TL;DR
Get business pricing on tools and workshop supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
Pro Tool Reviews’ assessment of DeWalt’s DCS359 found that its wider oscillating arc, expanded speed range and vibration-isolation design improved cutting and comfort compared with the DCS356. The reviewer also noted that the tool is heavier and longer, and costs more than some DeWalt alternatives; DeWalt’s quantified vibration and speed claims are not independently verified in the report.
Pro Tool Reviews has reviewed DeWalt’s DCS359, a 20V Max XR oscillating multi-tool that adds a wider cutting arc, four speed settings and an anti-vibration system. The reviewer reports faster, clean cuts and more comfortable operation than with the earlier DCS356, while noting the DCS359 is heavier, longer and more expensive than that predecessor.
The DCS359 uses a brushless motor and a 4.2-degree oscillating angle. That is wider than the DCS356’s 3.2-degree angle. Pro Tool Reviews says the increase gives the blade a longer stroke and helped the tool cut quickly in its tests, which included wood, mild steel and #5 rebar. The publication’s reviewer described the cuts as fast and clean, but cutting results can also depend on the blade, material and technique.
The tool has four speed settings spanning 8,000 to 20,000 oscillations per minute (OPM), compared with the DCS356’s three settings at 13,000, 17,000 and 20,000 OPM. A variable-speed trigger gives users additional control over speed while starting a cut or working with different materials. The reviewer says the lower-speed option and wider arc were useful in testing.
DeWalt’s anti-vibration system is designed to isolate the tool head from its body. The review reports a noticeable improvement over the DCS356 and says the tool was easier on the reviewer’s hands during cutting. DeWalt claims up to 43% less vibration than similar models, but the reviewer says the figure could not be measured in the shop. The article also recounts DeWalt’s claim that the DCS359 has the fastest cutting speed and lowest vibration in its 20V lineup; those manufacturer claims are not independently established by the review.
A More Capable Tool, With Trade-Offs
For people doing remodeling, installation or repair work, an oscillating tool’s usefulness depends on more than maximum speed. The DCS359’s broader speed range offers a lower setting for controlled work, while its wider arc is intended to increase cutting action. The reviewer’s tests suggest those changes can translate into useful performance across materials, rather than only a specification-sheet improvement.
Vibration also affects comfort and control during repeated or detailed cuts. The review’s positive hands-on assessment of the isolation system may matter to users who spend extended periods operating an oscillating tool. However, the source does not provide instrumented vibration measurements or a controlled comparison across all competing models, so the claimed percentage reduction should not be treated as a verified test result.
There are practical costs. At 2.8 pounds bare, the DCS359 is heavier than the listed DCS356 at 2.46 pounds and the Atomic DCS354 at 2.33 pounds. It is also 11.75 inches long, versus 11.25 inches for the DCS356. Pro Tool Reviews lists the DCS359 at $249 bare tool and $299 as a kit, making its improved features a decision about budget, handling and workload rather than an automatic upgrade for every owner.
Popular right now
Vitamix VX1 Professional-Grade Blender, 64 oz, Black
Breville Bambino Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
Hisense E6SR Series 55-Inch 4K UHD Hi-QLED Roku Smart TV
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How It Compares With Earlier DeWalt Tools
The DCS359 sits above two other DeWalt 20V oscillating tools listed in the review: the Atomic DCS354 and the DCS356. The DCS354 has one speed mode and an 18,000 OPM maximum; the DCS356 has three modes and reaches 20,000 OPM. Both use a 3.2-degree arc, while the DCS359 combines a 4.2-degree arc with four speed modes and the same 20,000 OPM top speed.
Along with its performance changes, the DCS359 retains a spring-loaded quick-change lever and adds a tool-free center retaining pin for swapping blades and accessories. The review says users still need compatible blades cut out at the rear. Its comparison table lists the DCS359 at 11.75 inches and 2.8 pounds bare, compared with 11.25 inches and 2.46 pounds for the DCS356. Prices in that table are $249 bare or $299 for a kit, versus $199 bare or $269.99 for the DCS356.
In its comparative impressions, the reviewer says the DCS359’s vibration was better than the DCS365’s, but did not surpass the Makita XMT04 or Bosch GOP18V-34 in that regard. The review positions its conclusions as hands-on impressions and observations, not as a published, instrumented vibration study or a complete head-to-head test against every competitor.
“The DCS359 offers the fastest cutting speed and lowest vibration in its 20V lineup.”
— DeWalt, as quoted in Pro Tool Reviews
Limits of the Review’s Measurements
The source does not give a publication date, a formal test protocol, measured cutting times or instrument readings for vibration. The reviewer explicitly says the 43% vibration reduction could not be measured in the shop, and says DeWalt’s claims about cutting speed and vibration will need further hands-on verification. The report’s performance findings should therefore be read as the reviewer’s experience with the tested materials, not as independently measured results for all conditions.
The review also does not establish how the tool performs over long-term use, how battery life varies by task, or whether the DCS359 is a better value for every user than the DCS356 or competing tools. Those outcomes may depend on accessories, battery choice, workload and user priorities.
What Buyers Should Compare
The review points readers toward the tool’s published specifications and its hands-on impressions, rather than announcing a later test or product milestone. Prospective buyers can compare the 4.2-degree arc, four speed modes, tool-free accessory changes, bare-tool weight and listed price with the features of their current tool and the jobs they expect to handle.
Further controlled testing would be needed to verify DeWalt’s vibration and cutting-speed claims across materials and competing models. The supplied report does not identify a date for such testing. For now, its central finding is that the DCS359 felt like a meaningful performance and comfort improvement over the DCS356 in the reviewer’s shop tests, with size, weight and cost remaining trade-offs.
Key Questions
What changed in the DeWalt DCS359 compared with the DCS356?
The DCS359 has a 4.2-degree oscillating arc rather than 3.2 degrees, four speed settings rather than three, an anti-vibration system and a tool-free center retaining pin. It also weighs more, measures longer and is listed at a higher price.
What speed range does the DCS359 offer?
Its four settings cover 8,000 to 20,000 OPM. A variable-speed trigger allows additional control when starting cuts or working with different materials.
Did the review verify DeWalt’s 43% vibration claim?
No. DeWalt claims up to 43% less vibration than similar models, but the reviewer says the percentage could not be measured in the shop. The reviewer did report a noticeable improvement over the DCS356.
How much does the DCS359 cost?
Pro Tool Reviews lists the DCS359 at $249 as a bare tool and $299 as a kit. The source does not specify a retailer, current availability or whether prices have changed since publication.
Source: protoolreviews.com
