DeWalt 20V MAX DCCS620P1 Chainsaw Review

The DCCS620P1 is the kit: the DCCS620 saw, one 5.0Ah 20V MAX battery, a charger and a bar cover. The saw itself carries a 12-inch bar and chain with a 3/8-inch low-profile pitch and a .043-inch gauge, built as a low-kickback setup.

The motor is brushless and drives the chain at 25.2 ft/s. An automatic oiler feeds the bar from a translucent tank with a level indicator, so you can see how much oil is left. Bar adjustment and chain tensioning are tool-free, with a locking knob and a tensioning knob. A front hand-guard chain brake and a two-switch start (a lock-off lever plus the trigger) round out the controls.

The saw weighs about 9 lb with the battery and about 7.8 lb bare. The warranty is 3 years limited, with 1 year of free service and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. The 20V MAX platform is 18V nominal, which matters if you already own batteries from it: they fit and run this saw.

A 10-inch seasoned oak log takes roughly 17 seconds per cut, and a 5.0Ah charge gets through about 24 cuts of that size. That is the honest picture for hardwood at the top of the saw's range.

The 10-inch limit

DeWalt rates the 5.0Ah battery at up to 90 cuts through 4×4 pressure-treated lumber per charge. In real wood that works out to roughly 24 cuts through 10-inch oak, more through smaller softwood limbs, and about 30 to 45 minutes of intermittent cutting.

The 5.0Ah pack recharges quickly, and . Smaller 20V MAX batteries will run the saw, but runtime drops sharply, so the 5.0Ah is the right match. A FlexVolt 60V battery also fits and extends runtime, a fact of the platform rather than a reason to buy one.

The saw is light and well balanced for a rear-handle model, which makes it easy to control during light limbing. The manual still requires two hands at all times.

The fixed-speed trigger is the saw's biggest ergonomic drawback for experienced users. With no variable speed, you cannot feather into a cut, and experienced users notice it more than beginners. The front handle is biased toward right-handed users, and the bucking spikes are molded plastic rather than metal: they help locate a cut but do not grip like steel. There is no anti-vibration system, which is fine for short sessions and tiring over long ones.

Oil leakage is a real, recurring problem on this saw. It is the most common negative theme among buyers on Amazon, and DeWalt publishes a troubleshooting fix: empty the oil tank after use and add a 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch O-ring into the oil cap indentation.

Oil can leak from the tank seams and the vent as well, not just the cap. Practical workarounds include storing the saw on its side with the oil cap facing down, or keeping the tank only a quarter full between uses. Treat it as a maintenance habit rather than a reason to avoid the saw, but do not expect the saw to stay dry.

Tensioning is tool-free: loosen the bar-adjust locking knob, turn the tensioning knob and follow the manual's three-click method. Re-check the chain after the first couple of hours on a new chain, since new chains stretch. The correct tension leaves about 1/8 inch of snap-back at mid-bar.

The replacement chain is the DWRC1200, and the replacement bar is the 12-inch service bar. Stick to the 12-inch bar; longer bars are not supported. When pruning, use a vegetable-based bar oil, since mineral oil can harm trees, and keep SAE 30 non-detergent oil as a temporary substitute only. Bar oil is not included, so buy it separately.

Use two hands at all times, even though the saw is light enough to tempt you into one. Do not cut above shoulder height and never cut from a ladder. Plunge or bore cuts are out, and felling is for trained users only. Do not cut plastic, masonry or metal.

The low-kickback bar and chain plus the chain brake reduce kickback risk but do not eliminate it. Wear chaps, eye protection and hearing protection, and get some guided practice before your first use.