Dewalt has launched a new FlexVolt 60V Max brushless 9″ cut-off saw, DCS692X2 for the kit.
The new Dewalt cordless 9″ cut-off saw is designed for cutting concrete, pavestones, steel, and rebar.
It delivers 6,600 RPM and its 9″ blade can make cuts up to 3-1/4″ deep.
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The Dewalt DCS692 features a protected battery box which is large enough to accommodate Dewalt’s highest capacity 15Ah battery.
It has built-in Wireless Tool Control functionality, which is designed to enhance runtime and worksite productivity by allowing it to be linked to other compatible tools and operate cord-free.
(The Dewalt FlexVolt dust extractor is the only vacuum I know of that responds to “Wireless Tool Control” activation.)
The saw also has a dual-sided water feed system for OSHA Table 1 compliant dust management.
An integrated “heavy-load indicator light” provides “real-time power and runtime feedback.”
Dewalt says the saw can be used for horizontal or vertical cuts, and features a 3-position adjustable handle. The 5-position guard helps ensure users can choose the best cutting angle for visibility and mobility in confined spaces.
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Key Features & Specs
- 9-inch saw blade
- 3-1/4″ maximum cutting depth
- Brushless motor
- 6,600 RPM
- Load indicator light
- 3-position adjustable handle
- 5-position blade guard
- Dual-sided water feed system
- Wireless Tool Control (built-in FlexVolt dust extractor remote)
The saw is also Tag-Ready, meaning an optional (sold separately) Tool Connect-compatible Tag can be attached for easier location tracking.
Pricing and Availability
The DCS692X2 kit comes with 2x 9.0Ah Flexvolt batteries, DWAFV8918 ceramic metal cut-off wheel, DWAFV8900 diamond cutting wheel.
Replacement DWAFV8918 cut-off wheels are ~$13 each (Acme Tools), and DWAFV8900 diamond cut-off wheels are ~$70-80 each (Amazon, Home Depot). There’s also a diamond metal-cutting saw blade for ~$77 (Home Depot).
Price: $949 for the kit
ETA: October 2022
Dewalt DCS692 vs DCS692 FlexVolt Cut-Off Saws
This is not Dewalt’s first FlexVolt 9″ cut-off saw – they launched the very similar DCS690 back in mid-2018.
Based on the product specs and imagery, it looks like the Dewalt DCS692 has an upgraded battery box, whereas the DCS690 launched a few years prior to the brand’s large FlexVolt 15Ah battery.
The DCS690 also seems to lack the DCS692’s Wireless Tool Control feature.
It is not yet clear what else might be new or different with the DCS692.
The DCS690 is sold out at all of the retailers I checked, suggesting that it is being replaced by the DCS692.
Discussion
There could be other differences, but the DCS692 looks to be a minor update of the DCS690 cut-off saw, mainly with a larger battery box and wireless FlexVolt vac activation functionality.
Readers and tool users have been asking for more Dewalt FlexVolt cordless power tools, as the brand’s focus seems to have shifted recently to 20V Max-compatible FlexVolt Advantage tools. Here you go!
While this is more of an upgrade or update to an existing product, it’s still a new FlexVolt cordless power tool.
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fred
I bought a Milwaukee 2786-20 in 2021 for some hardscaping projects. Thought it would be easier on me than starting up and lugging around my 14 inch Makita engine-driven tool. I did not expect that it would have anywhere near the capability of the Makita – but it proved to be so wimpy (battery cuts out via overheating very quickly) – with very poor water control that I gave it away.
I hope that this Dewalt is better – but will wait on reviews.
Collin
The Milwaukee one is indeed very wimpy. It shows in their marketing copy, too. No comparisons with other tools, no claims to be the most powerful, no double speak, nothing. In other words, not even the marketing department could rescue that tool.
MM
That’s been my experience too. I own the existing DCS690. I’ve used it side-by-side with a co-worker’s Milwaukee and the difference is obvious, the Milwaukee overheats pretty quickly while the Dewalt doesn’t. You can also get on the Dewalt harder in the cut before it bogs down or the overload light comes on. In my opinion a single M18 pack, even an “HO”, is not up to the task.
I think Stuart is correct here, from what I’ve read the only two changes for this new saw seem to be the taller cover for the battery compartment to hold the larger batts and the wireless linkup for a dust collector. I wonder if it will be possible to purchase a 692 battery cover from a parts vendor and swap it onto the 690?
Big Richard
They do have different part numbers for the motor rotor and stator. Despite the same 6600 RPM spec, the motor is technically different. That isn’t necessarily an “upgrade” or “update” though. Could be something very small and just an internal part number change.
Here is the battery latch if you want to try a swap: https://www.toolservicenet.com/dewalt/en/c//p/PN814314
DC
There will be a conversion kit for the DCS690 and can be done at any DeWalt service center at no charge
TomD
I suspect the cut-off saw was one of the main drivers for MX Fuel.
Ray Bailly
I have the Dewalt, and I’m quite happy with it. I haven’t used the Milwaukee, but a coworker got one because he liked my Dewalt but has Milwaukee batteries, and he said it was a bit of a let down and it doesn’t compare to the dewalt.
Phil
Yup. Milwaukee HO is a total mistake at 18v HO tools. Super saws all is okay… everything else cut out on hi heat. To much heat battery and charger issues to look after. They finally doing 2 x 18v. 60v 3amph or higher never quit. 9 inch on metal may be their limit as they made a 7 inch grinder and not a 9 .
Adam
The Milwaukee 7″ grinder is
actually advertised as a 7/9″.
I’ve never used anything that large, so can’t comment on performance, but would think 9″ is maxing the capability of the tool out.
Phil
Yes. Milwaukee 7 to 9 is a joke. Maxing the tool out for Milwaukee even with 12 amph battery… they had very low criteria they decidedly went with a low bar in the name of capabilities. I am pointing out that dewalt decided on a much higher bar with 60v performance and made a 6 inch and then 7 inch grinder. They know the user wants maximum performance and a hi bar.
Phil
Just look at 14 inch cut off saw kit with one battery…. my God. A very low bar for performance.
Ray Bailly
The Milwaukee battery 14″ cutoff saw is mx fuel at 72 volts, and the batteries are about half the size of a car battery. Not exactly the same as 18v.
MM
I have not used that Milwaukee grinder but in my opinion even 7″ is pushing it for a single 18v class battery. 4.5″ grinder on an 18V battery? Sure. That’s adequate. Not fantastic, but adequate. 7″ is marginal. 9″ grinder on a single 18V pack sounds like a joke. And we know it must be since the 9″ cutoff tool is marginal in performance and overheats quickly, and a cutoff wheel takes a lot less power to spin than a grinding wheel. Perhaps a 9″ wheel physically fits on that grinder but I can’t imagine the power or the runtime being acceptable. 7″ class and up really needs a heavier duty battery platform, like say Flexvolt or 2x18V packs. The DCG440 could swing a 9″ wheel, it’s about the same RPM as the typical corded 9″ grinder yet it has quite a bit more power than corded. Well, it could if its guard could accommodate a 9″ wheel.
Phil
I agree . I have the Milwaukee 7 to 9. And dewalt 6 and 440 7. The dewalt bar is quite high in performance. Not Milwaukee. It’s similar for other HO tools
Milwaukee have doubled down with 14 inch cut off tool. In the name of compatability at 18v. I am willing to bet another voltage line between m18 and mx is on its way. Or they will be know as a joke at HO… and willing to damage battery at higher cost.
Ray Bailly
I have the Milwaukee 7/9″ grinder, and it’s a beast. It eats batteries, but it doesn’t give up much, if anything as far as power, compared to my Bosch or Dewalt 9″ corded grinders.
As far as the big hole hawg or right angle style drills, Dewalt beats Milwaukee by a mile. Dewalt’s new 20″ chainsaw also far out paces the Milwaukee.
Philip John
The Milwaukee 7-9 inch grinder is rated for 900 watts… very easy to overheat the battery and the grinder. And usless for a bigger job. Okay for small jobs. Like around the house. Lol
New dewalt 9 inch grinder. Is around 2800 watts. It allows you to work at a level is expected for a 9 inch grinder.
Milwaukee HO tools are a mistake at 18v. Can be solved with a tool line between m18 and mx.
Collin
Hilti shows us how it’s done with their dual 22v battery 12″ cutoff saw. No need to step to 72 volt shoebox sized batteries. No need to torture yourself trying to feather the tool during the cut so you don’t thermally overload the battery.
Phil
Well. I a willing to bet a dewalt 14 inch 60v one battery will best hilty set up… Even on ergonomics 60v brushless will have slight advantage over 44v… plus one bat on charger same time while one o tool is better. And any 2x battery configuration needs 2 fully charged same amph battery. So always 2 on tool and always 2 on dual charger.
Stuart
Not necessarily.
FlexVolt = 15 cells, 18650 or 21700.
22V x2 = 24 or 36 cells
Let’s say you use the same Li-ion cell for all types of battery packs. Which battery solution can deliver more power?
Ct451
I agree. If you are using more than 15 cells anyway the best arrangement is in series in one pack. You’re only splitting them into lower voltage batteries because of other tools that use less power.
Collin
Splitting cells up into separate packs helps with thermals.
Big Richard
The DCB615 is good for 3100W, that’s DeWalt’s official peak output number. I’m sure Hilti can get close to 4500W if the tool wants when you have 2x of their 3 row 255-22 packs, assuming those 21700 cells are good for around 35A and are 21.6v nominal. 35A x 3 rows x 43.2v = 4536W.
Now a 2x FlexVolt system could best that using the DCB615.
Collin
DeWalt has batteries going up to 3100 watts, Hilti over 2500 watts, Makita over 2500 watts, Flex 2520 watts… It’s good to see the industry leaders move past the “15 amp corded power” standard.
MM
I couldn’t agree more with Collin here. It wasn’t all that long ago that people were comparing cordless tools to corded. Now it seems we’ve stepped into an era where many cordless tools are capable of seriously outperforming their corded counterparts thanks to this kind of power capacity in a battery. It’s honestly amazing when I think back to some of the first cordless tools I ever used back as a teenager and how far things have come today.
The numbers that Collin and Big Richard listed for modern batteries are extremely impressive. But I think that right now most tools are still designed around batteries about half that size. There aren’t too many which are really designed to take full advantage of a battery that large. I think over the next year or two as we see newer tools come out more and more of them will be designed around these larger capacity packs.
Phil
The real question should be…how come tool guyed never talk about this heat issue…how come Milwaukee HO batteries and tools overheating and potential damage if you press reset and keep working rather than swap the battery out for a cool one… even though the hot battery has 50 percent left. Sure regular m18 is fine… but HO is garbage compared to yellow. The HO tools are really expensive too.
Stuart
All cordless power tools and batteries have finite thermal endurance.
Exceed a certain temperature, and you will trip over-temp safety sensors.
This can happen with all kinds of consumer and professional equipment.
The comments section allows readers to share their experiences with different tools or technologies.
If you want me to investigate a particular tool, ask specific questions and share details necessary for me to replicate your experiences, and I’ll see what I can do.
Ian M
I also have the Milwaukee one, it’s only any good with the 12amp battery. The 9 amp overheats really quickly
fred
I tried the 12Ah battery – still wimpy – still had to cut using a touch-and-go method. IMO – it was a wasted purchase.
Dion
The Dewalt shits all over the Milwaukee one have used both
Tim
I definitely thought flexvolt was dead or dying a slow death.
Phil
You have to consider all trades. On a cordless site. If you have used 60v near its limits… you would know just how good they are.
Big Richard
Related, the new single battery FlexVolt 12″ miter saw has been unofficially announced, DCS781. Looks like a direct drive, versus the belt drive that they used on the previous FlexVolt model(s).
Stuart
Officially announced where?
I haven’t heard anything from Dewalt.
Big Richard
Unofficially. It is in some of their latest euro catalogs (and yes some tools are available abroad but not in the NA market and vice versa), but it is listed on their ServiceNet website, owners manual and all.
[link won’t post]
Once you have that, it is just a matter of confirming it with your contact, at least that is what I do. And I assume your contacts are privy to more info than mine.
Big Richard
Model link won’t post, but let’s try the manual:
https://www.toolservicenet.com/i/DEWALT/GLOBALBOM/QU/DCS781B/1/Instruction_Manual/EN/NA165154__DCS781_QU.pdf
Stuart
Ah, sorry. I read your comment 3 times and saw “officially” each time.
Information is usually distributed to PR and retail channels differently. Right now there’s no information through either, and so I’ll have to sit tight and wait for official word.
Big Richard
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-60-Volt-Lithium-Ion-12-in-Cordless-Sliding-Miter-Saw-Kit-with-9-0-Ah-Battery-Pack-DCS781X1/319991695#overlay
Has “regenerative braking technology”, sounds like it charges the battery as the blade brakes?
MM
@Big Richard
That’s what it sounds like to me. It makes sense too, a spinning 12″ saw blade is quite the flywheel so it has a non-trivial amount of energy that could be recovered and put back in the battery.
Big Richard
@MM, it certainly does make sense, it makes a lot of sense. I just don’t think I have seen that before on any power tool. It also seems to have more of a direct drive, versus the traditional belt drive DeWalt normally uses on their 12″ saws, I assume that also adds to the saws efficiency.
Their previous 12″ slider DHS790 was rated at 289 cross cuts in 3 1/4″ molding with a pair of 2Ah/6Ah batteries (216Wh), this new model is rated at 675 cuts in 3 1/4″ molding with a single 3Ah/9Ah battery (162Wh). They went from 1.33 cuts/Wh to 4.17 cuts/Wh. That is significant.
Big Richard
Pre-order is up at Acme –
https://www.acmetools.com/dewalt-12-60v-sliding-miter-saw-bare-tool-dcs781b/885911739641.html
https://www.acmetools.com/dewalt-12in-60v-sliding-miter-saw-90ah-dcs781x1/885911739603.html
Big Richard
NOW it is official: https://www.mynewsdesk.com/us/dewalt-usa/pressreleases/cut-capture-and-charge-dewalt-announces-60v-max-star-brushless-12-in-double-bevel-sliding-miter-saw-with-exceptional-runtime-and-20-percent-more-power-plus-plus-3223509
Bob
Hopefully they will release a 10″ as well.
Big Richard
That was actually my hope when this was first leaked, that it was basically an NA version of the 10″ DCS727 that has been available abroad. But alas, it is not. Seems this may be destined to replace the existing 12″ FlexVolt saw, rather than compliment it.
There is always the chance that they do a 10″ 20v model, possibly Power Detect or FlexVolt Advantage. I’ve been keeping a close watch on that.
Kingsley
I have the DCS690, I bought it about 4 years ago. Not surprised they’ve brought out one that can take the larger shaped 15ah… although I suspect once battery tech changes they might release a regular sized 15ah.
My biggest gripe with the DCS690 is the lack of filter mesh on the water inlet. If any muck gets in, it blocks the much smaller tubes and you have to take it apart and use a syringe to blast the much back out.
Hopefully this new one has a filter.
MM
If you’re having issues with the water inlet clogging up you could probably fix that with negligible effort and expense by putting a garden hose filter washer in the QD fitting.
Something like this, for example:
https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Washers-Washing-Machine-Connector/dp/B07RJHKKM2
Adam
Not exactly related to this tool, but I notice it has this “feature” as well. And by feature, I mean one more thing preventing me from using the tool.
I’ve noticed a lot more triggers with the extra spring action piece that needs to be pressed, in order for the trigger to actuate. Some are on a separate lockout switch, like the Milwaukee Quik-lok string trimmer. The prior/original trimmer did not.
My only thought to this piece that I either remove or glue down, is that it has to be added to anything that can have a saw attached, even if it’s on a pole 7 ft away from the user.
Bob
I noticed that too. I’m not against trigger safety’s IF they are seamless and have excellent ergonomics.
If it’s like the DeWalt 20v grinder trigger saftey it’s garbage and I agree glue it or I’ve had luck with foil tape if a guy doesn’t want to permanently mod his tool. As a safety procedure remember to remove the battery when changing blades just as you would unplug your old school corded Skil saw when changing a blade. Probably a good idea on a stock saw too.
To be fair I have not come across a power tool company that has made a trigger safety that I feel is ergonomically and intuitively excellent. Not sure why as companies like Glock etc have been doing this for 30+ years so it’s definitely doable. Heck the patents have ran out on Glock by this point just copy and paste. OR do it like the gas saws with a grip saftey.
If I’m focusing on the trigger I’m not focusing on where the blade is or where my appendages are. Ultimately the safety resides between your ears.
I will say otherwise I like the tool. Although if I could find one of the old ones on clearance and presumably for cheaper I’d go that route knowing I can swap out the cover for free at a service center if I felt inclined to use one of the 15 ah batteries.
Big Richard
“(The Dewalt FlexVolt dust extractor is the only vacuum I know of that responds to “Wireless Tool Control” activation.)”
Don’t forget about its little brother, the 20v DWH161. Don’t know if I would pair it with this type of tool though. That thing is almost exclusively for roto hammers.
John+Fal
Having the larger battery capacity will be a game changer, longer run time a plus. Hoping for more power and bigger blade sizes too. Hoping to see more Flexolt too soon. Dewalt still needs to step it up a little.
Phil
You know Milwaukee HO tools and batteries are a complete reaction to dewalt 60v flex. A not well thought out reaction and was extremely quick. With very high cost to user of Milwaukee HO and premature death to mainly any battery in the line.
The evidence is all in the now discontinued 18650 9 amph battery and gen 2 mag drill to fit a 9. It was released first before dewalt 60v flex line. Milwaukee quickly attacked 60v flex calling out amp hour over 60v in a battery back and tool set up. Milwaukee then rushed out 12amph pack with 21700 soon after the 9 and rendering it usless to most users at high cost… but none of this has helped the poor performance ..high cost .. damage and heat of the Milwaukee HO line. They seem to be okay with the low bar the HO tools have set.