I’ve got good news and bad news – Dewalt’s new Atomic-series 20V Max compact cordless DCS369B reciprocating saw is now available, but in very limited supplies.
I snagged one at my local Home Depot, where it was unfortunately not eligible for any current promos. Buy any of the other Atomic-series cordless power tools, and you get a free 2.0Ah battery.
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What’s so special about the Dewalt Atomic brushless reciprocating saw? Well, this is Dewalt’s first one-handed 20V Max model.
Dewalt has a compact 12V Max compact reciprocating saw, with pivoting handle, but there’s nothing like that in the 20V Max lineup.
Dewalt does also have a compact brushless 20V Max reciprocating saw, but it also requires a two-handed grip.
The new Dewalt Atomic reciprocating saw fits in with the character and branding of the Atomic-series, if that makes sense. It’s the kind of tool I would expect to be part of the “Atomic” lineup.
The Dewalt Atomic cordless reciprocating saw features a quick-change chuck, variable speed trigger, pivoting shoe, and brushless motor.
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There’s also an LED worklight.
I couldn’t resist the impulse to get one in my hands ASAP, and picked one up for testing and review. I also picked up a couple of fresh packs of Diablo reciprocating saw blades.
I have small 4″ blades around here somewhere, but figured that 6″ blades would work well on a tool this size. If this was a smaller 12V-class tool, I’d dig out those 4″ blades.
Initial testing will likely involve some branch pruning, some light cutting of construction lumber, plastic pipes, and maybe also copper tubing. A compact recip saw like this is best suited for lighter cutting tasks.
I really like Milwaukee’s Hackzall cordless reciprocating saws, for their compactness, light weight, and reasonable performance. It’ll be curious to see if and how Dewalt’s Atomic-series one-handed cordless reciprocating saw will compare.
While larger saws can handle light work too, they can be fatiguing especially when used overhead, or cumbersome in tighter spaces.
Price: $129 for the bare tool (DCS369B)
Home Depot’s website is reporting that the saw is pretty much out of stock everywhere, and I’m also seeing a $149 price. I paid $129.
I found mine on top of a tool box display near the PRO desk.
If this is something you want to get your hands on ASAP, happy hunting. If you can wait, I’m sure availability will improve soon.
Altan
This looks Atomic.
Don
Dewalt has dropped the ball on the 12v line nothing like Milwaukee although i bleed yellow and black dewalt need to step up there game that new 7-1/4 skil saw is a left handed saw i no the left handed people are jumpn with joy right handed people cant see the blade it reminded me of the old finger cutting off corded saws anyway dewalt step up your 12v line cant wait til April 2020 thanks for listening
Altan
So far this and the Atomic circular saw are well designed but others are not impressive. Is this line going to be the European 14.4V (probably 16V in US) tools replacement?
The 12V Recip. saw is discontinued?
Stuart
The 12V Max saw is still available. $87 for the bare tool, $144 for the kit.
Altan
Either you said ” DeWALT had 12V recip. saw” or I have become crazy. Did you change it to “has” or I really misread it?!
Stuart
Yes.
Altan
Yes means I have become crazy or you have changed it?!
Corse46
What are the chances they release an updated 12v brushless saw? I just got the new 12v 3/8 impact wrench and I love it. I wouldn’t mind getting an updated version of that folding saw
Stuart
If I had to guess, I’d say a new brushless saw is likely, but perhaps not until a couple months into 2020 at the earliest.
John
Do it have the 4 position blade change or is it it 2 position. Also does it hold hacksaw blades?
Bruce
Nothing about the compact recip requires two hands, honestly, a full size one can be handled with one hand if you’ve got enough experience. I like the form factor, as long as it’s carrying enough power to not jam up every time it runs into a real cutting chore.
Big Richard
I agree, I almost exclusively use the compact DCS367 one handed. It’s only 1/2″ longer than the M18 Fuel, but cuts like a full size recip.
Altan
It depends on what you cut with it and the thickness, in some cases I can handle it easily with one hand, but I like to hold it with both hands, it is always more secure like this.
ca
Does anyone else find that the 367 vibrates more than other recip saws, or am I just crazy?
Stuart
I’ve heard this complaint before.
Big Richard
Part of what makes it compact is removing some of the vibration absorption. So, by design it should vibrate more, but I’ve never noticed it? At least no more than any comparable recip. Now, something like the M18 Super Sawzall or Dewalt Flexvolt are so heavy you definitely feel less vibration with them.
Stuart
Sure, you can use most reciprocating saws and tools designed for two-handed use with just one hand, but it’s not going to be as comfortable or controllable.
When used horizontally, you can rest some of the weight on what’s being cut, in the form of pressure that follows through the cutting action. But if you’re not cutting horizontally, how do you apply controlled pressure to the cut?
Taras
You rock the blade through the cut. This way you are only applying pressure to a smaller portion of the piece as you cut. You can control your pace quite well in any position except cutting with the saw upside down, in an upward motion.
Big Richard
With a 5/8″ stroke length and 2800 spm, that gives it a theoretical cutting capacity of 1750 in/min. That puts it somewhere between the M12 and M12 Fuel. Kind of surprised and disappointed it isn’t closer to the M18. I didn’t expect it to compete with the M18 Fuel. Similarly, its closer to Bosch’s 12v than their 18v
I know specs aren’t everything, but still. Perhaps a premium XR model is down the road (doubtful).
Mike
You should know by now that numbers mean nothing
Todd Barry
“I’ve got good news and bad news – Dewalt’s new Atomic-series 20V Max compact cordless DCS369B reciprocating saw is now available, but in very limited supplies.”
Uh limited supplies like the POPEYE’S chicken sandwich??? LoL I think that is either the best marketing ploy ever OR a total PR failure…how comeit takes so long to restock, they are buying china chickens?
Dewalt should be able to flood the market if they want to?
YMMV
Altan
Businesses don’t work with floodings, otherwise they would have not become a business, they are looking for every single P (C) that they can get from you, one of my Slovakian friends was working for a TV manufacturing company in Slovakia and he was telling me the TVs that we just start to see in the market have been produced 5 years ago and they stock them somewhere until they finish the old versions.
Stuart
There are 2200 HD stores in North America.
An initial roll-out would require several thousand units.
Good news – it’s available now. Bad news – it’ll take some legwork and even then it’s not guaranteed.
It is what it is.
And, Home Depot looks to be getting first dibs on these new Atomic tools.
Stretch
…and here’s what my search of several stores between Fredericksburg, VA & Northern VA / the DMV…tmost of the stores that have them, are yet to have an assigned location for them so look for them in a plain brown box in the the “no home” locations in the overhead. Good luck with that search. I had a dilligent and determined associate who found mine. Look for “412” as the last three numbers on their large white label.
….some stores have placed them with the other Atomic Tools on the Atomic Tool end cap display in or near Tool World.
Finally, don’t give up if you really want one! I recommend you go online and select the store you want to shop and check their availability. If they have them and they aren’t where you can find them, get an associate to assist you in your search of the “no home” overhead bins. Yep, you will get a crick in your neck, walking up and town aisles near tool world, looking up in the overhead bins. Rememner, look for the last three numbers of “412” on the white HD label. OBTW, they are currently $129 in the store for the Bare Tool.
James S
Hey, I’d like to make a request please for the inevitable review for this Reciprocating Saw. When you’re testing it, would you mind cutting 1/2″ and 3/4″ galvanized steel pipe? As a plumber, it’s one of the most common things I have to cut out in an attic or inside of a wall.
Stuart
I’ll see what I can do! Schedule 40 pipe has been on my *maybe* list, although it might be later in the week. I was going to see how the saw fared on thicker wood, PVC, and copper before bumping up what I asked of it. Thanks for the request/suggestion!
The What?
For some reason dewalt still doesn’t get it right with this latest (and definitely not the greatest) recip saw. Why is it that dewalt can’t figure out how to make a saw with an adjustable shoe? I’m really starting to think that they’re either too cheap or too stupid to design a saw with such a simple feature. I guess they don’t think getting longevity out of saw blades is important and that blades are just free of charge. Everybody else seems to think of a way to incorporate it into the design but not dewalt. Not one of their saws has it. It doesn’t even have to be a tool-less shoe adjustment. Another thing is the blade stroke length. ⅝ of an inch? That’s really weak for a prosumer saw at this price point. That’s why it’s one handed. It would be nice if dewalt were to release a new xr saw or at least something that could be considered professional instead of mediocre diy grade tools like this.
Big Richard
I don’t think any of the one handed recip saws on the market have an adjustable shoe. Actually, most don’t even have a pivoting shoe. Typically, one would use a 4″ blade and use every bit of that blade during normal cuts, no need to adjust a shoe to get extra longevity out of a blade. And as far as stroke length, even the class leading M18 Fuel only has a 7/8″ stroke length. Bosch is close with a 21mm (just under 7/8″). I’m not sure you understand the purpose of a tool like this.
David A. VandeBerg
What do you all think about the handle being inline rather than “D” where your hand is perpendicular to the motion. I was thinking there will be less control in that situation where you need to brace for cutting; Hard to brace when your control hand is inline with the motion. Only experience in this area is with the Black and Decker homeowner model.
Taras
Inline handle is much easier to control than a D handle style. You only need slight forward pressure on the workpiece to keep vibration to a minimum. It’s like using a knife. Easier with an inline handle versus a D handle knife.
BK
Terrible. I have the saw in the M12, same form factor. It’s terrible in tight spaces with that wart on its back. I went to the DeWalt 12v series cause the saw was a clean stick shape. I never would have gone to DeWalt 12v series if the m12 didn’t have that huge wart.
Greg
I picked up one today. My HD didn’t have them out yet so I sent an HD employee on the hunt and he came back with the atomic sawzall thankfully. It’s awesome light weight and plenty of power.
Big Richard
Yes, HD is kinda sneaky about this. I wanted to verify before I wrote in about it, but here’s my experience, as I also picked one up.
I saw this pop up online last week and my HD said it had 5 in stock. planned on checking it out this past weekend but never got around to it. When I looked online the following Monday it was listed as “unavailable”. I didn’t know which to believe, so I stopped by and went straight to this rack above the nuts and bolts that is labeled as “NO HOME”, and there was a box of 5 DCS369s. I had an employee grab the box for me and I got my saw.
I knew exactly where to go, because the same thing happened once before. That time I gave the employee the SKU and his little handheld told him a location of “No Home”, and he led me to the aforementioned rack. He then explained to me that they receive the products early and take them out of inventory and into overstock until they have the display and location set up.
Oleg K
The 12v Milwaukee Fuel Hackzall is still miles ahead. I’ve used both tools and used the Milwaukee more times than I can remember and it cuts quicker, seems to be made out of higher quality materials than the one made by Dewalt. It’s bulkier and heavier but not by much, not enough to make me want to abandon it for Dewalt. It’s good to have variety, I guess, however, I don’t believe that Milwaukee has a true competitor when it comes to portable reciprocating saws, not yet.
Mike
I’m an electrician and have the m12 fuel recip and that is perfect for cutting EMT, pvc, and some other assorted tasks. If I need to cut something more substantial I can still manage but there is usually a chop saw around anway.
It’d be nice to see how this fares since I have mostly dewalt tools anyway but wanted a recip in that form factor.
BRIAN QUAN
Dewalt is supposed to have a 12v version. I’m might pick up the Atomic version.
Some leaked photos on Travis Collin’s site of 12v: https://www.picuki.com/media/2179303496355094385
BRIAN QUAN
Collin has some side by side comparisons with the M18 Hacksaw here:
https://www.picuki.com/media/2156383134072113346