DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless Compact Reciprocating Saw (Tool Only)

Why I reached for this compact recip saw

Tight spaces are where reciprocating saws earn their keep, and that’s exactly where this compact DeWalt recip saw shines. The short front-to-back length lets me steer it between studs, under sinks, and into joist bays where a full-size saw would get hung up. It’s not trying to be the most powerful saw on the truck; it’s trying to be the one that actually fits. After several weeks of demo, plumbing cuts, and some outdoor pruning, I’m impressed by how thoughtfully it balances size, control, and cutting speed.

Design and ergonomics

The footprint is the headline: about 14-3/4 inches long and 5.4 pounds bare. Even with a battery, it stays reasonably compact and well balanced. The handle feels familiar if you’re used to DeWalt’s 20V MAX line, with a comfortable overmold and a trigger that’s easy to feather with gloves on.

A pivoting shoe helps keep the blade planted without wrestling the saw into unnatural angles. It isn’t a length-adjustable shoe; it just pivots. That’s fine for most of what I do—flush cuts against framing, nipping nails, and working off uneven surfaces—but it’s worth noting if you rely on telescoping shoes to use fresh tooth sections on a blade.

The LED sits in a sensible spot and illuminates the cut line surprisingly well. In a dim crawlspace and inside cabinet carcasses, it saved me from pulling a separate work light. It’s not a spotlight, but it does the job.

Blade changes and orientation

The four-position blade clamp is the secret sauce for tight quarters. Being able to orient the blade up, down, left, or right unlocks clean flush cuts and odd-angle reaches without a contortion act. I used the sideways orientation to trim flush to subfloor and the downward orientation to slice through copper stubs close to a wall. The tool-free clamp is quick and positive; blades lock in with a distinct click. There’s the typical tiny bit of play you’ll feel on many tool-free systems, but it never affected tracking or accuracy in my use.

Standard reciprocating saw blades fit, so I swapped between bi-metal metal blades, aggressive wood/demo blades, and a pruning blade without fuss.

Cutting performance

On paper, a 1-1/8-inch stroke and up to 2,900 SPM put this saw right in the sweet spot for compact models. In practice, it cuts faster than I expected for its size—especially in wood and PVC—and stays controllable when you need to creep into a cut.

• Wood framing and demo: With a 6–9 inch wood/demolition blade, it chewed through 2x material, subfloor, and glued sheathing efficiently. No orbital action here, so it’s not as fast as a big orbital saw in straight framing cuts, but the lack of orbital mode also keeps starts cleaner and reduces walking on thin stock.
• Nails and screws: Bi-metal blades handled embedded fasteners in jambs and ledger remnants without bogging down. There’s enough torque to carry through a nail-laden section without stalling.
• Metals and plastics: For plumbing, it zipped through 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch copper and EMT with a fine-tooth blade, and PVC is basically effortless. For thicker steel or long sessions of metal cutting, I’d still grab a heavier, counterbalanced saw—this one can do it, but it’s not the point of the design.
• Outdoor pruning: With a coarse pruning blade, it handled small branches cleanly. The compact nose helps you sneak between branches where a chainsaw is overkill.

The variable-speed trigger is nicely linear. Starting a plunge cut in plywood or trimming a door jamb flush is easy because you can roll into the cut gently and still have enough top-end speed to finish quickly.

Vibration, noise, and control

All reciprocating saws shake, and compact ones without complex counterbalance systems tend to shake more. This one vibrates more than a heavy, full-size pro saw, but less than most bargain compacts I’ve used. On longer demo sessions, I noticed forearm fatigue, and my solution was simple: use sharp blades, keep the shoe planted, and let the stroke length do the work. Do that, and the vibration becomes manageable.

Noise is typical for the category. It’s not obnoxiously whiny, but hearing protection is still a must.

Runtime and batteries

This is a tool-only kit, so plan on pairing it with a 20V MAX battery you already own or budgeting for one. Runtime depends heavily on blade choice and material, but here’s a practical range from my use:

• With a 2.0Ah pack: plenty for a handful of plumbing cuts and small punch-list tasks; light and nimble.
• With a 5.0Ah pack: a much better fit for demo days—enough juice to work through a morning of mixed cuts without a battery swap.

Because the motor is brushed, it’s not as efficient as DeWalt’s brushless offerings. That shows up slightly in runtime and heat during prolonged cutting, but it also keeps the tool’s upfront cost down. If you value maximum efficiency for all-day demo, consider a brushless model; if you value compact reach and a lower buy-in, this one still delivers.

Durability and serviceability

Fit and finish are solid. The shoe pivot is tight with minimal wobble, the rubber overmold holds up to knocks, and the blade clamp hasn’t loosened up after frequent swaps. Brushed motors are simple to service if you ever need brushes replaced, though most users will never open the housing.

DeWalt backs it with a 3-year limited warranty, 1 year of free service, and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee, which aligns with my expectations for a pro-grade compact tool.

What I’d improve

• No orbital action: Great for finesse, but a selectable orbital mode would help it keep pace with larger saws in aggressive wood cuts.
• Vibration: Understandable for the size and class, yet a bit more counterbalancing would reduce fatigue on extended demo.
• Shoe adjustability: A telescoping shoe would extend blade life by letting you use fresh sections as the tip dulls.
• Tool-only confusion: The compact size makes it attractive to first-time buyers; the packaging and marketing should make “battery not included” unmissable. Plan accordingly.

None of these are deal-breakers in a compact recip saw whose primary job is to fit where others don’t. They’re simply the trade-offs you accept to gain the size and maneuverability benefits.

Best use cases

• Remodelers and carpenters working between studs, under toe kicks, and around fixtures
• Plumbers and electricians trimming pipe, conduit, and fasteners in tight bays
• Maintenance and facilities techs who need a nimble, cordless problem-solver
• Homeowners tackling bathroom updates, light demo, and yard pruning

If your work is mostly heavy demolition—cutting cast iron, thick steel, or running a saw all day—you’ll be happier with a heavier, counterbalanced, brushless model. If you regularly fight cramped spaces, this compact design pays for itself in the first project.

Practical tips

• Match the blade to the material; this saw’s performance swings dramatically with blade choice.
• Use the four-position clamp to your advantage—turn the blade sideways for cleaner flush cuts.
• Keep the shoe firmly planted to control vibration and reduce blade chatter.
• Favor 4.0–5.0Ah batteries for longer sessions; use 2.0Ah when you need to keep weight to a minimum.

Recommendation

I recommend this compact DeWalt recip saw for anyone who prioritizes access and control over raw cutting aggression. It’s short, easy to handle, and genuinely useful in places where a full-size saw is clumsy or impossible to maneuver. The four-position blade clamp and responsive trigger make it more versatile than most compact competitors, and while the brushed motor and lack of orbital action keep it from being a demolition monster, the trade-off nets a tool that’s reliable, affordable, and consistently handy. If you already own 20V MAX batteries and your work lives in tight spaces, add this saw to your kit with confidence.