DeWalt 20V MAX XR Versa-Clutch Adjustable Torque Screwgun (Tool Only)

Why I reached for this screwgun

I spend a lot of time fastening metal—roof panels, trim, and structural connections where consistency matters more than brute force. After years of making do with a drill/driver or suffering through the racket of an impact driver, I wanted something purpose-built for driving self-drillers into steel and setting fasteners on delicate, painted surfaces without the constant fear of overdriving. That’s where this DeWalt screwgun has earned a spot in my kit.

Design, size, and first impressions

Out of the box, the DeWalt screwgun feels solid without being burdensome. At about 3.4 pounds bare and roughly nine inches front to back, it’s compact on paper. In practice, the front end and nose geometry make it feel longer than the measurements suggest, especially once you add a bit or a nut driver. Working between a ladder and a steel wall panel, or reaching over a parapet, I noticed the extra reach. It’s not unwieldy, but it’s something to keep in mind if you regularly work in tight chases or around crowded framing.

The grip is familiar DeWalt—comfortable, with a trigger that’s easy to feather. One quirk: the forward/reverse rocker is very close to where my thumb naturally lands when I choke up for precision. A couple of times early on, I bumped it and spun a fastener the wrong way. Adjusting my grip solved it, but I’d prefer a slightly more recessed switch for a tool that’s used one-handed on ladders.

You get a belt hook (reversible), a 1/4-inch hex drive, and a lanyard-ready tether point. That last item matters if you install overhead or work at height where drops are a real risk. The built-in LED is bright enough to find screw heads in shadow, though like most base-mounted LEDs, it can throw a bit of glare off shiny panels at certain angles.

Versa-Clutch: the reason to buy it

DeWalt’s Versa-Clutch is the star here. Instead of a binary “on or off” e-clutch or a typical drill clutch that slips unpredictably as screws seat, the Versa-Clutch gives you a broad, finely adjustable range. I set it using a scrap piece of material—two or three test drives to dial in the torque so the washer compresses without biting the paint or deforming the panel. After that, it’s rinse and repeat. On a day of installing fasteners on new metal roofing, the consistency is exactly what I’m after. You can feel the clutch give just as the fastener reaches depth, and you don’t get the chatter or hammering you’d hear from an impact.

This control is particularly valuable on painted steel. With a drill/driver, the jump from “almost there” to “too much” can be one hair of trigger pull. With this screwgun, the window is wider. I also like that I can feather the trigger into seating and the clutch picks up at the same point every time once it’s set.

Speed and driving performance

Top speed is 2,000 RPM, which is right in the sweet spot for #8–#14 self-drillers in light to medium-gauge steel. The brushless motor keeps that speed under load better than brushed screwguns I’ve used in the past, and it doesn’t heat up as quickly on longer runs. Pair it with a quality magnetic nut driver or a #2 Phillips for Tek screws, and it drives fasteners decisively without cam-out.

It won’t match the blistering RPM of a drywall screwgun (often 4,000+), and that’s fine—this isn’t built for drywall strips. For metal fastening, 2,000 RPM is a good compromise between speed and control. If your work leans heavily toward very thin sheet with tiny screws, the extra RPM of a drywall-specific gun might be marginally faster, but you’ll give up the torque control that keeps paint intact and washers seated.

Noise is another plus. Compared to an impact driver, this tool is much quieter and far less fatiguing over a full day. Jobsite neighbors will appreciate it, and your ears will too.

Runtime and batteries

This tool is sold bare, so you’ll need a 20V MAX pack and charger. I ran it mostly with a 4.0Ah battery, which balances well and offers a good day’s worth of intermittent fastening. As a rough guide, expect several hundred self-drillers per charge depending on gauge, screw size, and how long you’re running the motor before the clutch picks up. A 2.0Ah pack keeps the overall weight down and is fine for service work or punch lists, but I prefer 4.0Ah or a compact 5.0Ah on production days. The brushless motor is efficient, and I never felt the tool was the battery hog that high-RPM drywall guns can be.

Ergonomics and handling in the real world

• Balance: With a 4Ah pack, it’s neutral to slightly tail-heavy, easy to keep square to the work.
• Length: The perceived length is the main ergonomic drawback. Inside a steel building, between girts or tight to a corner, I occasionally wished for a shorter nose.
• Switch layout: The near-trigger forward/reverse rocker is easy to hit by accident until muscle memory kicks in. If you wear gloves, be deliberate with your grip.
• LED and visibility: Useful for shadowed seams. The light isn’t a game-changer, but I miss it when it’s off.
• Belt hook and tether: Both are practical; the hook holds well on a pouch without the tool twisting off.

Application sweet spots

Where it shines:
- Metal roofing and siding where you need consistent washer compression and clean finishes
- Light- to medium-gauge steel framing, purlins, and channel
- HVAC and electrical installs where you’re fastening to sheet or strut without wanting to mark or distort the surface
- Any environment where impact noise is a nuisance

Where it’s less ideal:
- Drywall production work (RPM ceiling is lower than drywall guns)
- Deep, tight cavities where a shorter head would reach more comfortably
- Heavy structural screws or lagging, which are better suited to an impact or high-torque driver

Durability, service, and bits

So far, it’s shrugged off typical jobsite abuse—dust, occasional bumps, and lots of starts and stops. The 1/4-inch hex chuck holds bits positively and hasn’t developed wobble. Keep your nut drivers fresh; worn magnets or rounded sockets will sabotage the clutch’s precision. I recommend marking your common Versa-Clutch settings with a paint pen for different fastener types (for example, #10 screws into 20-gauge vs. #14 into 16-gauge) to speed up changeovers. The 3-year limited warranty (with 1-year free service and 90-day satisfaction period) is standard DeWalt and adds some peace of mind.

Compared to using a drill or impact

• Versus a drill/driver: This screwgun wins on repeatability and speed for metal fasteners. A drill can do the job, but you’ll overdrive more often and spend more time babysitting the trigger.
• Versus an impact driver: Far quieter, far less risk of marring finishes or crushing washers. Impacts are more universal and will drive bigger fasteners, but they’re overkill for sheet metal and noisy to boot.

Quibbles and wish list

• I’d love a slightly shorter front end or a compact variant with a shorter nose.
• A more recessed or firmer forward/reverse rocker would reduce accidental bumps.
• The LED could be positioned to reduce glare on glossy paint at shallow angles.

None of these are deal-breakers, but they’re worth noting if your work is primarily in cramped runs.

Bottom line and recommendation

The DeWalt screwgun is a purpose-built, controlled-driving tool that does exactly what metal installers, roofers, and MEP trades need: set fasteners quickly and repeatedly without overdriving. The Versa-Clutch is accurate, the brushless motor is efficient, and the overall package is easy to live with across a long day. It’s not the shortest screwgun in its class, and the forward/reverse switch placement takes some acclimation, but those are manageable trade-offs.

I recommend this tool for anyone who regularly drives self-drilling screws into steel or installs finished metal panels where appearance matters. If you’re coming from a drill/driver or an impact, you’ll notice immediate improvements in consistency, finish quality, and noise. If your work is mostly drywall or you need the most compact head possible for tight cavities, you might look at a dedicated drywall gun or a shorter-body alternative. For metal fastening, though, this screwgun earns its keep.