DEWALT 20V MAX* Cordless Brad Nailer Kit, 18GA (DCN680D1)

For most people, it's a tough decision whether to buy a brad nailer or a second-fix nailer. To some extent they are interchangeable, but there are some important differences - The Brad and Second Fix are identical, apart from the magazine and tip. The brad magazine takes smaller nails (both in width and length). The magazine is straight, rather than angled. The tip is fine, which allows more accurate positioning of the nail. The second-fix is more popular than the brad because most people who buy it are fitting architrave, skirting board, cladding – slightly heavier jobs, so larger nails are more suitable. The second-fix nailer can not use nails less than 32mm in length, and this may be a deciding factor for you. It was for me. When the tool tip is pushed against wood, some motor or other starts up. Who knows what happens inside the gun, but it fires immediately you pull the trigger and then takes about a quarter of a second to recharge. That’s really fast, allowing it to fire up to four per second in bump mode. It can fire in single mode, which is my normal setting. The gun is obviously noisy, but it is significantly quieter than a standard pneumatic system, and it’s surprisingly powerful. It has no trouble driving a nail in to any wood. Depth is of course adjustable and has a pretty wide range of adjustment. The gun has a safety button to disable accidental operation. I have to say that I never use that, because there is the added safety that the gun will not fire unless the point of the gun is depressed fully. The brad nailer is a lot larger and heavier than a pneumatic gun, but far less hassle. It is expensive, though. You could buy a complete pneumatic setup for less than the cost of the bare gun. Oddly, the brad nailer is more expensive than the second-fix nailer. I suspect this is because the second-fix nailer is more popular. There are LEDs that light up the workpiece when the tip is pushed against the wood. These are nice and bright. They also flash if there is a jam. Removing a jam is a two-second job. Once removed, there is a button on the side of the gun to reset the flashing LEDs and resume work. The one thing you must be sure of with this tool is to register it for the guarantee. The forces involved in driving nails are pretty high, and the hammer itself and the return spring do damage from time to time. They are expensive! You want them replaced for free! The downside is that the guarantee is only one year. The brad nailer will fit in any TSTAK case (unlike the second-fix nailer which won’t fit in any). The official case is a large case with a foam liner that will cost you an arm and a leg. In fairness, if you want the gun 100% protected, this is the way to go. I used a standard case which fits just fine but will not take the special foam insert. You have to make one yourself. That’s great for the Blue Peter generation, but no so great for everyone else. The bag certainly is a good plan for normal humans. For the professional, it’s a no-brainer. I can’t think of any reason why you would not buy one of these. For a DIY’er or someone who works in a workshop all the time, it’s a little different. You may prefer the lower cost and greater flexibility of a pneumatic system. The only real downside to pneumatic is that it’s noisy. If you have pets, then you may want to avoid that! Very highly recommended.

Just what you would expect off DeWalt

outil fiable et répond aux attentes

Trabaja muy bien y sin problema alguno, un poco pesada pero nada incomoda, excelentes herramientas las DEWALT

I'm a homeowner and DIY-er. I was on the fence between this unit and a pneumatic nailer with a small compressor. My cellar is already pretty full, so I ultimately decided that the last thing I needed down there was another bulky item (the compressor) and hoses to coil, etc. I also anticipated using whatever nailer I got around the house, so the choice between lugging a 20-30 lb compressor up and down the stairs or this 5lb tool also factored into my decision. Noise was a consideration as well. Boy, did I make the right choice! I fell in love with this tool after the very first 'nail' I shot. Super-quiet compared to a pneumatic nailer and surprisingly easy to get into small corners and spaces. And no tank to lug around or hoses to coil! I couldn't be happier with this tool. Even though 18-gauge is relatively small, for the projects I need to do (trim, building plywood boxes and shelves, etc.) it's more than up to the job. The per-tool cost will be more expensive if I end up investing in other gauges down the line, but the portability of this thing more than makes up for that in my view. Once my cellar is more cleared out, I may still get a compressor - mainly to be able to blow off work pieces and inflate the tires on my car - but in my view this tool was worth every penny I spent. Build quality seems really good and I've found it really simple to use. My only two nit-picks are that the depth-gauge indicator is extremely hard to read (black on black) and the extra nose cushons that Dewalt supplies are easy to dislodge from their on-board storage spots. Be careful or you'll lose 'em quick! I should also note that I bought a 5 amp hour battery at the suggestion of another reviewer who mentioned that it balanced the tool better in-hand than the smaller 2 amp hour batter that's included. I also found that to be true. FWIW, I bought a lower-cost after-market battery that was 30% the price of the Dewalt-branded battery as I was mainly using it for balance. Seems to work great, though. As someone new to power nailers, I couldn't be happier with this gauge and this tool. Really, really impressed.

No need for electric, a compressor, or air hoses. Much quieter than any Paslode, no need to purchase expensive gas cartridges, and no misfires. I've used Paslode for years and the main issue I had was the gun was very temperamental, it would shoot a brad maybe 3 out of every 5 times. This is a known problem that every tradesman experiences and it's well documented. This Dewalt brad nailer is exceptional. The only thing you need is a charged battery and "any brand" brad nails. I've used Dewalt, Porter Cable, and even HF brads without any issues. Even with the 2.0ah battery you can easily put up 400-500 linear feet of molding and still have half battery left. Rapid fire isn't an issue and the gun handles it well. Only downside is that it's bigger and a little heavier than an air nailer. Overall it's an exceptional tool and makes jobs a lot easier. I would definitely suggest it to any carpenter or handyman.

Great value, the usual quality. Works as advertised