DeWalt DCPS620BDCB240C-BNDL Pole Saw Review

Inside the box sit the DCPS620B pole saw, one DCB240 20V MAX 4.0Ah compact lithium-ion battery, one DCB113 charger, the extension pole, a multi-tool, a sheath and the manual. The saw itself is the same tool sold on its own; the bundle adds the power source.

That matters because the battery and charger carry their own 3-year limited warranty, separate from the tool's. If you already own 20V MAX batteries and a charger, the bare tool is the sensible purchase, and the money saved is better put toward a larger-capacity pack, which this saw benefits from.

Availability of the bundle runs patchy at times, so check that the seller has it in stock before you plan a pruning weekend around it.

Three numbers change the buying decision. The 10-foot pole sets how high you can work from the ground, and the 15-foot total reach figure assumes a 6-foot user holding the pole at shoulder height, 60 degrees from the ground. The 8.4 lb bare tool is what your shoulders carry at the end of a long lever, so every extra pound counts. The 8-inch bar caps the size of branch you can take in one pass.

Two-to-four-inch limbs go in one pass, five to six inches are realistic with a steady hand, and an eight-inch limb can be taken from both sides. The brushless motor keeps chain speed up rather than dumping energy into heat, and buyers on Amazon most often praise the saw's quality and its sturdy build.

The reach keeps both feet on the ground for most low and mid-canopy pruning. The metal bucking strip stops the bar from skating on bark, and the tree hook lets you pull a hung limb free without reaching for it. Automatic oiling removes a manual step during the cut, and the oil-level indicator shows when to top up.

The 4.0Ah compact pack is the right shape for overhead work: it is light at the top of a long lever, which matters more than raw capacity when your arms are above your head. The battery also works across other tools on the 20V MAX platform.

The pole is the weak point, not the saw. The extension joints are thin-wall metal with plastic couplers held by pop rivets. Under horizontal or side-loaded cuts at full extension, trimming along a roofline or a fence line, the wall can crush, the joint develops play, and the rivets can fail. Vertical and moderately angled cuts are fine. The rule is simple: do not side-load the pole at full extension.

Check that the joints are still tight as you work. The oiler also weeps: it is gravity-fed, so oil finds its way out when the saw is laid down. The fix is to empty the oil tank after every use.

The maximum extension pole length is up to 15 ft. Balance drops at full extension too: several pounds on the end of a long lever deflects after the cut, and the head feels unbalanced next to a gas pole saw, so plan shorter sessions.

20V MAX is the lowest power class among cordless pole saws. It is not a felling saw, and the manual says not to use it to fell saplings. No shoulder strap and no bar oil come in the box, both worth having on day one. Chips fall on you when cutting overhead, so head and eye protection are not optional. DeWalt does not recommend adding a further extension, for stability and oiling reasons.

The published runtime figure of up to 96 cuts per charge on 4x4 pressure-treated pine was established with the DCB204 4.0Ah pack, a 10-cell battery weighing 1.42 lb. The pack in this bundle is the DCB240, also 4.0Ah and 80 Wh, but an 8-cell compact pack weighing 1.1 lb. It has the same capacity with fewer cells, so it is lighter.

Expect somewhat fewer than 96 cuts from the pack in the box, and treat the figure as a best case on soft square stock rather than a promise on real branches. The trade is worth it: the DCB240's lighter weight at the top of the pole is a real advantage for overhead work, which is exactly what this tool is for.

Intermittent cutting can stretch a charge over several hours, because the breaks between cuts help rest the battery. If you plan to use the saw hard or in cold weather, a larger-capacity pack is the upgrade that matters most.

Drain the tank after every use, as the manual instructs.

The replacement chain is an 8-inch, 3/8-inch low-profile, .043-inch gauge chain with 34 drive links. A 10-inch bar and chain is a compatible upgrade if you want more capacity.

Keep two hands on the tool at all times, never raise the switch handle above shoulder height, and never operate above 60 degrees from the ground. Never stand on a ladder or in a tree while using it.

Keep at least 50 feet from power lines; the tool is not designed to protect against electrocution.