DEWALT 60V MAX FLEXVOLT Brushless Reciprocating Saw, Tool Only (DCS389B) review

The separate bare-tool branch of the DCS389 family

DEWALT’s DCS389B is the tool-only version of its 60V MAX brushless DCS389 reciprocating saw. The exact U.S. page lists a DCS389 saw and one blade, while stating that battery and charger are sold separately. That makes the B suffix materially different from DCS389X1 and DCS389X2: the X1 package lists one DCB609 9.0Ah FLEXVOLT battery, charger, blade and bag; X2 lists two DCB609 packs with the saw, charger, blade and bag. The functional saw is shared, but neither kit’s package should be assumed when shopping for the B tool.

60V MAX is the saw’s operating platform

The product page calls this a 60V MAX saw and states compatibility with DEWALT 20V/60V MAX FLEXVOLT batteries. Its manual explains the important distinction: a FLEXVOLT pack changes its operating voltage when placed in a 20V MAX or 60V MAX product. That is not the same as saying a conventional 20V-only pack can power this 60V tool. If you already own batteries, compare their exact model against the DCS389 manual’s compatible-pack list and make sure the needed charger is part of your setup.

DEWALT lists a brushless motor, a 1-1/8-inch stroke, variable speed from 0 to 3,000 strokes per minute, a keyless lever-action blade clamp, a pivoting shoe, an LED and a rubber overmold grip. The page also advertises 1,874 UWO and “up to 19% more power” than DCS388 when compared with a DCB609-powered setup. Those are manufacturer claims, not an independent cutting or runtime test. The no-load SPM figure describes the trigger-controlled range; it cannot tell you how quickly this saw will cut a particular pipe, stud or demolition assembly.

Full-size handling and setup requirements

The DCS389 manual says to hold the saw firmly with both hands for cutting. Although it is cordless, this is not the compact one-handed format used for pruning-style access. The tool’s two-handed grip and pivoting shoe suit a buyer who can support the saw and secure the stock. Clamp or otherwise stabilize the workpiece; a pivoting shoe is a contact surface, not a substitute for workholding or a depth stop. The page does not establish selectable orbital action, and that feature should not be inferred from the motor or power claim.

The manual says the blade must be longer than 3-1/2 inches and extend beyond both the shoe and workpiece throughout the stroke. It says not to use jigsaw blades, and it emphasizes keeping hands away from the cut area, securing stock and checking for hidden wiring. Remove the battery before changing or adjusting a blade, use the lock-off control while carrying or storing the saw, and do not tape the trigger on. These constraints matter more than a headline speed number when choosing a blade or planning a cut close to a wall.

Do not turn the assembled listing into a bare-tool weight

The exact product page reports 8.75 pounds as assembled-product weight and 19.4 inches as assembled-product length. It does not give a separate bare-tool weight or saw-body length. Even though the B package excludes a battery, the manufacturer’s named measurement is still “assembled product”; it may include the listed blade or other configuration details. The finder therefore leaves tool-only weight unknown. A 15-pound limit cannot be treated as verified merely because 8.75 is lower, and the 19.4-inch listing is not a body-clearance measurement.

The DCS389B is a specific fit for an owner of compatible FLEXVOLT equipment who wants the 60V MAX DCS389 saw without another battery or charger. A buyer starting from zero should compare the cost and exact contents of X1 or X2 kits instead of treating this bare tool as a complete operating setup. Check that the offer is exactly DCS389B, confirm the battery family and charger you will use, choose a blade longer than the manual’s minimum, and plan secure two-handed operation. This is a source-based assessment, not a hands-on test report.