| In the box |
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| Motor | Brushless motor |
| Tool weight | 2.33 pounds |
| Oscillating speed | Variable speed trigger allows 0 to 20,000 opm (oscillating rounds per minute) |
Reason for buying
Let’s face it, once you purchase your first home, you’ll have to pull up your sleeves and DIY most of the projects that occur. For years, I had never even heard of an oscillating tool. One day I wanted to tackle a new project. It required cutting a 4×4 post right where it meets the bottom of a deck. I pulled out my toolbox and managed to get it done. It took well over an hour, and I broke a reciprocating saw blade, jigsaw blade, and a doorknob drillbit in the process. That’s when my friend said, “you need an oscillating tool for that”.
So I pulled out my phone, did some research, and finally decided to buy the DeWalt oscillating tool kit. After all, I love all the DeWalt tools I have, and I rather spend a bit more to have a tool that will last me a lifetime, than having to replace the same tool over and over.
Using the tool
As soon as I received the tool in the mail I put it to work. The wall paneling in our basement had some rot from a previous flood. So I decided to trim the bottom 3 inches of all the wall paneling. It took me roughly 30 minutes to do the entire 400 square foot room. And man it felt good! No frustrating “if I had the right tool” thoughts, just breezing right through.
Since then I’ve used this tool for various applications. One of them was cutting an entire doorway out of a drywall wall, including the 2×4’s inside. While a circular saw would have been faster, this was the only tool I had on me, and while not as fast, it was very precise!
Another use when the DeWalt oscillating tool comes in handy is for quick sanding. Switch out the attachment with a simple squeeze, snap on the sander attachment, and voila. You got a heavy-duty portable sander in less than 15 seconds.
For bigger sanding projects, though, I would definitely recommend a corded sander, like the DeWalt palm sander that I recently purchased.
What I plan on doing next is repainting my trim. And yes, it was installed by massive 3-inch nails. Solution? Pull it away from the wall about an inch and cut off the nails with the oscillating tool. It’ll save me a ton of time pulling each nail out and having to wood putty it.
Final thoughts
Now that I own this DeWalt oscillating tool, I consider it a must-have for anyone that tackles DIY projects. Being able to cut wood, drywall, metal, even tile at the craziest angles precisely by itself is amazing. But what really sets this tool apart is the attachments. Need to cut more than a small precise cut? Switch it out with a wide blade. Need to do some sanding? Pop on the sanding attachment. Really it’s like buying 3 tools in 1, without the hassle of needing tools to convert your tool.
And to add to the convenience, it’s entire battery operated. No need to look for an extension cord every project. Just turn it on and go. If you own various DeWalt battery-operated tools as I do, having another battery is just the icing on the cake.
While I have been using the blade it came with this whole time, I recently purchased some extra blades. You can learn a thing or two about the different oscillating tool blade types here.
Is this a good tool to cut drywall?
The answer is quite simple. Yes! The variable speed controlled by the trigger makes it extremely easy to start a cut. If you are rather new to using the oscillating saw, and you need a very precise cut, you can always tape something straight to the wall and use it as a guide. Think of a yardstick for example. The blade that comes with the kit will make quick work of drywall, yet prevent rough cuts. If you want an even better cut, though, you can pick up a drywall blade made exactly for that purpose.
What does the XR stand for on DeWalt products?
The XR stands for Extreme Runtime. Products that feature XR have a brushless motor. These brushless tools are more energy-efficient and will last roughly 50-60% longer than non-brushless motor tools.
How does the variable speed work on this oscillating tool?
It couldn’t be easier. The variable speed on the DeWalt 20v oscillating tool is decided on the intensity of the trigger squeeze. If you barely squeeze the trigger, the blade (or other attachment) will oscillate slowly.
This makes it great to accurately begin a cut. Once the initial groove is set, you can squeeze harder and the speed will increase. On comparable tools without variable speed, you better hold on and hope the blade doesn’t skit around.
How do I change attachments?
DeWalt made it easier than ever to change the attachment on their 20v XR oscillating tool. There are no tools required, you simply:
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