DeWalt 20V Pruning Chainsaw Review 8 inch Mini-Monster DCCS623 pruner flexvolt cutting test

After using this for a few weeks it's my favorite new pruning saw, here is a detailed review.
I run the Oregon R34 8" chain, it cuts a bit faster than the DeWalt chain: amzn.to/3Xn9gPv
If you do not like the bar with the tip guard then you can remove the tip or use the DeWalt bar without the tip guard (DWZCSB8 ): amzn.to/3XrHC3M
Manual for the saw is here: www.toolservicenet.com/i/DEWA...
Chapters:
0:53 Feature overview (oil Reservoir, no oil leaks, tip guard, sheath, chain cover)
4:11 Removing the tip guard and kickback demonstration (without tip)
5:25 Right- and left-handed use, weight and balance with different sizes of batteries
7:12 Saw chain and bar options, variable speed trigger, oiler
9:43 Cutting test in Big Leaf Maple, upwards cuts in Douglas Fir with the bar tip
11:25 Pros, Cons, Summary, Final Rating

[@jerseyjeeper1575]

Great reviews. Bought this saw because of your review

[@BigBodyPresence]

Same

[@francispolimino8390]

Great Video with all info I needed and no bs. Good job Thank you.

[@CascadesHomestead]

Thanks!

[@Ed1087]

well done and very helpful video . Thank you for taking time out to make it.

[@C.P.C3719]

I brought and used this on a dead bush at my home. Fastastic saw, well worth it

[@CascadesHomestead]

Glad to hear! It's the saw we use the most around the property, quite the little beast!

[@alisuperhornet]

Thanks for this video. Very helpful

[@dlkline27]

Bought one of these after some frustration with one of those Chinese pruning saws. This saw is top of the heap as far as I'm concerned. The automatic oiler is what got my attention and the saw works great for those small diameter cuts.

[@CascadesHomestead]

Spot on! And those Chinese pruning saws never lasted very long :(

[@linqu69]

Great and very informative video, thanks!

[@CascadesHomestead]

Thank you Tomi!

[@davegoud]

Great review, thanks for the chain bar info....another right handed only tool...thanks again dewalt!! So far the only true ambidextrous dewalt chainsaw is the DCCS674 and so far replacement chains are not available here in Canada and barely available in the U.S.

[@RedPillBroadcast]

Just picked one up to cut the thick husks off several 30ft palm trees, hope it does the trick!

[@berryreading4809]

You should do a video converting your 12" 20v Dewalt to run a stihl 1/4"x.043 picco 14" bar and chain conversion 😉 (although you have to lengthen the chain by two straps and 1 cutter... really the only downside, especially if you don't already own a chain delinker press and chain spinner, although a VERY cheap breaker could handle this tiny chain lol) but the stihl dealer has a factory 6 tooth sprocket that interchanges perfectly... Just remove the reverse thread sprocket bolt, washer then the 6 or so screws from the internal plastic cover to access it... I believe it's part #12516421200 for the Sthil MSA 120C, 160C, 200c if I remember correctly (although you can take your dewalt sprocket to the dealership to make 100% sure)... It's been an awesome upgrade for me considering the low factory chain speed! Finding factory 1/4" pitch tie straps is now quite difficult, but internet sellers offer kits of factory tie straps or non factory branded tie straps/cutters/link kits that are perfect for extending 2-3 14" factory chains and even the no-brand haven't failed me yet... Although the stihl cutters and links are definitely better quality (they don't sell this chain off the spool near me, so I bought a 12" 1/4" stihl chain to get better quality cutters from) 14" stihl replacement chains are only $18-26, the factory sprocket was maybe $8-$12, stihl bars are around $36, tie strap kits are about $10... It only takes me less than 2 minutes to change back to the factory sprocket for doing dirty rough cutting like roots/ construction demolition etc. But the 14" picco sertup is saved for tree/limb use! Even with the longer bar it will run circles around the 12" bar, even with better aftermarket chains! Also the oiler keeps up fine even with the increased chain speed with the stihl setup, no more slow chatter! 👍

[@berryreading4809]

@@whatsMyNameAgainAgain LOL because all the comments would be saying "just buy the Makita 36 or 40v top handle instead" And they would be correct 😆 It's the best compact size power tool battery saw, (unless you count the battery powered husqvarna top handle saws) and the makita already has aftermarket support for running other sproket/bar/chain combos... I was just experimenting based on the makita setups and already own everything for making chains off the roll... So EXTREMELY limited appeal or search hits I'd guess... 🤔

[@dragonfalcon8474]

How often do you have to put oil in this? In lets just say for maybe 30 minutes of use making maybe 50 cuts?

[@thehhoff69]

I was hoping to use the Milwaukee M18 8" Hatchet's full house chain, but it is only a 33 link chain (Oregon R33F). Do you think there is enough play with the chain tensioning system on the low end that a 33 link chain could work, or is that just going to be too short? Otherwise I have a MTD 6" pole saw bar (795-00117) that I believe is the same pitch and has the same tail mount as the stock bar, and I can try pairing that with the M12 6" Hatchet's 28 link full house chain. I just think with the slower chain speed of these pruning saws, the full house chains run a bit smoother.

[@CascadesHomestead]

The Oregon R33F and Oregon R34 are both 3/8"LP .043" chains, so from that aspect that should work. Though there is NOT a lot of play with the tensioning system, I think 33 drive links may be too tight. I haven't tried it yet but if you have access to super cheap R33F chains it could be worth it :) Please let me know how the 6" bar with chain experiment turns out, thanks!

[@thehhoff69]

@@CascadesHomestead I'm assuming it is going to be to tight, but had to ask. I'm going to try both methods most likely. First I have to actually pick up the DCCS623, might do that tonight though, and I'll follow up later. Cheers.

[@thehhoff69]

@@CascadesHomestead well, can confirm a 33 link chain DOES fit. Took the tensioner all the way down and then maybe 3/4 turn tight to get good chain tension. Should get better as the chain stretches. The downside is, the shorter chain means more of the bar is in the body of the saw, so the scabbard does not fit because of how it latches on. You end up hitting the body of the saw when you try to close it. If you remove the tip guard, or just use their 8" pole saw bar, the pole saw bar scabbard works just fine. I'll run some tests to see if the full house chain really makes any difference in cut speed or smoothness.

[@CascadesHomestead]

@@thehhoff69 Thanks for the update! Good to know the 33 link chain will work in a pinch, even if it costs you a bit of bar length.

[@PlymouthVT]

I recently bought one of these also. I like it but quickly found there is no replacement chain available. If there is i have not found it. Anyone know if there available?

[@CascadesHomestead]

There are many options, the best are: DeWalt DWO1DT608 amzn.to/3nT4ptM (Home Depot and Lowes usually have them) Oregon R34 amzn.to/3M0GOPB (some Home Depots and Lowes have them, also Sheldon Hill Supply etc.) Basically any chain that is 3/8" low profile pitch, .043" gauge (narrow kerf) and 34 drive links. There are a few other manufacturers but I prefer Oregon. Anyway, here are some more options: Sungator: amzn.to/3O7fx0w (decent, but doesn't last as long as the Oregon or DeWalt chains) Neo_tec: amzn.to/3Bp6S2g (haven't tried them yet)

[@curtsk19]

I need one in the UK

[@stashub8306]

I was looking at buying this 8 inch or the dewalt 12 inch . Im left handed , which saw would you recommend and why?

[@CascadesHomestead]

I think the Milwaukee 8" pruning saw (model number 3004-20) works well for left handed folks. Go to Lowes/HomeDepot and take one in your hand and validate if it works for you.

[@stashub8306]

@@CascadesHomestead That's a good idea. Idk if they'll have them both in stock, All my cordless tools are dewalt , so I'm sort of brand tied

[@CascadesHomestead]

@@stashub8306 Brand tied? I hear you! Most of my stuff is DeWalt but I have a few Bosch and Milwaukee tools (for specialty uses), having more batteries and chargers is painful.

[@czthor1]

WHAT ABOUT THE BATTERY & CHARGER ARE THEY INCLUDED?

[@CascadesHomestead]

DeWalt sells both: DCCS623B is just the pruning saw DCCS623L1 is the pruning saw, plus the 3 amp battery and the charger

[@stiglarsen795]

Try use it in small branches not near the trunk, so the vibrate. Often you need to cut horizontal in real life. Unfortunately I have seen no such test😢

[@sbrodie08]

So how do you replace the chain if the guard is hard to come off

[@CascadesHomestead]

Hi Scott, no need to take the tip guard off, it's open to the front, the chain slides right in.

[@sbrodie08]

@@CascadesHomestead Nice. Great thanks

[@livingaboard]

Read the friggen manual

[@f.c232]

by the look of the oil mark on the table your going to use a lot oil on the job how many times do you fill it with oil in a 8 hour period and how much does extra oil cost to me the price of the tool + the cost of oil just might not be worth it PS: were looking for smaller less heavy + bulky equipment you went from a slender 6" to a very big 8" dewalt went backwards

[@CascadesHomestead]

I'll go through about 3 tanks of bar oil during a long day, Francisco. Bar oil is cheap. Those crappy Chinese saws don't have a built-in oiler and they don't last, trust me, I went through a few of them - all garbage. So for me, having a REAL small chainsaw with an oiler is perfect and MUCH cheaper in the long run. The DeWalt also cuts a lot faster and has more torque than the Chinese saws - try maple or oak, them little saws go up in smoke :)

[@loucifer4205]

The tip is also to protect branches that you don't want cut

[@CascadesHomestead]

Ah yes, good point. Especially given how aggressive this little saw is!

[@AgeOrmstad]

Dewalt 💪😋

[@CascadesHomestead]

That little saw is a real beast!!

[@americandibella6971]

How bout that new Pruner 20v?

[@CascadesHomestead]

Do you mean the DeWalt pruning shears (DCPR320)? I haven't used them yet, but one of the fruit tree guys we know loves them. Honestly, I don't really have a use for these shears, most of the pruning for us is 2 - 4" branches, the shears are more for 1 - 1.5", so a little too small for us. Everybody seems to like them though!

[@guardian218]

I recently purchased the DCPR320 DeWalt Pruning Shears and I really like them. The max cut capacity is only 1.5 inches but it turned what normally takes me several hours into a 20-30 min job. I wasn’t rushing to finish to test how much time I saved but compared to manually cutting everything the pruning shears worked great for me.

[@americandibella6971]

All you guys are so kind in sharing all your thoughts and experiences, so to make it easier for the other guys with out learning the hard way. Thank you gentlemen.

[@bman6502]

I wish they would have put a belt hook on it..

[@monikabrunnenkant8215]

Mine leaks so much

[@MrDelgrigorov]

Kickback on 8" battery powered mini saw... come on...

[@jeffwawa117]

LOL if you can't handle the kick back from this you shouldn't be using a chainsaw.

[@CascadesHomestead]

Yeah, definitely very low kickback. But there will always be that one guy standing precariously on top a wobbly 20’ extension ladder :D

[@fenderboy68]

Relax bud, throw down your macho status... How about your mom, wife or sister, or aunt, maybe grandpa....this tool is perfect for what it does...it's great for anyone!!

[@stashub8306]

Bad design , not for left handed person , I almost cut my finger off

[@CascadesHomestead]

Yeah, that’s my biggest gripe with this saw. We have a lefty in the family, the saw is unusable for her :(