Dewalt has come out with a new 20V Max brushless cordless drain snake, model DCD200.
The Dewalt drain snake comes with a 5/16″ x 25′ cable that’s coated with a black oxide finish for corrosion prevention, and a steel inner core for rigidity.
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There will be other cable options sold separately, including 1/4″ and 5/16″ cables up to 50 feet long, and 3/8″ cables up to 35 feet long. There will also be different tip options to suit different applications.
The drain snake’s inner drum is partially sealed, making it easy to remove and change out cables. It also retains water and debris, helping to prevent spreading the mess around the work area.
The outer housing is fixed in place and separate from the inner drum, and so the spinning inner drum doesn’t come in contact with delicate surfaces – such as a finished vanity, or you, the user.
It also features a variable speed trigger, brushless motor, and 3-mode pivoting LED worklights.
Price: $399 for the kit (DCD200D1), $299 for the bare tool (DCD200B)
ETA: Fall 2017
The kit comes with (1) 2.0Ah battery pack, a charger, and 5/16″ x 25′ drain cable with bulb head.
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A replacement drum is priced at $20, and a replacement black oxide bulb head drain cable is $60.
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Amazon)
First Thoughts
Dewalt’s a little late to the drain-busting tool race, but not very. If they keep up the momentum into the plumbing category (there’s also a new PEX expander tool I’m working on a post for), then they stand a chance at giving Milwaukee some serious competition.
Right now, Milwaukee has an M12 cordless drain snake, and so does Ryobi. Milwaukee has a TrapSnake interchangeable toilet and urinal snake, and also a new AirSnake that uses air pressure to bust clogs free.
Milwaukee’s cordless drain snake doesn’t have a brushless motor, and is powered by their M12 battery platform and not M18. But it’s also a lot less expensive – $249 for a starter kit (as of the time of this posting).
This new Dewalt model is $299 for the bare tool, $399 for the kit.
There are some standout features, such as the 3-mode pivoting LEDs, although I’m not quite sure what that means. I’m guessing the modes refer to different brightness settings, but the pivoting LEDs? None of the product images show what they look like, although images do show that it shines a bright uniform light on the drain you’re working in.
From the product images, the Dewalt brushless drain snake looks fairly compact. Perhaps not quite as compact as the Milwaukee, but still quite reasonably small.
This drain snake can work with a 3/8″ cable, which Milwaukee’s M12 snake cannot, presumably thanks to the brushless motor.
Here’s the big question on my mind now – what will Dewalt focus on next? They have a few plumbing and electrical cordless tools recently announced. Will they keep the momentum up, or will their push into these specialty tool territories be limited?
Personally, I want to see a greater push into these categories. Competition is good for everyone.
Just thinking aloud – what kind of brushless motor do you think is in this tool? Dewalt has a $99 brushless drill/driver kit available, but the housing look to be derived from their new Tool Connect brushless drill, or the DCD791 brushless drill, their latest generation compact drill. So, presumably, I’d think that this drain snake’s electromechanical system is adapted from Dewalt’s flagship compact brushless drill, as opposed to the less expensive mass market model.
The yeti
Seems like a good idea . One thing I would have done different . I would have the snake separate and have a fitting to attach to any drill . Dewalt wants to sell u an extra tool basically . Nothing wrong with that . I prefer stuff that is adaptable to other needs . Still think this is a good idea
Stuart
I considered mentioning the same, but then I thought about all the things that can go wrong or produce compromised results or ergonomics.
Realistically, this is the kind of tool that is best designed as an all-in-one package. This way, the user doesn’t have to think about proper torque or speed, the ergonomics are already optimized (or so I’d hope), and there can be powered LEDs at the front of the tool.
fred
If its really being marketed to plumbers – then I think we’d want a tool ready to go – not a snake and a drill that you’d have to assemble. We’d also probably want a self feed mechanism.
JoeM
Thank you, fred. I was just about to ask… “How does this thing extend out? I see no buttons or levers to push the cable out.”
It’s manual? They couldn’t put something on the nose there that automatically extends and retracts it? Drains and various other plumbing jobs can be utterly disgusting… Really? MANUAL Extension/Retraction?
…And yet I still want one… Man I must be sick in the head somehow…
The yeti
It’s probably got a screw built into the housing that uses rotation to put it out or backwards rotation to retract . Could do the same with a drill and a well built fitting . I do like how this is self contained . Maybe my early thought went too far . This seems like a great idea .
Dust
Not useful on a topsnake.
Chris
No mention of the 20v chainsaw?
JoeM
20 Volt or FlexVOLT? I’ve seen both vaguely hinted at in pictures on the Canadian DeWALT Facebook page. 16″ ones so far, in pictures. But, every time I go back to pull the images up to share with people, they’ve been taken down again.
There’s even one on the FlexVOLT picture on the main Canadian DeWALT WEBSITE now… and yet… No listing, no nothing. It’s Schrodinger’s Chainsaw. Until we can actually buy one, it simultaneously does, and does NOT, exist in the DeWALT lineup.
But I can tell you, you’re NOT imagining them. I’ve seen the pictures, but can’t prove it. But you’re not alone.
Jim
The flexvolt chainsaw has been out for awhile. I got mine 4 months ago
jtr165
There has been a 20v max brushless 12″ chainsaw on Dewalt’s US website for at least a few days, noticed it over the weekend as ‘coming soon’…
http://www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/outdoor-power-equipment/20v-max-compact-cordless-chainsaw-kit/dccs620p1
Listed as a kit w/ 5.0AH battery, as well as a bare tool.
JoeM
That’s the 12″. There’s a phantom 16″ that keeps showing up, then vanishing. FlexVOLT AND 20 Volt versions. Either they’re the same thing, and don’t want anyone figuring it out, or they’re not ready to release the 16″ FlexVOLT one until they’re sure how the 12″ sells.
The 16″ DeWALT Cordless Chainsaw is Schrodinger’s Chainsaw. Right now? I’m SURE we’re being experimented on by DeWALT to gauge interest in the thing before they announce the 16″ version. Until it just drops into our laps, it simultaneously exists, and does not exist. Because I can try to pull images of the wee beastie off the Facebook page in the background or foreground of an image of other tools, but the second I go back to look for the same picture, it has evaporated.
We already know about the 12″. But there’s one coming at 16″, and for some crazy, stupid reason, DeWALT keeps forgetting they’re bringing it along to events to get people excited about it… then those images come down, and we’re back to it being a myth again.
So far, I’ve seen the 40 Volt Max Chainsaw, the FlexVOLT Chainsaw, AND the 20 Volt Outdoor Line Chainsaw off and on in pictures and on the websites. There’s just this… 16″ one that MUST be a FlexVOLT 60 Volt saw to make any sense at all… they just keep removing images of it from whenever I find it.
Frankly… It’s pissing me off… I know it’s stupid to be angry over this, and I don’t want to be banned from the site for using stronger language than that… but, truly, this one is making me very angry, and making me look like a crazy person for swearing I’ve seen it in pictures on the DeWALT Canada Facebook Page. I SWEAR. 16″ version. Had the FlexVOLT sticker on it. I have no other details than that.
jtr165
Sounds like a Canadian thing, sir…
The Flexvolt 16″ chainsaw has been available to buy in the US since early summer. It’s in stock at my local Lowes, have held it, pretty nice overall. There has been a 40v 16″ chainsaw available for even longer. Both have received ok feedback, albeit a bit underpowered at that bar size (like almost every 16″ cordless option)
You’re saying that the 60v ‘doesn’t exist’, or that you sometimes see it as a 20v or something?…it very much does ‘exist’, seems more likely just marketing mistakes centric to Canada where it’s not locally available yet?
Hadn’t read/heard anything but speculation about a 20v saw until very recently. I almost guarantee whatever you’re seeing occasionally on facebook about a 20v 16″ saw is simply a mistake on Dewalt’s part…there are zero 18v nominal cordless saws at that bar/chain size that i’ve ever seen…Way too much capacity for a motor/battery/electronic package of that spec. The 16″ or bigger corded electric saws basically have 15 amp table saw motors in them.
Thai
Their late
..Milwaukee came out first….but not brushless 🙁 and no led….oh well depends on which platform your on all ready
Mike
Don’t want a 20v chainsaw unless they do like Makita and put two batteries in it 20v just isn’t powerful enough for a chainsaw unless you want 10inch or smaller chainsaw
jtr165
Well, we’ll see I guess…as they’re making one, and it’s a 12″ bar.
http://www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/outdoor-power-equipment/20v-max-compact-cordless-chainsaw-kit/dccs620p1
They’re pretty careful with the description, though. Specifically that it’s for ‘construction’ jobs like roughing off beams, rough demolition, etc…and probably great for homeowner pruning, firewood, things like that.
Danny
Is this 4 times better than Ryobi model P4001, which is $69? I do own 6 Dewalt cordless tool and none of Ryobi, but I wonder.
Sunny
Probably not, is it better yes, and do you already have a dewalt charging setup and batteries then its probably worth it to avoid the hassle of multiple brands of batteries.
Will
Does it self feed. The Milwaukee one does not, and that was very disappointing.
firefly
I wonder what kind of plumber this sort of device is targeting. My house have several clean out ports that I can access from the outside. So I have a walk behind auger for them. Obviously in my case the walk behind model is far superior to use. For cleaning at the sink a small manual snake is much easier to manage without fuss.The only time that I can see where one prefer a power hand held auger is where the job is too big for a manual yet accessibility might be limited for a walk behind.
So is this one of those device that fit into a plumber arsenal where it rarely get used but is more than paid for just for a few case where it might be needed? Obviously my experience is limited to my resident, so I could be completely off base here.
fred
Maybe a maintenance guy for a big apartment house would like this.
Altan
This is one the tools I was asking DeWALT three years ago to produce, finally they did, It looks so great, I liked the design, Next tool should be a cordless soldering tool for plumbers like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRa-CdcHy0w
Go ahead DeWALT, you are a bit slow.