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expirediconian | Staff posted Feb 28, 2022 08:16 PM
expirediconian | Staff posted Feb 28, 2022 08:16 PM

Dewalt DCS551B 20V Max Drywall Cut-Out Tool (Tool Only)

+ 2.5% SD Cashback + Free S/H

$85

$163

47% off
Focus Camera
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Deal Details
Focus Camera has Dewalt DCS551B 20V Max Drywall Cut-Out Tool (Tool Only) on sale for $84.95. Slickdeals Cashback is available for this store (PC extension required, before checkout). Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for finding this deal.

Features:
  • Dust-sealed switch protects against dust ingestion
  • 26,000 RPM motor delivers fast cutting in drywall, plywood, etc.
  • Tool-free for fast and easy bit changing without a wrench
  • Bright LED illuminates dark work surfaces for accurate cutting

Editor's Notes

Written by johnny_miller | Staff
  • About this deal:
    • Offer good through 03/11/22
  • About this product:
    • Includes 3-year limited warranty, 1-year free service contract
  • About this store:
    • Focus Camera return policy here

Original Post

Written by iconian | Staff
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Focus Camera has Dewalt DCS551B 20V Max Drywall Cut-Out Tool (Tool Only) on sale for $84.95. Slickdeals Cashback is available for this store (PC extension required, before checkout). Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for finding this deal.

Features:
  • Dust-sealed switch protects against dust ingestion
  • 26,000 RPM motor delivers fast cutting in drywall, plywood, etc.
  • Tool-free for fast and easy bit changing without a wrench
  • Bright LED illuminates dark work surfaces for accurate cutting

Editor's Notes

Written by johnny_miller | Staff
  • About this deal:
    • Offer good through 03/11/22
  • About this product:
    • Includes 3-year limited warranty, 1-year free service contract
  • About this store:
    • Focus Camera return policy here

Original Post

Written by iconian | Staff

Community Voting

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Top Comments

Tremodels
224 Posts
96 Reputation
Some thoughts from a tradesman that might be interesting to the hobbyist: Basically, using one of these is sorta considered the "day laborer" way of installing, and using a jab saw is the pro way. Cutting out a box can be done at about the same speed using both tools, and the saw creates way less of a mess, but if your crew is a bunch of unskilled laborers they are going to have a really hard time measuring out where the electrical box hole should be cut, since in you have to cut the hole before you attach it to the wall in new construction. The rotary tool eliminates that problem because you just slap the new piece over the boxes with no measuring, poke the tool where you see the obvious bulge, track to the edge of the box and hop over it, then trace the outside.

As a homeowner this is probably faster, albeit dustier, and you are less likely to mess up an entire sheet because you measured wrong. But homeowners also are usually not going for production speed like a construction crew is. If you're ok taking some extra time measuring this is an ok tool to skip. If your weekend project seconds are precious, sure grab it. I think its a good tool to buy only if you have a specific project and sell it when it's done. I.e., I rebuilt / reframed our forever home, which involved drywalling an entire house, sold it when done, and haven't missed it since.

Those thinking of using this for non-drywall: don't. Without getting into it, it would do a terrible job in most scenarios you could think of. Its just a really really specific built tool in alot of ways.
coffeemanic
41 Posts
22 Reputation
The only way I ever knew how to do it was to have a second person follow the cut with a shop vac. Super pain in the ass but can't argue with the dustless results. Wear a mask when playing with this kids.
Ekeenan86
801 Posts
64 Reputation
$89 on Amazon DEWALT 20V MAX* Drywall Cutting Tool, Cut-Out, Tool Only (DCS551B) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KYNW...62CQF99GK7

50 Comments

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Mar 01, 2022 05:09 AM
182 Posts
Joined Mar 2020
AmusedMask3890Mar 01, 2022 05:09 AM
182 Posts
Quote from pidge :
What is the advantage to this over a simple dry wall knife?
If you have to cut openings after hanging drywall, say for electrical boxes or windows, this tool with a rotozip bit makes short work of the job and leaves clean edges. I'm curious if standard dremel attachments would fit this though
Mar 01, 2022 06:33 AM
178 Posts
Joined Aug 2011
iSmellDealsMar 01, 2022 06:33 AM
178 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank iSmellDeals

For those asking about minimizing dust created by these…. Yes you can do the shop vacuum but they also sell dust collector fittings like this Makita 193449-2 Dust Extracting Cut-Out Base https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004Z55...E49R7R92GP
1
Mar 01, 2022 07:07 AM
40 Posts
Joined Aug 2018
ThriftyBird290Mar 01, 2022 07:07 AM
40 Posts
I just did my drywall in my basement and bought it. I used it a decent amount around doors and some overhangs but spots like outlets and any additional holes I needed way more accuracy than this could give me. It can be a little tough to control if you need an exact hole. Much easier to glide along the wood or giant holes instead. Could also be used for small exploratory holes as well. I'm glad I bought mine but I wouldn't recommend unless you need to do an entire basement or more.
Mar 01, 2022 08:00 AM
20 Posts
Joined Oct 2021
NavyHose575Mar 01, 2022 08:00 AM
20 Posts
It's $5 now.
1
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This user is an Expert in Home & Home Improvement
Mar 01, 2022 12:11 PM
18,217 Posts
Joined Jun 2012
jeff34270
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This user is an Expert in Home & Home Improvement
Mar 01, 2022 12:11 PM
18,217 Posts

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Quote from ThriftyBird290 :
I just did my drywall in my basement and bought it. I used it a decent amount around doors and some overhangs but spots like outlets and any additional holes I needed way more accuracy than this could give me. It can be a little tough to control if you need an exact hole. Much easier to glide along the wood or giant holes instead. Could also be used for small exploratory holes as well. I'm glad I bought mine but I wouldn't recommend unless you need to do an entire basement or more.
This is much more accurate than other methods, providing cutouts with a perfect fit.

You hang the drywall right over the openings and electrical boxes, then just plunge in with this tool and follow around the box for a perfect cut every time with little to no measuring.

Easier to watch than to explain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuRsOr-3aJs

For a quick taste, here's a 1:00 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Viynq6yV4

1
Mar 01, 2022 01:32 PM
224 Posts
Joined Oct 2019
TremodelsMar 01, 2022 01:32 PM
224 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank Tremodels

Some thoughts from a tradesman that might be interesting to the hobbyist: Basically, using one of these is sorta considered the "day laborer" way of installing, and using a jab saw is the pro way. Cutting out a box can be done at about the same speed using both tools, and the saw creates way less of a mess, but if your crew is a bunch of unskilled laborers they are going to have a really hard time measuring out where the electrical box hole should be cut, since in you have to cut the hole before you attach it to the wall in new construction. The rotary tool eliminates that problem because you just slap the new piece over the boxes with no measuring, poke the tool where you see the obvious bulge, track to the edge of the box and hop over it, then trace the outside.

As a homeowner this is probably faster, albeit dustier, and you are less likely to mess up an entire sheet because you measured wrong. But homeowners also are usually not going for production speed like a construction crew is. If you're ok taking some extra time measuring this is an ok tool to skip. If your weekend project seconds are precious, sure grab it. I think its a good tool to buy only if you have a specific project and sell it when it's done. I.e., I rebuilt / reframed our forever home, which involved drywalling an entire house, sold it when done, and haven't missed it since.

Those thinking of using this for non-drywall: don't. Without getting into it, it would do a terrible job in most scenarios you could think of. Its just a really really specific built tool in alot of ways.
4
3
Mar 01, 2022 03:01 PM
3 Posts
Joined Jun 2021
BrightSweater8568Mar 01, 2022 03:01 PM
3 Posts
Quote from ben_r_ :
Anyone know a good way to capture the dust from these things? Used a corded DeWalt one once and the dust was so bad I opted to stick with a drywall saw instead!
I just use my wiggle saw (multi tool) and cut with the side of the blade through drywall. The least messy way I have found.
I have also been known to use my skill saw on everything including drywall while demo'ing a project.

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Mar 01, 2022 03:30 PM
20 Posts
Joined Dec 2013
kevin.readMar 01, 2022 03:30 PM
20 Posts
This deal couldn't have come at a more perfect time for me. I literally just had 66 sheets of drywall delivered to my house yesterday morning. Huzzah! Thanks OP!
Mar 01, 2022 05:07 PM
80 Posts
Joined Nov 2018
ClydemcmMar 01, 2022 05:07 PM
80 Posts
I've seen youtube reviews of how great a tool like this is. Looks like it throws off a bit of dust.
So I'm staying old school with a simple outlet cutout template like this [amazon.com] put it on the outlet, push the drywall into place,
lower it again & use a keyhole saw. 5 min? minimal dust. Though these use to be metal & dirt cheap. no more.
Yah, I should just measure twice & cut once.
Mar 01, 2022 06:02 PM
14,691 Posts
Joined Jul 2006
ben_r_Mar 01, 2022 06:02 PM
14,691 Posts
Quote from BrightSweater8568 :
I just use my wiggle saw (multi tool) and cut with the side of the blade through drywall. The least messy way I have found.
I have also been known to use my skill saw on everything including drywall while demo'ing a project.
I picked up the DeWalt 20V Oscillating Multi-Tool recently but havent had a chance to test it out on dry wall yet. Thanks for the suggestion. Hopefully thatll throw less dust than a rotary tool. Cutting drywall with a drywall saw can get tiring if its a big chunk!
Mar 02, 2022 02:05 AM
958 Posts
Joined Jun 2004
galetsMar 02, 2022 02:05 AM
958 Posts
Quote from ben_r_ :
Anyone know a good way to capture the dust from these things? Used a corded DeWalt one once and the dust was so bad I opted to stick with a drywall saw instead!
Just use a knife. These tools are for pros who cut so much drywall, that using this tool makes sense. Spending 80 bucks so that you can install a power outlet is not a smart buy.
Mar 02, 2022 12:08 PM
1,447 Posts
Joined Feb 2008
curt2199Mar 02, 2022 12:08 PM
1,447 Posts
Quote from Tremodels :
Some thoughts from a tradesman that might be interesting to the hobbyist: Basically, using one of these is sorta considered the "day laborer" way of installing, and using a jab saw is the pro way. Cutting out a box can be done at about the same speed using both tools, and the saw creates way less of a mess, but if your crew is a bunch of unskilled laborers they are going to have a really hard time measuring out where the electrical box hole should be cut, since in you have to cut the hole before you attach it to the wall in new construction. The rotary tool eliminates that problem because you just slap the new piece over the boxes with no measuring, poke the tool where you see the obvious bulge, track to the edge of the box and hop over it, then trace the outside.

As a homeowner this is probably faster, albeit dustier, and you are less likely to mess up an entire sheet because you measured wrong. But homeowners also are usually not going for production speed like a construction crew is. If you're ok taking some extra time measuring this is an ok tool to skip. If your weekend project seconds are precious, sure grab it. I think its a good tool to buy only if you have a specific project and sell it when it's done. I.e., I rebuilt / reframed our forever home, which involved drywalling an entire house, sold it when done, and haven't missed it since.

Those thinking of using this for non-drywall: don't. Without getting into it, it would do a terrible job in most scenarios you could think of. Its just a really really specific built tool in alot of ways.
If you are seeing an obvious bulge in drywall from slapping it up against outlet boxes then you've broken the drywall.

An oscillating tool and box saw are the way to go.

https://www.harborfreight.com/ele...56666.html
3
Mar 02, 2022 04:31 PM
304 Posts
Joined Sep 2011
thesandman00Mar 02, 2022 04:31 PM
304 Posts
The obvious benefit here is that you're not needing to do much in the way of precise pre measuring. Also, the bit that you use ensures you won't accidentally cut any electrical wiring behind the drywall. Not a necessary tool by any means, but it's really nice to have in the situations where you can use it.
Mar 02, 2022 04:33 PM
224 Posts
Joined Oct 2019
TremodelsMar 02, 2022 04:33 PM
224 Posts
Quote from curt2199 :
If you are seeing an obvious bulge in drywall from slapping it up against outlet boxes then you've broken the drywall.

An oscillating tool and box saw are the way to go.

https://www.harborfreight.com/ele...56666.html [harborfreight.com]
I think you must be visualizing the "bulge" I mentioned as something more exaggerated than it is in reality. This is the industry standard way of installing drywall for like, easily over 30 years now.

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Mar 02, 2022 04:45 PM
502 Posts
Joined Mar 2010
lane_meyerMar 02, 2022 04:45 PM
502 Posts
Quote from yankees4life :
They have drywall cutting bits for a regular drill. Anyone care to differentiate between using bits and using this tool?
This is designed to be on a perpendicular surface similar to a wood route. It has a base that has an adjustable depth and it spins much, much faster (10,000 rpm) .

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