Dewalt is expanding their Xtreme 12V Max cordless power tool lineup with a new oscillating multi-tool, model DCS353.
The new Dewalt Xtreme 12V Max oscillating multi-tool features a brushless motor, tool-free blade clamp, 3.2° oscillation angle, 18,000 OPM max speed, variable speed trigger, on/off trigger lock, and an LED worklight.
The Dewalt Xtreme oscillating tool features their iconic squeeze-type quick-change blade clamp system, which is designed to work with universal-style split-ring accessories, such as the ones Dewalt offers. It also comes with a universal-style full-ring accessory adapter, which requires the use of a hex key.
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The Dewalt Xtreme brushless OMT looks to work with all of the same accessories one might use with a 18V/20V Max or corded tool.
Dewalt depicts the new Xtreme OMT being used for the same sorts of cutting, sanding, and scraping tasks as their 20V Max and corded tools.
Compared to the 20V Max XR brushless oscillating multi-tool, model DCS356, the Xtreme model appears to be a little more compact. The geometry is different, such as at the front of the tool, and the Xtreme OMT also appears to have a smaller trigger switch, as well as a smaller main grip area.
The Xtreme 12V Max OMT matches the 18,000 OPM top speed of the 20V Max Atomic model, DCS354. The 20V Max XR model, DCS356, tops out at 20,000 OPM.
The new Xtreme SubCompact multi-tool will be available as a bare tool, DCS353B, or in a kit, DCS353G1. The kit comes with (2) blades, a charger, (1) 3.0Ah battery, a tool bag, and a universal adapter.
Price: $129 for the bare tool, $159 for the kit
ETA: Spring 2022
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Discussion
What I’m excited about:
- Compact size
- Kit comes with a 3Ah battery
- Same tool-free blade change as other Dewalt OMTs
- Reasonable price for the kit
What I could live with:
- Variable speed trigger switch
A variable speed trigger is one of the best features in Dewalt’s cordless oscillating multi-tools. However, it can be difficult to hold the tool at a lower speed for sustained periods; a variable speed dial with on/off switch would be much easier for lower speed operations.
A variable speed trigger and speed range dial provide the best of both worlds. You can get this in Dewalt’s 20V Max XR brushless 3-speed oscillating multi-tool.
Dewalt’s 20V Max Atomic series brushless oscillating multi-tool, DCS354, also only has a variable speed trigger, and plenty of users have been perfectly satisfied with this.
What I’m a little concerned about:
- Smaller main hand grip
I find Dewalt Xtreme 12V Max power tools to be very comfortable to hold and use, and I am sure that Dewalt tested the ergonomics of this new OMT with a broad user group. Still, it looks like they changed the hand grip positioning quite a bit with this tool.
When using Dewalt 20V Max oscillating tools, my hand wraps around the grip, with my pointer finger aligned with the rounded part of the trigger switch. With this Xtreme 12V Max model, it looks like my pointer will rest on the top part of the trigger switch, and my middle finger on the rounded part.
I attempted to simulate the Xtreme 12V Max-type of hand grip with my recently purchased 20V Max XR 3-speed model.
What I found is that the girth of the 20V Max tool creates some discomfort – which isn’t a big deal as I assume the Xtreme 12V Max tool is smaller – and that the on/off lock, which is used to prevent unintentional activation, is the bigger issue.
As shown in the images of the 12V Max tool, the on/off lock is positioned ahead of the trigger switch, and so it shouldn’t get in the way of my hand.
So while I am a little concerned about the shortened main grip area, I don’t think it will present any issues.
One of the product images shows the Xtreme 12V Max OMT being used to cut a PVC pipe.
If we magnify and enhance the image – insert spy movie sound effects – we can see that the hand and finger positions are indeed designed to be shifted upwards compared to the 20V Max models.
Different does not necessarily mean bad.
If Dewalt engineers managed to shave down the width of the tool around the trigger switch, it might even be more comfortable than their 20V Max tools. We’ll know for sure once the tool starts to ship.
One thing to be aware of:
One of the product images shows the tool with Dewalt’s cutting depth control guide, but this accessory does not look to be included with the bare tool or kit.
I’m happy to see that the tool is compatible with this existing accessory.
On one hand, users have reported difficulty sourcing the depth guide, leading me to think it might be better if it were included with all tools. On the other hand, not everyone wants to pay extra for an accessory they might not need.
As far as I am aware, the cutting depth guide is not available as an add-on accessory, but it does look to be available as “replacement parts.” Here are Amazon listings for the three components (N275350, N278801, N275341). You can also order them from Dewalt’s service department for ~$25 including tax and shipping.
Thank you to Big Richard for the heads-up!
MFC
So I was just using my XR today to plunge cut some bamboo flooring and scrape urethane adhesive off of the slab. I went through a 5ah battery doing that. If this little guy was significantly smaller, then maybe it’d be a tool to consider, but I would want it to be 50% smaller, or have some feature that would make it worth $20 more than the regularly kitted 20v.
Jared
I was thinking about that too – but I think it depends how you look at Dewalt’s 12v line.
E.g. this doesn’t seem like a micro tool you’d buy even if you already have the 20v XR version (e.g. I’m thinking an M18 user with a cordless circular saw would still have reason to buy an M12 cutoff tool). Instead it seems aimed at expanding the 12v line. In that context it seems like a worthy addition.
MM
I agree. I currently have the 20V XR OMT and I love it. Having that, I can’t think of any reason why I would want the 12V one. It’s smaller than the XR but not by enough to make it worth having as a second tool, in my opinion. I can think of a few times where I wanted to work in a really tight spot where my 20V wouldn’t fit, but the 12V wouldn’t have fit either. I can’t think of any situation I’ve encountered where the 12V would fit but my 20V would not. That said, if someone was already on the Dewalt 12V platform and needed an OMT it looks great. I’m a big fan of the ergonomics and the “trigger” style blade change mechanism on the Dewalts. It’s disappointing that it doesn’t come with the guide attachment (I use mine on my XR fairly often), but at least the guide is available as an accessory, which is something that cannot be said for many OMTs on the market.
Thomas
This is perfect for someone like me that has not invested in any 20v system but has a DeWalt 12v Extreme Screwdriver that is the perfect form factor for the small jobs I do around the house. I am very interested in more 12v brushless tools from DeWalt as a result.
Elio portillo
The problem is the blade you can be only use one and they are to Spencer
Stacey Jones
OFF Topic: @Stuart I can’t get on the community forum. I thought I had an account, but can’t login or create a new one ( complains about my IP address.
Stuart
I updated the software earlier today – if you had problems earlier, this could be the problem, and I ask you to please try again.
I looked for your email address – the one you use for comments here – and couldn’t find it, and so you might not have a login.
If you still encounter trouble, could you please email me a screenshot?
(I’ll send you an email momentarily.)
Louie Orama
Stuart, you are my favorite site. You have saved me plenty of money and taught and directed me to many things. I check in a couple of times a day I am a DeWalt fan. Moreso, I am a major “coupon clipper”.
Preface aside, there have been a few times over the last month that Home Depot has had their Deal of the Day and it wasn’t mentioned on your site. And it wasn’t on the weekend as I know that you don’t post during that time.
This is NOT a complaint; I would like to show some reciprocity when it comes to you putting it out there. I’ll even give you 3 right now.
At ToolNut, they have 2 great deals. The XR Sheet Sander with 2 5AH, charger and bag for $199, and the XR Router with the same pieces for $199. The router itself is $199!
ToolBarn-same premise. $199 for the DCB205CK and your choice of the XR 356, XR 334 and non-XR (brushless-weird) 6-1/2”.
If there is a way to contact you in a better way, please let me know. If it is okay to just tell you these things as I am telling you now, than I’m A-Okay with that as well.
Thank you for everything over the years AND years to come…
Stuart
Thank you, I appreciate the kind words!
To be honest, I burn out on deals over the holiday season, and then my threshold for deal posts is raised quite high.
I do catch most Home Depot deals of the day, but a lot of January promos are repeats of November and December deals. They’re great deals the first couple of times, but then I figure readers who are interested who have already taken advantage of one of the prior instances.
I took a look at the Tool Nut deals, and the price is now $249 for the sander and router kits.
The router might be an okay deal, but the sander was $99 with compact battery and charger over the holiday shopping season. Trading the compact battery for 2x 5Ah batteries for a $150 premium isn’t terrible, but it’s not exceptionally compelling.
I checked Tool Barn too, and their free gift choices aren’t bad, but Home Depot’s starter kit comes with 6Ah and compact 4Ah batteries.
Home Depot’s promo is ongoing for a few more days.
It’s really hard to cover any promos in January without going into context and commentary.
So, I tend to relax a little on promos, at least the ones where there’s a huge “BUT…” qualifier.
Saulac
“A variable speed trigger is one of the best features in Dewalt’s cordless oscillating multi-tools. However, it can be difficult to hold the tool at a lower speed for sustained periods; a variable speed dial with on/off switch would be much easier for lower speed operations.” Moving from a Dewalt 20v to a M12 fuel, I was surprised that the on/off switch on the M12 changed my hold and grip. I can hold the tool different ways with much less grip, both of which results in much less vibration felt. I don’t miss the variable speed much. I started questioning trigger switches on tools with high vibration. Come to think of it, I think most gas OPE such as trimmers, chain/cut-off saws, …have trigger lock. I certainly do not squeeze the trigger the whole time I use the trimmer.
I have the cutting depth control guide. Tried one and never used it again. The guide is connected to the head of the tool. Which is the second most vibrate part of the tool, beside the blade itself. Since the guide vibrates so much against the material, there is not really any “control” in the cutting. I found much better control by bracing my hand/fingers against the material while holding the tool at a certain distance from the material (hope this make sense). Also the casting piece is in the way too much, but putting on and taking off is too cumbersome with a tiny hex screw.
MM
That tiny screw is a flaw in the design of the guide! In my opinion they should have made the guide toolless, using a knurled thumbscrew or similar to hold it to the tool, that way you don’t have to worry about losing that tiny hex wrench.
I don’t find the guide to have vibration problems though. I hold the tool like you described–bracing your hand/fingers between the tool and the work surface–and I use the guide at the same time. The guide controls depth while my hand in contact with the tool and the work feels for how fast I can move the tool, and keeps the tool steady.
Plain grainy
I’m certainly no expert on multi tools. I notice most blade kits are blades & sanding attachments. Is there an attachment that looks like a standard wire brush?
Plain grainy
I did find one for Fein multitools, it’s a triangle shaped wire brush.
Jared
Hey! Never thought of that. I’d try one if it exists in a version to fit my Dewalt OMT.
Jared
BTW – there are wire brush attachments for reciprocating saws. Never tried one myself, but that might be another option if you wanted a back-and-forth motion or lower speed versus the spin of an angle grinder.
MM
I don’t know if you can buy them but I’ve made one before. I took an old blade, drilled three holes through it, and then used wood screws to attach it to a small plastic-handled wire brush. I just drove the screws straight into the plastic.
It held up great (no durability problems) but it was not very effective, probably because the OMT doesn’t move very far, so the wire bristles just flex instead of scrubbing hard.
Jared
Clever thinking!
Makes sense that it might not be worth it though – unless you get a little silly and extend the brush way out to exaggerate the movement… 🤔
Plain grainy
That may be a good way to adapt the Fein wire brush to my Dewalt. I can just drill holes, then bolt it to my existing Dewalt blade! Thanks!
Kingsley
I use my 18V(20V) DeWalt multitool all the time. It comes in so handy for cutting tasks that simply didn’t have a solution in the past.
I’ve got lots of the dewalt 12V tools and will be adding one of these to my collection when I next visit the USA in April (it’s a lot cheaper than in the UK).
Handy to have two as there are times (like sanding) when my wife can help me too.
Matt the Hoople
So availability of the depth stop accessory seems about the same as availability of the rubber jacket that goes on the 12v impact wrenches.
Bob
Size-wise it seems like maybe what the 20v Atomic oscillator should have been instead of being the exact same size as the XR.
Big Richard
Agreed, that was odd that they took the XR tool, knocked off 2,000 OPM and called it Atomic. Though the gen 2 XR did get the 3 speed switch, which differentiated it a bit more.
Big Richard
They spec it out with a 3.2° oscillation angle, weren’t the previous XR and Atomic models 1.6°? Now I believe that the 1.6° was in each direction, so 3.2° total. But I could be wrong.
So that brings the question, did DeWalt change their measure for oscillation angle, opting to go with the total angle versus one direction, or does this little guy have twice the angle as its larger 20v brethren?
Stuart
I also assume that 1.6° is from perpendicular, for 3.2° full range.
I double checked yesterday – my original coverage mentioned 1.6°, and so does the online user manual I found.
The original was also spec’ed the same, and so they might have avoided changing things for consistency.
Nathan
so from a top down do you think the barrel is also narrower? I don’t see much advantage other than smaller lighter. I have the older model XR and i do use it more than I thought it would. and it fits my hand well but I’m never trying to wedge it into some place down the length of the handle. so shortening it all up doesn’t appear to help it any. IMO.
but I see the appeal again from a smaller lighter idea. If you used one every day perhaps this would be handy. LIkewise kitting might be the setup right too if the idea is it’s for people that already have the 20XR and what a smaller one. And if you are already in the 12V system too it would make alot of sense – but it needs to be cheaper so give it 3 months.
Had I been in 12V tools when I was looking I’d have considered one. but I bet putting hands on it – I’d have gotten the 20 anyway. One thing the length – battery weight do is counter balance any torsion. I feel the 20 just plows though stuff when I cut things – I wonder how this would respond.
William Butler
I use my original 20v model on every cabinet install I do for cutting base board and crown to tie in new stuff. My biggest complaint is the HEIGHT of the tool, not the length. Just last week I was trying to cut out for some vent registers in a toe kick area. The whole area is only 4″ tall with one cut needing to be 1.25″ off the floor and the other needing to be 3/4″ from the top. I couldn’t get the angles I needed to cut the vent without coming in at a very steep angle.
Hoser
It looks like a solid addition to the 12V line. But personally, I prefer the Fein OMT much more than the DeWalts. The Fein is more compact and a much nicer tool to use. Not to mention it has an on/off switch with variable speed dial. And for not much more you can get a 12V Fein with 2 batteries, more accessories than the DeWalt and a nice blow molded case. The Fein is not brushless, but that is not a dealbreaker for me.
Nathan
hmm an omt brush. how about instead a OMT scotchbrite pad or like a brillo?
maybe a velcro back scotchbrite to place on the sander plate. might work
never really thought about it as I got a brush kit for my RO polisher. but that’s for big jobs.
MM
I’ve used scotchbrite on random orbit sanders before, it doesn’t stick like sandpaper does, but it sticks well enough to the “velcro” on the pad that it works. I’d imagine it would stick to a “velcro” type OMT sanding pad too.
John
Im definitely going to buy this. I bought the dcs355 back in 2013 and still use it just about every day. I have alot 12v batteries so im okay if it doesn’t last as long as a 20v model. I bought the 12v circular saw and at first I was like why the hell did I buy this but now im glad I did. Every tool has a purpose.
mike douglas
@ Stuart !
hi
please consolidate/ create a list of new Dewalt cordless 20v max tools that are scheduled for a release in Q1 2022
here is what I know:
dcn623n 21 gage nailer
dcs438
ratchets
plungers
dcd805
dcd800
dcf630n drywallgun (there was a video with 2 new tools, forgot the other one)
any news / rumor when a 5,0ah battery is to be released ?
thx
from everybody for something like this
Big Richard
FlexVolt Advantage Stud and Joist Drill – DCD444/DCD445
Power Detect Stud and Joist Drill – DCD443
FlexVolt Advantage Mag Drill – DCD1623
Chemical Adhesive Dispenser – DCE593
1/2″ High Torque Impact Wrench – DCF900
1/2″ Mid Torque Impact Wrench – DCF891
DCLE34031 – Compact Laser Level
HEPA Stick Vac – DCV501HB
Edger – DCED400
1 ½” Pruner – DCPR320
21.5” Rear Wheel Drive Mower – DCMWSP255
Wire Mesh Cable Tray Cutter – DCE158
90000-BTU 2x20v Kerosene Heater – F340990
4 Gallon Backpack Sprayer – SPS-190681
Those are just the ones that come to mind, there are likely to be others later this year. Also, no word on if all of these will be available in all markets.
Javier A.
Too little, too late. I’ve been a big adopter of DeWalt Xtreme 12V tools, but I bought the M12 Fuel multitool last year, and have been Xtremely (haha) happy with it. I’m not sure if the ergonomics will be better at all on the DeWalt, as a multitool is a tool where “thinner” may not be a good thing in terms of vibration felt to the user.
Adrian
I’ve found DEWALT’s quality control has gone downhill over the years. When I first started contracting almost 20 years ago DEWALT was reliable with good support staff. The last two items I bought from DEWALT were the last two items I’ll buy from DEWALT. One tile saw was missing pieces and it took over two months to have them arrive at my house. The other was a different sized tile saw they wasn’t calibrated properly. When I phoned customer support they told me my options were to wait six months to have it re-calibrated or return it to where I bought it from and wait until more were shipped to my area…in six months.
mike douglas
@ Stuart !
what about my post / suggestion a few weeks back (look a bit back in this thread)
e.g.= start a NEW thread with
Q1/Q2 new Dewalt cordless tools (to be released !
great !