DeWalt 20V MAX XR 3-Tool Combo Kit

A three-piece kit that covers a lot of woodshop ground

I’m picky about combo kits. Too often you get one standout tool and two fillers. This DeWalt 20V XR 3‑tool kit avoids that trap; each tool earns its spot, and together they cover a wide swath of woodworking and remodeling tasks—flush cuts, trim fitting, sanding between coats, and curved cuts in sheet goods. After several weeks toggling among the sander, the oscillating multi‑tool, and the jigsaw, I came away impressed with the consistency, control, and runtime you get from a single 4.0Ah pack and three brushless motors.

What you get

• 5 in. random orbit sander with variable speed (roughly 8,000–12,000 OPM) and a low profile
• 3‑speed oscillating multi‑tool with a tool‑free accessory change
• Jig saw with a metal, keyless bevel shoe (detents at 0°, 15°, 30°, plus a positive stop at 45°) and a lever‑action, T‑shank blade change
• One 20V 4.0Ah battery, charger, and a heavy‑duty contractor bag

All three tools are brushless, and that matters. They run cooler, hold speed better under load, and squeeze respectable runtime out of a single pack. If you’re already in DeWalt’s 20V ecosystem, this kit slots in without friction; if you’re starting from zero, it’s a solid foundation.

Setup, ergonomics, and controls

DeWalt’s controls are intuitive across the kit. The sander’s speed dial is easy to thumb without lifting your hand, and the low‑profile top lets you palm it for close work. The oscillating tool’s quick‑change lever is positive and secure; it takes seconds to swap from a plunge‑cut blade to a scraper. The jigsaw’s lever‑action blade clamp is genuinely one‑handed, and the all‑metal shoe with bevel detents clicks into angles cleanly without play. The cutting tools include work lights that do a good job of chasing shadows in cabinets and along cut lines.

Each tool feels compact for its class. With the 4.0Ah pack, balance is neutral on the multi‑tool and slightly heel‑heavy on the jigsaw—helpful for keeping the nose planted at the start of a cut. The sander is lighter and nimble enough for vertical work without forearm fatigue.

The sander: controlled finish and predictable removal

Random orbit sanders live or die by vibration and speed control. This one runs smoothly through its 8,000–12,000 OPM range, with a useful low end for finishing between coats and enough top speed to flatten small patches of mill marks. The low center of gravity keeps the pad tracking flat without encouraging edge digs.

Dust handling is as good as the paper and collection you pair with it. I mainly used mesh abrasives and a vacuum; pad loading was minimal and the work surface stayed tidy. On bare wood, swirl control was solid so long as I let the sander’s weight do the work—no need to lean on it. Runtime at medium speed on the 4.0Ah pack comfortably covered door panels and a couple of shelves before a recharge.

The multi‑tool: precise plunge cuts and less hand fuzz

Oscillating tools can be fatiguing, so vibration matters. This 3‑speed model is on the calmer side of the cordless field, especially at the middle setting, which became my default for plunge‑cutting casing and trimming shims. The selector makes it simple to match speed to the task—low for controlled grout scraping or delicate sanding, high for aggressive cuts in pine or PVC.

The quick‑change accessory system is the star. It’s fast and positive, which pushes you to pick the right blade instead of forcing a “good enough” compromise because swapping is a pain. With a fine‑tooth blade, I got clean, predictable plunge starts into drywall and hardwood. With a carbide blade, it chewed through old thinset without overheating. Noise is, as always, part of the package, but the pitch is less shrill than some competitors.

The jigsaw: stable shoe, clean curves

The jigsaw is the most nuanced tool of the trio. Cut quality hinges on shoe rigidity, blade support, and speed control. Here, the metal bevel shoe feels stout, and the detents at 0°, 15°, and 30°, plus the positive stop at 45°, hit their marks with repeatable alignment. Blade changes are quick, and limiting the design to T‑shank blades is the right call for stability.

In 3/4‑in. plywood, I had no trouble holding a slow curve without tear‑out when I paired a high‑TPI blade with painter’s tape on the show face. Bevel cuts stayed true and the shoe sliding over material felt smooth, not grabby. The integrated light does what a good jigsaw light should—illuminates the cut line without washing it out. Power is ample for the kit’s remit; it’s not a bandsaw replacement, but it handled rips and notches in sheet goods and 2x pine without bogging.

Battery life and charging

A single 4.0Ah pack is enough to run one tool steadily while the others rest, but it’s the kit’s most obvious bottleneck. In practice:

• Sander: the most constant draw; expect the pack to wane first if you’re surfacing large panels.
• Multi‑tool: spiky loads; moderate speed stretches the pack noticeably longer than max.
• Jigsaw: intermittent cuts barely dent the gauge unless you’re doing extended rips.

Brushless efficiency helps, and the charger tops a pack in reasonable time, but if you plan to hop between tools on a job, a second battery is the first upgrade I’d budget for.

Durability and fit and finish

Nothing about the kit feels flimsy. The multi‑tool’s accessory clamp, the jigsaw’s shoe and bevel lock, and the sander’s pad backing all held up without loosening. Over a few weeks of dusty work, switches stayed crisp and the tools didn’t accumulate the kind of gritty feel you sometimes get around triggers. The contractor bag is thick‑walled and easy to carry, though it’s still a soft bag: great for transport, less great for tidy organization. If you prefer rigid protection, plan on a box or T‑stak style case.

What could be better

• Only one battery in the box. It keeps the price down, but limits productivity if you’re actively using more than one tool.
• The bag doesn’t organize accessories. Blades, sanding disks, and jigsaw consumables mingle unless you add pouches.
• Accessories are lean. You’ll want to stock your own blades and abrasives right away.

None of these are deal‑breakers, but they’re worth planning for.

Value and who it’s for

As a trio, these tools make sense for trim carpenters, remodelers, cabinet installers, and serious DIYers who spend time between finish work and light carpentry. Buying equivalents piecemeal adds up quickly; the kit nails the “common tasks, one battery system” appeal without slipping in a weak link. If your workday is demolition‑heavy or you need track‑saw‑grade cuts and dust control out of the box, this isn’t that package. For most woodshop and site‑finish tasks, it’s a capable, compact backbone.

Pros

• Three genuinely useful, brushless tools with consistent ergonomics
• Sander’s low profile and variable speed produce predictable finishes
• Multi‑tool’s quick‑change system and 3‑speed control encourage the right blade at the right speed
• Jigsaw’s metal, keyless bevel shoe and detents are stable and repeatable; T‑shank blade clamp is fast
• Work lights on the cutting tools help in dim spaces
• Solid value, especially if you’re already on DeWalt 20V packs

Cons

• Only one 4.0Ah battery; frequent users will want a second pack
• Soft bag lacks organization for small accessories
• Minimal included consumables; plan to purchase blades and sanding disks

Recommendation

I recommend this DeWalt 20V XR 3‑tool kit to anyone who needs a compact, cordless core for finish carpentry and woodworking tasks. Each tool pulls its weight: the sander is controlled and comfortable, the oscillating tool is powerful and quick to adapt, and the jigsaw cuts cleanly with reliable bevel alignment. The brushless motors and shared 20V platform deliver good runtime and consistent feel across tools.

The main caveat is the single battery. If you expect to bounce between tools all day, budget for a second 4.0Ah or 5.0Ah pack and a small organizer for blades and abrasives. With that modest addition, this kit becomes a dependable, efficient setup that handles a wide range of jobs without tying you to an outlet or a cord.