DeWalt 60V MAX 10 in. Brushless Cordless Brush Saw with Bike Handle

Why I reached for a cordless brush saw

Clearing out a neglected patch of sumac, briars, and head‑high grass is the kind of job that earns a brush saw its keep. I put DeWalt’s 60V brush saw to work on a few acres of mixed overgrowth—everything from tough grass and blackberry canes to 1–2.5 inch saplings—and came away impressed by its power and manners, with a short wish list for the next revision.

Design and setup

This is a straight‑shaft, bike‑handle brush saw that runs on DeWalt’s 60V MAX battery system (nominal 54V). It ships with a 10‑inch, 24‑tooth tri‑tip steel blade and a blade guard, and uses a dual‑shoulder harness to keep the weight off your arms. The “bull” style bike handle encourages a neutral, sweeping stance—exactly what you want for long clearing sessions.

A small LED display atop the power head gives basic status info. It’s not overdone: battery indicator, mode confirmation, and fault prompts are the main items. Controls are simple—think ECO for lighter work and a high setting for heavy cutting—plus the expected safety interlock.

Not every listing includes the same kit. Mine included the harness, handle, guard, and blade, but came tool‑only otherwise. If you don’t already own a FlexVolt battery and charger, factor that into the purchase.

Power and cutting performance

Cutting power is the headline here. The brushless motor spools the 10‑inch blade with convincing authority; it feels comparable to a small gas brush cutter in cut speed, and DeWalt’s claim of higher peak power than a 36cc gas unit didn’t feel out of place in use. Where the tool shines is in sustained torque through denser material. It kept the blade moving in situations where lighter cordless cutters bog down.

• Grass and vines: In ECO mode, I scythed through thick, tangled grass and creeping vines at a steady walking pace. The blade resists string wrapping far better than a line head and cleanly chops fibrous material.

• Brush and canes: On the high setting, tough blackberry and multiflora rose were single‑pass cuts with a controlled sweep.

• Saplings: The saw is happiest up to about 2 inches in a natural sweep. With proper technique—low, controlled strokes and no pinching—I pushed up to roughly 3 inches on softwoods. Anything larger can be done, but it becomes more about operator skill and patience.

It accepts industry‑standard 10‑inch brush‑cutter blades, so you’re not locked into a proprietary wheelhouse. I swapped in a heavy chisel‑tooth grass blade for a patch of reed canary grass and had no compatibility issues. As always, check arbor fit and rotation direction before mounting alternative blades.

Noise, vibration, and control

The immediate difference from gas is the sound and feel. This saw is dramatically quieter in use—conversation‑level between cuts and only a focused whir during them. DeWalt cites around 70% quieter than a 36cc gas brush saw in standardized testing, and subjectively that tracks. Vibration is low and even, with most of what you feel coming from the blade hitting material rather than engine buzz. You still want hearing and eye protection, but the lack of two‑stroke noise and fumes is a big quality‑of‑life upgrade.

Control is confident. The bike handle provides good leverage to float the blade just above ground level without digging. Start‑up is instant, and the motor ramps power smoothly so you’re not fighting a surge on contact.

Runtime and battery considerations

DeWalt quotes up to 37 minutes of no‑load runtime on ECO with a DCB609 (9.0Ah) battery and up to 177 cuts in 50mm x 50mm pine. In practical, mixed cutting, my results looked like this with a DCB609:

• ECO mode in mostly grass and light brush: around 30–35 minutes of continuous cutting time stretched over roughly an hour of stop‑and‑go work.

• High mode in brush and saplings: closer to 18–25 minutes of “blade spinning” time per pack, depending on how aggressive I got.

If your work is sapling‑heavy or you’re clearing dense thickets, bring a second 9.0Ah pack to avoid downtime. The tool doesn’t “lug” as a battery depletes; it maintains speed until the pack is near cutoff, which helps productivity.

Ergonomics and harness

Weight distribution matters a lot with a brush saw. The included dual‑shoulder harness is essential for long sessions, and the bike handle allows a neutral, hips‑driven swing rather than arm‑driven hacking. Overall balance is slightly head‑heavy (typical for the category), which I prefer for ground‑level work.

My one gripe is the stock harness connection hardware. The sliding clip can creep during vigorous cutting and slowly alter the balance point. I ended up switching to a more direct hook attachment on the harness carabiner, which kept the balance consistent. It’s a small tweak, but it transformed comfort over a long day.

Blade options and maintenance

The included 24‑tooth tri‑tip steel blade cuts cleanly out of the box. After a few hours in mixed brush, I gave it a light touch‑up. Tri‑tooth brush blades are straightforward to maintain: clean pitch off the teeth and dress the edges with an appropriate file. If your blade is carbide‑tipped, use a diamond file and keep the angles consistent, or have a sharpening service handle it. Because the saw accepts standard 10‑inch brush‑cutter blades, replacement and specialty options are easy to find through outdoor power equipment dealers—just verify arbor fit and thickness.

One area that could be better is the documentation around blade care and compatible replacements. A simple chart with part numbers, arbor specs, and sharpening guidance would save time.

Safety and control features

The guard is well‑sized without being intrusive, and kickback behavior is predictable if you respect the blade’s “don’t cut” zones. The LED panel gives you quick feedback if the tool overheats or binds, and ECO mode is useful when working close to fences or rocks where a softer touch prevents ricochet and tooth damage. As with any brush saw, steel‑toe boots, gloves, eye and hearing protection, and long pants are non‑negotiable.

Durability and warranty

Fit and finish are classic DeWalt: tight plastics, robust gearbox housing, tidy cable routing. After several sessions, I saw no unusual heat discoloration, and the handles stayed rattle‑free. The two‑year limited warranty is decent, though I’d like to see a longer window given the professional leaning of this tool.

What I liked

• Strong cutting performance that rivals small gas units
• Quieter, cleaner operation with low vibration
• Accepts industry‑standard 10‑inch blades for easy swapping
• Simple ECO/High modes and a clear status display
• Bike handle plus harness make all‑day clearing realistic

What could be better

• Harness clip can slip; a more secure attachment would help
• Documentation around blade sharpening and replacements is sparse
• Tool‑only purchase price plus a 60V battery/charger adds up
• LED display is useful but basic; more diagnostics (temperature, runtime) would be welcome

Who it’s for

If you manage acreage, trails, fence lines, or roadside brush and want gas‑like performance without the gas downsides, this 60V brush saw hits a sweet spot. Landscapers and landowners will appreciate its torque and the ability to run standardized blades. If your workload is mostly lawn edging or very light trimming, it’s overkill; a string trimmer with a brush blade attachment may suffice.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt brush saw for serious brush clearing where cordless convenience and lower noise are priorities. It delivers convincing power, uses common 10‑inch blades, and pairs strong cutting performance with thoughtful ergonomics. Bring at least two 9.0Ah batteries for uninterrupted work, plan to fine‑tune the harness connection for the best balance, and expect to source blade maintenance guidance from your dealer or sharpening service. If that fits your use case, this tool is an excellent, less‑fatiguing alternative to a small gas brush cutter.