Dewalt 20v Chainsaw Review

The Dewalt 20v chainsaw is part of the Dewalt 20 volt line of battery powered tools. 

Battery powered tools carry a lot of their value in their batteries, which is why it has become popular for contractors and do-it-yourselfers alike to opt for a line of tools for their shop that use the same batteries and chargers.

This makes it more cost effective to own and unless there is a full time need for a dedicated battery, batteries can be shared amongst tools in the same line. 

It is like the old Ford and Chevy or Coke and Pepsi rivalry, but one where the color of your workshop is up for grabs.

Unlike the battery powered chainsaws from Stihl, Dewalt’s 20v chainsaw is designed to be part of a battery powered system that incudes leaf blowers, string trimmers, pole saws and many other tools.

Why Purchase The Dewalt 20v Chainsaw?

It's important to remember that this is not a traditional chainsaw where it is expected to be cutting trees and brush all day.

Dewalt’s battery powered chainsaw is designed as a complement to their cordless tool system.

Yes, you can cut small trees and do limbing work with the Dewalt 20v MAX XR Compact 12 inch cordless chainsaw, but it is designed to be far more flexible and useful on the jobsite than that.

The Dewalt 20v chainsaw is just as at home cutting beams and rough trimming, or even being used for plunge cuts and roughing tenons in expert hands. 

This is a saw that excels as a flexible tool for building, demolition, carving and light tree work.

It is not going to replace your gas powered chainsaw, and in most applications it won’t even really compete with it except in convenience and versatility.

What it will do though is go places that a traditional gas powered chainsaw cannot, like inside your shop or safely stored away in your vehicle in case of emergency (with no worry about gas spills or fumes).

Battery powered chainsaws like the Dewalt 20v chainsaw are trailblazers.

While electric chainsaws have existed for a long time they were always limited by their cord and their perceived weaknesses.

Today's battery powered chainsaws give you all of the freedom of a gas model and much more.

Using Battery Powered Chainsaws For Woodworking And Construction

Woodworkers have long considered the chainsaw a fringe tool for anyone not working with trees.

Chainsaw carving, while impressive, seemed out of bounds for most carvers as it pushed their comfort zone too far by requiring them to work outdoors wearing bulky protective gear.

While battery powered saws only save you the use of hearing protection, the ability to use them inside is a game changer.

Consider the case of the timber framer.

Chainsaw blade mortisers have been a useful but expensive piece of specialty equipment for generations.

They are expensive and it is hard to find places that will sharpen the chains and even harder to sharpen them yourself.

It is possible for the accomplished woodworker to create a jig allowing for battery powered chainsaws like the Dewalt 20V chainsaw to be used as plunge mortiser, and while the holes would still have to be cleaned up with a forstner bit and chisel, it would could greatly speed up the operation.

That is what tools like the Dewalt 20V chainsaw are for, they create flexibility and give you options to make your work easier and more productive.

It is understandable if you are unsure of how you are going to use it, but look at the price and consider how few tools give you as much flexibility for so little cost.

If I didn’t already own other tools in the Dewalt 20v battery system I’m not sure that the Dewalt 20v chainsaw would be at the top of my list.

I would think about how I wanted to use it and why.

I would also consider if there was an offering from the company who’s battery system I already have tools for.

That could save me money as I might only have to buy the powerhead if I have enough batteries and a charger already.

Buying new tools is always a serious consideration.

No one wants to be stuck supporting a system that doesn’t fulfill their needs.

If you are in the market for a new battery powered chainsaw, I hope this article has given you some things to consider.

The Dewalt 20v chainsaw is a great tool, few tools can be considered as convenient and versatile as it is.

If you are looking for a compact battery powered chainsaw to bring versatility to your tool line up, you have to consider the 20v chainsaw made by Dewalt.

It is not the saw to consider if you are looking to replace your dedicated professional grade gas chainsaw, but that was never its intention.

Dewalt Battery Powered Chainsaw - Overall

The Dewalt chainsaw encourages you to look outside of the box and consider the possibility that there could be a better and more efficient way than the methods that have been used for generations.

If nothing else it would make a great companion to a sawzall to make demolition work faster and easier.

Many tools claim to make your work more efficient by being faster, easier and therefore safer to use.

Most of the time that is just marketing hype, but tools like the Dewalt 20v chainsaw have the potential to deliver on that promise and at a lower price point than other tools with its level of flexibility and capability.

You owe it to yourself and your work to consider how it can help you.

It might be just the tool you were looking for to complete your battery powered line up.

About the Author

Nick Greenway

Obsessed with firewood, Nick is behind over 350+ of Firewood For Life's articles, as well as countless reviews, guides and YouTube videos to help readers like you reduce heating costs and create the perfect fire.