DeWalt 20V MAX Brushless Cordless Reciprocating Saw With FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE

First impressions and setup

My first day with the DCS386 started on a kitchen tear-out: studs, cabinets, a few stubborn nails, and a couple of copper and EMT cuts. I paired the bare tool with two batteries I already own—a 20V MAX 5.0Ah pack for general cuts and a 60V MAX FLEXVOLT 6.0Ah pack for heavier pushes—to see how much the FLEXVOLT Advantage actually matters. Even before pulling the trigger, this is clearly not a compact recip saw. At 19.2 inches long and 7.7 pounds bare, it’s built for power and durability over finesse and tight-quarters reach.

The layout is familiar DeWalt. The rubber overmold is substantial, the variable-speed trigger is broad and predictable, and the keyless lever-action blade clamp is one of the easiest to operate with gloved hands. The integrated LED sits right where you want it, bright enough to light up cabinet interiors and dim basements. There’s also a Tool Connect chip pocket in the handle (chip sold separately), which is useful if you’re tracking assets across a crew or jobsite.

Power, speed, and the FLEXVOLT Advantage

On paper, the DCS386 delivers a 1-1/8-inch stroke at 0–3,000 spm. In practice, that combo puts it squarely in the “serious demo” tier. With a 20V MAX 5Ah battery installed, the saw sails through 2x lumber with a demolition blade and keeps a good pace in nail‑embedded stock. You can feel the electronics and brushless motor modulate nicely when you ease the trigger into thin metal, and the saw doesn’t lurch when you start a delicate cut.

Swap to a FLEXVOLT pack and the personality changes. The tool winds up faster and holds speed better in heavy cuts—ripping out doubled-up studs, cutting door jambs flush, chewing through deck screws hidden in framing—where the 20V pack starts to feel a step behind. The claimed “up to 50% more power” isn’t just marketing. It doesn’t turn the DCS386 into a corded brute, but it closes the gap enough that I stopped wishing for an extension cord during demolition.

For metal, it’s competent with the right blade: EMT, angle brackets, nails, and lag screws are no problem. Heavier materials like thick wall pipe or cast iron are doable with a carbide blade and patience, but you’ll drain batteries fast and heat the blade. That’s a limitation of cordless recip saws in general, not something unique to this model.

Control, vibration, and cut quality

The DCS386 is a two‑handed tool, and it rewards a firm, steady grip. The shoe plants well, and the saw tracks straight if you let the blade do the work. Trigger modulation is excellent; I could feather the stroke to avoid grabbing sheet metal edges, then roll right into full speed on framing. Vibration is well controlled for this class—noticeable, of course, but not hand‑numbing. I did long runs on 2x stock and nail-embedded cuts without feeling rattled to pieces.

Blade changes are quick and positive. The lever is large and easy to reach, and hot blades eject cleanly. You can install blades teeth-up or teeth-down for flush cutting; that came in handy under sills and along base plates.

Where the saw shows its size is overhead and in cramped corners. Overhead cuts fatigue your shoulders faster than a compact model, and the 19.2-inch length limits how far you can maneuver between studs or inside tight utility chases. If you spend your days cutting out old copper lines above head height, you may prefer a compact reciprocating saw and reserve the DCS386 for floor-level demolition and exterior work.

Runtime and battery choices

Runtime depends heavily on both the material and the pack you choose:

• 20V MAX 5Ah: Good all-around option for carpentry, pruning, and light demo. Adequate power, lighter feel, less fatigue.
• 60V MAX FLEXVOLT 6Ah (or larger): Noticeably more power under load and better sustain during aggressive cutting. Heavier, which you’ll feel overhead.

On a cabinet and stud removal job, I used the 20V pack for layout and cleaner cuts, then swapped to a FLEXVOLT pack for ripping out fasteners and slicing through nail clusters. The tool never overheated or bogged beyond what I’d expect from a cordless saw, but heavy demo will run packs down quickly. If you plan on full‑day tear-outs, bring multiple batteries and a fast charger.

Ergonomics and build

The DCS386 feels “shop tough.” The housing handles impacts and dust, and the overmold is resilient without getting gummy. The trigger and lock are easy to operate with gloves, and the LED is placed so the blade shadow doesn’t hide your cut line.

Balance changes materially depending on the battery. With a 20V 5Ah, the center of gravity sits close to your hand and feels nimble for a full-size saw. With a FLEXVOLT 9Ah or 12Ah, rear weight increases and you’ll notice it during long sessions, especially when reaching or working overhead. It’s a tradeoff: more power and runtime vs. fatigue.

One note on connectivity: the saw is “Tool Connect ready,” meaning it has a pocket for DeWalt’s DCE042 chip. Out of the box, there’s no Bluetooth built in—if you want tracking or asset management, you’ll need to purchase and install the chip.

Cut scenarios and blade pairing tips

• Framing and demo: Pair with a 6–8 TPI demolition blade. The saw plows through 2x stock, double top plates, and nail-embedded sections confidently. Keep shoe contact firm to minimize chatter.
• Plumbing and electrical: For EMT and copper, a 14–18 TPI bi‑metal blade gives clean starts with minimal grab. Feather the trigger and let the stroke stabilize before leaning in.
• Exterior pruning: With a pruning blade, the DCS386 makes quick work of 3–4-inch limbs. The LED isn’t as useful in daylight, but the stroke length helps prevent stalling in green wood.
• Flush cuts: Install the blade teeth-up and pivot the shoe for clean flushes along subfloors and jambs. Keep the tool aligned to avoid flexing the blade.

As always, the blade matters as much as the motor. Cheap blades amplify vibration and slow your cuts; carbide-tipped demolition blades unlock the saw’s potential in mixed materials.

Durability, service, and warranty

After a few weeks of jobsite use—dust, debris, light rain—the saw still feels tight, with no slop in the blade clamp or shoe. DeWalt backs it with a 3‑year limited warranty, 1‑year free service, and a 90‑day satisfaction guarantee. Those terms are common in this class but still worth noting, especially if you’re outfitting a crew.

What I like

• Strong performance on 20V; genuinely better with FLEXVOLT under load
• Smooth trigger control and predictable startup for cleaner cuts
• Excellent, glove-friendly blade clamp
• Bright, well-placed LED
• Robust build that feels ready for demo work
• Compatibility with both 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT batteries

What could be better

• Size and weight make overhead work tiring and tight spaces a challenge
• No integrated tracking—the Tool Connect chip is an extra purchase
• Power advantage depends on running larger, heavier batteries

The bottom line

The DCS386 is a full-size, high-output cordless reciprocating saw that rewards you for pairing it with FLEXVOLT batteries. It isn’t trying to be the smallest or lightest option in the lineup; it’s built to cut fast and survive abuse. If your work skews toward demolition, remodel tear-outs, rough carpentry, or exterior tasks—and you already run DeWalt 20V/FLEXVOLT batteries—it’s a satisfying, capable tool that minimizes trips to the extension cord.

If you primarily work overhead or in tight chases, a compact recip saw will serve you better for daily use. Keep the DCS386 as your heavy hitter for the tough jobs. For everyone else, it’s easy to recommend: strong cutting speed, easy blade changes, solid ergonomics, and real performance gains with FLEXVOLT make it a dependable, jobsite-ready choice.