top tier Skilsaw brand ? are these still the same company?
Stuart
Yes.
Skil isn’t targeting Walmart shoppers necessarily, they’re targeting millennials.
Big Richard
They are both owned by Chervon, SKIL being the homeowner line, SKILSAW being the premium pro line. SKIL offers a much broader lineups with a 12v, 20v and 40v OPE, while SKILSAW is primarily, well, saws (table, miter, circ, and recip).
wikipedia can give you a full rundown of the two names history.
Flotsam
sorry i thought Skil was sold at Walmart. Seemed sort of analogous to Hart.
Thanks for that explanation
Stuart
Some Skil tools are sold directly by Walmart, but very few.
James Davis
I already have M18/M12 and Craftsman V20…… Now I have Skil PWRCore 12. Great quality products! I swear I do not have a problem with collecting tools! My wife says ” Ok, now use them “! Damn, she is funny!
Marcelo
As an owner of several drills (3.6v, 7.2v, 12v, 18v, SDS-plus, SDS-max, small bench press, large floor press), I can tell that the most used DIY-er/hobbyist/amateur one are the compact 12v class. I reach out for my 10 year-old Bosch PS-31 more than all others combined.
I do have an even older Skil 7.2v (my first cordless) that is very light. Quality is ok. I would definitely go for this brushless Skil tool.
frobo
I have a couple of these, and I love them. So much so that I bought the 12V circular saw, recip saw, and the inflator (which is great, much easier than firing up the big compressor when topping off tires). I also have a couple of Bosch 12V max drills, which I like for their compactness, but more often than not I will reach for a Skil due to its slimmer handle.
Perry
Now that they’ve been out awhile and expanded the 12v line, I think they’re pretty impressive.
The only downside for me is the size. I’m already invested in makita for 18v and I have the old hitachi 12v i’d like to replace for tighter areas, but I’ll probably go with the bosch multiclick for the size and versatility.
Robert
I have seen these tools in person and even done a superficial but impressive test in the store. I have to say that prior to that experience, this brand wasn’t even on my radar. Like many people, I’ve always equated them with brands like Black and Decker. If I was looking for anything more than a “AA” powered screwdriver, I generally looked elsewhere. The first step towards objectivity with these is to forget everything you thought you knew. Aside from the name on the side, they’re not the Skil’s embedded in my memories. These are real tools that especially turn heads when you consider the prices.
What I’m finding interesting is their marketing. In my opinion, it spans the spectrum from smart to downright stupid. First of all, they’re quick to mention that the tools are not the Skil’s your daddy once had. Then they stick the revamped line into the same red housings and brand recognition that’s reminiscent of those notions. They acknowledge that the brand had a less than stellar reputation among more serious users, then revisit those old stereotypes with the original designations. When Makita came out with the subcompacts, they realized that they needed something to separate the tools from their other lines. They did that very effectively by making them black while still retaining the Makita name. I think that some potential converts will be harder to win over because of the stark familiarity with the old reputation.
With that said, I think that they’re VERY wise to continue targeting the DIY market. They’re not getting into the “tit for tat” nauseating banter with all the comparisons with “pro” brands. They’re allowing the changes to speak for themselves. It takes a little longer for the word to get out that way. In the long run however, it’s more effective when the product stands on its own where the rubber meets the road. Don’t read the specs. Drive a few deck screws and you’ll get the idea.
To make a longer story shorter, forget the old name and check these out while striving for objectivity. If you have enough emotional security that you’re not concerned about onlookers, you might just be pleasantly surprised.
Diplomatic Immunity
Good review. I bought the Skil 12v barrel grip jigsaw a while back. Very small and easy to use. My only complaint is that I wish it came with the 4aH battery instead of a 2aH because the 2aH drained quickly.
Joatman
Home Depot has the Milwaukee 12v Brushless Fuel Hammer Drill/ Driver kit right now for $80. Comes with battery and charger. I picked one up. You have to go to the store to see the discount. This won’t last long.