Cordless caulking guns are a blessing for anyone who has difficulty with manual units due to the force needed (and the achy hands afterward). The DeWalt DCE560D1 20V MAX Cordless Caulking Gun is a great cordless unit to consider when it comes to both jobsite projects and DIY repairs at home.
However, what are the features, specs, pros, and cons of this caulking gun? I’ve written a review below with such information to help you decide whether this caulking gun is for you or not.
DeWalt DCE560D1 20V MAX Cordless Caulking Gun
As a caulking gun made for a variety of adhesive and sealant jobs, the DeWalt DCE560 is quite a flexible tool that allows quick canister changes with a decent gun speed.
Specifications
This caulking gun has a capacity of 10 ounces (300 ml), so it accepts standard caulking cartridges. This tool has a max speed of 21 inches per minute (IPM), as well as a variable speed feature. The tool weighs 4.1 pounds and runs on a 20V MAX lithium-ion battery.
Quality
This tool is made in the USA with global materials and is backed by a 3-year limited warranty from DeWalt. Nonetheless, it has durability features such as the variable speed trigger, which reduces the workload put on the tool (and also prevents overflow of the adhesive). This caulking gun also comes with a battery and charger so it’s ready to be used out of the box.
Usability
Due to its variable speed feature, it allows you to navigate through the different speeds for various projects. This will prevent messes since you can control your adhesive flow. It also has an anti-drip feature in which during trigger release, the plunging rod is automatically retracted. This creates fewer instances of overflow as well, thereby saving your adhesive or sealant.
This model features an LED light that is useful for those who work in basements, garages, and other dim areas, ensuring accuracy and safety. Moreover, the tool has a hanging hook to store it properly after use.
However, the best usability feature that I found on this caulking gun is the quick-connect canister tray system. This allows you to make easy changes between canister sizes, boosting your productivity and saving time when working between projects.
Should You Buy the DeWalt DCE560 Caulking Gun?
The DeWalt DCE560 is a great caulking gun for you if working between different projects or materials is a common scenario. This cordless caulking gun is designed for both DIY/weekend jobs and jobsite needs due to its great usability features.
It is sufficient for most thick adhesives that take a lot of effort to apply using a manual caulking gun, especially if your hands aren’t so physically strong. The weight is also just right, even for a cordless tool (since batteries tend to make them heavier) so it will be okay for casual users.
If you are still unsure about your decision, go through the below list of the pros and cons of the tool.
Pros of the DeWalt DCE560
Let’s start with the pros.
It can be used with a sausage barrel.
For projects that require a sausage barrel setup, this caulking gun is compatible. That’s because of its quick-change canister system (mentioned below) which allows flexibility between projects.
Switching between different canister sizes is easy.
When you find yourself very busy with a wide range of projects and you’ll need to swap canister sizes on the go, this caulking gun is for you. Due to the quick-change canister tray system, it will be a breeze to work with various sizes that you need.
It has an LED light.
There will be times when you must work in a low-light situation, such as in the basement, up in the attic, or on a dim jobsite. That’s where the LED light will come in handy – a great safety and accuracy feature to have in a caulking gun.
The weight is just right.
At 4.1 pounds, this caulking gun isn’t too heavy to carry around, making your job easier and saving your hands from fatigue at the end of the day. Cordless caulking guns are meant to reduce wrist aches by consuming battery power instead of relying on your manual force, so it makes sense to have a comfortable weight for the tool as well.
Cons of the DeWalt DCE560
Even though the DeWalt DCE560 is a great tool, there are a few cons worth noting as well.
It doesn’t come with a hard case.
Although this isn’t a major con, I would’ve liked it better if the caulking gun included a hard case for the tool, battery, and charger for easier transport and better tool protection.
The tool isn’t ideal for smaller bead sizes.
If you intend to work with projects that require a 3/16 bead size, this isn’t the tool for you. That’s because even though it has a variable speed trigger, the slower speeds aren’t very accurate as compared with the higher settings.
What Are the Alternatives to the DeWalt DCE560?
If the DeWalt DCE560 simply isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry – I have other similar caulking guns to suggest for you:
The Milwaukee 2641-20 M18 Caulk Gun is a similar 10-ounce tool that is compatible with sausage barrels. It also has a similar speed of up to 21 IPM and includes an anti-drip feature as well. To maintain a uniform bead quality when working on any sealing project, it uses CFT (Constant Flow Technology), even in higher viscosity caulk or sealant. The only difference is that it is a little on the heavy side, since it weighs 4.9 pounds.
A similar lightweight tool is the Ryobi P310G 18V Pistol Grip Power Caulk Adhesive Gun, which weighs only 3.70 pounds. It even has a comfortable GRIP ZONE mold for an ergonomic grip when working for long hours of caulking. It has a switch lock to prevent accidental start-ups and it has an on-board puncture tool for use during emergencies.
Yet another sausage barrel-compatible tool is the DeWalt DCE580B 20V MAX Cordless Caulking Gun. This is also a suitable choice for DIY repairs due to the quick-connect trays. It has an LED light for dim areas and has a speed of up to 21 IPM. However, it is a little heavier at 4.9 pounds, but it does accept even 600 ml cartridge sizes.
Finally, you might also want to check my list of the best cordless caulking guns.
Summary
Overall, the DeWalt DCE560 is a caulking gun that will be suitable for most DIY jobs at home and some tasks on the jobsite. With its lightweight and comfortable feel, as well as its quick-change canister system, it will be a convenient tool to have around whether you have light repairs or if you’re working on a remodeling project.
