DeWalt 20 in. 3/8 in. LP Pitch, 0.050 in. Gauge Saw Chain

Why I chose this chain

I swapped the stock chain on my 60V, 20-inch DeWalt saw for the DeWalt 20-inch LP chain and put it through a month of yard cleanup, storm blowdown, and a steady diet of firewood. I wanted a chain that would stay predictable as the day went on, manage kickback risk on awkward cuts, and not punish the battery too much. On paper, this one checks those boxes: 3/8 in. low-profile pitch, 0.050 in. gauge, semi-chisel cutters, and DeWalt’s low-kickback features. In practice, it’s a well-mannered chain that rewards decent maintenance and clean wood—with a few caveats if you’re working in debris-laden conditions.

Fit and setup

This chain is built for 20-inch bars in the 3/8 in. LP, 0.050 in. standard and drops right onto DeWalt’s 60V 20-inch platform (notably the DCCS677). If you’re mounting it to a different bar, match the bar specs and drive link count stamped on your bar—don’t guess. Initial install was straightforward, and like most new chains, it stretched a bit during the first tank (battery pack, in my case). Expect to re-tension after the first few cuts and again after the first 10–15 minutes. Once settled, tension held well over an afternoon of cutting.

Cutting performance

The semi-chisel cutter profile is the star here. It’s slightly slower than a full-chisel chain in clean, green softwood, but it makes up for that with consistency and forgiveness when the cut gets less than ideal. In seasoned hardwood rounds up to about 16 inches, the chain pulled smoothly with minimal chatter and didn’t bog my saw unnecessarily. It’s not a race chain, but the cut quality stays more uniform as the edge wears, which matters more to me on a long day than peak speed in the first ten minutes.

Where I noticed the most benefit was cross-cutting windfall and limbing in awkward positions. The chain’s ramped depth gauges temper the bite, so it doesn’t grab hard when you accidentally rotate your wrist or enter a knot at a strange angle. Plunge cuts were uneventful, and bore starts felt controllable.

Vibration and kickback control

DeWalt leans into low-kickback design on this chain. The ramped rakers and the overall low-profile geometry reduce the chain’s tendency to take a deep, sudden bite, and it shows. Vibration levels at the handles stayed low, especially compared with more aggressive full-chisel chains I’ve run on gas saws. If you’re cutting for long sessions or working in brush where the bar tip can get crowded, that calmer behavior pays off. It still requires proper technique and respect for the bar tip—no chain removes kickback risk—but the predictability is noticeable.

Lubrication and bar life

The Centri-Lube channeling built into the drive links does help oil distribution. After several cuts you can see a uniform oil sheen on the bar rails and good oil throw off the tip. I didn’t have to crank the oiler to maximum to keep the bar cool; the wear pattern on the rails stayed even, and the chain didn’t blue or burn at the rivets. For battery saws where you’re balancing oil use against runtime and mess in a truck bed, more efficient oiling is a plus. Still, keep an eye on your oiler settings—flattened rails and dry noses are operator errors more than chain faults.

Edge retention and sharpening

Semi-chisel cutters are more forgiving when the wood isn’t pristine, which is exactly why I prefer them for yard workloads. In clean logs, I got several battery packs before the chain needed more than a light touch-up. In storm cleanup with gritty bark and hidden dirt, it dulled faster—as most chains do—with the leading corners rounding off and cut speed dropping. If you’re working in debris, expect to touch up more often. That’s not a flaw of this chain; it’s the reality of abrasive material.

Sharpening was straightforward. A 5/32-inch round file fits this 3/8 in. low-profile chain, and I kept rakers at around 0.025 inch using a depth gauge tool. The cutters take a clean edge without fuss, and the semi-chisel profile is easier to keep consistent for DIY filers than square-ground or aggressive full-chisel designs. After two hand filings and one machine grind, the chain still tracked straight with no tendency to pull left or right, which tells me the rivets and chassis are holding alignment well.

Battery efficiency

A calm, low-kickback chain often feels slower, but the trade-off can be efficiency. I noticed slightly better battery life versus a comparable, more aggressive full-chisel chain—likely because the saw wasn’t fighting through chatter or recovering from overbites. If you’re counting cuts per charge, that smoothness helps keep amp draw in check.

Durability

Rivets stayed tight, no cracking in the tie straps, and no stretch beyond normal break-in and wear. I did nick a rock while bucking a root ball; after a full resharpen and depth gauge reset, the chain returned to true. That’s the advantage of a semi-chisel: it tolerates small mistakes without instantly turning into a noodle. That said, constant contact with dirt or sand will eat any chain. If cleanup is your primary use case, consider rotating two or three chains and a pocket file in the field.

Safety and standards

This chain meets ANSI low-kickback requirements. That’s not marketing fluff—it correlates with the calmer cutting behavior I experienced. Still, standard PPE and techniques apply: chain brake checked, stance set, bar tip awareness, and keeping the chain sharp to avoid forcing cuts.

Value, warranty, and availability

For a branded replacement chain, the price is reasonable, especially with DeWalt’s limited warranty and 90-day satisfaction window. Warranty on a wear part like a chain mostly covers manufacturing defects, not normal wear, but it’s good to know support is there. My only gripe is availability. I had to check more than one store to find this specific configuration in stock. If you rely on the 20-inch 3/8 in. LP, 0.050 in. spec, I’d buy at least one spare when you find it. The good news is that 3/8 in. LP, 0.050 in. is a common standard, so alternatives exist if you’re in a bind—just match the drive link count on your bar.

Who it’s for

• Owners of DeWalt’s 60V 20-inch saw who want a predictable, low-kickback chain that pairs well with a battery platform.
• Homeowners and property managers who split time between clean firewood and general yard work.
• DIY sharpeners who appreciate a forgiving semi-chisel profile.
• Anyone prioritizing smoothness and control over maximum cut aggressiveness.

If you’re a production cutter in clean timber and you live for speed, you may prefer a full-chisel chain and accept the higher kickback potential and more frequent touch-ups. For everyone else, the balance here makes sense.

Tips for best results

• Tension after the first few cuts; new chains settle quickly.
• Keep a 5/32-inch file and a depth gauge tool in your kit; touch up before the edge is dead dull.
• Avoid cutting dirt—roll logs or brush them off; rotate chains in gritty conditions.
• Verify bar oiling; the Centri-Lube channels help, but they can’t fix a dry bar.
• Check your bar’s drive link stamp and match it when ordering spares.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt 20-inch LP chain for users who value smooth, predictable cutting and easy maintenance on a 20-inch, 3/8 in. low-profile, 0.050 in. setup—especially on DeWalt’s 60V 20-inch saw. It’s not the fastest option in clean wood, but it stays controllable, sharpens easily, oils well thanks to the drive-link channels, and keeps vibration in check. If your work involves occasional storm cleanup or mixed-quality material, the semi-chisel design maintains performance better than full-chisel options. Just plan on more frequent touch-ups in gritty conditions and consider buying a spare ahead of time, as stock can be spotty. For the majority of homeowners and landowners, this chain hits the right balance of safety, consistency, and value.