DEWALT 20V MAX XR Oscillating Tool Kit with Blades, 3 Speed Cordless Brushless Multitool, Up to 20,000 OPM, LED Light, Battery and Charger Included (DCS356C1)

After dealing with all the different cordless tools and having 5 different brands of batteries, I decided to consolidate to one brand. I chose DeWalt mainly because I have a Graco sprayer that uses DeWalt batteries but after trying out a few tools, I've found them to be better than most other brands I have (Ryobi, Ridgid, Hitachi) and about on par with the Makitas I have. This tool was no exception. I do a lot of custom cabinetry and built-ins where I have to cut away sections of baseboard and molding and this tool works like a dream. It's versatile, a good size/weight and best of all, I don't have to have a bunch of cords.

I was looking for a versatile and portable tool to carry in my truck for cutting apart things when I'm trash picking. I've been using DeWalt tools for years now and know I can always trust their quality. The kit was a bargain compared to what I would have paid in the big box store. While the battery it comes with is small, I don't really need a lot of run time between charges and the reduced weight of a small battery is nice. The tool free quick blade change feature is really easy to use and works great. I glad I finally picked this up, and would definitely recommend it to my friends.

A great tool to have as a cordless device. I have a corded oscillator but after using a cordless a few times I saw the utility in having a cordless model. Everything is included: battery, charger, blades and a bag to stow it in. A good value.

The Good • Super versatile: cuts wood, metal, drywall, tile, grout; sands, scrapes—does everything • Powerful brushless motor + long battery life • Quick blade changes (no tools needed) • Bright LED light + comfortable grip • Works with almost any brand’s blades • Great if you already own DeWalt 20V batteries The Not-So-Good • Tool-only version doesn’t include battery • Blades wear out fast on tough jobs (buy extras) • A few people get a dud that stops working (rare, Amazon replaces it) Bottom Line Best cordless multi-tool for the money. Pros and serious DIYers love it. If you’re doing renovations or fixes around the house, just get it—especially when it’s on sale ($129–$179 for a full kit). You’ll wonder how you lived without it.

Too long, didn't read section: It's a jack of all trades and a master at doing plunge cuts while minimizing cutting into things behind what you're cutting out. Blades/accessories tend to be more expensive vs. other types of tools. Be sure to wear hearing protection. 11/4/2025 Update: It has come in quite handy. I'm currently working to replace some rotted areas near the roof of my porch. It was able to make cuts to remove some damaged sections of 1x8, that I couldn't do with my reciprocating saw (though i did use my reciprocating saw to deal with cutting nails.) I found having some "long" blades (long as in distance from the cutting teeth the the pivot point/connector plate) such as the Arrow OSC125JPT-2A (found on Amazon) really helped out. I do give the blade a break when it starts getting hot. Being fairly lightweight makes using it over your head pretty easy. As expected, the included 1.5 Ah battery doesn't last terribly long. If you plan to do a lot of work in a session, I would recommend getting a second battery if you don't already have a spare as waiting an hour or more for a recharge in the middle of a project gets old quick. As I mentioned in the main review section, there's a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, you can make some fairly straight cuts with it. Cuts reasonably fast when cutting material less than an inch thick. Original: At the time of this review, it was cheaper to buy it in a kit than by itself. I mainly got this oscillating tool as it gives the ability to plunge cut into things while minimizing cutting into material behind what I'm indenting to cut. Overall, the quality feels reasonably good. I did find that the 12 O clock blade position was a little off on mine, but that's not a deal breaker for me. Changing blades and blade compatibility: The quick change blade mechanism makes blade changes quicker and easier than most other oscillating tools on the market as the retaining bolt does not need to be removed. The blade can also be positioned at multiple angles across one axis. I should mention that while it's compatible with most oscillating tool blades/accessories out there, blade/accessory compatibility is not quite as standardized/universal such as blades for reciprocating saws. There's an adapter included for some that are not compatible with the normal mechanism, but you loose quick change functionality and you also need a 5mm Allen/hex key that's not included. Most blades/accessories advertised as universal fit should work with this tool without the need of an adapter. Info about blades: Blades and other accessories for multi-tools tend to be a bit more expensive than other types of tools out there if you want something above the bargain bin blades/accessories. Based on my research, they also tend to have a shorter lifespan vs. blades/accessories for other types of tools. The kit includes a HCS (high carbon steel) blade for cutting softer materials such as wood and plastic and a bi-metal blade that can tolerate some soft nails, but it will likely quickly start the dull the blade after going though a few nails. If you think you'll frequency be going thru nails or even worse hardened deck or drywall screws, there's carbide blades out there that should survive for longer, but if you're able to cut though a nail/screw using a reciprocating saw or angle grinder, you oscillating tool cutting blades and wallet will thank you. Using the tool to cut: As for performing cutting in wood, I found that it's not bad in terms of vibration and gloves can provide vibration dampening for your hands. Cutting does generate a good deal of noise, so hearing protection is a must. For cutting technique, you want to let the tool do the work, don't try to force it as that can lead to burning the material being cut and also results in heating up the blade more, which will likely shorten its cutting life. You want sweep back and fourth with a light touch. If there's no risk of hitting nails, the blades Japanese style cutting teeth supposedly do a better cutting job for wood. I have some on order and will probably provide an update when they arrive. What the tool excels at: This excels when it comes to making plunge cuts into things while minimizing cutting into things behind what you're cutting out. There's also a optional depth guide that can be purchased to further mitigate cutting material you're trying to avoid cutting into. I feel safer using this to cutting into a wall vs. a reciprocating saw as there's less chance I'll damage something behind the drywall such as a pipe or wire. Choosing the best tool for the job: You can also do things such as sanding or doing a cross cut on a 2x4, but you're likely better off using a mouse sander for sanding and a miter or circular saw will by far provide a faster and straighter cut and the blades on both saws will almost certainly last eons longer than even a set of top notch oscillating tool blades. What I'm saying is just because it can be done be done with an oscillating tool, doesn't mean it should be done on a regular basis if you have a better tool at your disposal for a particular job. Cost cutting that was done: The only things that costs were really cut on are the battery and charger. The included battery is the lowest end offered by DeWalt, a 1.5 Ah battery that has no LEDs for checking charge level. The included charger appears to have a mac charging current output of 1.25 amps. I would have liked to see a 2Ah battery. Conclusion: It's a decent tool with a variety of uses. It can do a variety of cutting of tasks in a pinch, but this won't outshine a circular/miter/reciprocating saw in terms of blade costs and results at tasks those tools are designed for in most cases. I'm rating this 4.5 stars as I was able to get it at a good price.

Oscillating tools are rarely great, but this one is surprising accurate and powerful. It vibrates much less than another brand I used before. The negative side would be the blades it comes with, they loose their teeth after 2-3 uses on relatively soft material (e.g. trim with a few minuscule brad nails here and there) I wish it shipped with more blades and ideally something more robust. Also the 2 amp battery it comes with is insufficient i recommend a 5 amp for better performance and longer use.

Highly satisfied with the purchase. It is brushless (longer battery usage), quick easy blade change design and includes a nice handy sizable Dewalt bag. The quick blade change design is very convenient that makes Dewalt a better choice than other brands.

Good price - good accessories. It's reliable and shipping was quick. I'm loading up more on the MAX series with other tools.