Dewalt launched a new 20V Max XR cordless 18″ bandfile, model DCM200.
The Dewalt DCM200 features a brushless motor and is said to deliver more power than pneumatic tools, specifically certain Dynabrade Dynafile bandfiles.
It operates at up to 5,600 ft/min and features both a speed setting dial and variable speed trigger.
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Dewalt says that the 104° rotating contact arm helps users access hard to reach spaces.
Additional features include a rotating LED worklight, tool-free belt changes, and a changeable contact arm.
An 18″ offset arm (DCM2012OS) and dust collection adapter (DCM200DC) are available separately.
- 20V Max system compatibility
- Brushless motor
- 18″ x 1/2″ abrasive belt size
- 700 MWO output (max watts out)
- LED light (rotatable)
- Changeable contact arm
- Speed selection dial
- Variable speed trigger
- Weighs 2.6 lbs
- Tool Connect Chip Ready (not included)
The bandfile ships with (2) 80 grit 18″ sanding belts.
Both of the sanding arms – the straight arm that ships with the tool, and the offset arm that can be purchased separately – are designed to work with sanding belts 1/2″ (13mm) wide.
Price: $279 for tool-only (DCM200B), $379 for the kit (DCM200E1)
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The DCM200E1 kit comes with a compact PowerStack battery and charger.
What are cordless bandfiles used for?
Generally, bandfiles are used for grinding, sanding, and deburring tasks, or other applications where you need to prep work for surface finishing. Their narrow belt width can work in spaces grinders and other types of sanding tools cannot fit.
Don’t think that this can only be used on metal; Dewalt’s user manual says that your belt sander bandfile has been designed for sanding wood, metal, plastics, and painted surfaces. 18″ x 1/2″ sanding belts are widely available in a range of grit sizes and abrasive material options.
Big Richard
Little preview video of it – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5svM6nAMV0
Bob
Thanks, after looking at the video, this is more useful that I had expected.
Big Richard
It is, the offset head will be great for sharpening knives, mower blades, axes, etc..
MicahMc
forgive my novice question, but how does the offset help with sharpening blades, etc? I mean it looks cool but at first glance at the video I didn’t see much difference in terms of functionality.
Big Richard
More even and lighter pressure of the belt on the blade, at least in my opinion. Otherwise you are pushing the belt against a metal rail, sandwiching the belt between the blade and the rail. Belt can’t conform to the blade as good.
I’m not sure if I’m explaining that good, but if you look at belt blade sharpeners, the belt is sorta free floating, not backed by anything.
MicahMc
ah, yep – that’s super helpful and I see that now from the video. Thanks for explaining that!
MicahMc
thanks! I’m definitely in for one now!
MM
Another common use for bandfiles is auto body work where they are used to remove spot welds holding body panels together. I have also seen them used to cut mortises in doors for Euro style locksets.
Bill Sung
I have seen other brands of this tool use them for wood sculptures, like a bear out of a standing log at county fairs.
fred
Using a bandfile for mortising in locksets seems like a very tedious process – subject to imprecise results – but maybe it works in some hands.
We did a lot of old home restoration – reproducing old doors with mortised-in locksets. Our tool of choice was a Porter Cable 513 lock mortising machine. But like lots of other Porter Cable routers- it used to be made in USA – then they moved production to Mexico – then they discontinued it entirely. So now if you want a lock mortising machine – you probably need to buy a Virutex .
https://www.amazon.com/Virutex-Lock-Mortiser-FC116U/dp/B08P77SSK3
Nathan
The video they have on the page certainly doesn’t lend itself for production work. I have the Porter Cable mortiser and only use it to bore the pocket. I use other tools to do the other cuts that are much faster.
fred
We certainly did more pre-hung and pre-bored door installations than slab door construction. But my old inventories said that we use jigs from Classic Engineering many (non-mortised-in) locksets:
https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Engineering-10800-Boring-Jig/dp/B0000224L4
I’ve also seen older Weslock jigs in use.
The modern analogies are kits from Templaco and Pro-Lok
https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Lok-Door-Lock-Installation-INJIG-KJ/dp/B06XHT87NP?th=1
Jared
Great! I have the Ryobi bandfile, but it’s definitely not a pro-grade tool. I bought it because Dewalt wasn’t an option at the time. I get by with it, but I can see some advantages to Dewalt’s design in addition to the greater power.
It looks like it’s designed to allow use of the reverse side of the belt. There’s no platen under the belt on that side of the Ryobi.
The top wheel of the Ryobi, I don’t know if it’s spring-loaded or what, but its easy to have the belt slip off if I use that part for sanding.
Pivoting head would be very useful too.
MM
I bought a Makita a few years ago for the same reason: neither Dewalt or Milwaukee had one at the time. The Makita has the adjustable angle arm which is nice but it’s not particularly powerful, I suspect this model will vastly outperform it in that regard. Another huge advantage of the Dewalt is the 18″ belt length, there are tons of options in that size including very high quality ones from industrial brands like 3M and Norton whereas with the Makita I’m stuck buying Makita belts which aren’t terrible but they’re nothing great either. My current plan is to pick up one of these and also one of the 3/8×13 M12’s when I come across a deal I like.
John
I have the Makita. 3/8×21 belts can be found on Amazon easily. You aren’t stuck to Makita belts. Sure, they are not the highest end belts. If you are using one of these all the time, then best to stick with the standard size anyway. Pneumatic versions and corded versions have been around for a good amount of time on many of the sizes.
MM
I’ve tried a couple of the off-brands from Amazon and I didn’t feel they were worth buying again. They were OK in wood but terrible for metal.
fred
I have a Makita corded #9032 (3/8 x 21) – and have their 1/4, and 1/2 inch arms in addition to that standard 3/8 inch. I also own a Makita 9031 that takes the belt size up to 1-1/4 (actually 30mm) wide.
dewalt
It looks like the 3″ cut off tool.
fred
Dewalt and Makita both launched 12V LiIon battery powered tools some time ago – with some fanfare. Since then, they seem to have both ceded most of that market to Milwaukee. Bosch too has a few 12V items – some a bit unique. Others (Fein, Festool, Hilti, Metabo, Metabo HPT, Ryobi) all seem to want to have a presence in this class of tool – but Milwaukee seems to dominate.
Jeff
I really wish Dewalt would start releasing some of these tools in 12v.
Jerry
I have a Ryobi and it makes a great mower blade sharpener. Can run it slow enough you don’t pull out the temper. It might be ok to rough grind a knife or to remove a nick but even with the finest belt I could find, it doesn’t really get it ‘sharp’ sharp. The DeWalt would definitely be an upgrade with the swivel and offset leg. Not a tool I use every day but sure saves a lot of hand filing in tight areas.
MM
Sharpening outdoor equipment is one of the many uses for these tools, especially cordless. Axe, shovel, hoe, mattock, etc? Perfect for that. They’re also great for touching up the points on garden forks and rakes since the narrow arm can fit between the teeth easily. I also really like them for sharpening brushcutter blades without having to take them off the machines.
Jared
I found significantly finer grit belts on Amazon for my Ryobi. I don’t use them much, but no reason you couldn’t sharpen a knife with a 1000 grit belt (much like you would with a Worksharp).
Heck, you could probably hold it in a vice at your preferred sharpening angle and so long as you can hold the knife vertical, it would practically be the same thing… I’ve never tried that, but maybe I should experiment with a machete or other tools that don’t fit in my Worksharp.
Franco Calcagni
I have not seen any reviews on it but if it is like their 3″ 20v Max cut-off tool, it will definitely be powerful enough. That is something I am appreciating lately about Dewalt. They waited to get some tools out, but seem to make sure they cover all or most of the bases. To have brought at tool like this, at this point, and have it be underpowered would have been a big disappointment.
Matt
I’m glad Dewalt is putting out some of these more niche tools but have a hard time justifying the near $300 price tag (this tool and the new Dewalt belt sander). I’d love to add either of those to the other Dewalt cordless tools but its really hard when you could get a corded alternative to this tool for ~$36: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072Q2FTLY
Is the low volume the driver for this you think?
Oleg K
Good thing it has 700 max watts out, I never use a tool without at least these many watts that are, you know, out, of, um… The tool, yeah, out of the tool.
On a serious note, Milwaukee’s 12v solution is both better-looking, more user-friendly, superior in terms of ergonomics and no “unit watts out” bullshit attached either.
Just post the SPM rating and be done with. Dewalt had always enjoyed shooting itself in the foot with their unit watts ratings, a simple “less torque than Milwaukee” would have sufficed!
Stuart
Why would you assume it delivers “less torque than Milwaukee?”
Milwaukee: M12
Dewalt: 20V Max
There are few examples of pro 12V-class tools besting pro 18V-class tools with respect to performance or application speeds.
MM
SPM alone is useless, just like how RPM alone is useless for a drill or impact wrench. You need torque as well to tell the whole story. UWO is much more useful information here.
And while I love the M12 platform, this model is likely substantially more powerful than the M12 bandfiles, just as how the 20V max 3″ cutoff tool is nearly twice the power of the M12.
Will
If this is anything like the dewalt cutoff tool it looks to be based on, it will be substantially more powerfully than the red bandfile. The Dewalt cutoff tool is the new high bar in this segment. I converted mine to a band file and it’s impressive. It will destroy a belt in short order if you are heavy handed, but it doesn’t bog.