Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I purchased the DeWalt DC550KA about two years ago when I needed to make several circuit box cut-outs in drywall during a kitchen renovation. I was swayed by the initial positive reviews, the brand, its portability over the Rotozip, and that it complemented my other existing DeWalt 18V tools.

My first use on a box cut-out was very disappointing. It had plenty of power and speed but quickly spent one battery before I could complete the entire cut. Other attempts yielded similar results with other charged batteries.

I was not going to post a review but felt compelled when it was receiving so many favorable one. Besides the poor run-time, the spindle lock was awkward and not well designed. Unlike most solidly designed and built DeWalt 18V tools, this tool is not designed for prolonged or rigorous use.

I would only recommend this kit if you needed the extra batteries or the case (it fits the DeWalt DW960 right angle 18V drill, charger, and two batteries).

This tool has lots of cutting power and runs forever on a battery. It is a little heavy and awkward at some cutting angles. Overall a good tool.

I've been using my DC 550KA for about a year and like it a lot. Just wanted to pass on this tip: I wanted to go with a larger than the 1/8" bit because I was breaking it often. Dewalt only has the 1/8" and 1/4". Rotozip makes a 5/16" bit but it wouldn't fit in the Dewalt collet. If anyone else wants to go to a 5/16" bit the Rotozip brand 5/16" collet will fit the Dewalt DC550KA just fine, so you can use the larger bit.

My needs are not such that this tool was not necessary, but I needed some new batteries, and for a few dollars more, I received a tool. I suppose others will find uses for it. It is a good tool as most Dewalt tools, but it is quite bulky, and although not the tool's fault, this is a messy tool.

this is very handy for odds jobs cut this here cut this there is very handy for the do it all over all great.

the name says it all. just buy it and dont be cheap. worth what you pay. long lasting

A little big, but a nice addition to my
DeWalt tools.