DeWalt 20V MAX Brushless Cordless 1-1/2 in. Variable Speed Die Grinder Kit

Why this cordless die grinder earned a spot in my kit

I’ve used pneumatic die grinders for years, and the hose is always the compromise: great power tethered to a noisy compressor and limited mobility. The DeWalt die grinder on the 20V MAX platform changed that calculus for me. It delivers real, usable power without an airline, and the way DeWalt handles speed control and ergonomics makes it practical for everything from fast cleanup with a wire wheel to controlled deburring and gasket removal.

Build, balance, and ergonomics

The tool feels every bit like a pro-grade grinder. The brushless motor housing is stout without being clumsy, with enough overmold to keep it from skittering off painted surfaces. With a 4.0Ah pack installed, the balance sits slightly aft of the nose, which actually helps when I’m bracing the tool two-handed for carbide burr work. The kit weight is listed at 10.34 lb, but in hand the tool with a 4.0Ah battery feels manageable for extended use. It’s bigger than a compact pneumatic pencil grinder, of course, but not unwieldy. I can run it overhead or at arm’s length without fighting the tool.

The nose diameter is easy to pinch for a more “pencil” grip when I need control on delicate work, and there’s enough flat surface to keep it from rolling on a bench. DeWalt’s kit bag, charger, and two 4.0Ah batteries mean I can keep one battery cooling while the other works; for a grinder in this class, that matters.

Controls that actually help you work

DeWalt took a thoughtful approach to speed control. You get a three-position speed limiter plus a variable-speed trigger, so you can set a ceiling and still feather the trigger within that range. It tops out at 25,000 RPM, but the limiter is what makes it versatile:

• Low: excellent for abrasive wheels that can glaze or for minimizing wire wheel breakup on older fasteners and flanges.
• Medium: my go-to for carbide burrs where I want material removal without launching chips everywhere.
• High: for fast cleaning with a braided wire cup or aggressive sanding drums.

This combination makes it hard to “over-speed” an accessory by accident—something I appreciate when working on aluminum or near seals. The dual-position rocker switch lets me keep the grinder running without a death grip, whether I’m overhand on the body or underhand near the nose. It’s crisp and positive, and I can toggle it with gloves on.

There is a safety lockout you need to actuate before engaging the trigger. It does its job, but its placement isn’t ideal for quick, repeated starts. I learned to roll my thumb to hit it in one motion, but I’d still call it the one control that could be better.

The nose-mounted LED is more useful than it sounds. In engine bays, behind guards, and under tanks, that little light lets me see how the burr is biting or whether the rust is truly gone, without juggling a headlamp at odd angles.

Power and performance

DeWalt rates the motor at 500 MWO, and it translates to confident, stall-resistant grinding. With a 1/4 in. collet and typical die grinder consumables—carbide burrs, 1-1/2 in. abrasive wheels, wire wheels—it keeps spinning under pressure where smaller cordless grinders fade. I’ve used it to remove stubborn gasket material, chase rust off flanges, clean up welds on light plate, and blend small brackets. It’s not a replacement for an angle grinder on thick steel, but for die grinder tasks it’s the real deal.

Where I noticed the difference most was wire-brushing large, crusty parts. At high speed with a braided wheel, the grinder stays on plane and doesn’t bog when you load it up. The brushless motor runs cooler than older brushed designs I’ve used, which means the body stays comfortable and consistent over longer sessions.

Vibration is well controlled for a grinder. That’s accessory-dependent, but the tool doesn’t amplify imbalance. Noise is high-pitched at full speed—as you’d expect at 25k RPM—but without the drone of an air compressor in the background, the overall experience is much less fatiguing.

Battery life and workflow

Let’s be clear: grinders are hard on batteries. This one is no exception. Aggressive wire brushing and heavy burr work will drain a 4.0Ah pack faster than a drill or impact driver ever will. The upside is that the kit includes two 4.0Ah batteries and the DCB115 charger, so you can cycle packs and keep moving. My cadence on heavy work is roughly: run one pack while the other cools and charges; on lighter deburring and cleanup, I can go much longer between swaps.

If you typically do long, continuous grinding on thick steel, corded or pneumatic still makes sense. But for field work, mobile repairs, and areas where dragging a hose is a pain—or unsafe—this cordless grinder is absolutely worth it. The absence of hose whip alone improves precision, especially on ladders or in tight compartments.

Accessory compatibility and small details

The primary collet is 1/4 in., which covers the majority of die grinder accessories. If you rely on 1/8 in. shank bits (think small porting or hobbyist burrs), plan on adding a separate 1/8 in. collet. The kit includes the two wrenches you need for swaps. The spindle locks securely without a tendency to jam or slip under torque.

I appreciate how the LED turns the nose into a sightline. It’s not a gimmick; it actually helps me position the accessory precisely on a mark or along an edge. The housing has enough texture that I can rotate the tool in hand to find a comfortable orientation without losing my grip, and the switchgear is sufficiently recessed to avoid accidental activation during a bench change.

What I’d improve

• Safety lockout ergonomics: It functions, but the placement forces a slight reposition of my grip to re-engage. I’d love a more natural motion or a paddle-style lockout that better follows the thumb.
• Battery appetite under heavy load: It’s the nature of the category, but a larger pack option or a higher-efficiency mode for light tasks would be welcome. If you plan on production-level use, consider having extra 5.0Ah or 6.0Ah packs on hand.
• Included collets: A secondary 1/8 in. collet in the kit would make the tool more versatile out of the box for those who do occasional fine work.

Who it’s for

• Mechanics and millwrights who need to clean, deburr, or prep surfaces away from a compressor or in tight spaces. The LED and variable control make it easy to see and manage heat.
• Fabricators who want a cordless option for burr cleanup, edge chamfering, or weld touch-ups between station moves.
• Maintenance techs who value a strong, stall-resistant grinder for field repairs and shutdown work, with minimal setup time.

Who might look elsewhere:

• Anyone doing continuous, aggressive material removal for hours at a time. A corded or pneumatic grinder with continuous duty will be more efficient.
• Users who rely exclusively on 1/8 in. shank accessories and need ultra-compact form factor; a smaller dedicated tool might be more comfortable for that niche.

Reliability and warranty

The brushless motor has run cool and consistent for me, and the switch hardware has stayed crisp despite metal dust. DeWalt backs the tool with a 3-year limited warranty, a year of free service, and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. That’s a solid safety net, especially if this would be your first cordless die grinder on the platform.

Bottom line

I recommend this DeWalt die grinder. It combines real grinding power, excellent speed management, and practical ergonomics in a cordless package that’s easy to live with. The safety lockout could be more ergonomic and you’ll want to keep batteries rotating for heavy work, but those are workable trade-offs. If you’re already on DeWalt 20V MAX, the kit is a straightforward add that expands what you can do away from air and cords. And even if you’re not, the included batteries and charger make it a complete system that earns its place in a pro or serious DIY setup.