DEWALT DCST920P1 brushless string trimmer review

Ideal for small and medium-sized gardens, DEWALT DCST920P1 Brushless String Trimmer is compact and powerful.

 

Powering the unit is a 5.0Ah Lithium-Ion battery. This large capacity ensures a long operation time, which is ideal for completing the task on a single charge.

 

A brushless motor sits at the heart of the unit and ensures both efficiency and durability. A high/low-speed control switch and Patented gear drive design allow you to tailor the unit’s performance to the task.

 

A variable speed trigger allows for easy operation while allowing complete control. The motor feeds a dual 2mm line with bump feed, which offers a 33 cm (13-inch) cutting swath. Changing the line is made simpler thanks to the QuickLoad™ system.

 

Whether you’re trimming your lawn or attempting to cut back overgrowth, the DEWALT DCST920P1 has plenty of power and torque. Also, as a well-balanced unit that weighs slightly under 4kg, this string trimmer is easy to manoeuvre and minimizes stress on your arms.

 

As one of the best garden strimmers on the market, DEWALT DCST920P1 Brushless String Trimmer comes with a 3-year warranty. 8/10

 

 

 

 

 

Design

Built to a very high standard, the DEWALT DCST920P1 String Trimmer is lightweight at 3.8 kg.

 

Starting at the top with the battery slot. The battery slides onto the slot and clicks in place. A button on the battery, releases it.

 

Moving down the pole, next is the control panel. Designed for maximum comfort, the handle is well padded and the controls are easy to reach. A variable speed trigger, lock-off lever and speed control switch make up the available controls.

 

An auxiliary handle is situated further down the pole and is padded for comfort. It enables more control over the direction of the trimmer. However, as it’s fixed in place, some might find it limiting.

 

The pole is made up of two pieces, and a bracket holds them together. On the lower trimmer pole sits the motor which spins the spool, providing the cutting motion.

 

The line sits within the spool case and requires no tools to change a line. The cutting width is easily adjusted up to 33 cm, meaning you can cover a large area with ease.

 

The head features a guard, which ensures the cut materials is pushed away from the user.

 

 

 

 

Features

As part of the 20V MAX*, the impressive 5.0 Ah Lithium-Ion battery can be used with over 200 tools in the range. This means once you’ve purchased the DEWALT DCST920P1, you only need to buy body tools.

 

The high capacity battery charges in 90 minutes and provides around 30 minutes of run time when full. 3 LEDs on the battery indicate the level of remaining charge. Charging batteries is simple as they slide on to a mains-power charger.

 

Ensuring a long life and top performance, a high-efficiency brushless motor powers the unit. Combined with a patented gear drive, the DCST920P1 is ideal at cutting through tough overgrowth.

 

A high/low speed switch enables the user to fine-tune the performance will extending the runtime. While the variable trigger control is highly reactive and allows full control over the operation.

 

A QuickLoad™ spool enables fast and easy re-spooling, while the bump feed system makes light work of extending the line.

 

The DEWALT DCST920P1 comes with a 3-year limited warranty, giving you peace of mind.

 

 

Set-up

Arriving flat packed, you’ll need to screw the DEWALT DCST920P1 together. The pole is made up of two parts which are joined using a bracket, which requires fastening. Similarly, the auxiliary handle needs to be fixed in place.

 

Before you start to assemble the unit, place the battery on charge. This will reduce the amount of time you’ll be waiting around once you’ve built the unit.

 

With the unit built and battery charged, it’s time to start trimming. Hold the unit away from the body, so that the guard protects the user. For an even result, you’ll want to keep the DCST920P1 fairly flat as you move.

 

As it’s not an edger, the maximum angle it responds to is 30 degree. Placing it at a 90-degree angle to the ground will result in debris flying which could injure the user.

 

To start with, it’s best to trim a part of your garden which doesn’t matter, therefore if you cut too much lawn, it won’t create an eyesore. We’d recommend selecting the low power setting as this should provide enough power and only lightly pushing the variable speed trigger.

 

As you experiment with the DEWALT DCST920P1 in your garden, you’ll be able to find what settings work best.

 

 

 

 

Performance

Trimming most materials with DEWALT DCST920P1 String Trimmer is easy as the unit performs well with plenty of power and battery life.

 

If you’re planning to use it to tidy up our lawn after mowing, then you’ll likely enjoy using it. It’s well-balanced and light yet still provides plenty of power. You should be able to tidy your small or medium-sized lawn on a single charge using the low gear.

 

Attempting to trim larger garden debris, you’ll enjoy being able to use large power reverse provided by the high gear mode. However, the battery quickly runs out of charge. So it’s worth buying a second battery if you have a large garden or tough weeds to clear.

 

You’ll probably need to keep adjusting the line and may even need to replace it. Thankfully, the bump feed on the Dewalt DCST920P1 makes lengthening the line simple. Replacing the spool is just as simple.

 

To ensure the best performance every time, it’s worth cleaning around the motor, spool and guard. Also, ensure the line is in good repair and the battery is placed on charge.

 

 

Is the DEWALT DCST920P1 worth buying?

As far as strimmers go, the DEWALT DCST920P1 Brushless String Trimmer is ideal for most gardens.

 

It is fairly expensive but the high capacity battery can be used with more than 200 tools in Dewalt’s 20V* MAX range. This means you can affordably add tools to your collection as you only need to purchase body tools.

 

The charge to use time is fairly good with a single charge taking around 90 minutes. On high gear mode, the unit will run for around 30 minutes. Switching to the low gear gives around an hour of run time.

 

This means you should have plenty of battery life for tidying up your lawn after mowing or tackling weeds. The large 33cm cutting swath is ample for dealing with most garden debris and the 2mm line makes light work of cutting it back.

 

While we like the ergonomically designed handles as they aim to reduce strain on the hands and body, the second auxiliary handle is fixed in place. For some, this won’t be an issue, whereas others will want more flexibility to move it into a more suitable position.

 

Another well-designed feature is the trigger. It’s highly reactive and sense when you’re easing off and so cuts out, preserving the battery. The controls are well spaced making it easy to control.

 

Overall, the DEWALT DCST920P1 Brushless String Trimmer is a well-designed unit with plenty of power and features and is backed by a 3-year warranty. 8/10