Is the DeWalt DCS590 Really As Bad As They Make It Look?
Is the DeWalt DCS590 Really As Bad As They Make It Look
A hands-on, no-BS test of two of the most powerful cordless framing saws on the market.
If you've spent any time on YouTube looking at cordless circular saws, you've probably seen it — video after video showing the DeWalt DCS590 getting crushed by the Milwaukee 2834. Stalling out, bogging down, looking like a toy next to Milwaukee's beast. It's everywhere.
But here's the thing: I wasn't buying it. So I grabbed both saws, charged up two 12Ah batteries, and ran my own test. No sponsorships, no agenda — just an honest comparison.
THE SETUP
Both saws are rear-handle cordless circular saws running on 18V/20V batteries — built specifically for framing. They're aimed at the same market, the same user, the same job site.
( clickable )
- DeWalt DCS590 with a fully charged 12Ah FlexVolt battery
- Milwaukee 2834 with a fully charged 12Ah Forge battery
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Same conditions. Same lumber. Same operator.
WHAT I FOUND
Under Normal Load
Both saws cut through lumber with zero issues. Smooth, fast, no complaints. If you're using either of these saws the way they're meant to be used — framing walls, cutting studs, trimming rafters — you will not feel a difference that matters.
Pushing Harder
I started feeding the wood faster, applying more pressure. Both saws handled it well. RPMs dropped a bit, but they kept cutting without hesitation.
The Stall Test
Here's where it gets interesting. Yes, I was able to stall the DeWalt. But guess what? I stalled the Milwaukee too. If you intentionally push any saw past its limits, it will stop. That's physics, not a flaw.
Milwaukee does have more raw power — I could feel it. But the margin isn't nearly as dramatic as some videos make it seem.
THE REAL PROBLEM WITH YOUTUBE "TESTS"
This is what bothers me the most. It's incredibly easy to manipulate a cutting test:
- Push harder on one saw than the other
- Use a dull blade on one
- Use a partially charged battery
- Change your feed rate by just a fraction
You see exactly what they want you to see. And if someone's goal is to make one tool look bad, they absolutely can — and you'd never know.
So before you take any YouTube test at face value, ask yourself: do you trust the person showing you that?
THE VERDICT
DeWalt DCS590:
- Power: Excellent
- Stalls under extreme load? Yes
- Normal framing work: Handles it great
Milwaukee 2834:
- Power: Slightly more
- Stalls under extreme load? Also yes
- Normal framing work: Handles it great
Milwaukee 2834 is the more powerful saw. That's not up for debate. But calling the DeWalt DCS590 "bad" based on cherry-picked stall tests is misleading at best and dishonest at worst.
Both are high-performance professional saws. Both will serve you well on a job site. The result depends far more on the operator than on which brand logo is on the tool.
WATCH THE FULL TEST
Don't take my word for it — see for yourself:
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