DeWalt 60V MAX 7 in. Brushless Cordless Grinder with Kickback Brake (Kit)

Why I reached for this grinder

I brought the DCG440 out for a week of mixed metalwork and concrete cleanup: slicing heavy angle for stair stringers, chasing some welds on 10-inch pipe, and knocking down high spots on a garage slab. It’s a big 7-inch cordless grinder running on DeWalt’s 60V platform, and the kit I tested ships with two 9Ah FLEXVOLT batteries and the fast charger. You feel the size right away, but you also feel the muscle. In short: it’s a cordless grinder that behaves like a small corded 7-incher—without the tether.

Setup and first impressions

Out of the bag, everything you need to get to work is there: side handle, guard, flange nut and hex key, a grinding wheel, two DCB609 9Ah packs, and the DCB118 charger. The guard and side handle go on quickly, and the tool’s fit and finish are what I expect from DeWalt—tight tolerances, solid locks, clean molding. There’s a dedicated pocket for a Tool Connect chip in the handle if you want asset tracking, but the chip is optional.

This model uses a trigger switch (not a paddle), with a lock-off. The trigger is deliberate enough to avoid accidental starts, and the electronic brake grabs hard the moment you release it. With the 9Ah battery installed, the tool carries its weight toward the rear, but the side handle and the pipeline-grip gearcase cover give good purchase up front.

Power and speed under load

DeWalt rates the grinder at 2,300 UWO with up to 3 HP peak output and a no-load speed of 6,500 RPM. Specs aside, what matters is how it holds speed in the cut. On 3/8-inch mild steel with a 7-inch cutoff wheel, the grinder kept its head above water with a steady feed and only bogged when I intentionally leaned hard to provoke it. Compared to smaller 4-1/2 to 6-inch cordless grinders, the DCG440 holds noticeably higher torque as the disc diameter grows and the contact patch widens. That translates to fewer stalls, less feathering, and straighter cuts on thick stock.

Grinding performance is where the tool earns its keep. With a 7-inch grinding wheel, I removed mill scale and blended bevels on H-beam flanges without the “hunting” you get from underpowered setups. The brushless motor’s torque curve feels flatter than most; once it catches pace, it stays planted. On pipe, the tool keeps abrasive speed up and doesn’t surge when you change pressure around the circumference, which made it easier to maintain a consistent profile.

On concrete with a 7-inch cup wheel (dust shroud added), the spindle speed is about right for controlling gouge risk while still moving material. It’s not a dedicated concrete grinder, but for spot-corrections, expansion joints, and patch prep, it’s capable.

Safety systems that actually help

Three electronics work in your favor here: the Kickback Brake, E-CLUTCH, and the instant brake on trigger release.

• Kickback Brake: If the wheel binds and the tool starts to climb, it throws a hard brake that halts the wheel fast. I experienced this a few times cutting bar stock in a pinch; the tool stopped in a fraction of a second instead of trying to twist out of my hands.

• E-CLUTCH: In a stall or pinch, it kills the motor. It’s less dramatic than the brake and more like a protective shutdown. It tripped a handful of times when I got sloppy on rebar close to the vise jaw. Annoying for productivity? A little. Worth it for wrists and wheels? Absolutely.

• Instant brake on release: The wheel decelerates quickly, which speeds repositioning and reduces the risk of setting the grinder down while it’s still spinning. It’s one of those quality-of-life features you miss on tools that don’t have it.

These systems can interrupt you if you muscle the grinder like a demolition saw. Keep a steady, appropriate feed and they mostly stay out of your way.

Ergonomics, balance, and control

This is a large grinder—no getting around it. DeWalt lists the weight at just over 17 pounds. In practice, with the 9Ah pack, it’s a two-handed machine for the duration of a cut or grind. The upside of that mass is stability; the tool tracks straight and resists chatter. The downside is fatigue in overhead or ladder work. If you do lots of vertical grinding above shoulder height, budget more breaks or choose a smaller class of grinder for those tasks.

The side handle threads into multiple positions, and the pipeline-grip gearcase cover is more than a gimmick—it adds a grippy, insulating surface where you’d normally grab bare metal. After several minutes of heavy grinding, the gearcase warms up; the cover keeps the heat manageable and improves control on pipe and curved work.

Vibration is well controlled for a 7-inch unit. With balanced wheels, I had no tingling fingers at the end of a session. Noise is typical grinder loud; hearing protection is mandatory.

Battery life and charging

With the included DCB609 9Ah packs, expect around 12–20 minutes of sustained heavy grinding per battery, longer for intermittent cutting. For a mix of cutting and weld blending, I often swapped batteries around the 15-minute mark. The DCB118 fast charger brought a 9Ah pack back in roughly 90 minutes. With two packs in rotation, you can keep working with brief pauses—plan your workflow so the charger has a head start before you drain the second battery.

Heat management felt solid. After back-to-back packs on a hot day, I let the tool cool for a few minutes as a matter of habit, but I didn’t hit thermal shutdowns in normal use. If you run continuous concrete grinding, a dust shroud and vac help keep the motor and batteries cooler.

Accessories and dust management

The kit includes a guard and a general-purpose grinding wheel. For concrete, you’ll want a 7-inch dust shroud (not included) and a capable vac. The guard is stout and easy to reposition; wheel changes with the included hex key and flange nut are straightforward. It’s a standard 5/8-11 spindle, so your existing 7-inch wheels and cups should fit without drama.

The trigger layout is a matter of preference. I like paddle switches for some cutting scenarios, but the trigger here is positive and predictable with gloves on. If you work in tight spaces where a paddle might feel safer to you, note the difference.

Durability and service

Brushless motors are better at shedding carbon-brush maintenance and extending runtime. After a week of metallic dust and concrete fines, the grinder’s vents and internals still ran clean once I blew it out. The overmolds and plastics shrug off jobsite scuffs. DeWalt backs it with a 3-year limited warranty, 1-year free service, and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee—standard for their pro-grade line.

Tool Connect compatibility is nice if you’re tagging tools for inventory or geofencing, but you’ll need to buy and install the DCE042 chip separately.

Who it’s for, who it’s not

• Ideal for: Fabricators, ironworkers, pipefitters, demo crews, and concrete pros who need a true 7-inch cordless grinder with corded-like torque. If you regularly cut thick stock, grind large surfaces, or work around pipes and tanks where cords are a hazard, this hits the sweet spot.

• Not ideal for: Occasional users or trades that live in the 4-1/2 to 5-inch world. The weight and wheel costs are overkill for light-duty tasks, and a smaller grinder will be nimbler overhead or in cramped spaces. If you prefer paddle switches, this trigger style may not be your favorite.

The kit value

Including two 9Ah batteries and the fast charger makes the kit practical out of the box. Those packs aren’t cheap on their own, and having a pair means you’re not babysitting a single battery between tasks. The bag is big enough for the grinder, charger, and a small assortment of wheels. Add a dust shroud if you plan concrete work, and consider a dedicated cutting guard if you do a lot of cutoff.

Final recommendation

I recommend the DCG440 for anyone who genuinely needs 7-inch capacity without a cord. It delivers the torque and wheel control that smaller cordless grinders can’t, the safety electronics are well-implemented, and the kit’s two 9Ah batteries keep you productive. The trade-offs are real—weight, bulk, and the need to manage battery rotations—but if your work benefits from a big disc and high stall resistance, this grinder earns its spot. If your tasks are lighter or mostly overhead, a smaller class will save your shoulders and your budget. For the intended user, though, this is a dependable, powerful, and thoughtfully equipped cordless 7-incher that gets tough work done.