DeWalt 20V MAX* XR Brushless Cordless Wire Mesh Cable Tray Cutter

First impressions

I’ve cut a lot of basket-style cable tray over the years, and the routine has usually involved bolt cutters for the cross wires and a grinder or hacksaw to clean up the stragglers. The DeWalt cable tray cutter immediately changed that rhythm. It’s a compact, right‑angle, brushless cutter that lives in one hand, with a head that swivels into position and a trigger that delivers consistent, repeatable cuts without sparks or a shower of burrs. Within a few minutes on carbon steel tray, I settled into a cadence that felt safer, cleaner, and—over a whole day—less tiring.

Build and ergonomics

At 4.7 pounds (tool only), the cutter strikes a good balance between heft and control. The grip and trigger are familiar if you’ve used any of DeWalt’s 20V MAX tools, and the right‑angle head keeps your wrist in a neutral position when you’re working overhead or along a wall. The 360° rotating head has four detent stops that click positively; I used all four at some point, especially when I needed to get flush with a rail without contorting my arm. The belt hook is sturdy, and there’s a lanyard point—a small thing that matters when you’re working at height.

Fit and finish are what I expect at this price: tight housing, clean machining on the die area, and a gearbox that never sounded strained. The brushless motor is quiet for a cutter; you’ll still want ear protection in echoey spaces, but it’s nowhere near as fatiguing as a grinder.

Cutting performance and capacity

This tool is built for wire mesh cable tray up to 1/4 inch (6 mm), in both carbon and stainless steel. In carbon steel wire, cuts land with a firm “thunk” and the material separation is clean. Stainless, especially at the upper end of the stated capacity, unsurprisingly takes more patience; cycle times don’t really change, but the head heats up faster and you’ll want to pace your cuts to keep everything cool. The 60 strokes per minute spec translates to roughly one cut per second, but in practice you’ll spend another second positioning the dies precisely on the next wire. On a typical 300 mm basket section, I was consistently faster than the old bolt cutter plus grinder routine, and more consistent.

What I appreciate most is that the tool’s automatic cycle end feature returns the dies to “open” after each cut. It sounds minor, but not having to feather the trigger to reset the head prevents jams and keeps your rhythm intact.

Cut quality and cleanup

The die geometry is the star here. On carbon steel, my cuts needed little to no filing—edges were slightly beveled instead of mushroomed or torn. On stainless, there’s usually a tiny lip, but it’s controlled and quick to knock down. Compared to using a grinder, there’s simply less cleanup, and because you’re not throwing sparks, you avoid the secondary mess and hot-work complications. If you’re the person who ends up filing every cut end so it won’t bite the cable jacket later, you’ll notice the difference immediately.

Access and control

The head rotation matters. I made flush cuts up against side rails that would have been awkward with straight cutters, and I could flip the head to keep the body of the tool out of the way of supports and hangers. There’s still a learning curve: sightlines can be partially blocked depending on head orientation, and you need to square the dies to the wire to avoid slight bias cuts. After a dozen cuts, muscle memory kicks in. The right‑angle format also makes overhead work more manageable because you aren’t lifting the entire tool straight up under your shoulder.

Speed and workflow

If you judge speed by single wire cuts, it doesn’t feel dramatic. Over an hour, though, the consistent pace, reduced rework, and not having to swap between tools add up. I moved faster when I planned my cut sequence—removing verticals before horizontals to keep the tray rigid while I worked. The tool’s 60 SPM rate is well matched to that kind of steady production. For rough demolition where burrs don’t matter and access is wide open, a grinder can still be faster in a straight line, but this cutter wins once you factor safety, cleanup, and proximity to live services.

Battery life and charging

The kit I used includes a 2.0 Ah 20V MAX battery and a compact charger. On that pack, I comfortably made it through a morning of intermittent cuts—layout, mark, trim, move—without swapping. If you’re doing continuous production cutting, plan on rotating batteries; a 5.0 Ah pack noticeably extends runtime and balances the tool fine. Charging is straightforward, though one note for teams outside North America: the included charger is a 120V model. If you’re on 240V mains, budget for a region‑specific charger rather than relying on adapters.

Safety, noise, and jobsite fit

The absence of sparks is a big deal in data centers, hospitals, and any site with strict hot‑work protocols. Noise is present but controlled, and there’s no abrasive dust. The automatic open at cycle end reduces pinch risk when you reposition. I clipped a lanyard to the integrated point for overhead work, and the tool hung predictably without flipping. There’s no onboard light; I didn’t miss it much, but a slim task light helps when you’re deep in racks.

Maintenance, dies, and service

The cutting dies are consumables. Carbon steel is easy on them; stainless will wear them faster. Swapping dies is simple with the included hex wrench, and I’d recommend keeping a spare set in the kit if you’re on a stainless-heavy job. One practical note from my experience: lead times for replacement dies can be longer than you’d like. Plan ahead and order early, especially if you’re gearing up for a large install. The tool itself has the expected DeWalt warranty package—three years limited, a year of free service, and a 90‑day satisfaction period—which aligns with the rest of the 20V MAX line.

For asset management, the housing accepts a Tool Connect chip, which is handy for larger fleets. It doesn’t change how the tool cuts, but it’s useful if you track high‑value specialty tools.

Value and who it’s for

This is a specialist’s tool. If you install or modify wire mesh tray regularly, the combination of cut quality, safety, and access makes it a strong value. For occasional users who only trim a few pieces a quarter, the price premium over manual cutters and a grinder is harder to justify—but consider the saved time on cleanup and the reduced risk around sensitive equipment. The included kit bag, belt hook, and compact charger make it genuinely portable; my only wish is that the kit shipped with a second battery for production work.

What I’d change

• Offer kits with higher‑capacity batteries for crews who cut all day.
• Improve die availability and communication on restock timing; pros will plan around it, but certainty matters.
• Consider a region‑appropriate charger in international kits to avoid surprises.
• A slim, integrated work light aimed at the die area would help in dark racks.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt cable tray cutter for electricians, low‑voltage installers, and anyone who spends real time with wire mesh tray. It cuts both carbon and stainless up to 1/4 inch cleanly, the rotating head solves awkward angles, and the automatic cycle end feature keeps you moving. Compared to the traditional bolt cutter and grinder combo, it’s safer, tidier, and more consistent, especially in sensitive environments. Budget for an extra battery if you’re in production mode, order spare dies ahead of time, and verify charger compatibility if you work on 240V. If those caveats fit your workflow, this tool will earn its spot in the kit and pay for itself in fewer burrs, fewer sparks, and fewer trips back to dress sharp edges.