Dewalt has announced that they will be expanding their 20V Max cordless power tool lineup with new trade-focused tools. There will be 5 new tools that can tackle a variety of cutting, crimping, and pressing applications.
We knew about one of these new tools – the threaded rod cutter – but news of the others came as a complete but welcome surprise.
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Why a welcome surprise? I don’t have use for any of these new electrical or plumbing tools, but I am happy to see Dewalt taking their 20V Max lineup into new territory. I don’t think anyone would disagree with this, except maybe for their competitors.
Before we start talking about the tools, I wanted to share a short message included in the press release:
Users who had previously needed to switch tools from their DEWALT drills to their industry-specific tools will benefit from the convenience and performance of the 20V MAX* system, now available for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, MRO, and HVAC professionals.
A Milwaukee product manager once said that they want to “own the application,” from start to finish, meaning they want pros to use Milwaukee tools for every aspect of a job. It sounds like Dewalt is looking to adopt the same philosophy as they branch out into new waters.
Here are the 5 new tools:
- Cable Cutter (DCE150)
- U-Type Died Crimper (DCE300)
- Dieless Crimper (DCE350)
- Press Tool (DCE200)
- Threaded Rod Cutter (DCS350)
ETA: June 2016
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New Dewalt 20V Max Electrical Tools
Cable Cutter (DCE150)
We don’t have an image of the new cordless cable cutter yet, so for the time being you’ll have to use your imagination.
The new large cable cutter is capable of cutting a range of cable sizes, up to 750 MCM copper or 1000 MCM aluminum cables. It features long-lasting hardened steel cutting blades that can be self-serviced or replaced.
Additional features include an LED worklight and inline forward/reverse switch.
U-Type Died Crimper (DCE300)
Dewalt has come out with 2 new crimpers, a U-type died crimper (DCE300), and a dieless crimper (DCE350). Both will feature Dewalt’s new Crimp Connect System, a built-in reporting system that can report the date, time, and force of each successful crimp, as well as the number of successful crimp cycles completed by the tool. It can also report the tool’s calibration and service history.
Going by the small graphic included in the press release, it looks like the new Dewalt cordless crimpers will provide reporting via USB connection to laptop or desktop computers.
There’s an electronic control panel at the top of the crimpers, complete with on/off switch, LED indicators that show battery state of charge, cycle completion, and if recalibration or servicing is needed.
Each tool also comes with a shoulder strap for easier carrying.
The died crimper, model DCE300, can deliver the 12-ton crimping force that most manufacturers’ connectors require for UL-classified crimps. It accepts most brands’ U-Type dies, and can be used on cables #8 to 750 MCM copper or 1000 MCM aluminum.
The head pivots 270° for maneuvering in tight spaces, and separate forward and reverse trigger switches allow for one-handed operation of the crimper.
Dieless Crimper (DCE350)
There will also be a dieless crimper, model DCD350.
The Dewalt cordless dieless crimper features a 4 pusher design, and can crimp cables #8 to 750 MCM copper or 1000 MCM aluminum.
It has an innovative head design that helps to reduce user error when crimping smaller cables. The head pivots 360°, allowing the crimper to maneuver in tight spaces. Like the died crimper, this one also has separate forward and reverse triggers, for one-handed operation.
New Dewalt 20V Max Plumbing Tools
Press Tool (DCE200)
There is also a new press tool for plumbing applications. It can press pipe fittings from 1/2″ to 4″ in copper and stainless steel pipe. The press tool is compatible with a wide range of crimping heads and attachments, for use on different materials.
Its head pivots 320°, for maneuvering in tight spaces. To protect against corrosion, the crimping jaws are finished with a black galvanized coating.
The cable cutter will also feature Dewalt’s built-in Crimp Connect reporting system. And as with the crimpers, it too will have an electronic control panel for powering the tool on and off, and LED indicators for battery state of charge, cycle completion, and to let you know when recalibration or servicing is needed.
It will also feature an LED worklight and will come with a shoulder strap.
New Dewalt 20V Max Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Tools
Threaded Rod Cutter (DCS350)
Finally, there’s the new DCS350 threaded rod cutter, which is capable of cutting threaded rod in the following sizes: 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ mild steel, and 1/4″ and 3/8″ stainless steel.
It features a 4-sided rotatable cutting die that allows users to cut each of the different threaded rod sizes with the same tool. All you need to do is rotate the cutting dies to the desired size.
The Dewalt cordless threaded rod cutter works without creating chips or sparks, and also creates a burr-free cut that can be threaded onto fasteners without needing additional finishing.
The new threaded rod cutter seems to be designed as a safer alternative to other cutting tools which have fast-moving, chip-flying, or spark-spraying wheels or cutting blades. Additionally, it’s not possible for the threaded rod cutter to bind when trimming rod, which cannot be said about cutting blades or wheels.
Features include an LED worklight, forward/reverse/lock off switch, and a hanging hook. There will be a full line of replacement dies available.
Here are some more photos of the prototype, which you might have already seen in our new Dewalt cordless tools preview post:
There’s also a belt hook.
Nathan
I like the expansion and I hope at least some of these are Made in USA tools. All of the crimp tools look to have the same motor/base design. Would be nice (and I know I always ask too much) if they rigged it such that you could buy and put the other ends on the same tool machine.
any ideas on costs.
Stuart
I’m waiting on pricing information, but didn’t want that to delay the post.
I don’t think that a single tool with interchangeable heads would have worked for something like this. Even if all the guts are the same, the interface would have to be smart, with electronic and not just mechanical connections.
Lance
“Made in the USA” should actually read “Assembled in the USA”.
I’m not denying it’s a step in the right direction, it certainly is, but don’t put too much weight on it when judging tool brands. The parts are shipped in, likely from China, as sub-assemblies and put in the case halves, screwed together and packaged.
Yes this will keep some people in the US employed, which is a good thing, but it’s hardly a “Made in the US” product when most/all components are made elsewhere and shipped in.
Just curious, Stewart. Since you toured a DeWalt assembly facility, did they mention if there was any domestic content in their US assembled tools?
Stuart
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/dewalt-brushless-drill-building-and-factory-tour/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I didn’t get a full BOM, but more components are made in the USA than I thought.
Mike
Did someone almost have an oopsie with the rod cutter or was that part of the display?
Stuart
HA! I didn’t even notice that!
If you look at this preview post, you’ll see some of the displays:
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/dewalt-power-tools-nailers-drill-bits-new-2015/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
That auger was attached to a heavy duty impact wrench wth 7/16″ quick release hex chuck. The hands-on demonstration for that tool involved drilling long holes into the stump of a utility pole.
You can that halfway into this post:
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/dewalt-cordless-tools-new-2015/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Mike
Hmmm… in one photo it’s in your hand:
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Dewalt-Brushless-Impact-with-Quick-Chuck.jpg%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
and a page later it’s right through the display divider. It’s okay, nobody actually saw you do it.
Milwaukee tool Steve
Can the U-Type Died Crimper cut rebar?
Stuart
I’m going to say *maybe*.
I did a quick search, and Greenlee makes a U-Type cutting die for 12-ton tools. They say that it can cut grade 60 rebar.
So it looks like the answer is yes, but I’m not familiar enough with these types of tool systems to be confident about that.
Milwaukee tool Steve
Thanks for the reply I will by this Dewalt if Milwaukee or Hilti doesn’t plan to make one…
Jim
Hilti had some prototypes at the last ICUEE show.
fred
My thinking is that Dewalt was a bit slow to the party on the plumbing tools. When I retired in 2012 – we were just starting in on buying the M18 Force Logic stuff and that had got us thinking about other M18 tools to supplement our Makita 18V and Milwaukee M12 tools. If Milwaukee is listening – they should know that a Threaded Rod Cutter would be a nice addition for Force Logic customers. A cordless PEX Stapler would be nice too.
For Dewalt – this might help with those thinking about jumping ship to the “Red Brand”
Joe
I might have stuck around. After all of the nothing from dewalt then lawn and garden tools I was starting to think that they forgot about professionals.
Rami
Always nice to see DeWalt coming up with new kind of tools, but I wish that they would upgrade some of their very basic XR tools, such as recip-, circular- and jigsaws and their angle grinder. Well they have a relatively new reciprocating saw (dcs387) but I hope they come out with a recip saw that would have some kind of anti-vibration and maybe even a brushless motor. And of course more 10,8v tools.
BikerDad
ARGGGHGHGH…. where’s my brushless circular saw??
Whine aside, it’s good to see these. While definitely specialty tools, the deeper the roster of specialty tools, the stronger the demand for the general tools will be.
Mike
What I’m hoping for is for Dewalt to come out with a 71/4 in brushless wormdrive and 61/2 in brushless with blade on left,forget about a 71/4 in sidewinder w/blade on right ,I like the blade on the left, sight line is so much better, also a brushless recip w/anti vibe would be nice brushless jigsaw not really necessary, dewalts brushed jigsaw is pretty powerful and how cutting do you do with a jigsaw anyway
jim
Is it just me or are they crimping an electrical lug onto a plumbing pipe in the top photo? DeWalt might want to check in with their ad agency if they are aiming the tools at pros!
Derek
lol, yup, good eye.
Matt
Might be a ground rod. Certainly is a solid piece of copper in any case.
Derek
doesn’t look like a ground rod to me, plus no one puts these crimp lugs on ground rods…so that would still be a dumb ad. If you can’t properly market your own tool…you have failed.
Commercial Tough Tom
I’ve been an commercial electrician for 20 years. Even an apprentice knows they offer multiple jacket colors to differentiate different cables when running them into a switch gear, one of which Brown.
I guess we shouldn’t comment if we don’t know what we are talking about.
John
Cant help but think that Threaded Rod Cutter (DCS350) could have more uses and better potential. Like optional additional die sizes so that I could cut bolts/screws of more sizes than just 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ mild steel, and 1/4″ and 3/8″ stainless steel. Perhaps a smaller version for bolts/screws. I don’t know how many times I’ve had to adjust screw/bolt sizes and the #8 and #6 shear cutters on like pliers are great but a small M12 or 12 volt sized tool to do that and for more bolt/screw sizes would really help with the arthritis.
fred
This is my go-to bolt cutter when I want to maintain the theads
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stanley-84-205-Jobmaster-Bolt-Threaded-Screw-Cutter-Soft-Steel-/261867027080
Sadly Stanley no longer makes it and the smaller ones – while convenient are tough on 70 year old hands
Mike
I’ve always wanted to give this shear cutter a try. I just can’t justify the price to myself yet.
http://www.amazon.com/Aircraft-Tool-Supply-Precision-Cutter/dp/B005VR8MCK
fred
ATS runs a sale or two once in a while. You can get on their email list and they’ll let you know – but the tool is more than a bit pricey even with the 10 or 15% off of a typical sale – unless you have a regular use for it.
The cutter is also available for less at Sky Geek – but they seem to get some bad reviews online.
Stuart
Never seen that before, but it does look useful. I agree that it’s a bit too pricey.
Nate818
You can do alot with a portaband
fred
Yes you can – but sometimes the threads need touching up after being cut with a bandsaw. We had a chaser from MCC (# ABCH-430) that handled 3/8 and 1/2 Threaded Rod
http://www.amazon.com/MCC-Threaded-ABCH-430-improperly-threaded/dp/B00OS424OY
If you are only cutting a few threaded rod at a time then a manual cutter like a Hit 22-TRC3812-3 will do – but that will set you back almost $400 plus extra dies if you need them for 1/4 and 5/16.
Derek
I’m a electrician, and I have no use for any of these. It’s mainly just a power companies that use those crimp connections. I use all thread from time to time, and to cut it I just use my sawsall, if you hold it tight, you can cut it clean and thread a nut right on it. I work out of a van, not a frickin semi, I don’t have room to have a tool for every little task.
Steven
M12 bandsaw for all my rod cutting, and then some.
We have tried rod busters, grinders, metal cutting skill saws.
For all general purpose including a burr free cut, bandsaw(regardless brand) is my favorite.
Dewalt must be really banking on alot of commercial tradesman lackeys who cut only rod…..honestly, thats a boat load of cutting to dedicate solely to ONE tool that does only one kind of cut.
The press tools are very cool, however, alot of mechanical trades are cheap undercutting fools who choose inferior process to gather work…. Shady reality where cost will over-rule quality product/craftsmanship.
Our company would love to use pressed gas fitting connections…… However, cost, product availability will render these cool tools useless……hopefully not for long, cause pressing 2″ gas would kick ass over threading.
fred
Steven
Good points – it does seem like it would be hard to sell a dedicated rod cutter to folks who only do residential and small commercial work – and a cordless bandsaw would have greater application beyond just cutting rod. Maybe Dewalt sees a market for working on hi-rise construction, installing fire suppression systems etc. and thinks they can sell enough into a niche market to make it worth their while to produce the tool.
On the issue of press tools – new technology sometimes gets out in front of the general market and early adoption is spotty, comes in fits and starts and even may be ridiculed. Sometimes the caution turns out to be warranted – as in the case of CPVC use. Other times it may be dictated by an abundance of caution and a wait and see attitude on the part of code writers, local jurisdictions, architects and labor unions. Sometimes other possible motivations may also be attributed to a slowness to adopt new technologies like press connections, PEX, CSST etc. When you work as a licensed contractor (needing multiple certifications) in 3 states across many different small municipal, large city, different county, and varying trade union jurisdictions, and different roles on different jobs, you learn to live with this reality. It does make life interesting when bidding different jobs. As you say press connections for gas pipe would reduce construction costs (or at least keep them in check). Having lived through transitions from cast iron caulked joint waste lines to no-hub to PVC – and seeing how slow that was in some locales (PVC only approved in 2009 in one instance) – I would not hold my breath on waiting for universal approval of pressed gas fittings. Let’s hope Dewalt’s foray into this market is a harbinger of the transition.
Steven
One day, we will all look back and be like “yall had to thread ALL THAT!?” Man thats slow and painful.
I know of alot of local commercial plumbers that rock pro-press copper and love the be jeeses out of it. Its an engineered connection, not spray n pray and really does save time…. Is the time more valuable than the product? Depends on how tight the bid is, thus going back to sub standard neanderthal bidders.
Ive been using polypropelene fusion weld (aquatherm) since 2008 and can never go back to copper or even steel. There definitly is some risk going into new standards, just follow ze Germans and youll be good?
I even showed the dewalt rod buster to my “dewalt only Bro in law” and he even says the same thing…..one tool, to do only 1 thing, no thanks, band saw is better…… However, IF it was cheap, very cheap, and was milwaukee, Id be interested….unlikely to purchase
Commercial Tough Tom
We had a guy cut himself the other day cutting all thread with a band saw. I told our safety guy about what I saw on tool guyd and he said that one dude getting cut most likely cost us 10 times whatever this tool would cost. He’s looking forward to trying this out whenever it comes.
Pete
The title to this article should have been- “Dewalt is still trying to keep up with Milwaukee” lol if the crimer was a decent price $150< i would look at it.
Matt
About time Dewalt plays catch up. I was preparing to drop 10K next year on other brands for speciality tools. Hate to. Entire crew runs 20v Dewalt. Run a crew of 10 industrial electricians. Last project had over 1000 wire cuts above 500KCMIL and around 300 crimps. All done with hand tools. Next job is 10 times bigger. Would be nice if they added a cordless knock out set as well. The new set from a competitor saved about 2 days in man hours on our last job.