Why the SKILSAW Sawsquatch is the Ultimate 'Worm Drive Chainsaw' for Big Timber

In the world of framing and heavy carpentry, there is a specific frustration known to anyone who has ever tried to cut a 6x6 post or a 10x10 header. You grab your standard circular saw, make a cut, flip the beam, cut again, flip it again… and hope the cuts meet in the middle. Often, they don’t, leaving you with a jagged “step” that requires tedious chiseling or sanding.

Enter the SKILSAW SPT55-11, affectionately known as the “Sawsquatch.” It is not just a chainsaw; it is a worm drive chainsaw engineered to delete this frustration entirely. By marrying the relentless torque of Skil’s legendary worm drive gearing with a 16-inch bar, this tool offers a 14-1/4 inch depth of cut. That means you can slice through a railroad tie, a glulam beam, or a massive cedar log in a single, clean pass.

Torque vs. Speed: The Worm Drive Advantage

Why put a worm drive on a chainsaw? Most forestry chainsaws rely on high RPMs (speed) to chip away wood fiber. This works great for felling trees, but when you bury a bar deep into a seasoned, dense beam, friction spikes. A high-speed motor can bog down, stall, or kick back.

The Sawsquatch takes a different approach. Its 15-Amp Dual-Field motor feeds power through worm gearing, which multiplies torque significantly. * The Result: It doesn’t scream; it grunts. When the chain meets resistance deep inside a 12-inch log, the saw simply powers through with locomotive-like force. * User Insight: Users report it works “perfectly on 10 x 10 cedar,” a material that can be sticky and resinous, often gumming up lesser saws.

The “One-Pass” Economics

For professional contractors and serious DIYers, the Sawsquatch is an investment in time. Let’s look at the math of cutting a retaining wall made of 6x6 pressure-treated timbers: * Circular Saw Method: Measure, mark all four sides, cut side 1, rotate, cut side 2, rotate… repeat. Risk of misalignment: High. Time per cut: 2-3 minutes including handling. * Sawsquatch Method: Measure once, mark top, drop the saw through. Time per cut: 15 seconds.

Over the course of a large project, this worm drive chainsaw pays for itself purely in labor hours saved. As one reviewer noted, it “Does a great job at half the time… Worth every dime!”

Handling the Beast

This is not a lightweight tool. At 18 pounds, constructed from magnesium to balance weight and durability, it requires respect. It is a “man-size saw” as described by customers. However, the weight works in your favor during a downward cut, using gravity to help feed the chain through the timber.

The electric brake is a critical safety feature often missing on gas chainsaws, stopping the chain almost instantly when the trigger is released—essential when working in confined construction zones rather than the open forest.

For anyone dealing with “big woods,” timber framing, or heavy landscaping, the SKILSAW SPT55-11 isn’t just a tool; it’s a structural necessity. It bridges the gap between a standard circular saw and an industrial stationary band saw, bringing portable, high-torque cutting power right to the lumber pile.