Recall of Skil circular saws

If you own a Skil 5650, 5700, 5750, or 5755 circular saw, the following recall could affect you.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on August 15, 2007, announced a recall of about 811,000 Skil circular saws because of the risk of laceration. The trigger switch can be locked on or the switch can be turned on without the use of the safety lockout. This flaw can cause the saw to turn on unexpectedly. (The recalled Skil 5750 was one of the models tested as part of the August 2005 story "Circular saws: Plug them in," available to subscribers.)

As of the recall date, Skil had received five reports that a saw remained on after the user had released the trigger. No injuries have yet been reported.

The recall involves model number 5650, 5700, 5750, and 5755 saws with the following date codes: 28101 – 29231; 38101 – 39231; 48101 – 49231; 58101 – 59231; and 68101 – 69231. You'll find the model number and date code on the nameplate on the front of the saw (see illustration above). Saws with the 78101 date code are not affected by this recall.

The saws ($70 to $80), made by Robert Bosch Tool Corp., of Mount Prospect, Illinois, were sold at home centers and independent hardware stores nationwide from January 2002 through December 2006.

Stop using your saw immediately and contact Skil at 866-761-5572 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday) for instructions on getting a free repair. For more information, go to Skil's Web site.

Essential information: If you're in the market for a new circular saw, read our buying advice and check our Ratings (both available to subscribers). To stay on top of the latest recalls, see "CPSC steps out with million-consumer march," and subscribe to the Consumer Reports On Safety blog for in-depth news on important product-safety issues.