DEWALT DCMW220W2 2X20V MAX Brushless 20″ Cordless Lawn Mower Review
DeWalt has a long-standing reputation for making quality battery-powered tools. So, it only stands to reason that they would bring all of their engineering prowess and material build quality to bear when making a cordless electric lawn mower like the DeWalt DCMW220W2. You see this in the heavy-duty construction that is meant to tackle what most suburban lawns can throw at it. It continues through with superior battery life and a powerful brushless electric motor.
The DeWalt DCMW220W2 also offers superior cut quality. Right off the bat, you will appreciate the 20-inch cutting path, which makes it easy to chew through a lot of turf in a single pass. You can also adjust the cutting deck height between 1-3/4 in. to 3-1/2 inches to best match the prevailing conditions of your lawn. You can also set it up for side-discharge, bagging, or as a mulching mower for your preferred thatch management strategy.
The DeWalt DCMW220W2’s brushless electric motor runs off of two 20-volt rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. This gives you an electric motor that not only runs incredibly quietly but also generates very little heat. This prolongs the overall life of the electric motor to maximize your return on investment.
Key Features
- Brushless electric motor
- Dual 20 Volt rechargeable batteries
- Heavy-duty construction
- Folding handle & locking wheels for easy storage
- 3-in-1 cutting versatility
- Comes with charger & batteries
PErformance
The DeWalt DCMW220W2 performs well when used to cut a lawn of around a third to half an acre. Any larger than that and you will need to break it up into multiple cutting sessions. The brushless electric motor does a great job of driving the cutting blade of the 20-inch mower deck.
Though if there is a minor complaint with the DeWalt DCMW220W2, it’s that all the heavy-duty construction makes it a little heavy Yet there isn’t any sort of self-propulsion system. While this isn’t much of an issue with a flat, and level lawn, it can be a little bit more of an issue if you need to push the DeWalt DCMW220W2 up a hill, or you have a lot of complex landscaping features that you need to cut around.
Ease Of Use
Aside from the potential challenges posed by a hilly lawn, the DeWalt DCMW220W2 is very easy to use. You can quickly switch from discharge to bagging and mulching in a matter of moments. The cutting deck height is also very easy to adjust.
When you are done cutting the lawn, the batteries go on a charger and you fold the handles down. The wheels then lock and you can stand it up to save storage space in your garage or garden shed.
Special Features
The brushless electric motor in the DeWalt DCMW220W2 is an engineering feature worth appreciating. Not only is it exceptionally quiet, but the low heat production adds to the overall life of the electric motor.
The 3-in-1 versatility of the DeWalt DCMW220W2 lets you set it up to discharge, mulch or bag. This is great for reducing thatch buildup in your lawn or letting you control just how much green material goes into your compost bin and garden.
Cut Quality & Options
The 3-in-1 versatility of the DeWalt DCMW220W2 and the ability to adjust the cutting height of the mower deck lets you customize the cut quality how you want it. If the prevailing weather has been particularly dry, you can set the mower deck to the higher settings up to 3.5 inches. This will leave the blades of grass long to help shade the turf and preserve essential soil moisture.
If there is a complaint with the cutting deck height, it’s that it only goes down to 1.75-inches, which is a little on the high side for a push mower’s lowest setting. If you are in the habit of frequently cutting your grass to maintain it, then this isn’t much of an issue. Though it can be a factor, if a healthy combination of sun and rain has your lawn growing vigorously, or you can’t mow the lawn frequently to keep things tidy.
The mulching and bagging features are a great way to reduce the presence of spent grass clippings on your turf. The high-performance brushless electric motor does a good job of mincing the grass clippings in the mulching mode. This encourages the tiny bits to decompose back into the turf layers rather than drying out into choking thatch. If you have a compost pile or bin, you can save the grass clippings to boost the nitrogen levels.
If there is a tiny complaint with the DeWalt DCMW220W2’s cutting dynamics, it’s that when you set it up in discharge mode, the clippings spray out the back. This can be an issue if you are wearing white shoes.
Maintenance
There isn’t a lot of maintenance involved in the DeWalt DCMW220W2. The cutting blades will need periodic sharpening and replacing just like any battery-powered lawn mower. It would be nice if there was some sort of deck washing port, but that’s something you commonly see in an electric lawn mower in this price range.
The DeWalt DCMW220W2 comes with two 20 Volt lithium-ion batteries as well as the necessary charger. Just bear in mind that it is not a “Smart Charger” which means you will need to pay attention to the batteries and turn the charger off when they reach 100%
Safety Features
The DeWalt DCMW220W2 comes with all the standard safety hand controls you expect with a battery-powered electric push mower.
Cost-Effectiveness
The 3-in-1 versatility of the DeWalt DCMW220W2 helps make this a very cost-effective battery-powered electric lawn mower. If you are mindful of how you cut your grass, the reduction in thatch will help reduce the need for seasonal aeration and dethatching costs.
The brushless electric motor is another cost-effective component of the DeWalt DCMW220W2. Not only does it reduce the noise it makes when running, but it produces minimal heat as well as wear and tear. This helps extend the overall life of the electric motor to maximize your return on investment.
