The DeWalt 20V Max XR Cordless Chainsaw offers another OPE option for fans of DeWalt cordless tools. It's part of a cordless system of over 200 compatible tools.
Specifically designed for lawn care and landscaping applications, DeWalt is designed with storm damage cleanup, brush cleanup, tree trimming, shrub trimming and lot clearing in mind.
On the business end, DeWalt includes a self-oiling 8-inch bar and chain. You can swap it out for a 10" rod and chain if you want. The stock settings are designed for low kickback and quick cuts. Since it's an 8" pole, you can cut branches up to 16" wide when you cut from both sides.
The head is angled, and the stem is set on the left side to help you get a better line of sight.
There's a metal raised bar to help you get a grip, and a tree hook to catch any branches that were left hanging from the tree after they were cut. There is also a rubber handle that allows you to hold the saw at various angles.
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DeWalt includes a 4.0Ah battery in the kit, and they tell us the brushless motor can make up to 96 cuts in 4 x 4 PT pine on a single charge.
The standard length for a pole saw is 10 feet. After adding the extension, it can reach up to 15 feet. This is based on a 6 foot tall person holding the saw at a 60º angle.
The bare weight of the DeWalt 20V Max XR Cordless Chainsaw is 8.44 lbs.
You can buy it bare-bones (DeWalt DCPS620B) for $149 or kitted (DeWalt DCPS620M1) for $199. We've seen retail prices right in line with MSRP for the bare metal, but we've seen kits for as low as $179. The kit includes:
- chainsaw
- extension rod
- Multitool (for member access and tensioning)
- rod sheath
- 4.0Ah battery
- charger
Bare tools include everything but batteries and chargers.
Thoughts on the DeWalt 20V Max XR Cordless Chainsaw
DeWalt's 20V Max line of lawn care equipment won't wow you with commercial-grade power, but it's handy if you already use these batteries in your power tools. That said, the Milwaukee Quik-Lok system and the M18 Fuel Chainsaw are good examples of the potential available at the 18V or 20V level.
One of the great things about pole saws is that you don't need 40cc of gas power for effective cutting performance. DeWalt's XR brushless motor should be more than enough to handle your pruning duties. However, I certainly don't want to be the guy who has to chop off 16" oak branches with it.
The angled head design is attractive—it should help you cut more directly over branches rather than at an angle. I also like that they use metal spacers to help stabilize the saw while you cut.
Pricing and Ideas
One thing I find interesting is that DeWalt chose to equip the saw with a 4.0Ah battery when their 5.0Ah battery packs were more popular. This may be their way of keeping the retail price below $200.
Overall, the design looks successful. This will be great for homeowners who do occasional tree trimming or storm clearing, as well as contractors who may need to clear the property before doing more extensive work.
Don't expect it to run all day due to the relatively small fuel tank in the 4.0Ah battery. This will work best as a secondary tool rather than the landscaping professional's primary tool.
DeWalt 20V Max XR Cordless Chainsaw Specifications
- Models: DeWalt DCPS620B (Bare), DeWalt DCPS620M1 (Kit)
- Power: DeWalt 20V Max Battery
- Rod Length: 8" Included, 10" Compatible
- Length: 10 feet including extensions
- Weight: 8.44 lbs naked
- Price: $149 bare, $199 kit
- Warranty: 3 years