Dewalt Experience 2017, the yellow team’s new tool media, was quite exciting this year.
No, there weren’t any major new developments like last year’s FlexVolt launch, but Dewalt still debuted some very appealing and next-level new tools.
Transparency: As is typical in the industry, Dewalt covered our airfare, group meals, and hotel accommodations.
This year’s event was in Nashville, Tennessee. ARGH! I left Nashville on Saturday, 2 days before the total eclipse.
There were cowboy hats, a professional bull riding event, old friends, new acquaintances, and Jimmy Diresta.
Here’s a quick look of the 5 tools that stood out to me most, plus an honorable mention and 1 other tool that doesn’t really count. They’re all said to be available starting in Fall 2017, except the mower.
0: Dewalt 20V Max Cordless Brushless Lawn Mower
There was a new 20V Max 2-battery lawn mower that was whooshed off the display floor early on. Nobody could or would talk about the mower, but there is a press release with some details.
The new DCMW220 mower has a 20″ metal deck, features a brushless motor, and is compatible with 2x 20V Max or FlexVolt battery packs.
It has a folding handle for upright storage, a carrying handles, and LED light.
This one’s 0 on my list, because I know a lot of you want to hear about it, but I don’t know enough to be excited yet. It’ll be out in early 2018.
Dewalt FlexVolt Rear-Handle FlexVolt Framing Saw
I didn’t have a good opportunity to demo the new Dewalt brushless framing saw, but I did observe a couple of different people cutting with it.
Each and every one of the testers released a whoa or similar at the conclusion of the cut.
Handling it, the saw seemed to be well-balanced and felt lighter than I would have expected.
The new saw, DCS577, has a 7-1/4″, bevel capacity of 53°, stops at 45° and 22.5°, magnesium shoe, brushless motor, rafter hook, and 2-7/16″ depth of cut that Dewalt says is similar to [that of] worm drive saws.
It’ll be priced at $259 for the bare tool, $369 for the 6.0Ah FlexVolt kit, and $399 for the 9.0Ah FlexVolt kit.
Oh, and the new 20V Max brushless saw also now comes with a rafter hook.
Dewalt Carbon Fiber Stapler
The new carbon fiber staple gun looks light, feels light, and is a joy to squeeze.
This was one of the few tools I was able to post to our Instagram channel. Someone mentions Milwaukee and Makita’s cordless staplers. While both are impressive. they’re pricier and require extra maintenance in the form of battery care. The Makita has a limited fastener range.
The new Dewalt stapler, DWHT80276, is said to weigh 50% less than an Arrow T50, and also 25% easier to squeeze. It can work with staples 1/4″ to 9/16″, and 18 gauge brads in 1/2″ and 5/8″ lengths.
It’ll be priced at $35.
Dewalt 20V Max Cordless Fan
I LOVED the fan! It’s small, it offers multiple mounting options, multiple power options, a variable speed control dial, and can deliver up to 500 CFM of airflow.
There’s an AC port located behind the battery connection. You’ll need to supply your own standard extension cord if you don’t need or want cordless power.
Best of all, in my opinion at least, was how quiet it was. The event hall was noisy, but even up close the fan had a low and soothing hum. A lot of work went into it, and one of the design requirements was for it to be quiet.
The bare tool will be $99.
Dewalt ToughSystem 3-Drawer Tool Box
Nice! There’s a new 3-drawer – sealed drawer – ToughSystem tool box. The drawers ride on ball bearing slides, and don’t seem to suffer from drooping. There will also be a 2-drawer box.
The price I was given seems lower than I would have expected, and so I’ll wait until it’s on paper in a press release or otherwise confirmed before I pass that info along.
There’s also a new van-mounting racking system coming from Dewalt through a partnership with Sortimo.
Dewalt Folding Work Table
Someone recently asked what I thought about Dewalt’s new folding work table. After seeing it in person… WOWZAS!
It opens and closes quickly – in one motion.
There are multiple ways to connect clamps to the table, providing full 100% clamping coverage.
There are limitations. For example, there’s no way to clamp anything to the table for planing, and other top-surface operations might be similarly limited.
It was said that more accessories are in the works, presumable for the dog holes, and I made my wish for horizontal clamps known. In the meantime, a capable DIYer should be able to make their own accessories.
There aren’t any leveling legs, with the reason being it would have diminished the working capacity. I can also see how that could have affected its speed and ease of opening and closing.
Honorable Mention: Dewalt 20V Max Cordless Tripod LED Worklight
For reasons I can convey by saying *cough* Milwaukee M18 Rocket *cough*, Dewalt’s LED tripod worklight is #6 on my list, but still worth an honorable mention.
The new worklight, DCL079, delivers up to 3,000 lumens of light. There are 3 brightness settings, and it’ll last a day’s work shift on low, and at least thru lunch on medium. Or was it a work shift on medium and thru lunch on high? Sorry, I was moving so fast I couldn’t take enough notes.
If I recall correctly, this was for a 6.0Ah battery. The worklight can also accommodate FlexVolt battery packs.
It IS water- and dust-resistant, although I don’t recall the exact rating.
There’s no AC power option, as Dewalt’s research showed end users preferred a cordless solution that could last a work day over one that could be powered by battery or AC.
It folds down to a compact and portable size.
I liked it, but I wasn’t too thrilled to see that the feet weren’t caped with non-marring feet. The legs end in sharp-edged hard plastic that might scratch up wood floors if allowed to slide around.
This was a prototype, so we’ll have to see if any rubbery overmolding is added to the construction.
It’ll be priced at $199 bare, or $329 for 6.0Ah kit.