DeWalt has been the leader in battery-powered tools for quite some time now and they keep improving the way their cordless tools work. With recent battery developments, their 20V batteries have a strong enough power delivery to put them on par with their corded competitors. The DEWALT DCP580B 20V MAX Brushless Planer is one of the premium models in this niche. But is it worth the extra money? I will try to answer this question in my review below…
My Verdict: If you are looking for a premium heavy-duty electric hand planer, then I suggest sticking to some of the top brands, such as DeWalt. Moreover, if you are highly mobile and are constantly at different project sites, the DEWALT DCP580B will greatly improve your capabilities out of your workshop. Its battery-powered motor is potent enough to cut through most wood types without slowing down and the batteries can power it for quite some time, despite having the disadvantage of being sold separately.
To learn more about electric hand planers and see other leading models for this year, head over to my Buyer’s Guide. Now, let’s jump straight into this!
Table of Contents
Overview & Features
The thing with DeWalt tools is that they often bring a class-leading performance but tend to get quite overboard with the pricing. Let me elaborate… Let’s say you want to buy this particular planer. You will need batteries, right? You might also need a dust chute, or a replacement blade. All that has to be paid extra and little to nothing comes with your tool right from the box. This gets to a point where you start thinking whether it is worth investing that much just to get the full package. Well, to answer your question – if you’re dealing with heavy-duty tasks, the money spent here will be worth it.
My Rating:
- Powerful 20V brushless motor
- Up to 32,000 cuts per minute
- Depth adjustments up to 5/64 of an inch
- Precision machined aluminum shoes
- Has a kickstand
- Has a v-groove in the center for chamfering
Motor
The motor here is battery-powered by a 20V lithium-ion battery that provides enough power to keep the no-load speeds at 15,000 RPM, bringing the cuts per minute to 30,000 but that number is usually lower depending on what exactly you are planing.
The times when battery-powered tools are weaker than corded ones are long gone and companies like Makita and DeWalt prove this every time they create a new model. This has become such a trend, that most people are going after cordless tools nowadays as they offer similar performance but a much-improved convenience and ease of work.
Shoes
The shoes are made out of aluminum and are perfectly aligned right from the get-go. In the middle of the front shoe, there is a precision-machined V-shaped groove which is used for edge chamfering. The planning width here is 3 1/4 inches which is on par with almost any other model in its class. My issue with the front shoe is that it has only one groove, while models that are half the price (or less) have two or three grooves to make working with them even easier.
Adjustments
The deepest you can go with this planer is 2mm (5/64 inches) while the calibrated adjustment knob can change the depth in intervals of 1/256 of the inch (around 0.01mm).
Design & Build Quality
In terms of build quality, design, and materials, this planer brings a familar DeWalt feel to the table. It is well put together, there are no squeaks or rattles and the whole construction feels very rigid when you are making your pass.
Everything from the rubberized handles to the buttons, knobs, and front and back shoes is made out of quality materials and is on par with the rest of the models in this premium class.
One thing that I don’t like, primarily because cheaper models have it, is that the dust chute can only be attached to the right side of the tool, as the belt is on the other side. Furthermore, the dust bag itself is sold separately as almost anything else with this tool. Keep a close eye at those things as the price can quickly get out of your initial budget.
Despite the added weight of the battery, the tool is surprisingly agile and easy to use on a continuous daily basis. That is, of course, if you don’t forget to re-charge the batteries after a long day working on a project.
You can learn how to use an electric hand planer by clicking here. Now, let’s see what else does the DCP580B have in stock for us…
Additional Features
There are almost no additional features here that I want to mention. Perhaps the Poly-V drive belt is worth mentioning, as it significantly improves the power deliver from the motor to the blades. There is also a kickstand that comes with the planer but that is about the only thing that you get extra.
One last thing I wanted to mention about the DeWalt DCP580B is that it comes with nice warranty coverage. It has 3 years limited warranty, including a 1-year free service and a 90-day money-back guarantee. Usually, most companies rely on 1 or 2-year warranties, while you get an extra one here. That is one of the statements that DeWalt wants to make with its tool’s durability and longevity. Let’s check out some of the main pros and cons of the DCP580B now…
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- Powerful 20V brushless motor
- Up to 32,000 cuts per minute
- Depth adjustments up to 5/64 of an inch
- Precision machined aluminum shoes
- Has a kickstand
- Has a v-groove in the center for chamfering
Cons
- The battery and charger are sold separately and add significant bulk to the cost
- A bit heavy
- Very expensive compared to other planers
Conclusion and Rating
My Rating:
Summing up this tool is quite simple, actually. If you are looking for a strong-performer that will allow you to work on multiple job sites that are away from your original workshop, then you should at least consider the DEWALT DCP580B 20V MAX Brushless Planer. Despite its high price tag and added additional costs for batteries and other accessories, it is perhaps the best cordless planer out there right now and will prove its investment over the many years of usage.
