| | |  | Skil | Home » » » Skil 4690-01 6 Amp Laser Guided Jig Saw | | | | | | | Description: | | Founded in 1924 as the Michel Electric Handsaw Company and renamed Skilsaw, Inc. in 1926, SKIL has become one of the most recognized and powerful brands in the power tool industry. From circular saws and jigsaws to sanders and drills, SKIL power tools are engineered to deliver the high-performance and durability that today's growing population of Do-It-Yourselfers demand. Every product of the growing line of SKIL tools is the result of extensive end-user research, consumer input, computer assisted design and rigorous testing, both in our laboratories and in the field. SKIL Power Tools are products of the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation. | | | Features: | |
• The built-in laser guide provides accurate cutting for straight cuts in any material
• The built-in work light shines where you need it for better visibility of the cut line
• Precise 360-degree scrolling action allows for intricate, detailed cuts
• The tool-less blade change system accepts both T and U shank blades
• The precision blade guide mechanism helps reduce blade wander in the material
| | | Product Details: | | | Package Length:
| 14.6 inches | | Package Width:
| 13.4 inches | | Package Height:
| 3.6 inches | | Package Weight:
| 9.4 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 11 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 11 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
 Good little saw for the moneyMar 20, 2009
By John Schaben
I have had this saw for a little over two months and have been very satisfied. It is a little on the heavy side but that is reflected in the amount of power, it has plenty, at least for what I do with it. The laser is right on and is bright enough to keep you on track. It is also somewhat adjustable, not much but enough to put it on the side of the blade you prefer or dead on if you want. I put it where I wanted it and left it alone, suspect the adjustment mechanism isn't robust enough for constant adjustments. I haven't tried it out in bright sunlight yet but I think it will be OK as it shows up through its own work light. I like the laser because I can keep the laser on the cut line long after it has disappeared under the foot and where the laser goes, the blade will follow.
About the only complaint I have is with the foot. It is supposed to feature a toolless bevel adjustment and it works fairly well once you get it figured out. You release a cam lever, angle the foot to the desired angle, assuming the the desired angle is one of the presets. Then slide the foot back to engage a plastic orienting deal at one of the preset angles. Then re-engage the cam lever. Which doesn't hold very well unless you tighten the screw holding the whole shebang in place. I dunno whether the screw just vibrates loose or whether the whole design needs something.
On the positive side, the blower function does a good job of keeping the cut line clean and I love the toolless blade change and on board storage for a dozen or so blades. I ordered a 15 blade set with the saw and they all fit in the storage area with room to spare.
Overall, I consider it a very good buy for the money. I don't think it is built well enough for professional use but more than adequate for the homeowner, handyman, DIYer.
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
 Best jjigsaw I've ever usedSep 15, 2009
By '57 Lone Star.
Prior to purchasing this jigsaw, I had the 5-amp version of the same saw and truly loved it. Unfortunately, it was stolen out of the back of our truck, so I had to buy a new one. I checked at Home Depot, but they no longer carried the same model, nor did Lowes or Sears, so I started searching for a different brand. It turned out that among those three stores there was not a single jigsaw, at any price, that would do what my old one did. I was very frustrated at not being able to match my old saw's performance, so I decided to search online, and ended up here at Amazon where numerous sellers had the model I wanted (and at great prices).
What makes this saw so special? Several key features, unavailable together on other models from what I could find. First (and to me, most important) is the variable speed trigger. Many other saws have variable speed, but it becomes a cumbersome two-handed (or awkward one-handed) operation to change speeds while you are in the process of making a cut. I find it very handy to be able to slow down or speed up as your cut progresses, without ever losing the flow, or having to start and stop.
Second is the bright worklight. It's very handy to keep your eye on your line for precise cuts, and few other saws have it. The laser light is nice too, and in some applications I've found it useful, and I like that you can turn both on or off, or use either independently.
Third is the scrolling, another feature that's hard to find. On numerous occasions I've made cuts that would have been virtually immpossible without the scrolling, or would have at least required a lot of adjusting/re-positioning of the work.
This saw has a few other nice features too, such as a dust blower, on-board blade storage, tooless quick change blade mechanism, easy bevel cut adjustment, multiple orbital positions for different speed cuts, 6-amp power and a provision for a fence.
To me, there is just no saw that can compare (at any price) to this one. The only drawbacks I can see are that it is a little heavy (although that provides some stability and probably is a function of its heavy-duty, 6 amp, quality construction) and the blade travel is 13/16's of an inch (most jigsaws have 3/4" travel, but some have 1", which I would prefer). Still, all in all I'm very happy that I didn't have to settle for a replacement saw which wasn't as good as the one that was stolen.
I might add that I consider myself a heavy hobby user, but I'm not a contractor, so there might be more "industrial" quality saws that would be more suitable for daily use, and of course some people will prefer cordless models, but for my applications, this Skil is the ultimate.
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
Jigsaws go high tech.Jun 24, 2008
By Andrew Bennett
The jigsaw is one of those tools, where when you need one, you need one and there really are no other safe, or reasonable alternatives. Saw this one on sale for a great price and am totally happy with what I bought.
The laser guide is very handy, saw operates smoothly in all settings. It's very easy to change mode of operation by the click of well labeled and easy to access switches. Haven't had occasion to use the scrolling facility as yet, but for everything from cutting out holes in countertops, shaping both treated and untreated pine lumber to cutting down metal shelving parts, it's performed like a champion.
Tooless blade changing is very nice and you know when the blade is seated correctly before you ever turn the saw on. Also accepts a wide selection of manufacturers blades, which allows you to shop around and save money easily.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
best jigsaw i could find for the priceJul 08, 2008
By NJ Math Teacher
I saw this jigsaw on the show cool tools and then researched them. The price and features of this saw are unbeatable. I love the light and laser. Easy blade change, blade storage on board and a case included.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Nice but with a flawJan 18, 2009
By J. Ives
This is a nice saw and the light and laser are very useful. But I do have a problem with it...
The guide plate at the bottom doesn't stay tight which allows the blade to tilt to one side or the other.
Also, since it doesn't stay tight, the lock that holds the plate secure has a tendency to fall out while in use (very frustrating). This can be over come by tightening the screw on the locking lever before every use but is a bit annoying (you shouldn't have to do this).
On the positive side, the scrolling feature is nice. I actually used it to turn the blade side ways so I could get into a tight spot to make an angle cut that I would not have been able to access with a normal, fixed-blade saw.
See all 11 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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