DeWalt 16 in. Brushless Cordless Chainsaw and Handheld Blower Kit

Why I reached for this kit

After a windstorm dumped a tangle of limbs across my yard, I reached for the DeWalt 60V chainsaw and blower kit. I wanted a simple, no-gas setup I could haul around without ear protection or mixing fuel, but with enough punch to buck 10–14 in. hardwood and move heavy, damp debris. This kit promises exactly that: a 16 in. brushless chainsaw, a handheld blower with a speed lock and concentrator nozzle, and a FLEXVOLT 9.0 Ah battery that runs both.

Setup and ergonomics

Out of the box, the chainsaw takes just a few minutes to set up. The tool-free chain tensioner and combination bar knob make mounting and dialing in the 16 in. Oregon bar and .043 gauge, 1/4 in. pitch chain straightforward. The auto-oiler has a quarter-turn cap I can work with gloves on, and the hard bar cover is a welcome touch when I toss it in the truck.

In hand, the saw is well balanced once the big battery is snapped in. It’s not featherlight, but it’s manageable for overhead limbing and comfortable for waist-height bucking. The handles have enough contour and grip, and the chain brake feels positive. It’s quieter than a small gas saw—still not “quiet,” but approachable for suburban cleanup.

The blower is similarly simple. The trigger is progressive, the speed lock is exactly what you want for long stretches, and the concentrator nozzle tips the balance toward air speed when you need to push stuck material.

Cutting performance

For capacity, the 16 in. bar is a sweet spot. I bucked a stack of mixed hardwood—mostly oak and maple—in the 8–12 in. range and made a handful of cuts on 14 in. rounds. The brushless motor digs in confidently. It’s not a full-size pro gas saw, but it maintains chain speed through most of a cut if I let the teeth do the work and keep the chain sharp. With green wood, it rips clean chips and clears them well; in dry hardwood, it’s more sensitive to pressure, and pushing past the saw’s power band slows it down.

A few notes on technique with this saw:
- Keep the chain sharp and let it eat. The narrow-kerf .043 chain rewards a light but steady feed rate.
- The low-kickback chain and 1/4 in. pitch are stable for limbing and controlled cuts. For aggressive ripping, it’s capable but prefers sharp, properly filed cutters.
- Plunge cuts are doable with a careful start; the saw brakes and restarts crisply.

Noise is lower than gas, with a high electric whine at full load. Vibration is tame. The saw feels most at home limbing and bucking in the 6–12 in. range; it will take on larger, but you’ll work more deliberately.

Runtime, battery, and charging

The FLEXVOLT 9.0 Ah battery is the heart of the kit. On a single charge I limbed an entire small tree and bucked roughly a dozen 10–12 in. hardwood rounds, with a bit of charge left for cleanup cuts. The usual caveats apply—harder wood, duller chain, and heavier cuts draw more power. For property owners, a battery per session is realistic; for bigger sessions, I’d want a second FLEXVOLT on hand.

Charging is straightforward with the included charger. It’s not lightning fast with a pack this size, but it’s predictable, and the FLEXVOLT compatibility across 20V and 60V tools is a big value add if you’re already in the system.

Chain tension, oiling, and heat

Chains stretch—especially new ones—and this saw is no exception. I tightened the chain after the first few cuts and checked it every 15–20 minutes during the first outing. The tool-free adjuster makes quick work of it, but it’s worth taking the time to set tension correctly: snug enough that the drive links stay engaged and the chain snaps back, but not so tight you’re binding the bar.

The auto-oiling system fed consistently, and the quarter-turn cap is one of those small quality-of-life features I appreciate. Using a proper bar and chain oil (not something thin) kept fling under control. I stored the saw with the cap up and didn’t see any drips.

Heat management is worth calling out. Around the drive sprocket and chain brake area, there’s a lot happening in a compact space. When I pushed the saw continuously in hardwood, the side cover got noticeably warm. That’s normal to a point, but it’s a reminder:
- Keep the bar groove and oil port clean.
- Don’t run the chain too tight.
- Let the saw cool after heavy, continuous cuts.
- Make sure oil is flowing and the reservoir isn’t running low.

Follow those basics and the saw stays happier, longer.

The blower: more than a throw-in

This isn’t just a tagalong tool. The handheld blower moves 423 CFM and 129 MPH in its standard configuration, and the flat concentrator nozzle bumps air speed up to 175 MPH. In practice, I used the wide tip for patios and dry leaves, then clipped on the concentrator to push heavy, damp debris and move matted pine needles from turf. The variable trigger is precise, and the speed lock saves your grip during long stretches.

It’s comfortable to carry for a full battery’s worth of work. For the average driveway, sidewalk, and deck cleanup, one FLEXVOLT charge is plenty. Noise is a steady whoosh rather than an angry whine, which neighbors appreciate.

Durability and serviceability

The saw’s build mixes metal and reinforced plastic, which is standard for cordless units. The bar, chain, and tensioning assembly are accessible and easy to maintain. Chains for the 16 in., 56-drive-link, .043 gauge setup are common, and the Oregon bar is straightforward to replace or flip when it wears.

Brushless motors are generally robust, and I didn’t experience any stalling beyond the expected electronic protection when I pinched the bar. That protection kicked in, I cleared the bind, and the saw restarted. As with any battery saw, throw a brush, scraper, and a spare chain in the case. Clean chips out from under the side cover and around the sprocket, and this platform holds up well.

The warranty—3-year limited, 1-year free service, and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee—adds a bit of confidence. If you work the saw hard or daily, I’d register it immediately and keep a maintenance log.

What I liked

• Practical power in a cordless package; handles 6–12 in. hardwood confidently
• Excellent ergonomics and balance with the 9.0 Ah pack
• Tool-free tensioning and a glove-friendly quarter-turn oil cap
• Predictable auto-oiling with minimal mess when stored cap-up
• Blower is genuinely useful: precise trigger, speed lock, and effective concentrator nozzle
• FLEXVOLT battery value if you’re already on DeWalt 20V/60V tools
• Hard bar cover and overall kit cohesion

What could be better

• Chain tension needs frequent checks early on; the narrow-kerf setup is sensitive to stretch
• Heat builds around the clutch/side cover under sustained heavy cuts; maintenance and cool-down matter
• One battery in the kit means you’re swapping between tools unless you own additional packs
• Blower’s CFM is mid-pack; great on hard surfaces, less ideal for deep leaf piles across large lawns

Who it’s for

• Homeowners who want a capable, low-fuss saw for storm cleanup, firewood in the 6–12 in. range, and regular pruning
• Pros who need a quiet, clean saw for trim work, punch lists, and interior/exterior jobsites where gas is a hassle
• Anyone already invested in DeWalt FLEXVOLT who can leverage the 9.0 Ah pack across tools

If you’re regularly felling large hardwoods or cutting all day, a bigger cordless platform or a mid-size gas saw still has the edge in sustained power and heat management. For most property tasks, this kit strikes a smart balance.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt 60V chainsaw and blower kit for users who value convenience, solid cutting performance up to 16 in., and a well-thought-out ecosystem. The chainsaw is at its best in limbing and mid-diameter bucking with proper tension and lubrication habits, and the blower is far more than a box-checking add-on. Add a second FLEXVOLT battery and you have a flexible, quiet, and capable yard-care combo that replaces a surprising amount of gas work without the maintenance overhead.