DeWalt 20V MAX 6-1/2 in. Circular Saw Kit

Corded circular saws still rule the framing site, but there are plenty of days when I’m happy to leave the cord in the truck. That’s exactly where the DeWalt 20V 6-1/2-in. saw has earned a spot in my kit: fast to grab, light in the hand, and confidence-inspiring for everyday wood cuts without the tether.

Setup, build, and first impressions

Right out of the bag, the saw feels familiar in the best way. The magnesium shoe is flat, rigid, and resists dings—important if you’re sliding across sawhorses or a jobsite table all day. The saw arrives with a carbide-tipped blade, a 5.0 Ah battery, and a charger, so you can be cutting within minutes.

Controls are straightforward. The depth and bevel levers are chunky enough to use with gloves, and they lock down securely. The bevel scale is easy to read, and the saw swings from 0° to 50°. There aren’t fancy micro-adjusts here; it’s a classic, dependable mechanism that stays put once set. The spindle lock and included hex key make blade changes simple. No toolless gimmicks—just a positive lock and a bolt that breaks free without drama.

There’s no onboard LED and no dust port, which is worth noting if you’re used to newer saws with more features. The lack of dust management is typical at this price point, but I still wish there were at least a vac adapter for shop work.

Ergonomics and visibility

At around 7 pounds bare and a touch more with the 5.0 Ah pack, the saw is easy to maneuver one-handed when you’re steadying a sheet with the other. The rubber over-molded grip feels secure, and the top handle gives you a natural push angle when you’re ripping. What stands out is the left-blade orientation. As a right-handed user, my sightline to the cut line is excellent. I can track a pencil mark without leaning over the tool or lifting the guard excessively. That’s a small thing that adds up when you’re making repeat cuts.

Guard action is smooth—no sticking, even when trimming thin rips off plywood. The shoe glides cleanly over lumber and sheet goods, and the front edge gives me a reliable reference when I’m starting a crosscut.

Power and cut quality

On paper, the no-load speed sits around 5,150 rpm, and in practice the saw is happiest with framing lumber, plywood, and general carpentry cuts. With the stock blade, crosscuts in SPF 2x material are quick and clean with minimal tear-out. Ripping 3/4-in. plywood works fine; I did several 8-foot rips using a straightedge without bogging the motor, but feeding too fast or trying to muscle through knots will slow it down. This is a brushed motor, and while it has enough grunt for everyday work, it doesn’t have the headroom of a premium brushless 7-1/4-in. saw. If you let the blade do the work and keep a steady feed, it stays smooth and controllable.

Swapping to a higher-quality blade makes a noticeable difference. A 24T framing blade speeds through construction lumber, and a 40T or 60T blade leaves cleaner edges in plywood and trim. The base stays aligned under load, and I didn’t see the cut line drifting even when leaning into long rips.

Capacity, bevels, and accuracy

Capacity is exactly what you’d expect from a 6-1/2-in. sidewinder: 2-1/8 in. at 90° and 1-5/8 in. at 45°. That covers 2x material comfortably, even on bevel cuts. Beveling to 45° holds true—my test cuts paired up tight without light showing through the joint. The saw will tip a bit beyond 45° to 50° for those occasional off-angle trims. I checked for shoe-to-blade parallelism and fence alignment out of the box; everything was square and stayed that way after a couple of days of deck and fence work.

For breaking down sheet goods, the saw tracks nicely against a guide. It’s compact enough to feel precise on narrow rips, where larger 7-1/4-in. saws can feel top-heavy. If you do a lot of track-guided cuts, the lack of a dust port means you’ll need to accept more cleanup, but the cut quality itself is solid with the right blade.

Runtime and battery management

With the included 5.0 Ah pack, runtime is reasonable for a day of light to moderate tasks. I handled all the cuts for a small fence section—2x4 rails and picket trimming—on a single battery with charge to spare. On heavier ripping days or when pushing through pressure-treated lumber, I plan on one spare pack in rotation to stay productive. As always, blade sharpness matters: a good, sharp framing blade keeps the motor from laboring and extends runtime noticeably.

The brushed motor is a bit louder than comparable brushless models and has that familiar brushed whine. Heat buildup wasn’t an issue in my use, but I did give the saw a quick rest between back-to-back rips to keep things happy.

Safety and usability notes

The trigger and safety are positive without being finicky, and the blade guard returns reliably after a cut. Blade coast-down is reasonably quick, which helps when you’re moving between cuts. Because there’s no LED, I relied on ambient light and the left-blade sightline, which genuinely helps on pencil marks in low contrast lumber. The shoe edges are square and trustworthy; I found myself using the front notch as a consistent reference for both 90° and 45° cuts once I learned its exact kerf alignment with my chosen blade.

One omission I felt in daily use is the lack of a rafter hook. If you’re up on a ladder or working between sawhorses, you’ll wish you had a place to park it. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s the kind of small convenience that makes a difference over time.

Where this saw fits

If your workload is predominantly framing houses all day, a larger, brushless 7-1/4-in. saw will be faster, stronger through knots, and offer deeper cuts. But for remodelers, DIYers, punch-list carpenters, and anyone who values portability, this 20V 6-1/2-in. saw hits a sweet spot. It’s compact, well-balanced, and powerful enough for typical jobsite cuts without feeling overbuilt. The kit format also makes sense if you’re starting or expanding in the 20V Max battery system; the included 5.0 Ah battery is a versatile size for other tools.

What I like

• Balanced, lightweight feel with excellent visibility from the left-blade layout
• Rigid magnesium shoe that stays true and resists damage
• Solid depth and bevel adjustments that lock down securely
• Respectable power for typical 2x lumber, plywood, and general carpentry
• Kit value: a 5.0 Ah battery and charger that slot into the broader 20V lineup

What could be better

• Brushed motor lacks the torque and efficiency of newer brushless models
• No dust port means more cleanup, especially in the shop
• No LED worklight or rafter hook
• 6-1/2-in. capacity is limiting for thicker stock and some specialty cuts

The bottom line

The DeWalt 20V 6-1/2-in. saw is a dependable, easy-to-handle circular saw that trades headline-grabbing features for straightforward performance. It’s at its best making everyday cuts in framing lumber and sheet goods, where its combination of balance, visibility, and accurate tracking save time and frustration. It won’t out-muscle a top-end brushless 7-1/4-in. saw, and if you routinely fight through wet, knotted PT or work in dust-sensitive spaces, you’ll want more power and better dust collection.

Recommendation: I recommend this saw for DIYers, remodelers, and pros who want a capable, lightweight cordless circular saw for day-to-day tasks and punch list work, especially if you’re already invested in DeWalt 20V batteries. It offers reliable cut accuracy, good ergonomics, and respectable runtime in a value-oriented kit. If you need maximum torque, deeper cuts, and features like dust extraction, look to a brushless 7-1/4-in. upgrade; otherwise, this is a well-rounded tool that earns its keep.