20-Volt 21° Cordless Framing Nailer (Tool-Only)

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This nailer, the 20V MAX XR 21 Degree Framing Nailer, is the fourth Dewalt nailer that I've put to work but only the second that is batter-powered (the other is my 20V MAX XR 18-Gauge Brad Nailer, one of the best cordless tools that Dewalt has ever designed). Currently, I'm working on a large scale commercial remodel project in Plano, TX, and our role for wood nailers centers around quickly building temporary dust walls/barricades to keep the public from wandering into our operations. Yesterday, I had my guys build a 20'x8' barricade out of 19/32” OSB and cedar 2x4's. I walked my lead carpenter through the nailer's functions while I nailed the first panel together. First thing everyone noticed about it was its build quality; “robust” seems insufficient. The tool is a tank. The dense plastic shell, the steel magazine, even the size of the screws holding it together, the thing feels like it's expecting to be dropped from heights that would destroy other tools, and we love that. We buy Dewalt our entire careers because their stuff lasts and lasts. Second thing that stands out is the ease of operation. Whatever style you prefer, whether it's to pick your shot more carefully and send a nail only when you're ready, or you're a “bump and move” kind of guy, it'll take you 5 seconds to get the hang of finding your setting and locking it in. Thirdly: the power. This thing SENDS IT, which was fun to watch as it caught the guys off guard the first time they'd use it. I'd presume that's very telling of the mechanics inside, and how refined they've become because there's nothing wimpy about how fast and how hard those 3” nails were driven flush into that lumber, and to my surprise not ONCE in the 60-80 nails that we put through it did anyone have to set her down, grab their hammer, and finish driving a half-set nail home. This is probably what impressed me the most about this nailer. The efficiency of battery life (we ran one 5 AH Powerstack on a single charge) and consistency of power output to get that last nail driven just like the first, THAT is what makes this thing worth all the marbles. Ergonomics are great, controls are simple and easy to reach and teach, the rubber “non-marking” tip is a nice touch, the size and weight are a great balance between being light and mobile enough for any set of hands to use it and move it across the work site but also substantial enough to provide the leverage to drive the actuator without the operator having to add some of their own weight behind it, and the tool just flat out WORKS HARD. Dewalt nailed it with this one, pun never more intended, and I'm excited to see this technology continue to develop.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I been using this 21 degree dewalt framing nailer since I got it. Definitely has plenty of power for framing needs. Feels good in my hand. It's actually way better than the pneumatic air nailer I've been using. Good for pros and DIY. The depth adjustment is good and I've used 2 3/8 nails and 3 inch nails and this nailer does the job with no effort. Does have some kick back tho. Seems tough and well built. It's heavier than air tools but doesn't have to have air hose in the way either. For the work I do this is now one of my favor tools I got. Have not ran into any problems or complaints. Not even a jam yet. Good job Dewalt. It does have to wind up to fire which maybe they could change one day but I like it and will be using this many many times on many homes. Again it has plenty of power for all framing needs.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I have been using one from the company I work with it's the best, it's so convenient. It's a remarkable tool have been so please with these dewalt tool all I buy is dewalt.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I have been using pneumatic nailers for many years, and this is the first battery powered nailer of any type that I have ever owned. After using it, I am honestly surprised by how much easier it has made my framing work. Not having to haul around a compressor or deal with hoses has saved me a lot of time and effort, and I can start working the moment I show up. The nailer has plenty of power and keeps up with everything I have used it for. It fires fast, sinks nails well, and the nose design makes toe-nailing simple. The runtime with the 5.0 Ah Powerstack battery has been great, and I can get a lot of work done before needing a recharge. It is lighter than I expected and easy to move around while I am working. Being cordless has made the whole process smoother and faster, especially on jobs where power is not available yet. After using this, I am seriously considering switching my brad and finish nailers over to battery powered as well. Overall, this framing nailer has helped me get jobs done quicker without losing any quality in the work. It has been a great upgrade from my pneumatic setup, and I am glad I finally tried cordless.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] what can I say about this finishing nailer it does the job. I like that it has a switch where I can pick if I want a single nail to come out or multiple. I like that it's not heavy. it doesn't take long to spit out a nail. it's an overall great tool to get the job done. I would highly recommend this I also love the fact that I do not have to lug around a compressor that it runs on the 20 volt power stack or any interchangeable battery, so that's a plus plus for me

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The DeWalt DCN920 nail gun was one the best I have ever used . Very easy to load and use . Very ergonomic to use . My wrist and hand were not sore after using for an almost an entire day of using . If gun jammed very easy to clear jam and keep using gun .

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This framing nailer is perfect for my needs. Pneumatic is a hassle. Especially for small projects or when power is not readily available. It's a little heavy but that is to be expected. Working as a handyman, setting up a compressor just adds too much time for a small job. I have also been volunteering building houses for the needy in Mexico where there is no power on site. This battery nailer is the perfect solution.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This 20V MAX* XR® Brushless Cordless 21° Plastic Collated Framing Nailer is a beast. It drives 3" and 3 1/4" nails without missing a beat. I even ran some ring shank nails through it didn't struggle at all. Make good use of the depth adjustment knob on the front if you find your nails are proud or too deep. This model shines with the new flywheel delay feature. Essentially, you have a wind-up delay with electric nail guns with a flywheel. The tool has to spin up a flywheel, the energy from the spinning flywheel is then used to drive the nails. Sadly, with some older models, the flywheel would start spinning down after you let go of the trigger. This model, however, implements a delay where if the trigger or tip is depressed, the flywheel will maintain running speed for 6 seconds regardless of whether or not you let go of the trigger, removing the significant lag time that was previously an issue between nails. Honestly, I find there is little to no waiting on the flywheel with this nailer. Sadly, you can not fit two full strips of nails in the magazine. I imagine it's related to being able to fit this nailer almost perfectly between 16" studs, as a longer strip mag would potentially hinder its maneuverability. They do make extended mags for this nailer if you are using it for non-framing types of applications. The aggressive tip on this nailer makes toe nailing a breeze as well, grips with big teeth and won't slip easily on you. Pair this with a solid 5Ah battery, and you won't miss dragging 50 ft of pneumatic behind you.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This Dewalt DCN920 is a beast of a monster!!! This is my first cordless framing nailer so not having a hose constantly being in my way and snagging on things is definitely my favorite part. It drives three inch nails with ease. In fact, I had to dial it back as to not sink the nails too deep. After about 10 minutes, I felt very comfortable with it and I can't imagine that I'll ever drag my pneumatic back out. No compressor, no hose, all the power you'd want. This nailer is a winner in my book.

I bought this to replace a pneumatic gun I have had for over a decade. The gun fired 2 nails after one strip of nails. I removed the jam, which requires unscrewing a couple of screws. I had to use a screwdriver to put the driver blade back in. I noted that the tip of the driver blade appeared to be damaged. I could not get the gun to fire again. (Yes, I did everything the instructions stated to clear a jam.) The jam release lever would not budge. I returned the gun and purchased another. I framed one 10 foot wall and so far it is working ok, but based on the other reviews of this gun I am so sure I would recommend it.