
Dewalt DCCS690M1 Review Guide For 2023-2024
Dewalt DCCS690M1
DeWALT definitely plays in the major league, when it comes to power tools. Their first foray into this market was with the DeWALT DCCS690M1 40v 4AH Chainsaw. And is everything you would expect of a power tool produced by this excellent manufacturer. Best chainsaw at home depot is the home depot
dewalt chainsaw.
Designed for medium and light size cutting tasks. In this DEWALT DCCS690M1 Review we’ll tell you exactly why this well designed machine is an ideal homeowner saw. And why we feel it would be a great buy for you. The company is clearly prepared to back its products with an excellent warranty on this DEWALT DCCS690M1. Continue reading to find out more in this DEWALT DCCS690M1 Review.
Performance and Handling
Let’s first briefly look at what the manufacturer says about the DEWALT DCCS690M1. The DEWALT DCCS690M1 chainsaw is ideal for trimming trees and pruning as well as removing tree limbs in your yard. They also state that the DEWALT DCCS690M1 has a maximum cutting diameter of 14 inches. Making the DEWALT DCCS690M1 useful for carrying out a whole range of medium to
light jobs around your home.
How simple Dewalt DCCS690M1 is to start is the first thing we would like to note. You won’t have any pull cord to worry about. All you need to do is follow a three step process. Make sure the chain brake is disengaged, push the lock off lever and then press the trigger. You’ll see the DEWALT DCCS690M1 will start up immediately allowing you to be able to release the lock off lever. This saw has a variable speed trigger which is one feature that is pretty uncommon for electric saws. The further you press the throttle trigger the faster the saw will operate. Now you’ll be able to adjust the speed of the chainsaw to match the cutting job you are doing. Allowing you to save wear and tear on the chain and bar as well as extending the running time.
When it comes to performance, the Dewalt DCCS690M1 is capable of cutting logs up to 14 inches in diameter and some users have felled larger trees. Keep in mind that just like all battery operated power tools, the more heavy work you put the machine through the quicker it will use battery power. Therefore, if you’re trying to cut down a large diameter hardwood tree, expect the battery to drain pretty quickly. Buying an extra battery is an option.
That said, if you are cutting up to 6-8” diameter wood you can expect to get around 70 cuts with the 4 amp battery, around 100 with the 6 amp (as advised by the manufacturer). You may get fewer cuts for larger diameter wood and for large jobs some users have taken a spare battery. A single battery, however, should provide you with enough power to take down and buck a small/medium tree whereas you will probably need two batteries for anything larger.
On the DeWALT DCC690M1 the bar oiler is solid as well and maintains a smooth chain operation. As a bonus, it doesn’t leak! If you’re new to chainsaws, this may seem like a no-brainer for a new saw, but you’d be surprised how many saws leak bar oil.
One of our favorite features of the DeWALT DCC690M1 saw is the lack of noise. It’s so much quieter than any gas saw and really allows you to hear things going on around you. You can clearly hear the tree beginning to pop and crack before it starts to fall. There is no exhaust blowing in your face making for an all around safer, more focused operation. It’s easy to slip into auto-pilot and forget that you won’t hear the noise of an idling engine to warn you of a tool ready to cut. There is a safety switch to depress before you can pull the throttle trigger. This is a standard safety feature and DeWalt places it where it doesn’t become an obstacle to an otherwise excellent user experience.
Cutting Equipment:
The DEWALT DCCS690M1 is equipped with a 16” Oregon chain and bar. The chain is Oregon’s 90PX model, which meets all the low kickback requirements of ANSI B.175.1. It has a 3/8” pitch,0.043” gauge and 56 links. The 3/8” pitch is the most popular size with professional users, whereas the 0.043” gauge is smaller than you will find on many chainsaws. The gauge represents the thickness of the drive link where it fits into the guide bar and usually the larger the gauge the more robust the chain. The advantage of a 0.043” gauge is that,
although not as robust, can provide better performance.
In this case, the chain fits the Oregon narrow kerf guide bar. This means that it has a smaller nose tip than conventional bars. Narrow kerf cutting systems increase efficiency as they require less power from the saw.
Chain tension needs to be checked regularly and adjusted when appropriate. With the DeWALT’s tool-free tensioning system this is easy. You can see how this is done in the video below, but essentially it can be done with a just a few turns of the bar adjustment and chain tensioning knobs.
The DEWALT DCCS690M1 is excellent for log cutting, with its 16 inch blade. When it comes to cutting bushes with lots of twigs and branches however, it is not quite as effective as often it will get snagged and force the chain off the bar. Some users may find handling it a strain as it isn’t the lightest chainsaw around.Especially on those jobs where maneuverability and handling are important. In its favor, a number of first time chainsaw users mentioned that they always felt in full control of the saw so it isn’t perhaps as intimidating as some of the larger machines.
You can use this chainsaw in the same places as you would a gas machine as there is no power cord. And it certainly has an advantage when it comes to jobs which involve frequent stopping and starting. Unlike some gas powered machines which can be temperamental and need to be kept idling throughout the job you know that even when warm the saw will start up when you want it to.
Some users have reported issues with the chain coming off the bar. It doesn’t seem to be such a problem cutting through larger limbs only to be more prevalent when cutting very small limbs which can twist slightly, forcing the chain to dislodge.
Until they are broken in all all new chains tension should be checked regularly (every two minutes if necessary). The tool-free adjustment system makes it pretty straightforward even tho this may seem a bit of an inconvenience
Another tip to avoid chain derailment is never force the chain through the wood, even with small branches. You will need to keep the chain in excellent cutting condition by regular sharpening and you will need a 7/32” file and
holder for this task. You should expect to have to sharpen the chain on a regular basis and it’s sometimes worth keeping a spare, which can be picked up for around $18.
In summary, this saw comes into its own when cutting logs and branches, which makes it great for tree maintenance and clearing up medium storm damage. If you live in heavily wooded areas where fallen trees can be a problem, this would be a useful tool to have in your truck.
Design and Construction:


The DeWALT DCCS690M1 is a sleek, well designed chainsaw. It has a large anti-vibration rear handle which houses the multi-speed trigger switch as you can see form the images above. As opposed to the side as you will find in some saws the battery slots into the top of the powerhead unit.When using the machine this helps to provide a nice balance. You’ll find the oil reservoir cap situated on the front of the powerhead, maybe not in the most convenient place.
The half wrap handle which sits just behind the front hand guard is located towards the front of the saw. The hand guard also acts as a chain brake. Care is needed not to activate the brake as these are quite close together, especially when your wearing gloves. There is the clutch cover as well as the chain tensioning and bar adjust locking knobs, on the right side of the saw.
The home depot dewalt chainsaw, DeWALT DCCS690M1 is constructed from hard plastic and has a reasonably solid feel. It is certainly heavier than some similar saws in its class and should be robust enough for the home user. All you need to do is add some chain oil charge the battery and your ready to go as the saw comes fully assembled.
Pros:
- Well designed, balanced saw.
- Easy to start.
- Excellent cutting ability.
- Reasonable battery life.
Cons:
- Chain can jump when cutting smaller branches.
Consumer Ratings:
There are over a hundred reviews on line for this product and feedback suggests this is a popular power tool. Almost 90% of consumers rate this product as either good or excellent, which is an excellent endorsement.
Buyers like the robust feel of the saw and its excellent power and cutting performance. Traditional gas users also like the fact that it starts up easily.
The main negative comments centered on the fact that it does use a great deal of oil, although many buyers accepted this and weren’t too worried. There were also a few negative comments about the chain jumping off the bar, which
reinforces the point that the chain tension should be checked regularly.
You should buy this saw if:
- You require a saw for occasional use.
- You want a saw able to handle a range of light/medium cutting tasks.
- You already own power tools in the DeWALT 40v range and have spare batteries.
- You don’t have immediate access to a power point and want an alternative to gas.
You should not buy this saw if:
- You want a cheap saw.
- You want a lightweight saw.
Conclusion:
In my opinion, DeWalt’s first foray into the battery powered chainsaw market is excellent. The saw performs really well – much stronger than other Lithium-ion powered saws. Work becomes much more enjoyable without the noise, startup issues, and emissions of a gas motor. The DeWALT DCC690M1 40V Max Chainsaw is like the Tesla Model S of the Li-ion OPE chainsaw market – you’re going to be impressed at what a battery can do! We hope this Dewalt DCCS690M1 Review was able to help you in your buying choice.