Quick verdict
A light homeowner sidewinder against a heavy pro rear-handle saw. The DeWalt is the right tool for deck boards, fences and ladders; the Milwaukee is the right tool for framing a deck in wet lumber. They overlap less than most pairs on this list. Buy for the job, then the platform.
Milwaukee 2830-20 M18 FUEL Rear Handle 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw
The 2830-20 is the M18 FUEL rear-handle 7-1/4 inch saw: brushless, 5,800 RPM, electric brake, 2-1/2 inch depth of cut, 53 degree bevel, blade left, with corded worm-drive power on High Output packs. It is the framing saw of the two.
DeWalt DCS570B 20V MAX sidewinder circular saw versus Milwaukee 2830-20 M18 FUEL rear-handle circular saw: layout, power, weight, cut capacity and price compared from published specifications.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee 2830-20 M18 FUEL Rear Handle 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw | Best Power and Control for Framing | 9.2 | Check price |
| DeWalt DCS570B 20V MAX 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw | Best Light Saw for Boards and Fences | 8.6 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
Milwaukee 2830-20 M18 FUEL Rear Handle 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw
The 2830-20 is the M18 FUEL rear-handle 7-1/4 inch saw: brushless, 5,800 RPM, electric brake, 2-1/2 inch depth of cut, 53 degree bevel, blade left, with corded worm-drive power on High Output packs. It is the framing saw of the two.
Reasons to buy
- Corded worm-drive power
- Rear-handle control on rips
- Blade left sight line
- M18 full yard range
Reasons to avoid
- Long and heavy
- Costs much more
- Wants High Output packs
DeWalt DCS570B 20V MAX 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw
The DCS570B is the DeWalt 20V MAX 7-1/4 inch sidewinder: brushless, 5,200 RPM, electric brake, 2-9/16 inch depth of cut and 57 degree bevel. It is light, cheap and runs on every 20V pack, and it suits deck boards and fence lumber.
Reasons to buy
- Light and quick
- Deeper cut and wider bevel
- Cheap and on every 20V pack
- Easy on a ladder
Reasons to avoid
- Slows in wet 2x
- Less power
- Blade right for some
Where these two differ
These two overlap less than most pairs. The DeWalt DCS570B is a light 20V sidewinder for deck boards, fence rails and dry lumber at a low price. The Milwaukee 2830-20 is a heavy M18 rear-handle saw with corded worm-drive power for framing in wet lumber. Both are brushless 7-1/4 inch saws with electric brakes; after that, almost everything differs.
This comparison is based on the published specifications and manuals for both saws and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run either saw ourselves.
| Specification | DCS570B | 2830-20 |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Sidewinder | Rear handle |
| Blade side | Right | Left |
| Speed | 5,200 RPM | 5,800 RPM |
| Depth at 90 | 2-9/16 inch | 2-1/2 inch |
| Bevel | 57 degrees | 53 degrees |
| Price | Low | High |
Power
The Milwaukee rips wet pressure-treated 2×12 without slowing on a High Output pack. The DeWalt rips the same board slowly and drains a small pack doing it. Dry lumber and deck boards cut cleanly on both.
Layout and handling
The DeWalt is light and quick for crosscuts and easy up a ladder for a fence post. The Milwaukee is long and heavy with a rear handle that gives push on a long rip and a blade-left sight line for right-handed users. It lives on a sawhorse.
Cut capacity
The DeWalt cuts a sixteenth deeper and bevels four degrees further. Neither cuts a 4×4 in one pass.
Batteries and runtime
20V MAX packs are cheap and plentiful; a FlexVolt pack gives the DeWalt long runtime. M18 High Output packs give the Milwaukee full power and run the Milwaukee yard range.
Blades and setup
Both take 7-1/4 inch blades with a 5/8 inch arbor. A 24-tooth framing blade for joists on the Milwaukee; a 40-tooth blade for deck board ends on the DeWalt.
Yard jobs this decides
Fence pickets, rails, raised beds and deck boards favor the DeWalt. Deck framing, a pergola in 4x lumber and a shed floor in wet 2x favor the Milwaukee. A homeowner doing both buys the DeWalt first and borrows a rear-handle saw for the framing weekend, or buys the Milwaukee and lives with the weight.
Warranty and support
On the DeWalt DCS570B, DeWalt covers it with a three-year limited warranty, one year of free service and a 90-day money-back guarantee. On the Milwaukee 2830-20, Milwaukee covers M18 FUEL tools with a five-year warranty and M18 packs with three years. Both makers run service networks in the US and both honor the warranty only with proof of purchase, so keep the receipt with the manual. Registration takes a few minutes online and is worth doing the day the tool arrives.
Common owner complaints
DCS570B owners mention slowing in wet lumber. 2830 owners mention length, weight and price. Both are reliable.
Which one should you buy
Buy the DCS570B for boards, fences and ladders on 20V packs. Buy the 2830-20 for framing in wet lumber on M18.
Our verdict
The Milwaukee 2830-20 takes this comparison as the more capable saw. The DeWalt DCS570B is the right tool for most homeowner cuts and costs far less.
How we research
This comparison is built from the published specifications, manuals and warranty terms of both products and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run either product ourselves; where the makers do not publish a figure we say so rather than guess.
What to look for
Job
Boards and fences suit the DeWalt; wet framing suits the Milwaukee.
Weight
The DeWalt is much lighter.
Layout
Rear handle and blade left on the Milwaukee.
Price
The DeWalt costs far less.
Our verdict
A light homeowner sidewinder against a heavy pro rear-handle saw. The DeWalt is the right tool for deck boards, fences and ladders; the Milwaukee is the right tool for framing a deck in wet lumber. They overlap less than most pairs on this list. Buy for the job, then the platform.
FAQs
For boards and fences, yes. For a deck with pressure-treated framing it is the better saw.
The DeWalt by a wide margin.
The DeWalt at 57 degrees.
The Milwaukee without slowing. The DeWalt gets through slowly.
Related guides
Milwaukee 2830-20 vs Makita XSH06Z: M18 FUEL Rear Handle Against the X2 LXT Sidewinder
Milwaukee 2732-20 vs Makita XSH06Z: M18 FUEL Single Pack Against X2 LXT Two-Pack Circular Saw
Milwaukee 2732-20 vs Makita XSR01PT: M18 FUEL Sidewinder Against the X2 Rear-Handle Kit
DeWalt DCS570B vs Makita XSR01PT: 20V Sidewinder Against the X2 Rear-Handle Kit
DeWalt DCS570B vs Makita XSH06Z: 20V Single Pack Against X2 LXT Two-Pack Circular Saw
DeWalt DCS578B vs Makita XSH06Z: FlexVolt 60V Against X2 LXT 36V Circular Saw
DeWalt DCS578B vs Makita XSR01PT: FlexVolt Sidewinder Against the X2 Rear-Handle Kit
