Skil vs Skilsaw: Why They’re the Same Company but Different Saws
Skil and Skilsaw are the same company today — both owned by Chervon since 2017 — but they’re deliberately run as two different brands for two different buyers. “Skil” (orange tools) is the broad consumer catalog: drills, sanders, grinders, budget saws. “Skilsaw” (blue tools) is Chervon’s professional sub-brand, reserved almost entirely for circular saws and worm-drive saws aimed at tradespeople. Same parent company, intentionally separate identities.
That brand segmentation explains almost everything people notice when comparing the two: why Skilsaw tools feel heavier and cost more, why Skil’s catalog is much broader (drills, sanders, grinders) while Skilsaw’s is narrow (mostly saws), and why the two lines get marketed through different channels — Skil at home-improvement retailers, Skilsaw more heavily through pro contractor suppliers.
The Actual History, In Order
- 1924: Edmond Michel invents the first portable circular saw and founds the Michel Electric Handsaw Company in Chicago, later renamed the Skilsaw Company — “Skilsaw” is the original brand name, decades before “Skil” existed as a separate line.
- 1930s–1950s: The company becomes Skil Corporation and expands into drills and other power tools, with “Skilsaw” continuing on as the name for its circular saws specifically.
- 1996: The Bosch Group acquires Skil Corporation, bringing both the Skil and Skilsaw names under Bosch ownership as part of its power tools division.
- August 2016: Chervon, a China-based manufacturer that also owns the EGO and Flex outdoor/power-tool brands, signs an agreement to acquire the SKIL businesses (including the Skilsaw sub-brand) from Bosch in North America and Europe.
- March 2017: The acquisition closes. Chervon becomes the owner of both Skil and Skilsaw going forward.
That 2017 sale is the detail most comparison articles skip, and it’s the real answer to “is Skil and Skilsaw the same brand”: yes, under one owner (Chervon) since 2017, but run as two distinct product lines rather than merged into one catalog.
What Each Brand Actually Sells
| Skil | Skilsaw | |
|---|---|---|
| Owner since 2017 | Chervon (China) | Chervon (China) — same parent company, separate sub-brand |
| Product range | Drills, drivers, sanders, grinders, saws, outdoor tools | Almost entirely circular saws (worm drive, sidewinder, table saws) |
| Target buyer | Homeowners, DIYers, budget-conscious buyers | Framers, contractors, job-site professionals |
| Color scheme | Orange and black | Blue and silver |
| Typical price range | $30–$150 for most tools | $90–$450 for saws |
Worm Drive vs. Sidewinder: The Real Skilsaw Difference
Within Skilsaw’s own lineup, the more useful comparison for most buyers isn’t “Skil vs Skilsaw” — it’s worm drive vs. sidewinder, since Skilsaw sells both:
| Type | Motor Position | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Worm drive (e.g., Skilsaw SPT77WML) | Rear-mounted, gear-driven — more torque, heavier | Framing, wet lumber, ripping thick stock all day |
| Sidewinder (e.g., Skilsaw SPT67WL) | Side-mounted, direct-driven — lighter, faster no-load speed | General carpentry, plywood, cross-cuts, lighter-duty use |
A homeowner doing occasional cuts is usually better served by a Skil-branded saw at a lower price point; a framer making hundreds of rip cuts a day benefits from a Skilsaw worm drive’s extra torque, even at nearly triple the price — even though both ultimately come from the same parent company.
Best For Job-Site Framing
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SKILSAW SPT67WL-01 15-Amp Sidewinder Circular Saw – $89.00 Chervon’s professional-grade Skilsaw sub-brand, not the budget Skil line — a 15-amp motor with enough power for daily framing and remodeling cuts.
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Which One Should You Actually Buy?
The brand name matters less than what you’re cutting and how often. If you’re building furniture, doing home repairs, or cutting occasionally, a Skil tool is genuinely good value and backed by the same Chervon engineering standards used across its EGO and Flex lines. If you’re on a job site five days a week putting hundreds of cuts through a saw, the extra weight and cost of a Skilsaw pays for itself in motor longevity and cut consistency under sustained load — that’s exactly why Chervon kept the two brands separate instead of merging them into one catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skil and SKIL saw the same brand?
They share the same 100-year history and, since 2017, the same owner: Chervon. SKIL (the broad consumer tool line) and SKILSAW (a narrower professional saw line) are run as two separate sub-brands by Chervon rather than merged into one catalog, which is why they still look and feel like different companies.
Why is it called a Skilsaw?
“Skilsaw” was the original 1924 brand name for the first portable circular saw, invented by Edmond Michel. The name became so associated with the tool category that many people still call any handheld circular saw a “skillsaw,” similar to how “Kleenex” became generic for facial tissue.
Who owns Skil now?
Chervon, a China-based power tool manufacturer that also owns the EGO and Flex tool brands, purchased the SKIL businesses — including the Skilsaw sub-brand — from Bosch in a deal signed in 2016 and completed in March 2017. Chervon makes Skil’s full modern catalog of drills, sanders, saws, and outdoor power equipment.
Is Skilsaw made by Bosch?
No, not since 2017. Bosch owned both Skil and Skilsaw from 1996 until it sold the businesses to Chervon in 2017. Skilsaw-branded circular saws and worm-drive saws are now manufactured by Chervon as its dedicated professional sub-brand, separate from the consumer-facing Skil line.
Conclusion
Skil and Skilsaw have been owned by the same company, Chervon, since 2017 — but they’re run as two deliberately separate brands, and that single fact explains most of the differences buyers notice: product range, price, weight, and target user. Skil is the practical choice for home and occasional use; Skilsaw earns its higher price on a job site where a saw runs all day, every day.
