DEWALT DC550KA 18-Volt NiCd Cordless Spiral-Saw with 1/8-Inch and 1/4-Inch Collets

by DEWALT

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Designed for general purpose and drywall cutting, the DeWalt DC550KA Heavy Duty 18-volt Ni-Cad Cordless Spiral Saw comes with 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch collets. This saw features tool-free bit changes for fast and easy bit changing without a wrench, and its 18-volt, 26,000 RPM motor provides plenty of cutting power for industrial-size jobs. Other features include a dust-sealed switch for durability and long switch life and an adjustable guide. This saw comes with a 1-hour battery charger, two 18-volt XRP battery packs, one general purpose bit, one drywall cutting bit, 1/4- and 1/8-inch collets, and a heavy-duty kit box.

From the Manufacturer

The DEWALT DC550KA 18-volt Spiral Saw combines high-speed cutting with cordless convenience in one compact, versatile tool. Designed primarily as a drywall cut-out tool, it provides the fastest, most accurate way to cut holes in drywall for electrical outlets, wall switches, ceiling-fan boxes, and recessed lighting. But that’s only part of what this contractor-grade tool can do. It’s also useful for cutting holes in: plywood cabinet backs for running plumbing pipes and electrical cables; acoustical ceiling tile for installing sprinklers, smoke detectors and recessed lighting; and in light-gauge, nonferrous metal, such as air-conditioning and heating ducts. And with a special carbide burr bit, it’ll even slice through glazed ceramic tile, plaster, fiber-cement board, and stucco. The DC550KA is powered by an 18-volt battery, which drives the spiral-cut bit at an 26,000 RPM. The tool accepts both 1/8 and 1/4 inch diameter bits, and features a quick-change bit mechanism that doesn’t require a wrench. Its permanently sealed switch keeps out dust and dirt for extended switch life. The DC550KA Heavy-Duty Cordless Spiral Saw comes with two 18-volt XRP batteries, a one-hour charger, two collets (1/8 and 1/4 inch), one drywall bit, one general-purpose bit, and a plastic storage case. And, it’s backed by a DEWALT 90-day money-back guarantee, full one-year service contract, and three-year limited warranty.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 18.1 x 12.5 x 5 inches ; 14 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0002ZU6XO
• Item model number: DC550KA
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,969 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #64 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Hand Tools > Handsaws
  • #71 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Power Tools > Rotary Tools

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best in Class, April 18, 2005

By 

Ronald B. Ruiz (orange county CA.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DEWALT DC550KA 18-Volt NiCd Cordless Spiral-Saw with 1/8-Inch and 1/4-Inch Collets (Tools & Home Improvement)

ok lets be clear- I am a loyal Milwaukee user and will remain one especially with the upcoming V28 release, But this Dewalt product is outstanding in every aspect.

I have used it for about two months now and cut drywall, plywood, tile and backerboared with it. The battery life is excellent and weight and balance are outstanding. with two batteries you can litterally do drywall cut outs all day long.

Dust protection seems good and keyless chuck performs well.

An excellent buy.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars DC550KA 18-Volt Cordless Cut-Out Tool, December 6, 2005

By 

SJK - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: DEWALT DC550KA 18-Volt NiCd Cordless Spiral-Saw with 1/8-Inch and 1/4-Inch Collets (Tools & Home Improvement)

I have been waiting years for Dewalt to make an 18V cordless cut-out tool kit like the DC550K. It's great to finally have a cordless version that can utilize the same charger and batteries as my other 18V tools. I bought one of these as soon as they became available online and now use it almost every day on the job. Before the DC550, I was most indignant about having to drag an extension cord along when using my Roto-Zip, as this is the last holdout in a tool collection that I use daily which still required being plugged into an outlet to operate.
I use the DC550 mainly to make cutouts in wood, drywall, plaster and acoustical tile for recessed lighting or electrical boxes. With a carbide burr bit, it will make cutouts in ceramic wall tile, solid surface or laminate backsplashes, but of course, won't cut harder floor tile materials. It also makes clean, splinter free cutouts in solid wood or veneered cabinets, such as when installing an outlet for a microwave/hood over a range or outlets in kitchen island or peninsula base cabinets. I have even used it for cutouts in thin stainless sheet clad walls that are found in commercial kitchens, and it works well on aluminum and vinyl siding too.
Battery life is very good and since the DC550K kit comes with two batteries, you can have one on charge and keep going all day long. The extra length and weight the battery does make this tool slightly less well balanced than the corded version when using it in the horizontal position, but the rubber grip area allows you to hold the tool firmly in various positions and as with anything else, the more you use the tool, the less noticeable this imbalance becomes.
There is no bump switch on top of the tool but the push through type on/off switch sticks out far enough so you can get at easily.
The tool-less quick-change bit holder is the same as on Dewalt's corded cut-out tool. It takes a little getting used to, but is much better than having to use a wrench every time you need to change a cutter bit. At 26,000 rpm's it's not as fast as the corded version but this doesn't really seem to affect its cutting ability. Overall, I feel that the DC550 is a very good tool that can go along way toward making your workday easier and more productive.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DEWALT DC550KA, August 17, 2005

By 

D. Furlo "ToolTimeDan" (Port Saint Lucie, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: DEWALT DC550KA 18-Volt NiCd Cordless Spiral-Saw with 1/8-Inch and 1/4-Inch Collets (Tools & Home Improvement)

This tool has excellent battery capacity and is easy to handle;
has plenty of cutting power. The only drawback is the tool just slightly heavy.