DeWalt 20V MAX 8 in. Brushless Cordless Pruning Chainsaw (Tool Only)

A pruning saw this compact changes how often I reach for a chainsaw. The DeWalt 8-inch pruner lives on a hook by my back door, and it’s become the first tool I grab for storm cleanup, limbing, and trimming chores that used to require firing up a gas saw. It’s lightweight, it starts with a trigger pull, and it’s surprisingly capable—within clear limits.

Design and handling

This is a small saw with a proper rear-handle layout, not a toy. Bare weight is about 4.6 lbs; add a 5Ah 20V pack and it still feels nimble. The balance with a 4Ah or 5Ah battery is right where I like it—neutral enough for precise cuts overhead or waist-high, with minimal wrist fatigue after an hour of intermittent work.

DeWalt includes an integrated tip guard on the 8-inch bar. Two things to know about that: it stabilizes upcuts nicely and helps control kickback in awkward positions, but it also limits how you approach larger limbs. If you’re used to rolling the nose into an undercut, the guard gets in the way. Top-down cuts are the sweet spot; you can still undercut, just expect to change your technique a bit.

The controls are familiar to anyone who’s used modern cordless chainsaws. There’s a safety lockout button that requires a deliberate grip to engage the trigger. It’s a touch stiff and forces a true two-handed hold, which I don’t mind on a tool like this, especially when you’re reaching into crowded canopies. You also get an onboard wrench, so quick chain tensioning doesn’t mean pocketing extra tools. The included bar sheath is snug and functional.

Cutting performance

For its size, the pruner cuts with confidence. The brushless motor spins an 8-inch, .043-gauge, 3/8 low-profile chain at a respectable pace. On green hardwood and softwood limbs in the 2–5 inch range, it tracks cleanly and doesn’t chatter so long as the chain is sharp and properly tensioned. It’ll take on 6-inch branches—that’s about the practical limit—and it’s happiest when you let the chain do the work. Lean into it and you’ll bog it, just like any compact saw.

Where this saw shines is control. The short bar and low weight let you make precise pruning cuts without wrestling the tool, and the tip guard actually helps when you’re working from below a limb to avoid pinching. On downed limbs and tree tops, I’ve been able to snake the bar into tight crotches and clear bind-prone spots more safely than with a larger 12- or 14-inch saw.

Cross-cutting small bundles of lumber and pallet stock is well within its wheelhouse. It’s not a millisecond sprinter, but it’s consistent. If you need to process a pile of 3–4 inch oak or fir, it’s quick enough that the convenience outweighs any slight speed penalty versus a larger bar.

Runtime and power

Runtime depends heavily on how aggressive your cuts are and the density of the wood, but I’ve had good results. With a 5.0Ah 20V battery, I typically clear a yard’s worth of stormfall—dozens of 2–4 inch cuts, plus a handful at 5–6 inches—on a single pack with charge left. Keep a second battery on the charger and you can work continuously with short breaks to swap packs and oil.

The brushless motor is efficient and doesn’t seem to draw excessive current unless you bind the bar. Letting the saw come to speed before entering the cut and easing off as you near the pinch point helps both battery life and motor temps. As with any small saw, a sharp chain is non-negotiable. Touch it up regularly and you’ll maintain cutting speed and avoid overworking the motor.

Oiling and maintenance

The pruner has automatic chain oiling, and you do need to fill the reservoir before first use—bar oil is not included. The system works, but it’s the fussiest part of the tool. I’ve seen it run a bit wet on clean, dry cuts and then go light when the oil outlet starts collecting fine sawdust. A quick poke with a zip tie or small brush clears the port and restores flow. I recommend checking the bar groove and oil channel every time you tension the chain.

Two practical tips:
- Seat the oil cap carefully. If it’s even slightly cross-threaded, you’ll find a small puddle on the shelf later.
- Expect some seepage during storage. That’s common across small saws; I store mine with the bar down on a rag and the reservoir only partially filled if it’s going to sit.

The nose sprocket on the 8-inch bar lacks a grease port, so keep the tip clean and avoid pushing the nose into dirt. With light-duty pruning, the bar has held up fine. Tensioning is straightforward with the onboard wrench. Like all chains, this one stretches on the first few cuts—check tension after a minute of running and again mid-session.

Durability and weather

The build feels solid for a compact saw. The housing, trigger, and guards are tight, and I haven’t noticed flex in the bar mount. One important caveat: this is not a weatherproof tool. I keep it out of rain and don’t store it in damp conditions. After extended sessions, the motor gets warm but not alarming; give it a minute of rest if you’ve just muscled through a large cut or freed a bind.

As with any small brushless chainsaw, avoid sustained stalls. If you hear the motor labor, back off, clear the kerf, or change your cutting angle. Abuse will shorten the life of the electronics faster than anything else.

DeWalt’s warranty is a safety net—3-year limited, 1-year free service, 90-day satisfaction—but day to day, most longevity comes down to keeping the chain sharp, the oiler flowing, and the bar out of dirt.

Where it fits (and where it doesn’t)

• Ideal for: pruning trees and shrubs, limbing storm-downed limbs, trimming firewood tops in the 2–5 inch range, cutting small bundles or pallet stock, and any job where you want a one-hand-positionable saw but will keep a two-handed grip.
• Acceptable for: occasional 6-inch cuts with patient technique.
• Not ideal for: wet conditions, frequent undercut-heavy work where the tip guard interferes, or bucking larger firewood logs. If you regularly cut 8–10 inch material, a 12–16 inch saw will be faster and less stressful on the tool.

Pros

• Compact, very controllable, and genuinely light
• Brushless motor provides steady cutting and good runtime
• Tip guard improves upcut stability and reduces kickback risk
• Onboard wrench makes chain tensioning quick
• Cordless convenience eliminates fuel mixing and pull starts

Cons

• Auto-oiler can be inconsistent; outlet needs periodic clearing
• Oil cap is easy to mis-seat and can leak if not perfect
• Safety lockout is stiff and requires a deliberate two-handed grip
• Tip guard limits certain undercut approaches
• Tool-only: you’ll need DeWalt 20V batteries and a charger

Practical setup tips

• Use a medium-weight bar oil and “prime” the bar: run the chain for a few seconds after filling to confirm oil flow.
• Re-tension the chain after the first few cuts of a session; a loose chain on a short bar robs power fast.
• Keep a nylon brush or compressed air handy to clear the oil port and bar groove.
• Carry a second 4Ah or 5Ah battery for uninterrupted work.
• Avoid cutting in the rain, and store the saw dry with a rag under the bar to catch seepage.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt 8-inch pruner for homeowners, property managers, and pros who want a compact, capable pruning saw within the DeWalt 20V ecosystem. It’s genuinely handy, cuts cleanly up to about 6 inches, and reduces fatigue compared with larger saws. The convenience factor is real: grab a battery, add oil, and you’re working in seconds.

The caveats—an occasionally finicky oiler, an oil cap that requires attention, and a safety lock that some will find stiff—are manageable with basic maintenance and habit. If your work is mostly light-to-medium pruning and limbing, this tool earns its spot. If you regularly cut larger hardwoods or need a weatherproof jobsite saw, step up in bar size and duty class. For what it’s designed to do, this pruner is a practical, confidence-inspiring choice.