The Skil MS6305-00 10 in. miter saw provides an almost unheard of blend of capacity, power, usability, and value. Our crew used it while putting a two-story addition on a downtown bungalow originally built in 1915. Having used dozens of similar tools over the past 20+ years, this Skil 10-inch outclasses many others while staying supremely affordable in the process.
Editor’s Note: Check out our best miter saw reviews article for our top picks. The Skil MS6305-00 should be joining the ranks shortly once we run the numbers and tally up the results.
Skil 10-inch Miter Saw Key Features
We could go over all the features, but anyone with some experience using miter saws should find the Skil MS6305-00 very familiar. You get lots of adjustability, like dual-beveling and mitering to 51 degrees in both directions.
The saw cuts through 2×12 lumber and even 4x4s at 90-degrees, giving it ample capacity. It’s certain to make you wonder why you’d ever lug around a larger 12-inch miter saw.
We found it easy to carry the Skil miter saw to and from the jobsite each day. It weighs just 48.8 pounds. That falls nearer to the lower end of the weights we commonly see on 10-inch sliding compound miter saws. We credit the cast aluminum base which shaves a bunch of weight.
You can get a quick sense of the weight by comparing it to the following saws (many of which double the price of this saw):
- Bosch CM10GD 10-inch Axial Glide miter saw – 64.0 lbs.
- Makita LS1019L 10″ sliding miter saw – 57.9 lbs.
- DeWalt DW717 10″ sliding miter saw – 51 lbs.
- Metabo HPT C10FSHCT 10″ sliding miter saw – 45.2 lbs.
- Ridgid R4113 10″ sliding miter saw – 32 lbs.
It carries easily via the integrated handle, and we like how well it balances when you lock it in the fully-mitered position.
Changing the Blade
As I mentioned earlier, we used this saw extensively on a two-story addition. We were adding it to an older frame house built shortly after the turn of the century—last century, that is! We put so many cuts on the saw we actually had to change out the 10-inch miter saw blade.
Skil lets you quickly swap out the blade using an onboard wrench that stores securely right on the base of the saw. On-tool storage means you don’t need to hunt around for tools when you need to pop on a new blade. You use the two-ended wrench to undo the blade bolt cover screw and also to remove the blade bolt itself.
During a blade change, the guard initially holds up on its own. Eventually, however, you want to put a hand on it as you unscrew the reverse-threaded retention bolt and replace the blade. The entire process took us less than a minute.
Skil 10 in. Miter Saw Integrated Material Support
Skil includes left and right sliding fences. These provide an array of versatility. Use them for making nested crown cuts (up to 6.5″) and slide them aside when performing more dramatic bevel and compound cuts. Skil even includes holes on the fences to help secure a sacrificial or auxiliary fence if desired.
For wider boards, the 10-inch miter saw gives you table extensions on either side. These provide extra support when needed. You can also lock each table extension in any position—from fully closed to fully open. Oddly, while the clamp and sliding fences adjust with tool-free knobs, the extensions lock using Allen screws. These are compatible with the included blade-change wrench.
We can’t help but again mention the really handy material clamp that’s quick, effective, and just works.
Making Cuts with the Skil 10 in. Miter Saw
The Skil 10 in. miter saw works exactly as we expected. It required no warming up to immediately get cutting. We noticed a slight amount of blade deflection during use, so it helps to ensure you control the arm while cutting and avoid pulling it to either side. This is not uncommon with saws at this price point.
We also felt about 1/32″ of play on the miter detents (Skil gives you 9 total stops). Oddly, you don’t get any bevel detents—though the scale comes marked with common crown stops.
We love the LED shadow cutline indicator. This is our preferred style of cut line and it provides a much better solution over lasers. You can see the cut line as a shadow in all but the most direct sunlight.
Cut Capacity and Sliding Action
We quickly noted the capacity of this saw during our use. We found we could cut 2x material at a full 45 bevel in either direction. The saw also cuts through a 2×12 at 90-degrees. Feed it a 4×4, and it does the same.
When you see that kind of capacity, only a few select uses would steer most Pros towards a 12-inch miter saw. For the rest of us, a 10-inch saw like this delivers 95% of what you might encounter on the jobsite.
The slide mechanism on the Skil MS6305-00 miter saw makes it really deep. We measured around 40-1/2″ from front to back when fully extended. That makes this saw best-suited for use outdoors—or as we did on a pair of sawhorses. If you use it in your shop, just make sure you have enough clearance.
Another thing worth noting is the guard. Skil located it perfectly. Unlike some DeWalt saws we’ve used, the guard stays out of the way and doesn’t hit your thumb on the way up or down.
We also like the clear line-of-sight visibility on this saw. Between that and the LED cutline, our workflow moved both smoothly and quickly as we made dozens and dozens of cuts.
Skil 10-inch Miter Saw Cutting Power
The power on the Skil MS6305-00 is nothing short of phenomenal. You can literally shove it through any 2X material without any hesitation. The 15-amp motor never once bogged down on us and we made a lot of cuts in the hot Florida sun.
We also found the slide mechanism to be really smooth. This likely has to do with the use of good-quality linear bearings. It almost coasts freely when you give it a little shove.
The handle felt natural to us, but it definitely favors right-handers. That’s not unusual and most lefties get used to finding a workaround. Mostly, they simply make cuts using their right hand. The safety works well and doesn’t overly complicate the process of making a cut.
Skilsaw MS6305-00 Specs
- Motor: 15-amp
- Speed (no load): 4800 RPM
- Blade: 10 in. (254 mm)
- Blade arbor: 5/8 in.
- Max. miter: 50° right, 50° left
- Max. bevel: 45° right, 48° left
- Miter detents (left): 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, 45°
- Miter detents (right): 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, 45°
- Bevel stops: 0°, 45°, 48° left, and 45° right
- Max cross cut (90°): 2×12 (1-1/2 x 11-1/4), 4×6 (3-1/2 x 5-1/2)
- Max cross cut (45°): 2×8 (1-1/2 x 7-1/4)
- Nested crown: 6.25 in.
- Baseboard (against the fence): 4.5 in.
- Cord length: 6 ft.
- Weight: 48.8 lbs.
- Warranty: 3-years
Conclusion and Recommendations
For $250, the Skil 10 in. miter saw is a really nice saw with the features you want. 10 years ago, $250 would have gotten you a bare-bones tool. Somehow, Skil packs power, versatility, ergonomics, and convenience into a very nice power tool that breaks all records for value in our book.
Use this Skil saw for any length of time, and it makes you really value just how much capacity you can get out of a 10-inch model. It definitely removes most of the need for a 12” saw.
Final Thoughts
To be perfectly honest, I began this review of the Skil MS6305-00 10 in. miter saw on the wrong foot. For starters, I thought—for some reason—the saw cost upwards of $450. After finding out I had overshot that estimate by $200, I had an even greater appreciation for this well-built tool.
It’s hard to sufficiently convey the surprise of finding a tool at this price that offers all the features you get with the Skil MS6305-00. There are other dual-bevel sliding miter saws under $250—but they lack…the attention to detail you find here.
The Skil MS6305-00 10-inch miter saw presents one of the greatest performance values on the market today. You’ll have a hard time finding any better place to put $250 that will yield you more value. You can find a more accurate saw for detail work, but you will almost certainly pay more. For framing and basic carpentry, this saw outperforms anything else in its price class.
