This is Dewalt’s new FlexVolt brushless circular saw, DCS575. I briefly mentioned the new cordless saw as one of the top 5 hot new tools from Dewalt’s media event, and it also fueled a right-handed vs. left-handed circular saw discussion.
For a couple of years now, ever since Milwaukee came out with their first M18 Fuel brushless circular saws, readers have repeatedly requested: where’s Dewalt’s brushless circular saw?
Well, here it is!
Dewalt’s first brushless circular saw is part of their FlexVolt line of cordless power tools. It’s a 60V Max saw, meaning it runs off a single FlexVolt battery pack.
Here’s our intro video, including a shot of it cutting through a stack of board materials, followed by a quick show and tell by a Dewalt Product Manager.
The new Dewalt FlexVolt circular size has a full-size blade, 7-1/4″, and can bevel up to 57°, with stops at 22.5° and 45°. It has a blade brake for quick blade stops after the trigger is released. Motor speed is 5800 RPM. There is also a dust chute, which works pretty well for directing dust away from the user.
The saw weighs 7.6 lbs, presumably without battery.
Dewalt says that it can make up to 339 cuts in 2x4s per battery charge.
The kit will come with a fast charger, (1) or (2) batteries, a FlexVolt blade, and blade wrench.
Price: $179 bare (DCS575), $299 with (1) battery (DCS575T1), $379 with (2) batteries (DCS575T2)
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Amazon)
Buy Now(1-Battery Kit via Amazon)
Buy Now(2-Battery Kit via Amazon)
Price Comparison:
Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel 7-1/4″ saw: bare tool, 1-battery kit, 2-battery kit (via Acme)
Makita XSH01Z 18V X2 7-1/4″ saw: bare tool (via Amazon)
First Thoughts
I had a brief opportunity to cut a stack of sheet goods with the new FlexVolt circular saw, and it powered through without any pause. This is definitely the brushless circular saw that everyone has been waiting for Dewalt to come out with! Although, I am still hoping to see a 20V Max 6-1/2″ model to complement this one.
Interestingly, Dewalt’s DCS575 is priced lower than Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel 2731 7-1/4″ circular saw, and not just the bare tool. Both of the kits are less expensive too, and they come with higher capacity battery packs. Well, so to speak.
In terms of battery cells, the FlexVolt pack has 50% greater charge capacity when in 20V Max mode, compared to the M18 4.0Ah battery packs bundled in the 2731-21 and 2731-22 kits.
I also found it curious that this saw has a flat shoe plate, unlike the three-dimensional magnesium shoe of the DCS391 6-1/2″ 20V Max cordless circular saw I declared as my editor’s choice circular saw last year. I really like that saw and its magnesium shoe. The shoe plate looks substantial enough to resist dents and dings in use.
Oh, and don’t let the 60V Max part throw you off, the saw was pretty easy to wield. Ask me again after an afternoon of use, but it felt like an 18V-class tool in size and weight, and not as I would have imagined a 60V Max tool would feel.
It’ll be some time before the saw hits the market and we can get our hands on a test sample. But in the meantime, it seems safe to say that it was worth the wait.