Comments on: DeWalt Cordless 16-Gauge Finish Nailer

By: JeffreyJ

JeffreyJ — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:35:31 +0000

I have the 18V version (DC618) and love it. I don’t get quite the same life as bernig - maybe 4 “sticks” of nails per charge - but that is almost immaterial as most of the people who would buy a $200+ DeWalt cordless nailer probably already have at least one other DeWalt 18V battery. In two years of using this tool at least on a weekly basis I have only noticed two downsides: the lowest “force” setting (1) still drives nails way too deep in soft woods like cedar; the “anti-mar”tip that goes onto the safety interlock foot comes off after driving 10 or so nails. Also, I would definitely say that this nail gun is heavy, but so are pneumatic hoses attached to otherwise lightweight nail guns! Finally, I rarely experience jams but when I do they are very easy to clear and it always is from P-C nails from The Despot; Senco nails have never given me a problem (still, I’ve had maybe 4 jams in 2 years so not really a big difference). Highly recommended.

By: bernig

bernig — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:17:06 +0000

Shaun: Here`s the answer to your question. I drain more than one battery a day (18v dewalt) with my nailer. It can drive 800 to 1000 nails when fully charged.

By: Mel E.

Mel E. — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:23:43 +0000

I have been using one regularly at work for a few years now and love it. A bit heavier than a air gun, but add that compressor and hose weight and it is a lot less. I find it meets all the needs I have in a production gun. Battery life is quite good. trimming all day usually requires a battery change at lunch. Its also nice to have a quieter area to work in with no compressor running.

By: thedcdude

thedcdude — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:46:03 +0000

I second that I_bilyk.
If you’re used to a pneumatic or even the Paslode, you’ll be very turned off at first to this gun. Once you get used to it I think you’ll accept it. Air guns drive the best nails, but this Dewalt works very well. Why does the Angled cost so much more than the straight??

By: l_bilyk

l_bilyk — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:30:45 +0000

This thing is bulky and heavy. But it works really well, and is great for small jobs where you don’t want to drag out the compressor

By: MR P

MR P — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:41:30 +0000

http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/09/hot-or-not-portable-compressed-co2-regulatortank-for-nailers/

You always have the co2 route and then you can use it on all your nail guns in all sizes and have full control on the strength of it

By: Zathrus

Zathrus — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:53:11 +0000

That’s just sweet… I’d like to see a lot more cordless nailers around; my only reason for wanting a compressor is for nailers, and if you can get a fully cordless one for not much more than a good quality compressor one, I’m in; it’d definitely be more convienent for a DIYer.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:45:39 +0000

I have the 18v 16gauge (angled feed) DeWalt nailer. I picked it up at Home Depot a while back for about $300 with the case, charger, and one NiMH battery. (most of the 18v batteries are NiCD)

The nailer works great. It is VERY convenient. The 18v version doesn’t weigh too much and is well balanced. It also has a belt hook much like the one in the picture above (wish all my tools had a hook option). My only gripe would be that the body of the nailer is bigger than an air one and sometimes hard to get in a tight corner. Oh yeah, not that I’ve done any large jobs yet but I’ve never depleted the charge on any one project. Wish I could say that for the 18v saws.

By: Fred

Fred — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:27:07 +0000

Re: Benjamen Johnson Says:

Thanks for the clarification.
I may pick one up to try out.

By: Benjamen Johnson

Benjamen Johnson — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:04:49 +0000

I’ve noticed that the Amazon descriptions are sometimes wrong or even for the wrong tool. From the Dewalt site

Tool Height 12.75 ”
Tool Length 12.5 ”
Tool Weight 7.8 lbs
Tool Width 4.18 ”

Size wise they seem about the same as the Palisodes, but a little heavier. That makes sense since the Dewlat’s use a flywheel.

By: Fred

Fred — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:57:30 +0000

Am I reading the Amazon copy correctly that this tool weighs 17.5 lbs. or is that just the shipping weight? The Amazon copy also says that the tool measures 18×15x7
We have several Paslode cordless angled finnish nailers and I think that they weigh about 5 lbs. and they are about 12×12x4 as I recall. I might try one of these Dewalts in a angled configuration if the weight/size is comparable.
The Paslode is a great tool - but suffers from the need to disassemble it and clean the piston from time to time - plus customer comments about the smell of the mapp gas.

By: joelfinkle

joelfinkle — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:54:16 +0000

I’ve used the finish and framing Paslodes — miracle workers. Hanging a soffit in my slope-ceilinged kitchen for an island range hood would have been impossible, and the amount of work saved in filling hammer marks on the trim definitely made a day’s rental worthwhile.

Having a measurable depth gauge rather than an unmarked dial like the Paslodes would be very nice. With the finish nailer it was always, “Nope, that didn’t go all the way in, no that went straight through and cracked the wood” until you get the Goldilocks “Just Right” setting. The fuel can isn’t a big deal, but I have to think I’d get more lifespan out of a can and a battery than just a batt.