DEWALT 20V MAX Brushless Cordless Reciprocating Saw (DCS386B)

This saw is a part of DEWALT’s 20V MAX system of tools. With over 200 tools in the family, you can’t go wrong buying into the DEWALT ecosystem. The tools are more geared towards woodworking and metalworking; it’s a more focused tool family that might not have every cordless tool under the sun but it still includes a few specialty items like speakers, heat guns, and yard equipment.

A note on the 20V MAX name: some tool manufacturers like DEWALT use 20-volt while others use 18-volt. There is no difference between these two power systems. Batteries have two ratings, nominal and maximum. The batteries in these systems are rated for 18-volt nominal (normal use while the battery is being depleted) and 20-volt maximum (when the battery is fully charged).

How a company decides to label their tool systems is likely a decision made by the marketing department but just know that the 18-volt and 20-volt systems available today are the same thing. You’re not getting two extra volts.

That being said, the DCS386B is capable of using DEWALT’s FLEXVOLT batteries in addition to the standard 20V MAX batteries. DEWALT has a 20V MAX and a 60V MAX line of tools; the latter is more geared towards heavy duty construction applications (think jackhammers and concrete saws). There are also 120V MAX tools but these are just 60V MAX tools that use two batteries instead of just one.

FLEXVOLT batteries can be used in both the more extreme 60V MAX tools as well as the more tame 20V MAX tools like the DCS386B. If you have a need for a wide variety of tool needs, the FLEXVOLT system can cut down on costs by allowing you to only buy one line of batteries instead of multiple.

The DCS386B is heavier than most of the competition at nearly eight pounds and adding a battery only adds to the heft (especially if a FLEXVOLT battery is used, which can weigh over three pounds). For heavy-duty applications, this is a double-sided coin. The extra weight significantly increases arm fatigue when lifting above your head into rafters; however, the extra weight means that the tool is doing more work cutting through tough materials. ‘Letting the tool do the work’ is more effective when it has a few more lbs behind it.

Other features that come with the DCS386B are more standard for this tool class.

The blade change mechanism is simple and discrete. The lever clamp stays tucked against the saw’s body until needed.

A bright LED is located just above the blade and keeps everything well-illuminated.

The footplate pivots but is otherwise stationary. It doesn’t include a retraction/extension capability.