Tech & Gadgets · Head-to-head
DEWALT DW317K 5.5 Amp Corded Variable Speed Orbital Jig Saw vs DEWALT DCS334B 20V MAX XR Brushless Cordless Top-Handle Jigsaw
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Jigsaws: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The corded DEWALT is the only saw here that takes both blade shank types, so no blade on the shelf is closed to it, and it has the full 1 inch stroke. The cordless model matches the geometry and drops the cord, at the cost of T-shank only.
DEWALT DW317K 5.5 Amp Corded Variable Speed Orbital Jig Saw
Buy itThe only saw here that accepts both T-shank and U-shank blades, with a full inch of stroke behind it.
- Accepts both T-shank and U-shank blades, so every blade in the shop fits and nothing on the wall is closed to you.
- A full 1 inch stroke length, matching the cordless models and a third more than the Craftsman.
- Four-position orbital action, so the aggressiveness can be matched to the material rather than fixed.
- 0 to 3,100 SPM from a 5.5 amp corded motor, which holds its speed through thick stock in a way batteries do not.
- Corded, which on a jigsaw means the lead is dragging across the workpiece on every curve.
- 5.5 amps is modest against larger corded saws, though ample for the 1 inch stroke it drives.
- Sold as a kit with a case, which is fine value but leaves no bare-tool option for those already equipped.
DEWALT DCS334B 20V MAX XR Brushless Cordless Top-Handle Jigsaw
Buy itThe same stroke and orbital geometry as its corded sibling, without the cord and without U-shank compatibility.
- A full 1 inch stroke and four-position orbital action, matching the corded DW317K exactly on the geometry that matters.
- 0 to 3,200 SPM, marginally the fastest here, from a brushless motor.
- Cordless, which removes the cord snagging on the workpiece during curved cuts, the main annoyance of corded jigsaws.
- Brushless, so there are no brushes to wear and more run time per charge.
- T-shank blades only, where the corded DEWALT accepts both types, so a drawer of older U-shank blades is stranded.
- Bare tool, so batteries and a charger are a separate and significant cost.
- Battery weight sits at the back of a top-handle saw, which changes the balance on long freehand curves.
Side by side
| DEWALT DW317K 5.5 Amp Corded Variable Speed Orbital Jig Saw | DEWALT DCS334B 20V MAX XR Brushless Cordless Top-Handle Jigsaw | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who wants the widest possible blade choice and does not want cordless run time deciding when a cut stops. | Cutting curves and cut-outs away from a bench, where the cord is the thing that spoils the line. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the DEWALT DW317K 5.5 Amp Corded Variable Speed Orbital Jig Saw - The only saw here that accepts both T-shank and U-shank blades, with a full inch of stroke behind it. Choose the DEWALT DCS334B 20V MAX XR Brushless Cordless Top-Handle Jigsaw instead if cutting curves and cut-outs away from a bench, where the cord is the thing that spoils the line.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Jigsaws: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).