This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I’ve spent a lot of time lately fabricating and installing trim. After snagging lots of unfinished 1X oak, I cut it to size, sanded it, stained it, sealed it and installed it. Getting a nice, smooth surface makes a huge difference in how the finished project will look, so I’m extra particular during the sanding portion of the festivities. Since cleanup is NOT part of the process that I particularly enjoy, I like to do my sanding outdoors whenever possible. Free-range sanding is much easier when you don’t have to mess with a power cord, so when the new 20V MAX DeWalt DCW200 sander showed up at the Home Fixated HQ, I was very interested in taking it for a spin.
Like most higher-end cordless tools these days, the DeWalt DCW200 sander uses a brushless motor. In addition to cutting down on maintenance, brushless motors run cooler and more efficiently, providing more power and longer run time between battery changes. The tool weighs just over two pounds without a battery, and variable speed settings let you match the sander’s speed to your material. Here’s the full list of specs and features from DeWalt:
Features:
• Brushless motor provides runtime and efficiency to get the job done
• Variable speed control from 8,000 – 14,000 OPM to match the speed to the application
• Low profile height allows user to get close to work surface for precise sanding
• Paper clamp designed to hold paper securely and allow for easy installation
• Dust-sealed switch to protect against dust ingestion for long switch life
• Texturized rubber overmold grip for comfortable sanding
• One-handed locking dust bag
• Dust port is designed to fit directly to the DWV010 or DWV012 dust collectors (sold separately)
• To attach dust port to other vacuum systems with 1-1/4 in. hoses, use DWV9000 universal quick connector (sold separately)
• Long dust chute (not included) Part Number N684701 for use with 6 Ah batteries and larger
• Up to 40 min. of continuous runtime
Specifications:
• Dust Collection: Locking Dust Bag
• Electronic Speed Control
• Orbits/Min 8,000 – 14,000
• Paper Size/Type 1/4 Sheet
• System 20V MAX
• Tool Height 5.3 in
• Tool Length 6.0 in
• Tool Weight 2.1 lbs.
The Nitty Gritty On The DeWalt DCW200 Sander
Controls on the DeWalt DCW200 sander are intuitive and easy to operate. A rocker switch, protected by a rubber boot to repel the evil dust you’ll be kicking up, turns the sander on and off. Speed is variable, with Orbits Per Minute ranging from 8,000 – 14,000. Fine-tuning those orbits is done with a dial with settings from 1 to 7. Both controls are conveniently located on the front of the sander.
The DeWalt DCW200 sander is a typical quarter-sheet sander. This means it’s cheap and easy to feed, using a standard 9×11” sheet of sandpaper. Just cut it in half from top to bottom and side to side, and you have four sheets of sandpaper ready to go. Pre-cut 4-1/2” x 5-1/2” sheets are also available, for those in a hurry, or with poor scissor skills.
Installing those quarter-sheets is very easy. First, pop the spring clamps loose from both sides of the sander, and rotate them away from the body. Press in the black button on the front of the sander, slide a piece of sandpaper in, and release the button.
Smooth the sandpaper down on the sanding pad, and pull it taut, then rotate the side clamps back down, and make sure they lock into place. The whole operation takes about 15 seconds, and you’re ready to make some sawdust!
Dust In The Wind
Speaking of sawdust, sanding is dusty business, and the DeWalt DCW200 sander offers a variety of ways to help keep that dust under control. Included with the sander are a punch-out plate, that fits over the bottom of the sander, creating holes to evacuate the sawdust. Also included is a removable dust chute, which can be connected directly to DeWalt’s DWV010 or DWV012 dust collectors, attached to a shop vac (using the optional DeWalt DWV9000 universal quick connector), or used with the included dust bag.
The dust bag slides over the end of the dust chute; rotating its collar about ½” locks it firmly in place. The dust bag actually does a pretty good job corralling sawdust, and it’s easy to empty: Just rotate the collar in the other direction, pull the bag off, and empty it. Note: The included dust chute will only work with batteries smaller than 6.0 Ah. For larger batteries, an optional long dust chute is available, DeWalt part # N684701.
Preparing To Do Battle With The DeWalt DCW200 Sander
As I mentioned, I’ve spent a lot of time recently in the company of oak. Much of the work has been trimming out doors and windows with 1x4s and 1x6s, including building jamb extensions, sills and aprons for each window. I’ve also done some full door trim replacements, including the jambs and all the casings. This has involved a fair amount of quality time with the finish sander.
I much prefer working outdoors, and I was fortunate to have a few days where the weather was at least semi-cooperative when I was in mega-sanding mode. It was a bit chilly, but at least it wasn’t raining. Or snowing. On a couple of days when it did precipitate (hey – this is the northeast, after all!), I set up in the garage instead.
I’m too cheap frugal to pay for pre-cut sanding sheets. I took a 9×11” sheet of 100-grit sandpaper, folded it in half and got a sharp crease on it, and tore it in half, then I did the same with each of the two halves. Voila – four perfect quarter sheets! I clamped one of them into the sander, slid in a little 2.0 Ah 20V MAX battery, and got to work.
Kickin’ Up Dust
Sanding with the DeWalt DCW200 is a treat. The tool is comfortable to hold and easy to control, thanks to its shape and the rubber overmold covering. It’s very quiet compared to some corded sanders I’ve used, and maneuvering to sand multiple surfaces on a piece of trim is much easier when you’re not trailing a power cord.
Using the 100-grit paper, I smoothed the faces and edges of all the trim, and also used the sander to soften some of the corners. After hitting everything with the 100-grit, I switched to 220-grit paper, and gave all the trim a super-smooth finish. Here’s a super-exciting video showing the sander being turned on, doing some sanding, and being shut off. Note the sounds of the gentle, balmy Lake Erie breeze in the background.
Switching back to the 100-grit paper, I tackled an item on the “honey-do” list. While painting around a door frame, someone had gotten a bit sloppy with the roller, and several spots on the edge of the jamb had a coating of yellow paint.
A quick once-over with the sander, and the jambs were ready for a fresh dose of stain and sealer, and ready for some fresh casing.
Some Final Smoothing Thoughts On The DeWalt DCW200 Sander
Even after a 90-minute sanding session, I had no problems with numbness or tingling in my hands, thanks to the tool’s minimal vibration. The sander runs very smoothly, and had plenty of power, even with the lightweight 2.0 Ah battery. I was able to get through a good-sized stack of trim, and still had some juice left at the end. During a couple of sanding sessions, I switched to a 5.0 Ah battery. The extra weight was manageable, because the sander is usually resting on the work piece, and the bigger battery got me through a LOT of sanding on a charge.
Speaking of the battery, the sander has a good safety feature built in. If a battery is inserted with the power switch in the ON position, the sander won’t start. Just flip the switch to the OFF position, then back ON, and you’re in business. While a sander isn’t quite as menacing as a router or a saw, it’s still preferable to have it start when YOU want it to start.
We received the DeWalt DCW200 as a bare tool, meaning no battery, charger or case is included. If you already have a battery and charger, this saves you a fair bit of cash. I like to keep my tools in a case, though, both for protection, and to keep the various parts and accessories corralled. As it happens, I have an older DeWalt D26441K corded sander, and the new cordless version fits perfectly into the molded case.
Since this would leave the OTHER sander stranded, I just invested a few bucks, and bought a soft-sided contractor’s bag for the new one. DeWalt-branded bags are available through DeWalt, or you can snag a sturdy (although maybe not yellow and black) bag in the tool section of the Home Depot.
DeWalt backs the DeWalt DCW200 sander with a three-year limited warranty and a year of free service, and you get 90 days to smooth things over risk-free. As this goes to press in June of 2020, the Home Depot has doubled its no-risk return policy to 180 days. Many Home Depot stores stock it, and offer free store pickup, and they’ll also ship it to you for free. So go kick up some dust!
Buy the DeWalt DCW200 sander from the Home Depot:
I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with Home Fixated in sponsored content. As a part of the sponsorship, Home Fixated is receiving compensation for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are our own words. This post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.
