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

Great tool and super easy to use and lightweight.

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.

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.

Love this gun. A little heavy but very reliable.

Powerful, battery lasts, jams are rare.

UPDATE: Three and and a half years later and this gun is still running perfectly, and is used weekly. I have only had to replace the non marring tips because I lost them over time.Ok! it's heavier. There, I got that out of the way.As a professional trim carpenter, and someone who has only used Paslode cordless guns over the last 16 years, the weight increase and cumbersome profile of the Dewalt DCN680D1 is the first thing I had to get used to. I use a 3ah battery with it and this seems to last fine throughout the day so far. The balance of the gun, or lack there of is the hardest thing for me to get used to. By comparison, the Paslode feels compact compared to this gun and is much more comfortable to work with when using the gun upside down or at odd angles compared to the Dewalt. I saw someone on YT suggest using a bigger battery to balance the gun out. I'll take the lopsidedness over added weight.The Dewalt gun fires incredibly smooth and to me feels like you can actually position the tip more accurately on narrow work surfaces where accuracy counts, like when nailing mitered corners on 7/16 casing from the sides and you can't afford a misfire that blows out the face. The tip on this gun is smaller and more precise unlike the chunkier tip on the Paslode. I prefer this smaller tip. Driving multiple racks of 2" nails into pine casing was never an issue as you would hope it not be considering the lack of resistance. I have yet to put it through its paces on hardwood, although that is on the immediate horizon at my current job. Thousands of feet of poplar and red oak baseboard to come. That should be a pretty good test.I have noticed when a nail finds resistance against metal or concrete that the gun seems to go into a shutdown mode and will not fire, as per the manual the dual blinking lights indicate either a jamb, or in some cases it seems to be telling you, "I don't like what you just fired that last nail into" In these situations, the magazine must be cleared and re engaged and the there is a reset lever that needs to be activated to resume firing. Cool feature, has worked well so far. I also like that this gun will not allow the gun to fire when your nails get low. Maybe Paslode has updated their newer guns to do the same, but my current ones do not, and in a noisy environment I sometimes can't pick up on the sound difference of when the gun is dry firing.One of the obvious benefits of the Dewalt over the Paslode is not having to buy fuel cells. They're not cheap and unlike some people, I actually didn't mind the smell. One of the biggest complaints about the Paslode guns that I've heard from other carpenters is that they are too finicky. Yes, they are. If you don't clean them often. I guess I'll find out over time how easy the Dewalt gun is to service. I can practically break down my Paslode guns with my eyes closed and buying replacement parts has never been an issue.This gun has a bump fire mode. I've been doing trim carpentry for the last 24 years and never once in that time have I ever though that a trim gun needed bump fire capability. This is an 18g brad gun. Finish work is mostly about accuracy and limiting the number of nail holes to fill. That's all I have to say about that.If you are one of those die hard pneumatic nail gun purists who finally gave up your kinked up dirty hoses and noisy compressor (although I do keep one of those small whisper series 1HP for my pin gun) and this is your first cordless gun, you'll probably love it, with the exception of the weight thing, and you should. This is a nice gun that runs very efficiently. There is little to no wait time between fires (unlike the old cordless Senco guns from years ago) and the composite materials used on the exterior seem to be capable of withstanding daily use and abuse on a job site. Something that you would automatically expect from any Dewalt tool.The only reason I didn't give this five stars was because of the weight. I regularly hook my cordless guns to my tool belt, and this additional weight is not something I care for. I'll still keep my Paslode guns running, but I'm glad I added this Dewalt to the collection. It will still get used a lot.

Quality tool that can handle most jobs. There is a learning curve with this tool. Once you get comfortable with its handling, jams are a thing of the past.

As advertised. One amazing tool. Wish I'd bought this years ago! Thank you