So we’ve spent some time with the new Skilsaw SPT99-11 (also SPT99-12) Heavy-Duty Worm Drive Table Saw to see what’s different from Skilsaw’s first worm drive table saw and where it fits in the realm of the best jobsite table saws.
There’s a lot to love on the SPT70WT-22 worm drive table saw. We really like the lightweight portability, stable stand, and mid-range power. But the Skilsaw SPT99-12 brings a beefier model with enough changes that it’s clearly a different class of saw.
Key Features
99-Series Worm Drive Motor
The Skilsaw SPT99-12 Worm Drive Table Saw comes with, shockingly, a worm drive motor. The benefit here is that you typically get more torque than a direct drive – something you’ll notice more on rip cuts through 2x or 4x material than sheet goods.
When you look at a Skilsaw model number like the SPT99-11, the numerical part of the code matches up with a motor. The original worm drive table saw comes with a 70-series worm drive. This one uses a 99-series that packs more power.
Rack and Pinion Fence System
Moving on to the accuracy side of things, we get to the fence system. We’re seeing more manufacturers move to the rack and pinion style fence adjustment and that’s a good move in my book. Skilsaw didn’t have it on their last model but add it here. The operation is easy, but it’s not the smoothest feeling. I’m tempted to put a little grease on it, but that’s just going to attract dirt and dust.
The extension lock is a little disconcerting at first. When you lock or unlock it, you hear a “pop” snapping against the table. The mechanism works similar to the way a folding table saw but snaps into place with much more confidence. Because the handle is plastic, it doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence. When we took a closer look at it, there doesn’t seem to be much risk of failure in the short term.
Fence
While the rack and pinion system makes the length adjustment more accurate, it also helps the accuracy of the fence itself. Most of the complaints around fences focus in on the fact that you can lock them down off square. By providing fixed points for the fence to lock down on, you virtually eliminate the issue.
The fence on the Skilsaw SPT99-11 Worm Drive Table Saw offers some versatility as it works from close to the blade out to support 30-1/2″ rip cuts. The support swings out of the way for most shorter cuts. But when you need a shave cut, it acts as the fence itself, giving you an extra inch between the taller fence to get the push stick in and reduce friction on some material. When you’re making longer cuts, the support swings into a lower position flush with the table to keep the material on the correct plane.
Skilsaw SPT99-11 Rolling Stand
The Skilsaw SPT99-12 Heavy-Duty Worm Drive Table Saw is quite a bit heavier than its earlier counterpart and benefits from a rolling stand. The wheels are a massive 16″ to help it roll easier and tackle stairs.
I took the table saw on an off-road field trip to just how well the large-diameter wheels actually work and it’s pretty impressive compared to other models. It rolls as easily as advertised and handles concrete edges and stairs better than most. You still have to take your time, but the resistance to overcome as you move from one ledge to the next is noticeably better.
The downside of moving to a rolling stand is that you lose some stability. Some people will tell you that I’m unstable to begin with, but that’s another story. It’s not the fact that there are wheels involved—each of the four contact points with the ground stays put well. The Skilsaw SPT99-11 frame design isn’t as rigid, but that’s something every rolling stand we use suffers from. It’s not a deal-breaker and you can still make accurate cuts in spite of it.
Other Skilsaw SPT99-11 Notes
Most of your adjustments are standard. The bevel locks securely and swings freely when released. The angle indicator contrasts nicely against the scale to make reading it easy.
The height adjustment takes a lot of turning to fully raise or lower but is easy to operate. If you look underneath the saw, you’ll notice the gearing is all metal. Some table saws use plastic gears.
The dust port on the back is your standard 2-1/4″ diameter and there’s an elbow included. If you’re not connected to a dust extractor, you can direct the sawdust down into a bucket or onto the ground.
If you get a clog, all you have to do is loosen the thumbscrew on the back of the dust port to access the collection area. It’s a nice change from some of the other systems where you have to reach all the way below to release a clip.
The miter gauge on the Skilsaw SPT99-11 isn’t going to impress most users. It’s a standard T-rail design with a plastic adjustment and no stops. While that’s not usual, my major complaint is that the raised markings are very difficult to read since there’s no contrast.
You can’t buy a table saw without a push stick, blade guard, riving knife, and anti-kickback pawls- at least not in the store, Craigslist is a different story. All of this stores securely on the frame. They’re still no easier to attach, but they’re not going anywhere on the ride over to the jobsite.
Skilsaw SPT99-12 Performance
Cutting
The telltale sign of a struggling table saw is the shudder you get as you push the material faster than it can cut. Sometimes, it’s on the user, but most of us push at a pretty constant rate from day to day. So when we come across a saw that has less power, we have to slow down to preserve a quality cut. That’s something we found on the SPT70 when we got to some of the tougher cuts. But what about the Skilsaw SPT99-12?
We cut 3/4″ plywood, 2x, and 4x material with the Skilsaw SPT99-12 in our testing expecting to find power closer to the upper-tier. Since the 70-series model is already well-established in the mid-range, the more powerful motor should produce faster, smoother cuts. And that’s exactly what we found.
Cutting through plywood is a breeze with some of the smoothest cuts we’ve enjoyed on a table saw. It rips through 2x material pretty confidently as well. You can definitely get some shudder when ripping 4x material, but if you slow it down a little, I think you’ll be impressed with the saw’s ability to give you a quality cut.
Accuracy
Getting an accurate cut with any table saw is a function of proper setup. Most saws, the Skilsaw SPT99-12 included, come factory calibrated and need little, if any, adjustment out of the box. But you still need to check it. All of the details you need to adjust the saw properly are in the manual. Once you ensure squareness all around, you should get as accurate a cut on this model as just about any other jobsite table saw available.
Blade Changes
Sooner or later you have to change the blade and there’s not a ton here that’s different from your standard table saw. What does stand out it that the blade lock holds itself in position so you can move your hand out of the way when loosening or tightening the blade.
Skil SPT99-11 vs SPT99-12
Oddly enough, the Skilsaw SPT99-11 vs SPT99-12 question is easily answered. The Skilsaw SPT99-11 includes a 24T Skilsaw-branded carbide-tooth blade while Skil gave the SPT99-12 a 32T Diablo carbide-tooth blade. Aside from that, we found no difference between the two models.
The Bottom Line
Skilsaw’s new SPT99-12 (and SPT99-11) draws worm drives into the conversation with power that rivals some of the best jobsite table saws available. The power makes incredibly smooth cuts in sheet goods and gives it the ability to rip 4x material. We love the 30-1/2″ rip capacity, accurate rack and pinion system, and other quality features. This is one of the better rolling stands available and one of the best table saws currently on the market.
Skilsaw SPT99-12 Heavy-Duty Worm Drive Table Saw Features
- Legendary worm drive gearing with 3-5/8″ depth of cut and 30-1/2″ rip capacity
- Cuts through 4X for increased productivity
- Precision rack and pinion fence system
- Rugged rolling stand with 16″ wheels
- Dust port elbow contains debris
- Outfeed and left support
- Stand handles
- Includes: 32T Diablo Carbide Tipped Blade, Miter Gauge, Anti-Kick Back Device, Dust Elbow, Insert Plate, Push Stick, Wrench, Rip Fence
Skilsaw SPT99-12 Heavy-Duty Worm Drive Table Saw Specs
- Model: Skilsaw SPT99-12
- Product Weight: 94 lbs
- Warranty: 1 Year
- Motor: 15-amp
- No Load RPM: 5,000
- Roll-Cage Design: Steel
- Table Top: Die Cast
- Side Extension: Die-Cast
- Cord Length: 6 ft
- Depth of Cut at 90°: 3-5/8″
- Depth of Cut at 45°: 2-1/4″
- Max Rip Capacity to Right of Blade: 30-1/2″
- Max Rip Capacity to Left of Blade: 16-1/2″
- Price: $649
