DEWALT DCN680D1 Cordless Brad Nailer Review

Good day, Framer! You’ll be pleased to learn that, following the effective integration of the Dewalt 16 gauge finish nailer, another superman, the Dewalt DCN680D1 cordless brad nailer, has been released. So, there you have it!

Although Dewalt introduced it a couple of years ago, it took them a long time to perfect it while they were developing it. Now we can say that what is on our hand is the best brad nailer on the market.

You can push nails without a hose, compressor, or even fuel cells if you have a Dewalt DCN680 in your bag. It will, however, provide the same pace, power, and efficiency as pneumatic brad nailers. Yes, surely! The DCN680D1 is completely battery-operated.

Its strength is backed up by a brushless frictionless motor and a slew of other exciting features. Let’s take a look at the Dewalt 20v brad nailer review below to learn more about them.

Dewalt 20V Max Cordless Brad Nailer Kit 18ga (dcn680d1)

A Brief Overview

The brushless motor of this Dewalt cordless brad nailer is the best feature, as it allows you to easily fasten 5/8″ to 2-1/8″ 18 gauge brad nails in a variety of materials. As a result, you can use it to drive nails for trimming, molding, kitchen crown, door and window casing, paneling, cabinetry, and a host of other home hobbies and projects.

The DCN680 comes with a 20V MAX Lithium-Ion battery for a fast drive. This gives you a nominal voltage of 18v and a maximum initial voltage of 20v. That means you can use it to drive nails without experiencing any recoiling effect.

You’ll be happy to learn that it has a micro nose, which helps you to see the workpiece clearly for precise actuation. You won’t need a tool to adjust the depth, move from contact to sequential firing mode, or release a jam, as it supports all tool-free systems.

Key Features Of Dewalt DCN680D1

• 100% battery powered brushless motor
• Micro nose for accurate nailing
• The tool-free jam release mechanism
• Tool-free selectable trigger for easy changeover
• Tool-free depth adjustment for quick depth settings
• Adjustable belt hook for convenient hanging
• Multi-functional LED – illuminate dark space, signal of battery power, and more

Spec In Short

Power Source: 20V Li-Ion Battery
Fastener Length: 5/8 to 2-1/8 inch
Fastener Type/Gauge: 18 gauge brad nails
Firing /Actuation Mode: Tool-free selectable trigger
Magazine Capacity: 100
Depth Adjustment: Tool-free
Jam Clearance: Tool-free
Battery: 20v max* Lithium-ion
Nails Per Battery Charge: 1200
Housing Material: Plastic
Tool Dimension: 11.8 X 10.3 X 3.7 inch
Tool Weight: 5.3 lbs.

Details Performance And Technical Issues Of Dewalt DCN680D1

No Gas And No Hose

The common consensus is that cordless nail guns are less powerful than pneumatic nail guns. However, cordless nailers powered by fuel cells, such as Paslode, show that this assertion is incorrect to a large extent. However, it would only help if you replaced the gas canister on a regular basis, which is expensive.

As a result, Dewalt power tools are the solution to this issue, as they provide 100 percent of the battery-operated brad nailer with the same output as pneumatic tools.

Besides loving cordless independence, right after you start using the DEWALT DCN680D1 cordless brad nailer, you will also face fewer frequent complaints from neighbors about sound pollution. As it is a quiet tool also.

No More Guesswork

Presumption days are over. The micro nose of DCN680 Dewalt provides you a clear vision during nailing and helps to sink each shank correctly like a laser beam accuracy.

Driving Power

The DeWalt 20v brad nailer comes with an innovative flywheel connected with a brushless engine that design to produce super-fast rotations and store energy from its spin. When you pull the trigger, the driver blade comes in contact with the spinner, pushing the blade by force to effectively drive brads.

Further, a brushless motor means there is no voltage drop and frictional loss, enabling you to drive more nails per charge. Therefore, you could drive up to 1200 nails per charge with your Dewalt DCN680D1 brad nailer.

Easy-To-Use Tool Free Settings

Dewalt Brad Nailer comes with many tool-free designs to make the job easier and reduce the downtime of a framer crew or cabinet carpenter. Let’s check out those as below-

Tool-Free Depth Of Drive

While working, it is apparent that you have to drive nails into different thicknesses and types of materials. Based on which you need to change or adjust the depth of drive or countersink. In the Dewalt DCN680, you could do this job effortlessly as it allows you to do it just by turning a wheel-type knob and visualize it in a slider indicator.

Easy tool-free Jam Clearing Latch

Another noticeable on-the-go troubleshooting is the jam release. In the case of other nailers, you have to spend a significant amount of time to clear a jammed nail. Whereas, in the Dewalt Cordless Brad Nailer, you just have to open the latch with a push and clean the bent pins from the driveway.

Convenient Stall Release Lever 

Sometimes, the driver blade is stuck in the down position after clearing the jam. If it happens while driving nails with Dewalt 18 gauge brad nailer cordless — no need to worry, the tool-free stall release lever helps you to sort out this. What you have to do, push the integrated stall release lever once only and the nailer is all set for the next shoot.

Tool-Free Selectable Trigger

You no more need to change the whole trigger, instead, you only need to push a button, and it shifted from one mode to another. How pleasant it is, Ha! Yes! If you move the knob toward a single nail mark, you will get sequential actuation/fastening mode, and if you shift it to the three nail mark, you will get a bump or contact actuation mode for speed nailing.

• 

• 

• 

• 

No-Mar Tip

Dewalt DCN680D1 realizes the importance of your work materials. As a result, they come with a No-Mar tip attached and two extras for potential use. So, if you use DCN680, you won’t have any teeth on your workpiece, and you’ll get delicate results when doing elegant and sophisticated work.

Low Nail Lockout

It has no dry-fire prevention system like others, but there is a window near the tip to observe the number of nails remaining and prevent the working surface from possible damage.

Battery

The Dewalt 20V MAX Lithium-Ion battery that powers the DCN680D1 is also compatible with any 20v Dewalt device in your workshop. In addition to having an interchangeable battery, it is designed to be charged from a vehicle power outlet in the event of an emergency or when traveling from one project to another.

During doing so, you will no need to be tensed about drain out of your vehicle’s battery as DCN680 has an auto shut-off system to safeguard your vehicle battery from excessive discharge.

LED Lamp

We found two LED lights at the base of the Dewalt DCN680D1 cordless nailer, which used to illuminate the working area while driving nails. It not only lightens the site but also operates as an indicator of fault. When the right side light continually flashes, it indicates that the instrument gets jammed, and when the left side light blinks four times and then shuts down, the battery is about to die. 

Along with showing the charge status, the LED indicator also communicates: charged, need to charging, power line problem, replace pack, and battery too hot or too cold.

Pros Of Dewalt DCN680D1

• Same performance as like air nailer
• Great time saver and works like a champs
• Well balanced and silent
• No fuel cells to buy
• Long battery life
• No ramp-up delay
• The LED works great in low light visibility
• Need very infrequent servicing

Cons Of Dewalt Cordless Brad Nailer

• A bit bigger and heavier than pneumatic
• Doesn’t discharge the last few nails
• Depth gauge indicator is a bit harder to read as black on black

Comparison: DEWALT DCN680D1 VS DCN680B

If you look closely, the last letter of both of the above Dewalt cordless brad nailers ends in either D1 or B. According to the manufacturer, B denotes a bare tool, while D denotes a package that includes a battery and charger. A number 1 appears after the letter D, indicating the number of batteries included in the pack. As a result, the DCN680D1 indicates that this model only has one 20V battery. However, the DCN680B and DCN680D1 are identical in terms of specifications and performance.

If you already own other Dewalt tools and a 20v battery, you can choose to purchase the Dewalt DCN608B brad nailer instead of the DCN680D1. To do so, go to this link.

FAQs Of Dewalt 20v Brad Nailer

Q-1: Is it comes with a battery? What else am I going to found in the box?

​Yeah, it comes with a 20v Max rechargeable battery with a charger. You’re also going to get a kit bag with it.

Q-2: Is it suitable to use a 4.0Ah battery for this nailer? 

Yeah, you can use a 20v battery in this tool from 1.5Ah up to 9.0Ah. The more amp you have, the more nails you could drive in a single charge.

Q-3: Is it possible to change the pressure to get the optimal drive on this nailer?

Guys, No! you can’t adjust the pressure on this nailer, but you can adjust the driving depth by turning a tool-free roller.

Final Words

Although you will find that the Dewalt DCN680D1 cordless brad nailer is a bit expensive in price, but if you consider the cordless performance and cut the cost of purchasing fuel cells, you’ll find it is the most suitable tool for your trimming or molding works. It also eliminates the need to pull bulky compressors and hoses. We can, therefore, claim it is an excellent tool for any professional trimmers or carpenters.

If you’re still confused, Dewalt Power Tools gives you three years of limited warranty, including a year of free service and 90 days money-back guarantee, which provides you with a risk-free chance to see how easily you can make a bunch of small holes.

Read Also:

Best brad nailer reviews and buyer’s guide
Best framing nailer reviews and buying guide
Best cordless framing nailer reviews with buying tips
Best Roofing Nailer Reviews and Buying Guide
Best Air Compressors for Nail Guns