DeWalt DCS571B: problems, parts and running costs
Checked: 2026-10-09
Summary
The DCS571B is a compact 4-1/2 in. brushless 20V MAX circular saw sold as a bare tool, built for one-hand cutting in tight spaces. Its main weakness is the 3/8 in. arbor, which rules out most standard blades and makes the 4-1/2 in. replacements hard to find and costly. It is a good buy as a secondary saw for punch-list and sheet-goods work, not as a primary saw.
Common problems and fixes
- Hard-to-find replacement blades — the 4-1/2 in. blade on a 3/8 in. arbor is rarely stocked in stores; owners report replacements cost roughly twice a full-size blade and last less than half as long. [3]
- The 3/8 in. arbor blocks other blades — it prevents use of standard circular saw blades and of any masonry or diamond blade; one owner returned the saw after failing to find a masonry blade. [3]
- Low speed for its class — at 4500 RPM it turns 700 RPM slower than DeWalt’s 7-1/4 in. DCS570, and the small blade has much lower tip speed. [2]
- Bevel markings with no stops — the bevel is marked at 15 and 30 degrees with no detents, and the stamped depth and bevel markings are tough to see; check the angle separately. [2]
- Awkward trigger and rear battery placement — one owner calls the trigger awkward, and the rear battery can make the saw tilt when reaching. [3]
- No work light, plastic blade guard — the saw has no LED and uses a plastic guard rather than a metal one. [3]
- Rounded base-plate edges — owners question the rounded edges on the stamped-steel base plate. [3]
Parts and consumables
- 4-1/2 in. 24-tooth wood-cutting blade (3/8 in. arbor) — included with the saw; replacements cost roughly twice a full-size blade and offer less life. [2][3]
- Blade change key — included, with on-board storage. [1]
- Dust port adapter (friction fit) — included; owners report it works well with a vacuum. [1][2]
- Rip fence — included, and it improves accuracy on smaller cuts. [1][2]
Yearly running cost
Not enough data. Owners report replacement blades cost roughly twice a full-size blade with less than half the life, but no annual figure was measured.
When it is a good buy
Buy it for size and one-hand control, not for power or blade choice. Pro Tool Reviews listed the bare tool at $149 and the 5.0Ah kit at $269 in its 2019 review, and recommended the 7-1/4 in. brushless DCS570 at the same $149 as a better primary saw. As a second saw for tight spaces, punch-list work and sheet goods it earns its place; as a first or only circular saw the DCS570 is the better choice.