Best DeWalt Tools for Construction — Field-Tested.

The DeWalt FLEXVOLT 60V DCS578B is the best cordless circular saw for professional framing. I've run it on framing jobs at 6,100 ft in Truckee — the 60V battery platform delivers corded power without the cord. 7-1/4″ blade, electric brake, and it shares batteries with my grinder, recip saw, and chainsaw. No gas, no extension cords on the jobsite.

Yes, DeWalt FLEXVOLT batteries are worth the investment for any serious contractor. One battery platform runs every heavy-duty tool on the jobsite. I run a 9Ah FLEXVOLT across my circular saw, grinder, SDS Max hammer, chainsaw, and blower. No gas, no cords, one charger. The batteries are backward-compatible with 20V MAX tools, so you never outgrow the platform.

The DeWalt DCH892 60V FLEXVOLT 22 lb SDS Max Chipping Hammer is the most powerful cordless SDS Max available. It delivers corded demolition power without a cord or generator. I use it daily for concrete demolition around utility pipes in deep trenches — it handles reinforced concrete, slab work, and rebar removal. The DCH481 (1-9/16″) and DCH614 (1-3/4″) are lighter alternatives for drilling and lighter chipping.

DeWalt 20V MAX is for everyday tools — drills, impact drivers, lights, small grinders. DeWalt 60V FLEXVOLT is for heavy-duty tools that traditionally needed a cord or gas engine — circular saws, SDS Max rotary hammers, large grinders, chainsaws, and miter saws. FLEXVOLT batteries automatically switch between 20V and 60V depending on the tool, so they work in both platforms. If you're a contractor, start with 20V MAX for daily-driver tools and add 60V FLEXVOLT when you need cordless power for the heavy stuff.

Yes, with caveats. I run DeWalt cordless tools year-round at 6,100 ft in the Sierra Nevada, including nights that drop to −10°F and summers that hit 130°F in the truck bed. The tools themselves handle it fine. Battery life drops 15–25% below freezing — keep spare batteries warm inside your cab, swap them often, and you won't notice the difference. The DeWalt FLEXVOLT platform has been the most reliable cordless system I've tested in extreme conditions.

Start with the DeWalt 20V MAX platform: a hammer drill/driver (DCD999), an impact driver (DCF887 or DCF850), a reciprocating saw (DCS369), and a jobsite radio or light. Add a 60V FLEXVOLT circular saw (DCS578B) and grinder (DCG414) when you need cordless heavy-duty power. Get at least 4 batteries (two 5Ah, two 9Ah FLEXVOLT) and two chargers. Everything shares batteries and chargers across the platform. See the builds that use these tools on the DIY page.

For lifting loads under 5 tons you need: rated round slings (minimum 5,300 lb vertical working load limit), 3/4″ D-ring shackles rated to 4.75 tons, and a proper crane hoist hook. Every connection point must be rated and inspected before each lift — never rig with unrated hardware. Color-coded slings make quick capacity checks possible in the field. Browse the same iron I run on the equipment marketplace.

Both are professional-grade platforms. I chose DeWalt because of the FLEXVOLT backward compatibility — one battery platform runs 20V tools AND 60V heavy-duty tools. Milwaukee M18 FUEL is excellent but runs a separate M18/M12 battery split. For construction specifically, DeWalt's 60V FLEXVOLT SDS Max hammers, circular saws, and grinders have been unbeatable in my experience. The right answer depends on what tools you already own and which platform your crew standardizes on.

A DeWalt FLEXVOLT 9Ah battery lasts 30–45 minutes of continuous heavy use (circular saw cutting, SDS Max hammering) and 2–4 hours of intermittent use (drill/driver, grinder). In 60V tools, the battery runs at 60V/3Ah; in 20V tools, it runs at 20V/9Ah. With two batteries and a fast charger, you never run dry on a full shift. I carry four FLEXVOLT batteries on my truck and rotate them all day.

For underground utility locating, contractors use cable and pipe locators (like the Vivax-Metrotech vLoc3-Pro), ground penetrating radar (GPR) units, and electromagnetic utility locators. On our excavation jobs, we use a combination of electromagnetic locators for metallic utilities and GPR for non-metallic pipes. A good locator pays for itself the first time it prevents a utility strike — hitting a gas line or fiber optic cable can cost $50,000+ in damages and shut down your project. See the full range in the underground utilities section.