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Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Manufacturing |
Founded | 1924 |
Headquarters | |
Products | Power tools |
Parent | Chervon Ltd. |
Website | www |
SKILSAW Power Tools is a manufacturer of circular saw-cutting technology serving the professional construction market. [1] Since 2017, SKILSAW's headquarters has been located in Naperville, Illinois.
SKILSAW was founded in 1924 by Edmond Michel and Joseph W. Sullivan. Originally dubbed "The Michel Electric Handsaw Company," the company was renamed to SKILSAW Incorporated in 1926 after Michel left. [2] In 1928, the SKILSAW Model E was invented by Art Emmons. [3] The Model E was equipped with an 8-inch blade and was the world’s first portable circular saw. [4] This saw's invention also spurred the use of worm drive gearing, a dual-field motor, and die-cast aluminum motor housing. In 1937, its successor, the SKILSAW Model 77, became the benchmark of portable saws, [5] along with the SKILSAW Model 87 circular saws, and it continues to be used on job sites across the United States.
During the post-war era, the company expanded and began producing bench top tools and tools for a do-it-yourself audience. The company name was changed from SKILSAW Inc. to SKIL Corporation in 1952. Then, in November 2014, SKIL rebranded, [1] making SKILSAW the brand serving the professional construction market and SKIL the brand serving the consumer do-it-yourself market.
Since rebranding, SKILSAW has introduced a variety of new professional-grade saws for cutting both wood and other materials commonly used on job sites. The initial product lineup following the rebrand featured SKILSAW's pro grade, Sidewinder circular saws. Additionally, their larger worm drive saw called the "SawSquatch" was the first 10-1/4-inch worm drive saw. [6] The following year, 2016, brought three new metal cutting saws, including the first 8-inch worm drive optimized for metal, a 12-inch dry cut saw and a 14-inch abrasive chop saw.[ citation needed ] In addition to metal cutting, SKILSAW also announced a saw for fiber cement in 2015 [7] and the first worm drive saw for concrete in 2016. [8] Both of these saws were developed to meet new OSHA guidelines[ citation needed ] that protect workers from respirable silica dust. The company also expanded beyond traditional circular saws with the first worm drive table saw in 2016 [9] and two reciprocating saws in 2017. [10]
SKILSAW’s product lineup includes worm drive saws, SIDEWINDER-branded circular saws and benchtop saws for various materials including wood, metal, fiber cement and concrete. In 2017, SKILSAW expanded its product offering from circular to linear cutting with its first reciprocating saws since rebranding. [11]
In 1991, the Emerson Electric Company and Robert Bosch GmbH entered into a joint venture by combining their power tool subsidiaries. In 1992, the new venture came to fruition as S-B Power Tool Co. In 1996, after four years of the partnership, Robert Bosch GmbH took over complete ownership of Skil.
On August 23, 2016, Chervon (HK) Ltd., a global power tool manufacturer based out of China, acquired [12] the SKILSAW brand from Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, which gave them control over the SKIL businesses in both North America and the European market.
In the United States, the term "Skilsaw" has become a genericised trademark, commonly used to refer to any handheld circular saw, regardless of the actual brand. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the term "Skilsaw" originated in the 1920s, with the earliest evidence dating back to 1925 in the *Official Gazette*. The OED notes that "Skilsaw" is formed by compounding the words "skill" and "saw" and is primarily used in North American English. [13]
This generic usage stems from the significant impact of the original Skilsaw, which was among the first portable circular saws introduced in the 1920s. The widespread adoption of Skilsaw's design and the brand's prominence in the market led to its name becoming synonymous with handheld circular saws in general. [14]
A cotton gin—meaning "cotton engine"—is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, enabling much greater productivity than manual cotton separation. The separated seeds may be used to grow more cotton or to produce cottonseed oil.
The router is a power tool with a flat base and a rotating blade extending past the base. The spindle may be driven by an electric motor or by a pneumatic motor. It routs an area in hard material, such as wood or plastic. Routers are used most often in woodworking, especially cabinetry. They may be handheld or affixed to router tables. Some woodworkers consider the router one of the most versatile power tools.
A circular saw or a buzz saw, is a power-saw using a toothed or abrasive disc or blade to cut different materials using a rotary motion spinning around an arbor. A hole saw and ring saw also use a rotary motion but are different from a circular saw. Circular saws may also be loosely used for the blade itself. Circular saws were invented in the late 18th century and were in common use in sawmills in the United States by the middle of the 19th century.
A power tool is a tool that is actuated by an additional power source and mechanism other than the solely manual labor used with hand tools. The most common types of power tools use electric motors. Internal combustion engines and compressed air are also commonly used. Tools directly driven by animal power are not generally considered power tools. Power tools can produce large amounts of particulates, including ultrafine particles. Airborne particulate matter is a Group 1 carcinogen.
A saw is a tool consisting of a tough blade, wire, or chain with a hard toothed edge used to cut through material. Various terms are used to describe toothed and abrasive saws.
A table saw is a woodworking tool, consisting of a circular saw blade, mounted on an arbor, that is driven by an electric motor. The drive mechanism is mounted below a table that provides support for the material, usually wood, being cut, with the blade protruding up through the table into the material.
A jackhammer is a pneumatic or electro-mechanical tool that combines a hammer directly with a chisel. It was invented by William McReavy, who then sold the patent to Charles Brady King. Hand-held jackhammers are generally powered by compressed air, but some are also powered by electric motors. Larger jackhammers, such as rig-mounted hammers used on construction machinery, are usually hydraulically powered. These tools are typically used to break up rock, pavement, and concrete.
Dremel is a multinational brand of power tools, focusing on home improvement and hobby applications. Dremel is known primarily for its rotary tools, such as the Dremel 3000, 4000 and 8200 series, which are similar to the pneumatic die grinders used in the metalworking industry by tool or moldmakers. Dremel later expanded its product range and now produces butane tools, benchtop and hand-held saws and oscillating tools. The company was purchased by Robert Bosch GmbH in 1993, and is now a division of the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation.
A reciprocating saw is a type of handheld, small, machine-powered saw, in which the cutting action is achieved through a push-and-pull ("reciprocating") or back-and-forth motion of the blade. The original trade name, Sawzall, is often used in the United States, where Milwaukee Electric Tool first produced a tool of this type in 1951.
A bucksaw is a hand-powered frame saw similar to bow saw and generally used with a sawbuck to cut logs or firewood to length (bucking). Modern bucksaws usually have a metal frame and a removable blade with coarse teeth held in tension by the frame. Lightweight portable or foldable models used for camping or back-packing are also available. It is often referred to as a bow saw in the North American hardware market, but that term traditionally refers to a different type of saw with a wooden frame.
Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, known more commonly as Milwaukee Tool, is a multi-national company that develops, manufactures, and markets power tools, hand tools, tool accessories, tool storage, and personal protective equipment. Milwaukee Tool was last sold in 2005 for $626.6 million to the Hong Kong–based Techtronic Industries, also known as TTI Group. The company is now a subsidiary of TTI Group alongside brands like AEG, Ryobi, Hoover, Dirt Devil, and Vax. In 2022, $206 million was invested in Wisconsin research and development facilities.
SKIL Power Tools is a brand of electric power tools and accessories located in Naperville, Illinois, United States. It is a subsidiary of Chervon (HK) Ltd, a company based in Nanjing, China.
A rotary saw, spiral cut saw, RotoZip or cut out tool is a type of mechanically powered saw used for making accurate cuts without the need for a pilot hole in wallboard, plywood, or another thin, solid material.
FLEX-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH is a German producer of power tools with headquarters in Steinheim. Founded in 1922, after producing its first MS6 angle grinder, FLEX became the first supplier of the tool in 1935. In 1954, FLEX invented and began supply of the first flexible shaft angle grinder.
Edmond Michel was a Frenchman who immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century. He lived in New Orleans. His claim to fame was the invention of the handheld circular saw.
Porter-Cable is an American company that manufactures power tools. Known for pioneering the portable belt sander, helical-drive circular saw, and portable band saw, it is a subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker.
An oscillating multi-tool or oscillating saw is a multitool and power tool that oscillates, powered by battery or mains. The name "multi-tool" is a reference to the many functions that this tool can perform with the range of attachments available. "Master Tool" is also a trade name used in North America, short for the original tool by Fein called the Multi-Master. Attachments are available for sawing, sanding, rasping, grinding, scraping, cutting, and polishing.
SawStop is an American table saw manufacturer headquartered in Tualatin, Oregon. The company was founded in 2000 to manufacture table saws that feature a patented automatic braking system that stops the blade upon contact with skin or flesh. This aims to minimize injuries that are relatively common when working with normal table saws.
A jigsaw is a reciprocating saw that can cut irregular curves, such as stenciled designs, in wood, metal, or other materials.
Oregon Tool, Inc. is an American company that manufactures saw chain and other equipment for the forestry, agriculture, and construction industries. Based in Portland, Oregon, Oregon Tool globally manufactures their products in ten different plants across five countries. Oregon Tool produces and markets saw chain, chain saw bars and sprockets, battery operated lawn and garden equipment, lawn mower blades, string trimmer line, concrete cutting saws and chain, and agricultural cutting equipment for OEMs, dealers, and end-user markets. Oregon Tool employs approximately 3,300 people across the world in 17 global locations.