DeWalt 20V MAX XR Cordless Jig Saw Kit

I reached for the 20V DeWalt jigsaw on a kitchen remodel where I needed fast, clean cuts in cabinet-grade plywood and a handful of precise scribe cuts across oak trim. Over a couple of weeks, it became the saw I kept on the bench—compact, confident, and simple to set up for whatever came next.

Design and ergonomics

This is a compact, top‑handle jigsaw with a brushless motor and a body that fits naturally in the hand. At 4.6 lbs for the tool, it balances well with the included 5.0Ah pack. The overmold feels secure without being tacky, and the center of gravity sits far enough forward that I could guide the shoe with a light touch while the saw did the work. Sightlines to the blade are clear, and the combination of LED and integrated blower keeps the cut line visible.

The bevel shoe is all metal, tool‑free, and has solid detents at 0°, 15°, 30°, with a positive stop at 45°. The detents feel positive and repeatable—in practice that meant I could swing to 45°, lock, make the cut, and swing back to 0° without second-guessing whether I’d truly returned to square. The no‑mar shoe cover is a welcome touch when working on pre‑finished faces; it stayed put and prevented gray marks on lacquered stock.

Controls and features

• Variable-speed trigger plus a top‑mounted speed dial let you set a ceiling and then feather the trigger within it. That’s ideal for dialing in slow starts on brittle laminates or pushing hard through softwood without overspeeding the blade.
• Four orbital settings cover the full range from fine, low‑tearout work to aggressive material removal. In practice, I ran 0–1 for veneers and up to 3 for fast rip‑style cuts in softwood.
• The LED is bright and well placed. Combined with the blower, I rarely had to stop mid‑cut to clear dust.
• The blade system accepts standard t‑shank blades, and the lever‑action clamp ejects a hot blade without touching it. Swaps are quick and secure.

Everything you need daily is reachable with your trigger hand. The only control you’ll use with two hands is the bevel release, which is appropriate given the need for a firm, square reset.

Performance

Brushless power and a 1‑inch stroke at up to 3,200 spm translate to confident cutting across typical jobsite materials. In 3/4‑inch maple plywood with a fine-tooth blade, I got clean, burn‑free cuts with minimal fuzzing on the top face at low orbital settings. Switching to a down‑cut blade virtually eliminated top‑side tearout, especially when paired with the blower and a slower feed.

In hardwood, the saw tracked well through curves and tight radii without hunting. Pushing fast with orbital set high, I could feel the blade working but not wandering—a good sign of shoe stability and motor control. For straight cuts in softwood, orbital 3 with a coarser blade produced chips efficiently and kept the cut moving without bogging.

On metal, I used a bimetal blade with the dial set low. The saw stayed controllable, and the shoe provided enough surface to keep the material flat without chatter. The published max capacities—about 30 mm in wood and 13 mm in metal—align with how I’d use this saw: cabinetry, trim, flooring, detail work, and light metal tasks rather than deep, structural cuts.

Cut quality and accuracy

Jigsaws can frustrate when the blade deflects. With this model, deflection was minimal when the setup matched the task. The shoe stayed square, the blade clamp felt tight, and the orbital mechanism did not introduce side play. For best results in thicker hardwoods, I kept orbital at 0–1 and let the saw work at moderate speed. That combination delivered plumb cuts with only light sanding needed on the edges.

Bevel cuts are a strong point. The detents are trustworthy, and the bevel lock holds under load. I ran several 45° returns in poplar for a face frame and they checked out on a digital angle gauge without nudging between cuts. The positive stop at 45° also helps when you’re flipping the shoe frequently during fitting.

Dust management and visibility

There’s no dust port; instead, the saw relies on an integrated blower to clear the cut line. It works—especially with the LED—though expect fine dust to spread around your work area. On site or in a shop with extraction at the bench, that’s manageable. Where dust control is critical, a jigsaw with a hose adapter will still have an edge, but I appreciated not having a hose tugging the tool during delicate curves.

Battery life and runtime

With the included 5.0Ah pack, I got a full day of intermittent use—layout cuts, finish trims, and a handful of longer rips—without hunting for the charger. Under sustained, heavy cutting, you’ll swap packs like you would on any 20V saw, but the brushless motor is clearly efficient. Heat buildup was modest, and the tool never throttled on me.

Blade changes and maintenance

The tool‑free, lever‑action blade clamp speeds up blade swaps, and ejecting a hot blade is genuinely convenient. The lever is metal and positive in feel; a gentle, full throw seats and releases blades reliably. Two practical tips helped keep it trouble‑free:

• Keep the nose free of packed dust and chips so the mechanism can fully engage.
• Don’t force the lever if a blade is misaligned—back the blade out slightly and try again to avoid stressing the linkage.

As with any quick‑change system, a light shot of compressed air now and then goes a long way.

What could be better

• Dust collection options: The blower is effective for visibility, but there’s no integrated port for a vac. For fine interior work, I’d love an accessory option to capture dust at the source.
• Case quality: The included kit box protects the tool and battery, but it’s a basic molded case. It does the job, just not with the durability or modularity of premium storage systems.
• Shoe inserts: An anti‑splinter insert isn’t included. You can add your own or choose a down‑cut blade for veneers and laminates, but an insert would make the kit feel more complete.

These are manageable tradeoffs, and none affected my cut quality or day‑to‑day use.

The kit and warranty

The kit is straightforward and complete: jigsaw, a t‑shank blade to get started, the DCB205 5.0Ah battery, charger, and a case. That means it’s a viable entry point if this is your first 20V tool, and a ready‑to‑work package if you already own compatible batteries. DeWalt backs it with a 3‑year limited warranty, a year of free service, and a 90‑day satisfaction guarantee—solid coverage for a tool that will likely see a lot of use.

Who it’s for

• Remodelers and carpenters who want a compact, well‑balanced jigsaw for cabinet work, trim, flooring, and detail cuts.
• DIYers stepping into a higher‑end saw with intuitive controls and pro‑level features.
• Anyone already on the 20V platform looking for a capable, cordless jigsaw that pairs with existing packs.

If your work leans heavily on thick‑stock cuts or you require dust extraction at the tool, you may want to supplement this saw with a corded model that has a dust port and deeper capacity. For most shop and site tasks in wood and light metal, the 20V DeWalt jigsaw hits a sweet spot of power, control, and convenience.

Recommendation

I recommend the 20V DeWalt jigsaw. It’s compact, smooth, and versatile, with controls that make sense and features that translate directly to cleaner, more accurate cuts. The brushless motor provides ample power and excellent runtime, the orbital and speed controls cover everything from delicate veneers to fast straight cuts, and the tool‑free blade and bevel adjustments keep momentum on your side. Add in the well‑placed LED, effective blower, and the practical no‑mar shoe, and you’ve got a cordless jigsaw that feels sorted rather than flashy. The lack of a dust port and the basic case are minor misses, but they don’t overshadow how well the tool performs where it counts: on the cut line.