I remember the storm vividly. It rolled in fast and furious, and by morning, the familiar silhouette of our backyard was gone, replaced by a chaotic lattice of fallen branches and, most dauntingly, a massive oak limb sprawled across the driveway. My trusty old gas chainsaw, a brand I’d sworn by for years, chose that exact morning to be difficult. The pull cord felt like it was mocking me, the engine sputtered and died, and the air filled with the acrid smell of two-stroke fumes and frustration. It was in that moment of greasy hands and mounting impatience that I knew a change was needed. The promise of instant, quiet, and ferocious power without the hassle of mixing fuel, yanking cords, and tinkering with carburetors wasn’t just appealing; it felt essential. This quest for a more reliable and less cumbersome solution is what led me to seriously investigate the world of high-power cordless chainsaws, and specifically, to the doorstep of the DEWALT 60V MAX 18 in. Cordless Chainsaw Tool Only.
- QUICK CHAIN ADJUSTMENT with onboard wrench
- BUILT FOR SAFETY: Limited kick back protection with chain brake
What to Consider Before Buying a Cordless Chainsaw
A chainsaw is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for property owners, storm preppers, firewood cutters, and even construction professionals. Its main benefit lies in its ability to transform overwhelming manual labor into a manageable task. Whether you’re clearing storm debris, felling a hazardous tree, pruning large limbs, or bucking logs for the winter hearth, the right chainsaw saves an incredible amount of time and physical effort. The advent of powerful battery technology has bridged the gap between the raw, often unwieldy power of gas models and the limited utility of older corded electric saws, offering a compelling blend of performance and convenience.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing regular, substantial cutting tasks who values efficiency and ease of use over the absolute peak power and unlimited runtime of a professional gas saw. This includes homeowners with wooded properties, DIY enthusiasts, and even contractors who need a powerful saw for occasional use without the maintenance headaches. Conversely, a high-voltage 18-inch model might not be suitable for those who only need to trim small branches once a year; a smaller, lighter saw would be more appropriate. Likewise, a professional logger felling trees all day, every day, will likely still lean on a high-cc gas model for its refueling speed and proven track record in extreme conditions.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Bar Length & Weight: The bar length dictates the maximum diameter of wood you can cut in a single pass. An 18-inch bar, like the one on this DEWALT, is a versatile, professional-grade size capable of handling large logs and small trees. However, this comes with increased weight and a longer overall tool. A bare tool weight of over 12 pounds, plus a heavy 60V battery, means this is a substantial piece of equipment. You must be comfortable handling and maneuvering this weight safely for extended periods.
- Power & Performance: In the battery world, voltage (V) and battery capacity (Ah) are king. The 60V MAX system provides immense power, with DEWALT claiming it delivers torque and peak horsepower comparable to a 40cc gas engine. Look for brushless motors, which are more efficient, run cooler, and last longer than their brushed counterparts. The key performance question is whether it has the guts to avoid bogging down in dense hardwoods like oak.
- Materials & Durability: A chainsaw endures immense stress. Assess the quality of the main body housing (typically high-impact polymer), the bar and chain (look for reputable brands like Oregon), and critical metal components. As we discovered, and user feedback confirms, the durability of smaller parts like the chain tensioning mechanism can be a major point of failure and frustration, even on an otherwise robust tool.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: The primary draw of battery power is simplicity. No mixing gas and oil, no pull starts, no spark plugs. However, maintenance isn’t zero. You still need to fill the bar and chain oil reservoir (look for a model with an effective auto-oiler and a clear viewing window), keep the chain sharp, and, most importantly, properly tension the chain. A reliable and easy-to-use tensioning system is not just a convenience; it’s a critical safety feature.
Keeping these factors in mind, the DEWALT 60V MAX 18 in. Cordless Chainsaw Tool Only stands out in several areas, particularly its raw power and integration with a robust battery platform. You can explore its detailed specifications and features here.
While the DEWALT 60V MAX 18 in. Cordless Chainsaw Tool Only is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
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First Impressions: A Familiar Form, A Surprising Feel
Pulling the DEWALT 60V MAX 18 in. Cordless Chainsaw Tool Only (Model DCCS672B) from its box, the first thing we noticed was its substantial, professional feel. The iconic DEWALT yellow and black is present, of course, but the tool feels dense and purposeful. This is not a lightweight pruning saw; it has the heft and balance you’d expect from a tool designed for serious work. Assembly is straightforward for anyone familiar with chainsaws: attach the 18-inch bar and chain, tighten the two bar-retention nuts with the included onboard wrench (a feature we love), and fill the oil reservoir. The translucent oil tank window is a bit small but functional enough to monitor the level.
Sliding a charged 9.0Ah FLEXVOLT battery into the port adds considerable weight, bringing the total to over 15 pounds. Yet, the ergonomics are surprisingly good. The wrap-around front handle and rubberized rear grip provide a secure hold and allow for comfortable leverage in both vertical and horizontal cutting positions. Compared to its gas-powered cousins, the lack of a pull-cord housing and bulky engine makes for a sleeker, more balanced profile. The immediate impression is one of modern power, a tool that’s ready to work the second you are, without any of the rituals of its fossil-fueled predecessors.
What We Like
- Incredible cutting power that genuinely rivals mid-range gas saws
- The convenience of instant start-up and no fuel mixing
- Excellent ergonomics and reduced vibration for user comfort
- Part of the powerful and versatile DEWALT FLEXVOLT 60V MAX ecosystem
- Effective auto-oiling system keeps the chain running smooth
Drawbacks
- The chain tensioning system has a significant, well-documented durability issue
- High battery consumption during heavy cutting requires multiple batteries for extended work
Deep Dive: Deconstructing the DEWALT’s Performance
A chainsaw’s worth isn’t determined on a spec sheet; it’s proven in the woodpile. Over several weeks, we put the DEWALT 60V MAX 18 in. Cordless Chainsaw Tool Only through a gauntlet of tests, from limbing fallen branches to bucking thick, seasoned oak logs destined for the fireplace. Its performance was, for the most part, astonishingly impressive, though not without a critical flaw that demands attention.
Gas-Caliber Power, Battery-Powered Silence
The heart of this saw is DEWALT’s professional-grade brushless motor, powered by the formidable 60V MAX battery platform. The claim of delivering 2.85 peak horsepower (when using a DCB609 battery) isn’t just marketing fluff. From the first cut, the saw inspires confidence. We started with some 10-inch pine logs, and the saw didn’t just cut; it devoured them. The chain speed remained high, pulling aggressive chips without any hint of bogging down. The real test, however, came with a 22-inch diameter oak round that had been seasoning for over a year. This is the kind of hardwood that can humble lesser saws, gas or electric.
With a fresh chain and a full 9.0Ah battery, we sank the 18-inch bar into the oak. The saw’s torque was immediately evident. It pulled itself into the cut with authority, maintaining its RPMs and producing a steady stream of coarse sawdust. We were able to slice through the entire round in under a minute, a feat that would be respectable for a comparable 40-45cc gas saw. This experience was echoed by users, one of whom successfully felled a 22-inch gum tree. Another user, who also owns a Stihl 271 Farm Boss, noted that while the gas saw might have the edge in brute force, the DEWALT’s on-demand power made it the go-to tool for groundwork and repeated individual cuts throughout the day. The difference is profound: you pull the trigger, and it cuts with full power. Let go, and it’s silent. No idling, no noise, no vibrations, and no fumes while you reposition for the next cut.
The FLEXVOLT Ecosystem: The Double-Edged Sword of Runtime
As this is a “Tool Only” offering, the battery is a separate and crucial consideration. The DEWALT 60V MAX 18 in. Cordless Chainsaw Tool Only is a power-hungry beast, and it needs a high-capacity battery to perform. We tested it primarily with a DCB609 9.0Ah FLEXVOLT battery, and for serious work, we’d consider this the minimum. On a single charge, we were able to make dozens of cuts through 8-12 inch logs, effectively processing a significant amount of firewood.
However, the limitations of battery power are real. As one user aptly put it, if you do a lot of big cuts, “it will go through some batteries.” During our heavy oak-cutting session, we could deplete a 9.0Ah battery in about 25-30 minutes of near-continuous work. For a homeowner clearing a few fallen limbs, one or two batteries are more than sufficient. But for someone planning to spend a full day bucking a winter’s worth of firewood, a rotation of three or more high-capacity batteries and a fast charger is non-negotiable. This is where the “ecosystem” aspect comes into play. If you’re already invested in DEWALT’s 60V MAX platform for other tools, adding this saw is a logical and powerful extension. If you’re starting from scratch, the initial investment in batteries and chargers can be substantial. The convenience is unparalleled, but it requires planning.
Handling, Safety, and the User Experience
Beyond pure power, a chainsaw must be safe and relatively comfortable to operate. DEWALT has done an excellent job with the ergonomics. The saw is well-balanced, and the anti-vibration system is remarkably effective. After using it back-to-back with a gas saw, we felt significantly less fatigue in our hands and arms, a sentiment directly shared by a user who found the DEWALT “kinder on you” after a full day of use. The chain brake is responsive, activating instantly with a forward push of the hand guard. The auto-oiling system worked flawlessly throughout our testing, keeping the bar and chain adequately lubricated without leaking excessively when stored—a common complaint with many other saws.
The tooled chain tensioning system, featuring an onboard scrench (screwdriver/wrench combination tool) that clips securely into the handle, is a great concept. It allows for very secure bar retention, which is critical for safety and performance. A loose chain is dangerous and ineffective. The ability to give the bar nuts a solid crank provides peace of mind that tool-less systems sometimes lack. However, this very system harbors the saw’s most significant weakness.
The Achilles’ Heel: A Critically Flawed Tensioner
While the overall build of the saw feels robust, we encountered a troubling and widely reported issue: the chain tensioning gear is alarmingly fragile. The tensioner is a small worm gear, adjusted by a screw on the side of the saw, that moves the bar forward or backward to set chain tension. During a routine re-tensioning after a few hours of use, we felt a disconcerting “pop,” and the screw began to spin freely. Upon disassembly, we found that several teeth on the small metal gear had sheared off, rendering it useless.
Our experience was not unique. We found multiple user reports detailing the exact same failure. One user, a machinist with 30 years of experience who explicitly understands the concept of not over-torquing components, reported stripping the gears within days. Another had the tensioner break while working on limbs less than 3 inches in diameter. This isn’t a case of user error; it appears to be a design or material flaw in a component that is absolutely critical to the saw’s function. While the replacement part is inexpensive (around $15, according to one user), having a tool fail in the field due to such an under-built part is a major disappointment. It’s a shame, because it casts a dark shadow over what is otherwise a brilliantly powerful and well-designed machine. For those considering this saw, we highly recommend being extremely gentle with the tensioning screw and treating it as a potential point of failure. The cutting performance is so impressive that many will find it worth the risk, but it’s a risk you must be aware of. You can see the tool’s design and features up close on its product page.
What Other Users Are Saying
Looking across a broad spectrum of user feedback, a clear consensus emerges. The vast majority of owners are blown away by the power and convenience of the DEWALT 60V MAX 18 in. Cordless Chainsaw Tool Only. One user who switched from a Stihl gas saw for residential projects said it “exceeded my expectations in every way,” tearing through an 11-inch cedar log in seconds right out of the box. An older user, aged 75, celebrated its ability to cut a large pile of firewood over two sessions, noting that the need to recharge the battery gave him a welcome break. He praised it as “a great product” that cuts “smooth and fast.”
However, the praise for its power is consistently tempered by criticism of the chain tensioner. This isn’t an isolated complaint. Multiple credible reviews, including one from a professional machinist, call out the “woefully under built” tensioning system, with some users providing photos of the stripped or broken gears. This recurring issue is the single most significant factor holding the saw back from a near-perfect rating. It creates a divide: users who haven’t experienced the failure rave about the saw, while those who have are understandably frustrated and disappointed in the build quality of that specific component.
How Does It Stack Up? The Competition
The cordless tool market is fierce, and while the DEWALT is a top contender, it’s not the only option. Depending on your needs, one of these alternatives might be a better fit.
1. Tomyvic 6-Inch Mini Chainsaw Battery Powered
- 19.2 FT/S HIGH-EFFICIENT CUTTING: Only takes about 8 seconds to cut a 6 "diameter log (the specific value varies with the actual size and hardness of the wood).
- 2.51 LBS ULTRALIGHT DESIGN: Designs with slim bodies make it easy to work anywhere, even in narrow spaces. Also, it is very suitable for women and the elderly to use one hand, and not easy to fatigue.
This saw exists in a completely different universe from the DEWALT. The Tomyvic is a compact, one-handed mini-saw designed for light-duty pruning and trimming of small branches (typically under 4-5 inches). It’s incredibly lightweight and maneuverable, making it perfect for detailed garden work or for someone who would find the 18-inch DEWALT to be dangerously oversized. It’s an apple to the DEWALT’s orange. If your primary need is trimming small limbs and you never plan to cut firewood or fell trees, this mini-saw is a far more practical and affordable choice.
2. EGO Power+ CS1800 18” Cordless Chainsaw
- 45CC GAS EQUIVALENT – This EGO chainsaw features a high-efficiency brushless motor that delivers power equivalent to a 45cc gas chainsaw with up to 11,000 RPM for clean, efficient cuts
- UP TO 300 CUTS PER CHARGE – Battery chainsaw delivers up to 300 cuts on a 4x4 with a recommended 5.0Ah battery (available separately); compatible with all EGO 56V ARC Lithium batteries
This is the DEWALT 60V MAX 18 in. Cordless Chainsaw Tool Only‘s most direct and formidable competitor. EGO has built an outstanding reputation in the battery-powered outdoor equipment space. The CS1800 is also an 18-inch cordless saw with immense power, running on their 56V ARC Lithium battery platform. The primary difference for many users will be the battery ecosystem they are already invested in. Feature-wise, the EGO boasts a tool-free chain tensioning system, which can be more convenient in the field but may offer less robust bar retention than DEWALT’s tooled system (when the DEWALT’s tensioner is working correctly). Buyers torn between these two should look at performance reviews and, crucially, which brand’s battery platform offers more of the other tools they might need.
3. Zeeksaw Mini Chainsaw 6 Inch Cordless
- ✅ Useful Yard Tools You Should Own - Finish more work in less time with this featherweight 1.92 pound, Its little size lets us work in small spaces that no traditional chainsaw can.
- ✅ SuperStar Garden Machine - The 22 ft/s super high chain speed can cut through a 5" thick branch in only 5 seconds. Support all your cutting needs. Even the tiniest girl can hold it in one hand to...
Similar to the Tomyvic, the Zeeksaw is a mini-saw built for convenience and portability in light-duty applications. It’s a fantastic tool for quick, small jobs—cutting a stray branch, clearing a narrow trail, or crafting projects. It cannot handle the tasks the DEWALT is built for, such as bucking large logs or felling medium-sized trees. Someone might choose this over the DEWALT for its sheer ease of use, low weight, and affordability. It’s the perfect companion tool to a larger saw, but it is in no way a replacement.
Final Verdict: A Powerful Contender with a Cautionary Tale
The DEWALT 60V MAX 18 in. Cordless Chainsaw Tool Only is a triumph of battery-powered engineering. It delivers on its promise of gas-like power, slicing through formidable hardwoods with an authority that will make even staunch gas-power loyalists raise an eyebrow. The convenience is undeniable: it’s quiet, fume-free, and ready to work at the pull of a trigger. For anyone already invested in the DEWALT 60V MAX ecosystem, it is an absolute beast and a phenomenal addition to their tool arsenal.
However, we cannot ignore the saw’s Achilles’ heel: the fragile chain tensioning mechanism. The repeated, credible reports of this component failing prematurely prevent us from giving it an unqualified recommendation. We recommend this saw to the homeowner, property manager, or contractor who needs top-tier cordless cutting power and is willing to treat the tensioner with extreme care. For those who prioritize bulletproof reliability in every single component above all else, it might be worth cross-shopping with its closest competitors. But if you’re seeking raw, cordless power that can genuinely replace a gas saw for most tasks, this machine is a cutting-edge marvel.
If you’ve decided the DEWALT 60V MAX 18 in. Cordless Chainsaw Tool Only is the right fit for your property and you’re prepared to be mindful of its one weakness, you can check its current price and purchase it here.
Last update on 2025-10-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API