Skil 12V Brushless Drill Drops Size While Maintaining Performance
The big draw for 12V power tools is undoubtedly their compact size and lightweight design. Well, the folks over at Skil decided they could do better with its 12V drill offerings. We’re taking a close-up look at the Skil PWRCore 12V 2-Speed Brushless Drill and Hammer Drill to see what’s changed from the previous generation.
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Skil 12V Brushless Drill Performance
As far as performance is concerned, Skil really didn’t make any changes from the previous models. These drills employ brushless motors that produce up to 450 RPM in low gear and 1,700 RPM in high gear. The torque tops out at 350 in-lbs.
If you go with the hammer drill (which we recommend), you get the additional 6750 BPM in low and 25500 BPM in high gear to help with concrete and masonry drilling.
So what does that mean in terms of real-world performance?
With this kind of performance, you have the power to tackle most of your everyday household drilling and driving tasks. We found that it was confident while driving screws and drilling with a full range of twist bit sizes.
For the sake of science (and to satisfy our own curiosity), we tested several types of bits and found that a 1-inch spade bit or auger bit is about as big as this drill is comfortable with. We successfully drilled with a 1 1/2-inch self-feed bit, but it’s making the drill work hard at that point. If you find yourself needing a bit more power, consider one of Skil’s full-sized models for the best performance.
Skil 12V Brushless Drill Design Notes
Ergonomics
The most significant change for these drills is definitely the size reduction. The drill is 6.06 inches from end to end and the hammer drill measures 6.54 inches. That’s almost an entire inch shorter compared to their predecessors!
Bare, the drill weighs 1.9 pounds while the hammer drill clocks in at 2.1 pounds. There’s a slight drop in weight from the previous models.
Along with being compact, they feel very comfortable in the hand. The grip is slightly angled forward which makes for a more favorable working angle when using this drill.
Additional Features
- LED light
- Reversible belt hook
- Ratcheting 1/2-inch chuck
- 17 clutch settings
- Tether ready
- Bit holder on the back of the foot
- Compatible with all Skil PWRCore 12 batteries
Skil 12V Brushless Hammer Drill Quick Comparison
| Skil HD5290A-10 (Previous) | Skil HD6290A-10 (Next-Gen) | |
| No-Load Speed | 450/1700 RPM | 450/1700 RPM |
| Hammer Rate | 6750/25500 BPM | 6750/25500 BPM |
| Max Torque | 350 in-lbs | 350 in-lbs |
| Bare Weight | 2.4 lbs | 2.1 lbs |
| Length | 7.40 inches | 6.54 inches |
Skil 12V Brushless Drill Price
These Skil 12V drills are hitting the shelves with an exceptionally attractive price tag. The drill driver kit retails for $69.99 and the hammer drill kit is only $99.00! Both come with a 12V 2.0Ah battery, an upgraded PWRJump charger, and a 5-year warranty. Plus, the batteries feature a USB-A port on the back so they can double as a portable power supply for your devices.
The Bottom Line
As we mentioned earlier, the big deal with these drills is their significant drop in size without losing anything on the performance side. Not to mention, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a deal much better than this. I mean, a compact brushless drill kit under $100 and a killer warranty to back it up? Yes, please!
Overall, these drills are a fantastic option for homeowners and DIYers that you’ll enjoy much more than what some of the other DIY brands offer. The hammer drill, in particular, is also a good option for Pros that want a high-value compact supplement to their premium workhorse drills for light-duty work.
Specifications
- Model: Skil DL6290A-00 (drill), HD6290A-00 (hammer drill)
- Power Source: Skil PWRCore 12V battery
- No-Load Speed: 0-450/1,700
- Blow Rate (Hammer Drill Only): 0-6,750/25,500 BPM
- Chuck: 1/2-inch
- Max Torque: 350 in-lbs.
- Length: 6.06 inches (drill), 6.54 inches (hammer drill)
- Weight: 1.90 lbs. (drill), 2.01 lbs. (hammer drill)
- Warranty: 5-year
- Price: $69.99 (drill), $99.00 (hammer drill)
Question..
Would you take this kit over the Porter Cable 20v brushless?
Think about this, the Skil has the same torque as the M12…350 inch lbs. It feels better too. Doesn’t have the fat bulky feeling grip.
The 20v pwrcore lacks speed under power, but get this, the 20v sits above Milwaukee or Makita in nut busting torque…4,000 inch lbs of nut busting torque. The tools the feel cheat like Rigid or Ryobi and i really like the light weight. Problem with the 20v though is, if you buy the combo kit, you only get one battery
You ought to try the 12v impact, it looks small but don’t let that fool ya, it has 1,100 inch lbs of torque. The drill/impact combo kit is $99, buy an extra battery and its $133 for one heck of a good set of drills. At $229 i put the M12 back on the shelf. Skil also has a better charger than anyone. The work light on both are superior to Makita or Milwaukee
You say its kinda hefty. But its the same weight as the m12. In fact, the m12 “feels” bulkier. I have this 12v set, i am amazed by the performance. It also comes in at the same weight as Makitas subcompact and more torque than a lot of 18v drills