If you're looking for a cordless circular saw, you've come to the right place. DeWalt's new lineup of Flexvolt tools offers the power of corded in cordless. Both the DCS575 and DCS577 rely on a 60V MAX lithium-ion battery pack to deliver uncompromising performance and endurance. When looking at these side-by-side, there doesn't seem to be much difference. So what sets these saws apart?
When searching for a circular saw the first decision that needs to be made is whether you're looking for a direct drive or worm drive style motor design. This may simply boil down to what side of the country you live on. When first introduced, allegedly there were patents filed on both sides of the country. Subsequently, direct drive saws were mostly marketed on the East Coast, and worm drive mostly out West, though both perform essentially the same function. This leads us to the main difference between the DCS575 and DCS577 - the DCS575 is direct drive, and the DCS577 is a worm drive.
Each style has it's own list of pros and cons. DCS575 direct drive saws are typically a bit wider and use a motor configuration that allows the motor to directly spin the blade, with no extra gears. Less gears means less parts overall, making this style lighter and cheaper than a comparable worm drive. Weighing in at 7.6lbs, the DCS575 is about 30% lighter than a DCS577.
So if direct drive saws are lighter and cheaper, why offer a worm drive option at all? Though direct drive saws have plenty of power, worm drive saws are capable of even more. Using a motor configuration that runs parallel with the blade, a worm drive saw transfers power from the motor by use of what's called a worm gear.
The benefit of this more complex worm style configuration is that it produces more torque, allowing the motor to keep performing during cuts that a direct drive would fault on. For hardwood applications or extended use scenarios, a worm drive saw is going to out-perform and out-last any direct drive counterpart. Extra gears, however, means extra weight. The DCS577 weighs just under 10.9lbs, or about 3.3lbs more than the DCS575.
Another big difference between these styles is the blade configuration. A DCS575 has the blade set on the right side, while the DCS577 has the blade on the left. A right handed user will probably find a left side blade orientation has more visibility. This will be most noticeable to heavy users of the tool, and which is better is a matter of opinion, but most users report preferring the worm drive blade-left configuration despite its heavier design.
The extra weight of the DCS577 is balanced by a 60V MAX battery fit right into the handle. This caged design protects the battery by putting it inside the handle frame, while the DCS575's design leaves the battery exposed at the back of the handle, making the battery level indicator less visually obvious to the operator, and leaving the battery at greater risk of damage if the tool is dropped. Considering Flexvolt batteries cost upwards of 50% of the cost of the base saw itself, they need all the protection they can get.
Both the DCS575 and DCS577 have an aggressive blade rotation of 5800RPM, but the DCS575 operates at 1600watts while the DCS577 runs closer to 2400watts. Simply stated, the DCS575 might have a longer run time, but obviously that comes with some sacrifice in power.
Other differences can be found in the bevel capacity of each saw, with the DCS575 maxing at a 57 degree bevel while the DCS577 bevels up to a full 90 degrees. The DCS575 has a slightly deeper cut at 2 9/16", while the DCS577 comes close at 2 7/16". The final difference we'll point out here is that the DCS575 is equipped with an aluminum shoe and the DCS577 a magnesium shoe. While aluminum may be slightly less weight, but not as durable as magnesium, this difference comes down to a matter of preference.
DCS575 Highlights:
-Direct drive
-Right side blade orientation
-7.6lbs
-Depth of cut: 2 9/16"
-1600 Watts
-Bevel capacity: 57deg
-Aluminum shoe
-Battery not protected
DCS577 Highlights:
-Worm drive
-Left side blade orientation
-10.87lbs
-Depth of cut: 2 7/16"
-2400 Watts
-Bevel capacity: 90deg
-Magnesium shoe
-Battery protected
Of these two saws, it's difficult to say which is better. While the DCS575 lacks the torque potential of a worm drive, its lighter weight, lower cost and right side blade are clearly what draws people to this design. On the other hand, the added torque, durable construction and left side blade with better visibility take the DCS577 to the next level, but at an added cost.
For the purposes of this review, we'll boil it down to this: The DCS575 is more "homeowner grade" and the DCS577 is more "contractor grade". If you expect to be using this day-in, day-out as part of your profession, the DCS577 worm drive saw will probably be what you choose. But for most of us out there the DCS575 is more than adequate, and an innovation in cordless technology.
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