DeWalt 60V MAX 16 in. Brushless Cordless Chainsaw

Why I reached for this saw

A windstorm dropped a mixed bag of limbs and a couple of small trees across my yard, and I used the DeWalt 60V chainsaw for everything from limbing to bucking 10–14 inch logs. The draw is obvious: pop in a FLEXVOLT battery, squeeze the trigger, and you’re cutting. No choke, no pull cord, no fumes. That convenience is real, and for a lot of jobs it’s enough to tip the scales away from gas.

What it is

This is a 16-inch, brushless, battery-powered chainsaw running on DeWalt’s 60V FLEXVOLT platform (tool-only; you’ll need your own battery and charger). It ships with a hard bar scabbard, uses a narrow-kerf .043-gauge chain with 56 drive links on a low-kickback 16-inch bar, and includes a chain brake, automatic oiler with a quarter-turn cap, and tool-free chain tensioning with a bar knob. The saw weighs about 14 pounds and spins the chain at a listed 15.24 m/s.

Setup and first cuts

Getting it ready is straightforward: fit the bar and chain, fill the oil, tension the chain, and you’re ready. The tool-free system makes the first-time setup unintimidating if you’re new to chainsaws. I like the quarter-turn oil cap; even gloved, it’s a quick on/off with a positive seal feel.

On first pass in softwood (pine and cypress limbs up to 10 inches), the saw was fast and predictable. The chain brake engages positively, and chain stop at trigger release is nearly instant—great for working around fences or when re-positioning.

Cutting performance

• Limbing and brush: Excellent. The balance and throttle response make it easy to dance through small branches without overshooting cuts.
• Small to mid logs: In 8–12 inch softwood, it moves quickly. In tougher hardwood (oak and eucalyptus in my case), it still works well but slows, as expected. Keep the chain sharp and let the saw do the work; forcing it doesn’t help.
• Full 16-inch bar bury: It will do it, but this is where battery draw and heat ramp up. Cutting technique matters—rocking the bar slightly and maintaining chain tension keeps productivity up.

The brushless motor has good torque for a cordless, and the chain speed is appropriate for a narrow-kerf setup. Where it can stumble is if you start with a loose chain or let it stretch mid-session; like most narrow-kerf chains, it settles quickly in the first few cuts. I learned to check tension after the first minute of cutting and again after five. The tool-free dial makes that painless, but it’s a habit you need to build with this saw.

Battery and runtime

Runtime is entirely dependent on the battery you bring to the party. With a 9Ah FLEXVOLT pack (which is 3Ah at 60V), I bucked a small felled tree (roughly a dozen cuts in 10–12 inch hardwood and a bunch of limbing) on a single charge, finishing with the pack nearly spent. Swapping to a smaller pack dramatically shortens the day; with a compact pack I got only a handful of crosscuts in dense hardwood before needing a recharge.

Expect heat management to enter the picture on aggressive work. After a sustained session in hardwood, one pack triggered a hot/cold delay on the charger and needed a cool-down window. That’s not unusual for cordless chainsaws, and planning for multiple batteries or forced cooling (shade, airflow) helps.

Practical runtime guidance:
- 6Ah FLEXVOLT (2Ah at 60V): yard cleanups and light limbing.
- 9Ah/12Ah FLEXVOLT (3–4Ah at 60V): storm cleanup and bucking mid-size logs with fewer interruptions.

Ergonomics and safety

At around 14 pounds, it’s not featherweight, but it’s well balanced for a 16-inch bar. The front handle is broad with a comfortable angle for side cuts. Vibration is modest compared to gas; you still feel it, but it’s far less fatiguing, especially on limbing runs. Sound levels are also much friendlier to neighbors—still loud enough to justify hearing protection, but not the roar you get from a comparable gas saw.

The chain brake is sensitive in a good way. I triggered it intentionally on awkward cuts and it engages cleanly. Kickback tendency with the low-kickback chain is low, though technique and awareness remain non-negotiable.

Oiling, tensioning, and general upkeep

The automatic oiler works; the bar stays wet. Oil consumption is on the high side compared to some pro saws, so I top off the reservoir with every battery swap. One operational quirk: the saw leaves a small oil puddle if stored with oil in the tank. After a few unplanned spots on the shop floor, I started draining the reservoir or parking the saw on an absorbent pad when it won’t see use for a while. That’s a common trait in chainsaws, but this one weeps more than I’d like.

The tool-free tensioner is convenient and fast. The tradeoff is that you must be disciplined. On heavy cutting, I had the chain slacken mid-session and hop off once when I ignored it. This isn’t unique to DeWalt’s system, but it’s worth underscoring: check tension early and often, particularly with a fresh chain. Keep the bar groove clean; sap and fines can accelerate stretch and mis-tensioning.

Sharpening the .043 narrow-kerf chain is straightforward with the right file guide. If you’d rather swap chains than sharpen on site, keep a spare pre-sharpened loop in the kit—56 drive links, 3/8 pitch, .043 gauge.

Reliability notes

My test unit ran without catastrophic issues, but I did push it into a hot cut situation once—aggressive ripping in dry hardwood—that produced a whiff of hot-oil smell and prompted me to let it cool. No harm done, but it reinforced the point: this is a homeowner/landowner saw, not a daily pro bucking rig. Treat it accordingly: moderate feed pressure, keep it sharp, clean the clutch cover frequently, and don’t ignore heat.

The build is largely robust, with a solid battery interface and a decent chain brake housing. The bar nut being integrated into the tensioning knob is handy, though plastic-heavy. DeWalt backs the saw with a 3-year limited warranty, a year of free service, and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee, which helps if your workload exposes a weak point.

What it’s best at

• Quick grab-and-go storm cleanups without waking the block
• Limbing and bucking logs up to about a foot in diameter
• Occasional property maintenance where convenience beats raw power
• Users already on FLEXVOLT who can leverage existing batteries

Where it falls short

• Oil management: oiler works but storage seepage is real; plan for it
• Heavy sustained hardwood cutting will stress runtime and heat
• Tool-free tensioning demands vigilance, especially with a new chain
• Tool-only purchase means batteries add significantly to the total cost if you’re not already on the platform

Tips to get the most from it

• Run quality bar oil and top it off with every battery change.
• Check chain tension after the first few cuts and periodically thereafter.
• Keep spare, sharp chains on hand; a sharp narrow-kerf chain makes a big difference.
• Let hot batteries cool before charging; rotate packs if you have them.
• Store the saw drained or on a drip tray to manage seepage.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt 60V chainsaw for homeowners and landowners who value cordless convenience and are already invested in FLEXVOLT. It’s a capable, quiet, and easy-to-use 16-inch saw that handles limbing and mid-size bucking with confidence, provided you bring enough battery and stay on top of chain tension. If your workday regularly includes sustained cuts in dense hardwood or you expect gas-saw duty cycles, you’ll outgrow it quickly; in that case, consider a higher-voltage battery saw or a gas model. For the intended use—quick starts, reliable power for yard cleanup, and fewer hassles than a carburetor—this saw earns a spot on the rack, with the caveat that you should plan for oil seepage and build a habit around tension and heat management.