Just about everybody who attended the Dewalt Experience 2017 media event thought that the new FlexVolt 60V Max framing saw was one of the best new tools at the show. What’s not to love about about a full-sized 7-1/4″ cordless rear-handle framing saw that only needs a single battery to rival the performance of a corded worm drive saw?
Dewalt designed this saw for framers, carpenters, and general contractors who need to cut materials like OSB, plywood, hardwood, dimensional lumber and flooring. The rear-handle design allows the user to reach farther so they can cut larger sheet goods without having to change positions
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With the single FlexVolt battery running at 60V Max and a brushless motor, this blade-left saw can deliver up to 2400 watts of power, and has a cutting depth of 2-7/16″ at 90°. When the cut is finished and the trigger released, the electronic brake will quickly stop the blade.
The magnesium shoe can tilt for a maximum bevel of 53° and has stops at 45° and 22-1/2°.
Dewalt included a rafter hook on the right side of the tool.
This saw will be available in three different configurations:
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- (DCS577X1) with just the saw: $259
- (DCS577T1) with the saw, 6 Ah FlexVolt battery, and charger: $369
- (DCS577X1) with the saw 9 Ah FlexVolt battery, and charger: $399
ETA: Fall 2017
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Amazon)
Buy Now(6.0Ah Kit via Amazon)
Buy Now(9.0Ah Kit via Amazon)
Acme Tools: Bare Tool | 6.0Ah Kit | 9.0Ah Kit
First Thoughts
I had a chance to try this saw at the show. Dewalt had a demo setup where you cut though a stack of three 3/4″ OSB sheets. I was really impressed at how easily the saw “floated” through the stack. I didn’t have to push the saw, it felt more like I was just guiding it.
I’ve made my fair share of cuts with a circular saw, but I’ve never had the opportunity to use a rear-handled or worm drive saw before. That said, I think the reaction of the contractors at the show who use worm-drive saws all the time says more — they were impressed.
Stuart’s Note: I didn’t have a chance to demo the saw either, but observed the same – lots of “whoa’s” coming from everyone who did.
Let me explain further: At these shows, there are always several demonstrations you where you can try the tools in each rotation. There are a lot of demos that only a few people will try. Other demos are more popular and everybody wants to try them.
In the case of the rear-handled saw demo, this was one of the more popular demos I’ve seen. Every time I passed this station, there were a bunch of contractors and reviewers hanging around this demo, talking excitedly, trying out the saw, making multiple cuts, changing the bevel angle and making more cuts, etc. You could just tell this was something that they had a lot of interest in.
Another thing to note is that a 15A corded saw can only deliver a maximum of 1800 watts. Dewalt says that the new FlexVolt brushless framing saw can draw 2400 max watts of power. Both of these figures are maximums though. In practice, you can’t sustain either rating for very long. For instance you might come close to the maximum when hitting a knot.
We’ve seen a lot of excitement for this saw. Who’s lining up to buy one?
Cr8on
Want want want want, need need need need……… Can you tell I’m excited!
Brian A
How is it 2400 watts? The power station with 4 flexvolt batteries has a max draw of 1800w. If this thing drew 2400w a 9ah battery would be dead in what 4 mins…
Doresoom
I’m thinking the 2400W figure is a peak power spike, not a continuous draw. DeWalt’s angle in comparing it to a corded 15A saw is probably to show that the FlexVolt saw is briefly capable of power levels that would trip out a 15A circuit on a corded saw.
Brian A
So are they saying it performs like a 120V 20A tool or that it actually can draw 2400W from the battery? Pretty sure the latter is impossible, maybe its 240W… or just Dewalt magic lol
Benjamen
There is no magic. They are saying that it can draw 40A from a 60V battery. That is completely possible, just not for long.
I said it above, that is MAX, that is not what it draws all the time. If it drew that much power all the time the tool and battery would probably overheat.
I’m just pulling numbers out of the air, but lets say it draws something like 10A (600W) cutting through a 3/4″ sheet of plywood. Maybe it draws 25A (1500W) cutting through a stack of three 3/4″ sheets. Even if you are making cuts constantly there’s probably more downtime for the saw than cutting time, because you need to set up the cuts in between, so the saw and battery have time to cool down.
Now say you are drawing 1500W cutting through 3 sheets of plywood, and the sheets are warped so they pinch the blade at certain places in the cut. Now the saw can deliver 2400W for very short bursts to get though the problem area and not overload the saw.
Again these are not official numbers, just numbers I pulled out of the air for sake of argument.
Dwain (oztooltalk)
Understood. But don’t forget it’s REAL voltage is 54V, so that 40A would actually be 2,160W.
And as previously noted, a 25A (1.350W) continuous draw would be far more realistic for more than a few seconds.
Stuart
I recall mention of FlexVolt battery packs being able to supply up to 70A to certain tools, but I can’t find this in my notes or official materials.
What I can find is a Press Release and following discussion with Dewalt about their FlexVolt batteries and constant-current tests vs. a competitive battery pack.
The claim is that the batteries run cooler during a constant 60A discharge, until thermal shutdown at 70°.
60A x 54V nominal = 3240 Watts.
So it’s not impossible, and not “Dewalt magic.”
With this particular tool being said to be rated at 2400W, that’s probably a deliberate limit based on the tool and motor design and how they expect the saw to be used. That’s not a limit as to what the battery can do at its extreme performance.
The best 2.5Ah cells were rated at 22A (I’m pulling from memory – it could have been 23A, or around there).
With the 2.0Ah 18650 and 3.0Ah 20700 cells in FlexVolt battery packs, it’s definitely possible to see 70A and even 75A peak current draw specs from 3 rows of cells in parallel (5×3 cells).
With a good thermal cooling profile, it might be possible to squeeze a little extra performance even.
2400W? That’s probably just a light workout for these battery packs.
Joren
Stuart,
In the above post you mention 70A from a FlexVolt pack, at 54V, throwing a number of 22A/cell.
If I’m not mistaken, for 54V operation, the total array is in series, to produce that voltage, which would end up at 54V*22A.
Under 18V operation, then the x3 multiplier can be added into the current.
Either way, I come up with 1188W.
Still quite reasonable to double the current output to 2400W under short duration loading, from my understanding.
Brian A
Sure the new cells could do 75A in 18V, but thats 25A at 54/60V. Still saying 2400W is BS. Even short draws at 75A without overheating is damaging to the cells if done frequently.
Whiskeyandwood
2400 watts is 20amps on a 120 circuit, a 9 amp hour battery then could cut continuously for 27 minutes at that peak, that’s quite a few cuts at peak power given that cuts usually are only a couple of seconds
Whiskeyandwood
Sorry, it’s on 60volts, so it’d be 9 minutes of continuous runtime at peak, still a lot of linear feet
Joe
Everyone throws around the phrase ‘game changer’ ..the entire line of Flexvolt is a game changer and this saw destroys every other saw on the market…..the new fuel 1400lb torque wrench ..game changer…packout is not a game changer….
Lance
Why does everyone use the FlexVolt’s 60V rating, but then use the capacity at the 20V rating?
Come on people, these are 2Ah and 3Ah batteries when they’re on 60V tools.
Adam
That’s what confused me when this lineup came out. It finally just clicked the other day when I had a FlexVolt and regular battery of the same size in my hands. How does this have 3x the power? Oh, it has 1/3 the amps (but doesn’t indicate it anywhere). I would think it would have both ratings, right after the first astrix that has to explain that 20v is really 18v in tiny print. “[email protected] or [email protected],” makes a ton more sense to me
Bill
It’s marketing 101. As my dad would say, who was in sales most of his life, “Son, you don’t sell the steak you sell the sizzle.”
Robert
It’s done here in Australia
Both 18/56v amps are shown on battery
Stuart
Consistency, at least that’s my excuse.
If Dewalt starts labeling their battery packs with 20V Max and 60V Max charge capacity ratings, I’d likely switch to 60V Max/2.0Ah or 3.0Ah descriptions. But until that happens, we have to stick to describing them in the way users will seem them advertised online and in stores, and that’s FlexVolt 6.0Ah and 9.0Ah.
SheLovesMyNutsAndBolt
I highly doubt that this saw could rival a corded one. Though this is a really nice saw and it may draw more watts (which I’ve never seen advertised as a selling point), but $400 is pretty steep considering most corded worm drives are $200-300. And the power is the same every time you go to use it unlike the cordless where the power depletes every time you use it. If you were to cut some fresh 6×6 deck posts, I’m sure that the 9hr would reduce significantly although it will draw more watts being that it would jam up more because of the lack of consistent amperage and the battery can’t keep up with amount of power needed for the work. Honestly, how often does someone cut through three ¾” pieces of anything? 3 pieces of 2x material is what they should’ve set up. Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve always wondered why there’s no mention of the DC amperage that these high dollar batteries produce. I’ve never seen it mentioned or advertised. Ever. Amperage is what gives the tools the strength to do the task. But yet there’s no mentioning it or numbers. Just like the rated amperage for the breakers that powers circuits in your house. Same goes for the fuse rating to power the DC amps for something in your vehicle. Voltage is only the amount of power it can hold. Amps are what the tool is drawing from the power source to give it the strength to work.
Whiskeyandwood
Watts is voltage x amps, so more watts equals more amps, so you can do the math and figure out the amp draw on each tool, that’s why they are advertised this way, just like every other cordless tool on the market. The reason for amperage being listed on corded tools originally is so you can determine load on circuits and what can be used when and where, that’s irrelevant for cordless, so watts are used, which is a more universal measurement for the amount of power being used. Also, if you don’t think this tool can compare to a corded you must not use cordless tools, these will make any cordless you can bring to the table look like a toy, and that’s any of the recent releases, not just the dewalt, only question is how many cuts do you need, if doing it all day, you’ll need a battery supply, but you won’t have to run cords up and down ladders and across jobsites either
Nathan
remember though – the amps are depending on the motor supplied voltage. so again in this case if the flexvolt saw is say running on a delivered 54Vdc supply and pulling upto 40 amps of current in a moment (sub 2 seconds) you would net some 2100 watts+ of momentary power. Rivaling what is available in your standard socket 110.
to that end even with your corded saw – what voltage is it really running at? 115, 120,110, or 103. yeah see that extension cord you’re running it on – and I don’t know maybe your generator since your job site doesn’t have line power – probably doesn’t provide a full 110 to your corded saw motor either. So if we are going to pick nits – let’s make sure to get them all.
Nathan
It intrigues me greatly and I’m actually more curious about that shape cast into the shoe on the side. Never seen that before.
However I have no need for this beast and wouldn’t buy one – I don’t think. I do lust after a cordless circ saw and think I want the other flexvolt model
Corey
Will buy, without a doubt.
JoeM
As I am Canadian, I suddenly have the Barenaked Ladies Song “If I Had a Million Dollars” stuck on repeat in my head… the same for the Facebook post about the heavy-duty saw horses…
…Don’t take this the wrong way, Benjamen or Stuart…. but I love you guys…
JoeM
…My bad… I’m not well right now and mistook a Facebook post from Lee Valley for one from Toolguyd… Lee Valley is advertising 2600 pound-per-pair saw horses from Toughbuilt… I posted wrong about Toolguyd having made that post… My bad.
…Still have the song in my head, and the sentiment is the same, but I still made a mistake, and I’m sorry… And I still want one of these saws… Just… Because I do… No matter how little I get to use it, I want one…
Charles
A lot of these comments neglect the c rating of the batteries. Lithium isn’t like alkaline or nicad. These batteries can discharge amperages up to 65 times the amp hour rating. 3ah times 65c is 195amps. (Not amp hours but amps) dewalt probably limits their stuff to a more sane level of 30c or less but the capability is there. The running amperage after the induction of the motor is significantly less. I have no doubt that this saw would dance on the grave of any 7-1/4 hooked up to a 15a breaker. Corded is limited to 15. Flexvolt can pull amps til the thermals kick in
Andrew
You’re thinking RC Li-Po batteries, not the safer chemistry in these. They are good for brief 100A pulses, but more realistically 75A.
Andrew
Almost everyone has the math, facts, and idiosyncrasies wrong. In no particular order:
1800W from a 15A circuit isn’t a good comparison. You can draw 3000+ watts from a 15A circuit for a couple seconds. Breakers have a “trip curve” which allows very high current for a moment and tapers off. 16 amps, for example, generally takes several minutes to trip.
The cells in these batteries can supply 75 amps for 5 seconds pretty easily. At that draw, a fully charged battery supplies only around 43 volts. So in theory, over 3000 watts is within the limits of the battery.
Still hard to say if the corded or cordless is more powerful.
At the quoted 2400W, voltage sags to about 46V average over the course of the discharge, and total capacity reduces to about 2.5 Amp hours on the 60V/3.0 battery. At this voltage drop, it must draw 52 amps, and would be able to cut for just 3 minutes or so. This isn’t a realistic, or even safe use.
Practically, a single battery will get a heck of a lot of work done, and this saw would probably need 3 3.0 batteries to keep a skilled production framer going all day.
Above numbers are only in the ballpark, based on actual cell tests. Your mileage may vary.
Curtis
That 2400W rating is probably even more significant than it seems as cordless tools are designed to be super efficient in order to get the longest battery life. Corded wormdrive saws on the other hand are not. So in all likelihood, a much greater percentage of that 2400W will end up being transferred to the blade than the percentage of the 1800W from the wormdrive.
JoeM
Okay… Dumb question for the commenters… is this going to turn into yet another one of those “20 Volt Max VS 18 Volt” debates? The number is 2400 Watts, yes?
Technically, I can bench-press nearly 500 pounds, or DRAG nearly 4 Tonnes myself… It doesn’t mean for a second that I’m superhuman, or that I’m defying the laws of physics by doing so… I CAN do these things… It doesn’t mean I WILL do these things. Of course, I do actually weigh over 300 pounds (I am overweight, yes) and I’m approximately 5’6″ tall. So, being heavy, short, and stocky does provide many instances of physical leverage over static masses, such as a bench press, or pulling power using my grip, and my legs. Afterwards, just like those of you who are saying this saw will blow up, use up the battery fast, or otherwise fail… I, too, will probably not be able to repeat the same action again after doing so. But, the potential to repeat it IS there due to my mass and density.
That 2400 Watt number is mathematical potential, the same as the numbers I can bench press or drag at any given interval. This rear-handled saw isn’t going to be used for that. Not now, not EVER. That it is mathematically possible means that when it’s drawing 1000-ish watts day-in, and day-out, it will do so VERY EASILY. Hence why, if you read Benjamen’s write-up, and Stuart’s notes on the tool in question, they BOTH echo that everyone who cycled through that part of the event testified to exclamations of “Woah!” and that it felt more like you were just guiding it, not pushing it. Whether this saw is truly a magical 2400 watt saw is entirely useless information, just like when DeWALT and SBD designate these particular Lithium Ion batteries as 20 Volt Max, 20 Volt XR, or 60 Volt FlexVolt, rather than their actual nominal operating voltages. It’s not that they run higher voltages than the 18 or… what? 56 Volt? Equivalent batteries… it’s that the technology is significantly different enough to warrant a different name. Albeit a BS Marketing ploy, but it is a different system none the less.
Listen to the testaments of those who used the saw, and look at the external, PRACTICAL features. Do YOU need that rafter hook? Do YOU need that Magnesium Shoe? Do YOU, PERSONALLY, Feel a NEED to have this saw to do what YOU do? Will YOU be cutting through multiple sheets of wood like they’re paper? Will YOU benefit from this FlexVolt tool, as it is, with all its capabilities? Does YOUR job really NEED 2400 Watts of 7-1/4″ Framing Circular Saw Blade power, or is this saw totally overkill for you, even if it’s only being used for, say… 1200 of those 2400 theoretical watts of power, to do YOUR job?
I admit, this thing is TOTALLY overkill for me. Doesn’t stop me from wishing I owned one. Because that thing is really cool, in my eyes. When you hear testimony from people who use these TYPES of saws daily, suddenly in awe because it FEELS powerful in the materials they’re used to using… That speaks volumes to me. In MY life… Specs are really important, yes… But when you see one so out-of-place like that 2400 Watts… You have to set it aside and pretend you didn’t hear that. You have to pretend it’s not there, that the saw CAN’T do that. You have to stop and look at the demos, and the reactions of the pros who had their hands on the thing, and listen to the EXPERIENCE of using that tool. If it can send shivers up and down the spine of the people who do this every day, then it doesn’t matter if they publish that it is capable of exerting 1000 Watts of power, or 10 thousand. What matters is, the way it’s designed, it is more than capable of making saw users excited about it, and if that means their jobs are easier, then we ALL win. Whether we own the saw or not. This is a case of POTENTIAL output, which is so far outside what we need from this saw that we have to see how it performs in order to judge it.
I’ve said it many times. The DeWALT Marketing people are on Drugs. You have to remember that, and pick up this saw in your mind, and see if YOU need it. Blank out all this market speak, and potential output stuff. Is this weird new design for YOU? If it is, then feel free to punch a DeWALT Marketing Executive’s teeth out if it makes you happy to do so, but don’t let their stupidity stop you from owning a tool that could make your life, and your job, easier if you need it.
300 ToolOfTheTrade
Let’s see how many 6×6’s you can cut building a deck. Or how many 2×24 lvl’s you can cut with a 9hr battery and let’s see if it lasts 9 hrs. Or even better put a masonry blade on it and score cut new footing holes in a parking lot for new railings. This thing wouldn’t last an hour.
Stuart
9Ah doesn’t mean it’s supposed to last 9 hours.
bob
lol 300 tools of the trade, maybe sell a few and go back to school
nick lucchesi
What this saw is for is for cutting rafter tails on a 2 story house. Don’t forget what a pain dragging a cord around framing a roof is like. Or trying to get someone to check your cord when you lose power. Or how about tripping GFI breakers in the mud? You don’t need a ton of power for the tasks this is going to be good at.