DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Power Tool Set (DCK590L2)

I’ll reiterate what most people have said about this kit. It’s great and there isn’t much for me to complain about. Maybe one gripe I have with this lineup is that they aren’t brushless, but in my opinion, the brushless stuff is really only necessary if you use these tools every day for 8-10 hours. For most people, myself included, who use them for car repairs, home repairs, and fun projects the “standard” motors work absolutely fine. I have a total of four DeWalt batteries and two chargers and I can easily work on my projects all day without having to stop.

The driver is my favorite tool from this kit. From driving 3″ deck screws to taking the oil pan off my truck, it’s perfect. Batteries seem to last forever in this thing.

The hammer drill is fantastic as well. Really not much to say about it other than it works. Really comfortable to use for long periods. One issue I’ve had is that sometimes I can’t get the chuck tight enough for small bits and I have to constantly retighten it. Not a big deal and it only seems to happen with bits that at 1/8″ or smaller.

The sawzall is good. It doesn’t have a 4 way adjustable blade, but I don’t need that feature. Has worked well chopping branches off a tree that fell in my parents back yard. No complaints other than I prefer the compact saws.

The circular saw has been great as well. Doesn’t have the power of a corded saw, but is plenty to tear through plywood and 2×4’s. This one will chew up the batteries a bit faster especially if you have a dull blade or you’re cutting dense material. But once again, for your above average home owner, it will be more than enough for any job.

The flashlight is a flashlight. I have very bright 1000 lumen tac lights that I normally use, but it’s nice to have this one for more of a flood light. Works great, stands up on it’s own. I actually use it more than I thought I would, but there are a few other tools I’d rather have in this kit before the flashlight.

Overall I love this kit. I plan to use it and abuse it for years. I’ve been a DeWalt fan for over 20 years as my father has a corded DeWalt drill that continues to run after being dropped off the roof several time, the cord has been cut through twice, and it’s driven thousands upon thousands of 3″ deck screws. You can go wrong with DeWalt, Makita, or Milwaukee…and you can’t go wrong with this kit.

I’ve owned several cordless kits/tools over the last couple of decades. My needs have changed as I’ve grown in projects, and my old cheap black and decker sets have long since been replaced by Dewalts. I’ve had the Dewalt 18V kits for several years and I’ve been very happy with them. They last through most small jobs with one charge. They are solid, beefy, and have plenty of power, but are also pretty heavy. I nearly converted over to the Li-ion packs, but the price always kept me from it. Then came the 12v max line, I thought they were perfect for nearly every small job and home use. They are light, solid, and have surprising power in a compact size. The charge they hold may not last the entire project, but the packs are so cheap you can buy a couple extra to finish up (and not break your wallet).

Well now we have the 20v Max line. To be honest, if I didn’t need to buy some new 18v packs, I wouldn’t have even considered getting these. But I did, and I’m not disappointed. They all have the same solid, beefy Dewalt design, but now they are light and compact as well. They appear to be nearly as small/compact as the 12v max tools. And these tools hold a charge for much longer than their 12v cousins. (Sorry, I haven’t done a comparison test on how long they all last, 12 vs 18 vs 20).

The new Impact driver is equal to the 18v version but lighter. Function and size seem nearly the same, but the 20v is slightly smaller and a good bit lighter (the 12v is smaller and lighter then any of them).

The hammer drill is the same as the 18v version, but it is lighter as well. Size and function seem to be exactly the same, just lighter. (no 12v hammer drill)

The circular saw appears to also be the same as the 18v. Performance seems just the same as the 18v version (good enough for quick cuts in contruction lumber, but I wouldn’t want to have to use it for all day jobs or on pressure treated lumber).

Charging seems much faster (about 30min or so, but don’t hold me to it as I didn’t discharge the pack fully).

The light is a new design, with just a rotating head, function is fine, but I really liked the old snake head of the previous 18v version better.

The new reciprocating saw is the only tool I felt was not on par with the 18v version. It is a much lighter and slightly smaller design, but it no longer has the pivoting head and adjustable guard, and the blade lock is stiffer. Performance wise, it still works just as well as the 18v. After thinking about it, I realized that I never actually used the pivot function on the old 18v anyway, so I suppose I can’t complain about the loss of it. But if that is a function you needed for your work, then you will be disappointed. NOTE: I just read the manual and found that this kit has the DCS381 model saw which doesn’t have the 4 position blade and adjustable guard. Model DCS380 has the 4 position blade. So if you need that feature don’t get this kit. It looks like just the two piece kit Dewalt DCK292L2 and the single saw kit DCS380L1 have the DCS380 model saw with the 4 position blade feature.

The bag is the soft bag, which is nice for the lightness, but not nearly as protective. I guess you just have to adapt to it.

In summary, I’d recommend this set if you are new or moving up from the inexpensive (and usually low quality) brands. If you’re already heavy into the old 18v stuff, I wouldn’t bother with a switch until you have to replace them. In all fairness, I have not had much experience with other brands kits (some Milwaulkee, a Bosch, and a Makita) I’m sure they are all great sets, but I was already using Dewalt so I stuck with them.