DeWalt FLEXVOLT 60V MAX 16 in Brushless Cordless Chainsaw Kit

Why I picked up the DeWalt 60V 16-inch chainsaw

I wanted a cordless saw that could handle storm cleanup, limbing, and the occasional felling of small trees without the fuss of gas. The DeWalt 60V 16-inch chainsaw checked the right boxes on paper: a brushless motor, automatic oiling, tool-free chain tensioning, and DeWalt’s FLEXVOLT battery system that I already use with other tools. After several weeks of cutting hardwood and softwood around my property, I’ve got a clear sense of where it shines and where it needs care.

Setup and ergonomics

Out of the box, setup is straightforward: bar and chain install easily, the quarter-turn oil cap is glove-friendly, and the large side knob makes bar tension adjustments quick. DeWalt uses a combination tooled/toolless bar retention design—hand-tighten the large knob for fast adjustments, then give it a proper snug if you’re heading into heavier cuts. It’s a smart approach that helps prevent bar slip without making you hunt for a scrench every time.

The saw is a rear-handle design, and with the FLEXVOLT pack installed it balances well over the front handle. At about 13.2 lb without a battery, it lands in the mid-teens fully outfitted. It’s not featherweight, but the balance keeps it manageable during overhead limbing and waist-high bucking. Vibration is reasonable for a cordless saw, and noise is dramatically lower than gas—neighbors won’t glare at you for an early morning cleanup.

Cutting performance

With a 16-inch Oregon bar and a narrow-kerf .043-inch chain, this saw emphasizes efficiency. Chain speed is listed at about 15.24 m/s (roughly 50 ft/s), which isn’t pro-saw fast, but with the narrow kerf and a sharp chain it bites well. In practice, it handled:

• Limbing and trimming: effortless. This is where the saw absolutely shines—precise throttle, instant start, and clean cuts.
• Firewood bucking: very capable up to about 12 inches in hardwood. I cut oak and maple rounds in the 8–12 inch range and the saw kept pace, only slowing when I leaned too hard into the cut.
• Small felling: on softwoods in the 8–10 inch diameter range, it’s confident; in denser hardwoods at 12–14 inches, it’s more of a patient cut. Let the chain do the work and it stays efficient.

Kickback control is good for its class. The low-kickback chain and the mechanical chain brake provide appropriate safety for a mid-size homeowner saw. I appreciate the brake’s positive click and fast stop—it’s crisp and reassuring.

Battery life and the FLEXVOLT platform

The kit includes a single 3.0 Ah FLEXVOLT battery (that rating is at 60V; it corresponds to 9.0 Ah when used on 20V MAX tools). In energy terms, you’re getting roughly 180 Wh. Under steady cutting on small- to mid-diameter wood, that’s enough for a good round of work—think a pile of limbs and a handful of 8–10 inch rounds. If you’re ripping through dense hardwood or burying the bar frequently, expect run time to drop quickly; that’s true of any cordless saw.

For property owners who want to spend a full afternoon cutting, I’d recommend adding a second FLEXVOLT battery—ideally a high-capacity pack (9.0Ah/20V or 12.0Ah/20V). The platform compatibility is a genuine advantage: the included pack also powers 20V MAX tools, and your 20V MAX packs can run the saw in pinch mode (albeit at 20V—best reserved for light trimming).

Thermal management is reasonable. In extended heavy bucking, I triggered a thermal slowdown once; a short pause and a fresh battery reset things. That’s a good reminder that cordless saws reward sharp chains, correct bar oiling, and steady pressure more than brute force.

Chain tensioning and bar retention

The tool-free chain tensioner is one of the better ones I’ve used. It holds tension reliably across a session, and the large adjuster is easy to manipulate with gloves. The combination retention system—hand knob plus the option to fully clamp—gives confidence that the bar won’t creep. My routine is to set tension cold, re-check after the first few cuts (new chains stretch), then lock it down for the heavier work.

A note on the chain spec: it’s a 3/8-inch pitch, .043-inch gauge, 56 drive links. Knowing that makes reordering chains and swapping to a spare seamless. I recommend keeping a sharp spare on hand to swap mid-session; it’s the single best way to keep performance snappy.

Oiling and maintenance

The automatic oiler flows appropriately in use, and the quarter-turn cap is one of the easiest oil caps to open and close with grimy gloves. During cutting, oiling was consistent on my unit—no dry chain, no blueing on the bar. After storage, though, it will weep bar oil. That’s not unique to this saw, but it’s noticeable if you store it indoors.

A few habits that helped:
- Fill the tank right before you cut; don’t store it brim-full.
- If it’s going to sit for weeks, drain the tank and run the saw briefly to clear the oil path.
- Store it on a drip mat or cardboard, bar-side down.

These steps kept mess to a minimum and ensured immediate chain lubrication when I pulled it back out.

Safety, controls, and usability

The trigger lockout is well placed—secure without being fussy. The chain brake is responsive, and the inertia activation feels appropriately tuned. Starting is instant: slide in the battery, disengage the brake, pull the trigger. No choke, no pull-cord, no exhaust. For intermittent work around a property, that start-stop convenience is a meaningful quality-of-life upgrade over gas.

One small nitpick: the bucking spikes are modest compared to a pro saw’s metal dogs. They’re fine for controlling the cut on small- to mid-size limbs, but they won’t bite as aggressively when you’re levering through thick hardwood. That’s a reasonable trade-off in this class.

Durability and service

Build quality is good for a mid-tier cordless saw—solid plastics, decent sealing around the electronics, and a robust bar mount. I make a habit of blowing sawdust out of the sprocket area and around the motor housing after each session; these tools live hard lives mixing fine dust and oil, so basic housekeeping pays off.

DeWalt backs the saw with a 3-year limited warranty, a year of free service, and a 90-day money-back guarantee. My advice: register the tool, run it hard in the first few weeks to surface any defects, and keep your receipt handy. If you’re in a remote area, factor in the inconvenience of shipping to a service center—plan your purchase timing so you can exercise that 90-day return window if needed.

Where it fits

This isn’t a replacement for a 50cc pro gas saw. It’s more akin to a competent 35–40cc homeowner saw with the huge upside of quiet operation, no fuel mixing, and simple storage. For storm cleanup, regular pruning, trimming firewood to stove length, and felling small to medium trees, it hits a sweet spot. If you already own DeWalt gear, the FLEXVOLT synergy is a major plus.

If your days involve bucking cords of hardwood or cutting above 14 inches routinely, you’ll want either a higher-voltage cordless saw with multiple high-capacity batteries or a gas saw for sustained heavy work.

The bottom line

The DeWalt 60V 16-inch chainsaw is a capable, user-friendly cordless saw with enough power for serious homeowner tasks and the right features to make ownership simple: tool-free tensioning, automatic oiling, a reliable chain brake, and a battery system that plays nicely with the rest of the DeWalt lineup. It’s best paired with at least one additional high-capacity FLEXVOLT battery if you intend to do extended cutting. Keep the chain sharp, mind the oil, and store it smartly to avoid the typical drip you get with many auto-oiled saws.

Recommendation: I recommend it for homeowners and landowners who value convenience, lower noise, and cross-compatibility with DeWalt tools. It delivers clean cuts, predictable handling, and an overall pleasant cutting experience. If you’re a heavy firewood cutter or you demand pro-level endurance in a single battery, plan on extra batteries—or consider a different class of saw.