I’m happy to announce that I’ve teamed up with The Home Depot through their ProSpective Program to put some new tools to the test. Each quarter I’ll be putting a few new tools to the test to see how they measure up and see if they can become part of my staple arsenal of everyday use tools!

This time around I’ll be taking a look at the DeWalt 20v MAX Cordless Brushless Hammer Drill/Driver Combo Kit w/ FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE.

Click here if you’d like to check out my previous review of the DeWalt 20v MAX Lithium-Ion Brushless 7 1/4″ Circular Saw w/ FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE.

Disclosure: This project contains a paid product placement by The Home Depot who generously supplied the tool(s) I’ll be reviewing today. All opinions are my own. 

What is FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE?

If you read my previous review, you’ll know this by now, but for those who are new, allow me to rehash.

What makes FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE unique is that it is the first battery system that changes voltage with the tool you’re using. For example, you can use a FLEXVOLT Battery on any of the DeWalt 20V MAX tools with FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE that will allow for up to 4x the runtime vs a traditional 20v DeWalt Battery AND provides the power of a corded tool when used on a 60V MAX Tool.* (according to dewalt.com)

That means you have longer battery life on smaller tools when you need it AND more power on larger tools when you need that and it’s as easy as swapping the battery from one tool to the next. It’s an extremely versatile battery system providing for extreme ease of use which is something I am very interested in.

This 20V Max tool for example can be used with either a standard 20V MAX battery for small jobs OR a 60V FLEXVOLT Battery which provides for maximum versatility and power as a battery platform.

First Impressions

Right out of the box there are a few things that immediately stood out to me that I really like about these tools.

1.) Tool Weight & Size

This drill is a significant size and weight increase over my DeWalt 20v Atomic. The beauty of the Atomic is power in a small package but it has its limitations. This drill have significantly more power when paired with the 60v battery. (DeWalt claims +40% which I tend to agree). Where the Atomic measures in at 6.3″, this one measures in at about 8″.

When paired with a standard 20v MAX battery the new drill weighs in at roughly 4.3 lbs while the Atomic weighs in around 3.125 lbs. The added weight actually helps when drilling in my opinion. If you have a good bit, you don’t have to apply as much pressure with your arm and body and it still feels well balanced.

2.) Metal Chuck (Drill)

There are few things that drive me as crazy as a poorly constructed chuck on a drill. That includes either being cheap and plastic, or that it loosens up on usage and drops the bit. Even the Atomic I own which I do like, has a plastic chuck.

I had a previous DeWalt drill several generations back that was guilty of coming loose all the time. I actually got rid of it for that exact reason. Not so with this drill! In fact the chuck cinches down extremely tight. There’s been a few times where I’ve tried to back off the chuck to release a bit (and had the drill set on 2 or 3) and if I’m not holding it super tight, it’s given me a little palm burn. I don’t consider that a bad thing by any means. It means the chuck is doing what it’s supposed to and holding strong!

3.) 3 Speed Transmission

I know there are other DeWalt drills with a 3 Speed Transmission at this point but this is the first DeWalt drill I’ve owned with a 3 speed transmissiont. In fact, when you put this drill on 3 it flies! I actually prefer to leave it on 2 most of the time but it’s awesome to know you have the extra power when you need it. When paired with the 60v battery, this thing hums and has plenty of power to tackle big tasks like drilling holes in concrete.

In fact both the drill AND the impact driver in this kit carry the 3 speed transmission. The impact driver also has a precision drive setting which gives you complete control for driving screws.

How They Stack Up

I’ll be honest, my go to drill and driver set have been the Milwaukee 18v Fuel set for years. I love everything about those tools and I didn’t feel like the DeWalt Atomic drill/driver set I have stacked up with them. However, that changes with this set. I feel completely comfortable reaching for either set for any projects I’m working on now.

This set comes in at $369 from Home Depot (comes with 6ah 60v battery, 20v MAX battery, charger, and bag) compared to $399 for the comparable Milwaukee set so I think you get all the upside, for a little bit of a savings. This is by far the best drill/driver combo I’ve used that is on par with the Fuel set that I love.

You also have the added benefit of swapping the 6ah 60v battery to the entire lineup of FLEXVOLT tools or other 20v MAX tools so you have a tremendous amount of versatility on the job site or around the house. The 20v MAX batteries you may have from previous generations of tools still work on these tools as well.

Overall Rating – HIGHLY RECOMMEND

I’ve got to say that I am really pleasantly surprised by these tools. As I mentioned above, replacing my Milwaukee Fuel drill/ driver combo is not an easy task to do but I’d feel equally comfortable taking this set to any job.

I’ve yet to find any drawbacks to the tools thus far (not to say there won’t be at some point) but I think this is a great value set for the active home owner or even the professionals. If you’re just starting out or if you’re just looking for a starter set I’d say this set offers more than you’d need but if you prefer the mentality of “buy once, cry once” this set should last you for years to come.

Thanks for checking out this review. Thanks to Home Depot for providing the saw I reviewed in this content. If you’re interested in more review content, check out some of the other reviews below.

How to Build a Simple Circular Saw and Drill/Driver Storage Cabinet

Tool Review: DeWalt 20v MAX Circular Saw w/ FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE

Cub Cadet CC30e Lawn Mower Review

I’m happy to announce that I’ve teamed up with The Home Depot through their ProSpective Program to put some new tools to the test. Each quarter I’ll be putting a few new tools to the test to see how they measure up and see if they can become part of my staple arsenal of everyday use tools!

First up I’ll be taking a look at the DeWalt 20-volt MAX Lithium Ion Brushless 7-1/4″ Cordless Circular Saw with FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE.

Disclosure: This project contains a paid product placement by The Home Depot who generously supplied the tool(s) I’ll be reviewing today. All opinions are my own. 

What is FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE?

I’ve seen the FLEXVOLT line in stores and have gotten my hands on a few tools here and there at different trade shows over the last couple years but I’ve never previously owned any of the tools and used it myself on any projects at my home or workshop.

What makes FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE unique is that it is the first battery system that changes voltage with the tool you’re using. For example, you can use a FLEXVOLT Battery on any of the DeWalt 20V MAX tools with FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE that will allow for up to 4x the runtime vs a traditional 20v DeWalt Battery AND provides the power of a corded tool when used on a 60V MAX Tool.* (according to dewalt.com)

That means you have longer battery life on smaller tools when you need it AND more power on larger tools when you need that and it’s as easy as swapping the battery from one tool to the next. It’s an extremely versatile battery system providing for extreme ease of use which is something I am very interested in.

This 20V Max tool for example can be used with either a standard 20V MAX battery OR a 60V FLEXVOLT Battery which provides for maximum versatility as a battery platform.

First Impressions

Right out of the box there are a few things that immediately stood out to me that I really like about this tool.

1. Tool Weight

The weight of the saw is really comfortable. It feels sturdy and professional but not cumbersome. With the 6.0Ah FLEXVOLT Battery installed, the tool weighs in at over 10 lbs (a full pound heavier than my Milwaukee FUEL Circular Saw with a 9Ah battery installed). While some might view this as an overall detraction, I actually think it gives the tool a more stable feel. The tool feels well balanced and less susceptible to subtle wrist movements that can affect the quality of a straight cut. It feels stable in one hand or extremely secure using both hands with the forward grip.

2. Blade-Right / Right-Handed Saw

This saw is considered a sidewinder saw which means it’s a direct drive saw with the blade sitting directly on the opposite side of the motor. A right-handed / blade-right saw like this puts the main handle in your right hand with the auxiliary grip in your left hand. The blade sits off to the right side of the tool while both grips sit off to the left as you’re holding it. This means that neither hand has to reach over the top of the tool to secure with the auxiliary grip.

As a right-handed person, this is the preferred configuration for any saw for me. You can find saws in both a right or a left configuration so if you’re left-handed or prefer a different configuration, you may want to consider what options are available to you.

3. Built In LED

One of the really cool features of this saw is the built in LED at the front of the saw. This is the first circular saw I’ve ever used to have a light built into it to illuminate your cut line. This is really helpful in low light situations or just to improve overall visibility during your cut. The LED light automatically illuminates when the saw is engaged so there are no added steps involved. I think this is a very cool feature that I can see other manufacturers also adopting in their new saws.

Power & Speed

It’s clear after the first cut that this saw is built for power and speed when using the FLEXVOLT 60v battery. The saw easily slices through a variety of thicknesses from plywood, to dimensional lumber, to dense hardwood. In fact I noticed very little change in the performance of the saw regardless of the thickness or density of the wood I cut. The saw shows no signs of weakness in all the test cuts I ran.

In addition to the power, the saw also seems quieter than its competitors. I don’t have a decibel meter to confirm this, but the saw seems to have a less shrill sound in operation to me than other similar saws I’ve used.

Safety

This is perhaps where this saw surpasses all others I’ve used recently. One of the best features of this saw in my opinion is the built-in electronic brake. What this means is that as soon as you remove your finger from the trigger, the saw blade stops spinning. This is an absolute game changer for job site safety and as someone who has had a table saw injury in the past that could have cost me my fingers, I am all for it!

The saw blade reacts in a fraction of a second to stop once your finger is off the trigger. This means that in the event of a kickback, or if the guard were to stick and you set the saw down quickly after use, the blade can not cause harm to you or your materials. If your finger is off the trigger, the blade won’t spin. Plain and simple.

I think this is an absolute game-changer for saw technology and I hope to see it adopted as an industry standard across all circular saws.

Overall Rating – HIGHLY RECOMMEND

I’ve got to say that I am really pleasantly surprised by this tool. Not only does it feel and look good, but its performance is outstanding. The power of the tool allows for incredibly easy cuts without binding or slowing down. The tool has the power to easily cut through materials from 1/2″ plywood to 2″ thick hardwood without losing anything. The battery life in a 6Ah battery provides ample use for most home and workshop projects and easily allows you to swap between tools throughout the project without requiring a charge.

For the price ($199 Tool Only at Home Depot), I think you’re hard pressed to find a better value in a circular saw. When paired with the versatility of the FLEXVOLT line of tools, this is a fantastic addition to your tool arsenal.

Thanks for checking out this review. Thanks to Home Depot for providing the saw I reviewed in this content. If you’re interested in more review content, check out some of the other reviews below.

How to Build a Simple Circular Saw and Drill/Driver Storage Cabinet

DeWalt 20v MAX Cordless Brushless Hammer Drill/Driver Combo Kit w/ FLEXVOLT ADVANTAGE Tool Review

STIHL Battery-Powered Tools Review

My Top 10 Tools of 2020 (So Far)!