Most circular saws are powerhouses, and the ones from DeWALT aren’t an exception to that. But, their price reflects just host much of a punch they pack.
Like a lot of other tools, it isn’t as easy to replace a circular saw because of that. So, if you’re facing problems with a 20v DeWALT circular saw, instead of buying a replacement, try these tips!
4 Common DeWALT Circular Saw 20v Problems and Their Solutions
- Battery-Related Problems
I’m pretty sure the most common issues people have with a DeWALT 20v circular saw are with its battery. Mostly, these have to do with how little time the battery lasts, and stuff like that.
I know exactly why that’s the case too. For some reason, DeWALT tends to package these circular saws with a 2 amp battery. That’s what causes the battery timing issues.
While it’s the right voltage, the amp is way too low for a tool this strong. It doesn’t last long as a result, and I’ve seen a bunch of people complain about it. I had the same issue myself.
Back when I first started using the circular saws from DeWALT, I was having trouble with the battery. But, after switching to a 5 amp battery, which you can see me use below, it’s been much better.
Higher amp means higher volume of output on the battery. Long story short, they provide more power at a single time, despite being the same voltage.
A DeWALT battery with a higher amp will provide the power that the 20v circular saw needs for much longer times. There won’t be issues with battery timing or the tool’s performance.
So, if you currently have a 2 amp, I suggest switching to the 5 amp. All users that have complaints about the battery usually don’t have them after switching to a higher amp.
Give that a shot, and your DeWALT 20v circular saw will run smoothly for a much longer time. You won’t have to worry about the battery failing you anymore.
If your DeWALT battery won’t charge, you can also try to reset it. I have made a video which shows how you can do this and you can watch it below.
You will need another healthy DeWALT battery in order to do this. Use a wire to connect the B+ and the B- terminals of the two batteries.
While they’re still connected, press the battery indicator to make sure the battery is receiving power. Then, jump start it for few seconds and the reset is done.
Another problem that you may encounter with your DeWALT battery is when the charger shows a solid red light which means it’s already fully charged when actually it’s not. I also have a video which shows how you can solve this.
You can solve this problem also by resetting the battery. Just repeat the procedures which were shown in the video above.
- Blade Not Cutting Straight
DeWALT circular saws are excellent at making clean, straight cuts. But, that’s not always going to be the case. Other factors play into it too, and most of them have to do with the user themselves.
The biggest thing is taking good care of the circular saw. It needs tuning regularly. If the blade skews out of its usual place or if something hinders it, it won’t be able to make straight cuts.
I’d say tuning is the biggest thing some users struggle with. Is that the case for you as well? If you’re having trouble adjusting the blade properly, that would explain why the tool isn’t cutting straight.
That’s nothing to worry about, though. Tuning is something everyone has trouble with. Some practice is all it takes, and then you can get the perfect positioning down.
Follow some guides to get the tuning down just right. I recommend practicing how to align the blade with the cutline most of all. That’ll help your cuts feel accurate.
Other than that, it’s important to keep the blade clean too. Even if it’s in the right place, your saw’s blade won’t cut right if it isn’t clean. It needs regular cleaning to function better.
Sawdust can coat the blade and make its cuts more choppy and unclean. Regularly scrape it off after every other use to avoid issues with that.
- Saw Not Cutting Through Things
Straight cuts are one thing, but is your saw having problems cutting through things entirely? With a tool as sharp and powerful as the DeWALT circular saw, that shouldn’t be happening.
If you’re feeling too much resistance, or as if the blade isn’t cutting properly, then I suggest changing the blade. If you didn’t know, these tools need regular blade changes.
Replacements are easily available because of that. All the use makes the blades go dull sooner or later, and eventually, they’ll come to a point where they can’t cut properly.
Whatever blade you’re using has probably come to that point. Put a new one in its place, like the one I have for my circular saw in the image below!
Toss the old blade away (safely) and get a new one. After that, you’ll see that the saw is cutting through things just fine! That’s actually all there is to this fix.
- Slow Speed and/or Overheating
These things cut pretty fast. If you’ve used one, you know exactly how fast I mean. But, sometimes they might feel a little slower than usual. Is the tool hot while being slow too?
If the answer is yes, then you need to stop using it immediately. DeWALT circular saws get like this when there’s a problem with the motor. That’s what causes the slow speed.
As for the overheating, that’s likely due to an issue with the bearings specifically. It’s not safe to use the saw while it’s like this. It’ll damage the tool, and even the battery.
This particular problem will lead to the motor drawing higher amperage from the battery. That’s going to lead to problems with performance, and it’s eventually going to ruin the battery.
If the tool is still running, that means the motor isn’t entirely shot yet. But, it’s still going to need repairs, and those tend to be costly.
Since there are probably issues with the bearings, I suggest you don’t get those repairs. Instead, invest in a new motor for your DeWALT circular saw.
That’ll end up being the much better option between the two for your tool. Repairs aren’t always reliable, especially in the long-run. A new motor however, is much more so.
A new motor will fix whatever was causing your DeWALT circular saw to slow down and heat up. That’ll be much better for the battery too, since the new motor won’t draw unnecessary power.
