Dewalt recently announced an upgraded 20V Max cordless string trimmer and also added a new pole-mounted hedge trimmer to the lineup.
They also recently debuted a new and more powerful 20V Max brushless blower, which I posted about earlier.
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Dewalt DCST922 20V MAX 14″ String Trimmer
Dewalt’s new DCST922 20v Max Brushless string trimmer is an upgrade to their DCST920, which was introduced almost 5-years ago.
The new model features the same 14″ swath, which is the width of the cutting area. The trimmer has two speed settings – it can operate at either 0-4600 or 0-6000 RPM. The previous model had a 13″ cutting swath.
Press materials indicate that the new trimmer will work with Dewalt’s 0.080″ line.
The new trimmer features a hinged design that allows the trimmer to be collapsed in half, for more convenient storage.
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It also features what appears to be a heavier-duty all-metal head. At the same time the weight (with no battery), has been reduced from 8.5lbs to to 7.9lbs.
Lastly, the QuickLoad spool allows for fast and easy line replacement.
- 14″ cutting swath
- Hinged shaft design for compact storage
- 0.080″ line
- Variable speed trigger
- 4600/6000 RPM settings
- Weighs 7.9 lbs without battery
Pricing: $199 for the kit (DCST922P1 with 5.0Ah battery), $129 for the bare tool (DCST922B)
ETA: Spring 2020
Buy Now: Bare Tool via Tool Nut
Buy Now: Kit via Tool Nut
Dewalt DCPH820 20V Max Pole Hedge Trimmer
Dewalt has also expanded their 20V Max cordless outdoor power tool lineup with a new pole-mounted hedge trimmer. It features a 22″ cutting head and can cut branches up to 1″ thick.
If you recall, Dewalt came out with a new cordless pole chainsaw in mid-2019.
The new pole-mounted trimmer can extend to 7-feet long, giving users a reach of up to 12-feet. The trimmer features a 7-position 180° articulating head to suit different needs and cutting angles.
Pricing: $219 for the kit (DCPH820P1 with 4.0Ah battery), $149 for the bare tool (DCPH820B)
ETA: Spring 2020
Buy Now: Bare Tool via Tool Nut
Buy Now: Kit via Tool Nut
Discussion
I’m pleased Dewalt is expanding the 20v line. Whilst I’m not currently in the market for either trimmer, if I was I would immediately jump on these and make use of my investment in Dewalt 20V Max & FlexVolt 60V Max batteries.
I like how the string trimmer can folded in half, as this will make storing it easier. It does make me wonder why the hedge trimmer doesn’t feature the same hinged designed. Storing a ~3.5 foot tool is a lot easier than a 7-foot one, and especially a seasonal tool that might only be used a couple of times each year.
Note: Press materials say that the pole saw measures 7ft long, but I assume that this is the maximum extended length. We’re checking with Dewalt to be certain.
What’s interesting is that some brands offer split-shaft and straight-shaft versions of their trimmers, others one or the other, with split-shaft trimmers usually being better suited for retail stores and online ordering since they fit neatly into much smaller boxes. Most of the time – from what we’ve seen – split-shaft string trimmers are designed to be assembled and then kept that way.
Dewalt designed the new 20V Max string trimmer with a hinge mechanism, and not a one-time assembly fitment, and this might give it an advantage over some other split-shaft string trimmers in its class, at least in terms of storage convenience and perhaps durability.
The 14″ swath is smaller when compared to Ryobi, Ego, and Milwaukee cordless string trimmers, but also keep in mind that some of those trimmers aren’t in the same class. The Ego, for instance, is powered by a 56V battery. Trimmers from those brands feature 15″ to 16″ cutting swaths, and some (such as the Ego) can handle thicker cutting line.
The Ego and Milwaukee trimmers also cost more – they’re priced $30 and $100 higher, respectively. The Ego comes with a 56V battery, and the Milwaukee includes an 18V/20V Max-class 9.0Ah battery.
Despite the smaller cutting swath, I find the Dewalt design to be rather appealing, given that its folding handle is designed with storage convenience in mind.
Dewalt launched their first 20V Max outdoor power tools back in 2015, starting with the string trimmer and blower. Since then they have added quite a few tools to the range, including a chain saw, pole chain saw and a 2x 20V Max lawnmower. It’s good to see the range continuing to expand.
One thing to keep in mind is that Dewalt does have two lines of cordless outdoor power tools, this 20V Max lineup and their FlexVolt 60V Max lineup. (Their 40V Max line was discontinued last year.) Dewalt’s 20V Max cordless outdoor power tools are not as powerful as their FlexVolt models, but the tradeoff is that they’re smaller, lighter, and less expensive.
So what are your thoughts on Dewalt’s 20V outdoor power tools?
Chris
“The new pole-mounted trimmer can extend to 7-feet long, giving users a reach of up to 12-feet. ”
Who has 5’+ long arms? Is dewalt marketing to yeti’s or maybe big foot?
This goes back to their new marketing with the tape measures and stretch armstrongs as their target market…
In all seriousness, i’m 6’2″ with a reach of ~28″ from the armpit to my fingers.
Minus the inches required to wrap my hand around the grip+ trigger, where are they pulling all this extra reach from (their @$$…)?
I’m also dissapointed in the string size limit/swath from the string trimmer (they seem to be putting themselves at the highest end of the low end market). Are they shying away from competing with Milwaukee, Makita, Ego, etc.?
Adrian
They’re referring to the fact that a typical user could comfortably hold the base 5′ off the ground allowing them to cut a branch 12′ off the ground. Vertical reach for a pole saw is much more important than horizontal since one can usually just walk a few steps closer in the horizontal plane.
Wayne R.
C’mon now, this is The Internet! React first, then, uh, no! Don’t think!
Ben V
We confirmed with Dewalt, the specification is based on a 6-ft. person holding the pole in a straightened position at shoulder level at a 90 degree angle from the ground. Which gives it a 12-foot reach.
fred
Orangutans!
We always wanted to hire one for ladder work. They have over 3 feet of reach and don’t really need the ladder for climbing.
Corey Moore
If you’re 6’2″, like myself, then your shoulders are already above 5′ off the ground. That’s where the 12′ would start-the ground. Then add your arm, then 7′.
Mahalo
DeWalt isn’t “shying away”. They are differentiating between their 20V and 60V lines. It doesn’t make sense to have a 20V “lightweight” model and weight it down with the bigger motor that may be required for a larger cutting swath when you have a 60V model that takes care of the heavier-duty users.
As for reach, as others have stated, it’s vertical reach, including the height of the average user. Wouldn’t make much sense to hold a pole saw out away from your body horizontally, as that would put a lot of strain on your back.
Mike C
Like the new pole hedge trimmer, would come in very handy! (I have the current “regular” 20v hedge trimmer and it’s been great…no more cutting through extension cords accidentally or having the cord pull out all the time is wonderful.)
Drew M
I hope they protected that motor on the end of the trimmer really well…
FWIW, I picked up a Jameson pruning kit that has a maximum pole length of 20ft. I was very skeptical of the saw attachment until I tried it. It is VERY fast and cuts cleanly.
I honestly don’t know if I would buy it again for many reasons but I would be looking at other offerings around the same maximum length as it allowed me to trim a bunch of branches that I couldn’t reach otherwise.
Chris I
That trimmer hinge is awesome for storage. Hope it doesn’t create too much flex for use though.
Robert
I’m in the market for a trimmer. The folding could be good, or be a flaw in the design. Anytime you add an articulating joint you introduce a point of weakness.
I wonder if this one has more torque than the other, and is it longer? The other one was too short for me to comfortably use.
Also, why does the shaft have to be silver and so bulky? It looks like a Black and Decker (Yes, I know, same parent company). Paint it Black!
Mahalo
This sounds like a missing verse from that famous Rolling Stones song.
“I have a string trimmer, I want to paint it black…”
Jonathan
I really like the looks of the string trimmer. Too bad they didn’t make the guard larger. I never planned on buying a cordless one but came across a YMMV deal at one of my local Home Depots.. got the brushless XR string trimmer and 5.0 battery for $99. Works for what I need it to but very uncomfortable to use probably because I am short.
Lyle Waters
I have both the Dewalt 20V and FlexVolt string trimmers. Both work great for me, but I also felt like the guard was too small. In the manual they list an optional part (larger guard). Unfortunately, the part number is wrong. Some searching on the internet might yield the right part number (for the existing trimmers), but I called my local Dewalt service center and they were able to get me the right parts. The best part was that they actually had both parts in stock and they were only like $6 or $7 each. This is a HUGE improvement for me as I was getting covered with debris when using the microscopic guard.
Retiredmechanic
Do you know the part number for the larger guard?
Nathan
I like improvements. However Dewalt needs a stick edger for me to be interested.
Or even better they need a flexvolt trimmer with a detachable head that lets me put a edger head on it. ALA Stihl, Echo,Husquvarna,and EGO.
I’m hope I don’t have to replace my Echo 58V cordless stuff soon but if I do I might be leaning EGO or Stihl. Would love to move to dewalt flexvolt, but I want/need an edger.
John
Why put the motor at the bottom where all the dust and debris can enter?
Koko The Talking Ape
I guess its a tradeoff, like everything else in engineering. Yes, putting the motor down there exposes it to more dust and debris. But it also eliminates a drive shaft and shaft bearings, with all the weight, lubrication, etc. It also allows that folding shaft people seem pretty happy about.
I imagine they might do the same with at least some of the gasoline-powered trimmers, except I believe gasoline motors that are powerful enough cannot be made small enough. So they need a drive shaft, so they become even more heavy (also noisy and greasy.)
Adam
There is the possibility that the strong trimmer does 14″ or 16″ cutting. On the Milwaukee trimmers, you can flip the string cutter underneath the guard to give an extra 2″ to the diameter of the cut
Koko The Talking Ape
Hm. Does anybody know of any way to test these string trimmers in actual use? It seems like there’s a large range of cost and power (40 volt, 18 volt), but I don’t know what that means in terms of performance.
I know people will compare drill/drivers by, for instance, counting the number of screws they can drive into a fir 2×4. But screws are uniform, and fir is kinda uniform. Grass and shrubbery are not. Is there a good test for comparing string trimmers?
Travis
Yea. Real world use. I have five acres and I have the 20 volt type two trimmer. The first one burned up but it was replaced under warranty. Once they came up with the right motor , this thing is unstoppable! I have 150 trees and everything is fenced in and it all gets trimmed. This will trim anything you have short of a swamp. Well worth it
Bertil
It’s nice to see that the trimmer spool looks like a speed-feed head (a clone? a re-badge?), couldn’t stand the spool on my flexvolt trimmer and replacing it was the best thing I did
Travis
I use the 9 amp hour and the balance is perfect with that. Lasts forever
Grant Beeson
The string trimmer .080 line is pretty small for anything besides grass. It seems like DeWalt is only focused on private home use.
The hedge trimmer looks unbalanced because the motor is at the end of the pole. I used the Black and Decker pole hedge trimmer sold at Lowe’s which had a similar design. The extra weight is above shoulder height therefore fatigue is increased. This pole hedge trimmer design works but I think its worse then if the motor and battery were at one end and then the user can have a shoulder strap to distribute the weight away from the arms, wrists, and hands.
Joatman
I used the Dewalt brushless trimmer for over four years with no issues….until I went through some pretty dense brush in a yard across my street. The magnets broke apart and the motor bound up. Lights out! I wanted to replace it with another but gave up on a deal that Home Depot had. Got tired of the online pricing/availability games when trying to adds to my cart. I finally went to Lowe’s and found the Kobalt brushless trimmer and blower on sale for a little over $100. Included the battery. To be honest I like it better than the dewalt. It’s not built as sturdy as the Dewalt, but definitely more powerful. I never really liked that the string spins the opposite direction on the Dewalt. The blower is just ok. The tools have a 5 year warranty plus 3 years on the battery. So I have that piece of mind that I’ll have this set for a while regardless.
Nathan
That bit about the motor on the bottom – you see that quite a bit with the cordless ones even Stihl and Husquvarna pro lines. Mechanically it does help. like stated above with the motor down there it has less drag to run meaning you lose less applied torque and there is less heat generated just to drive the machine. Likewise the motors are mostly sealed and that big metal cover is a heat sink. With the battery on the back end and the motor at the bottom it’s more naturally balanced on the front handle.
I’m holding out for the flexvolt because I want to see dewalt bring back a prosumer line like the 40 volt was. hopefully with attachment capability. or at a mimimum bring out a trimer and a stick edger. but I’d prefer the attachments.
Nathan
meant to add – note the Stihl K130R I think it is – Kombi system, battery powered. Similar to the Echo 58V cordless system which allows attachments to the powerhead for hedge trimmer, pole saw, string trimmer, edger, etc.
Dewalt could easily make that on flexvolt. better note the same battery systems powers the Stihl Cordless cut saw. and they have a nifty backpack battery system. 21AH, 36V battery. regardless I’m glad to see dewalt/sbd is still doing cordless OPE.
Frank D
Most manual pole saws can’t fold because they are variable length and have two or three tubes that slide over each other, at least that is the case with several I own. The motorized type is either a fixed length tube that connects to the trimmer shaft or multiple pieces that screw lock together. So, they could do it if it is not extendible or extends only in the add on piece … but I’d guess, if the hedge trimmer is variable length … no hinge, to avoid too much torque on the hinge.
Aaron
I saw some of the trimmers in the clearance aisle at HD today and think it is the older model.
DT
Dear Dewalt, Please release a FlexVolt edger so I can ditch my gas Echo unit.
Ego has had one foreverrrrr
Thank you in advance!
Brien
Dear Dewalt, Please release a 20V edger… that can fit Big FlexVolt batteries.
Travis
Why don’t you just buy a ryobi 18 volt edger and go on eBay and buy a $15 ryobi to dewalt adapter and run your flexvolt batteries all day