DeWalt 20V MAX XR Lithium-Ion 2-1/8 in. 18-Gauge Electric Cordless Brad Nailer Kit w/ 2.0Ah Battery, Charger and Contractor Bag

Why I reached for a cordless brad nailer

I do a lot of trim and cabinet work in finished spaces, and dragging a hose and compressor through a house is easily my least favorite part of the job. That’s what pushed me to the DeWalt DCN680 kit—an 18-gauge brad nailer powered by a 20V MAX battery, no gas, no air line. After a few weeks of baseboard, casing, and cabinet trim, I have a clear sense of where this nailer shines and where it asks for compromises.

Build, size, and ergonomics

This is a substantial tool. With the included 2.0Ah battery, the DCN680 feels front-heavy and noticeably bulkier than a comparable pneumatic brad nailer. The balance is acceptable at bench height and waist height, but you’ll feel the weight during overhead work or long sessions. The housing is a mix of metal and durable plastic. The plastic elements keep weight in check but don’t have the cool rigidity you get from more metal-heavy nailers. The belt hook is sturdy and reversible, and I ended up using it constantly, simply because I wanted to give my wrist a break between runs.

The nose is DeWalt’s “micro” design, and it does offer a better sight line than older cordless brad nailers I’ve used. That said, the entire head is still bulkier than a compact pneumatic, and in tight inside corners you’ll occasionally plan your approach differently to keep the contact tip flat to the work.

Setup and features that matter in practice

The kit is complete: 2.0Ah battery, charger, and a contractor bag. I was driving brads a few minutes after unboxing. A few features made a daily difference:

• Tool-free depth adjustment: Mine was stiff out of the box. After a couple of sessions, it loosened up and held settings reliably. Once set, it consistently left 18-gauge brads just below flush in paint-grade poplar and pre-primed MDF, and I could back it off for softer pine.
• Selectable trigger: There’s a simple switch to choose sequential firing for accuracy or contact (bump) mode for speed. Sequential is my default for trim. I used bump mode for long runs of beadboard and back panels where placement is less critical.
• Jam and stall management: The tool-free jam release works cleanly, and the stall release lever is quick to access. I had one stall while testing 2-in brads into hard maple; the lever reset the driver instantly.
• LEDs and diagnostics: The twin lights do a good job of filling shadows at the nose. The status blink codes are basic, but they saved me a few head-scratches when I ran down the magazine.
• Low-nail lockout: It stops you from dry-firing near the bottom of the stack. Plan to top up; you’ll leave a few brads in the magazine by design.

Magazine loading is straightforward, and the straight 110-nail magazine takes 18-gauge brads from 5/8 to 2-1/8 in. I ran 1-1/4, 1-1/2, and 2-in fasteners from multiple brands without compatibility issues.

Performance and consistency

Driving power is solid for an 18-gauge cordless. In poplar and MDF, nails sunk cleanly with a small, predictable divot that filled easily with putty. In oak and maple, I bumped up the depth dial and still had consistent countersinks at 1-1/2 in. With 2-in brads into hard maple, I needed firm, square contact and the occasional second squeeze to ensure full set—typical of 18-gauge fasteners at this length in dense stock, cordless or otherwise.

Cycle time is snappy. In sequential mode, I never felt like I was waiting on the tool. In bump mode, it kept up with my pace for paneling without a hiccup. The motor sound is a muted mechanical thwack—louder than a pneumatic valve click, quieter than a compressor kicking on. It’s workshop-friendly at night.

I did not encounter chronic jamming, but I did get two jams with 2-in brads when I tried to shoot with a slightly canted nose on edge grain—on me. Clearing them was quick: flip the nose, free the pin, close it up, and go again.

Accuracy and line of sight

The micro nose helps, and the narrow tip gives decent reference, but a cordless head will never vanish the way a tiny pneumatic can. I learned to bias my line-of-sight slightly to the right of the nose and to keep firm contact with the workpiece to avoid deflection through grain. For casing reveals and tight visible shots, sequential mode and a two-handed grip (one on the handle, one guiding the head) delivered repeatable results.

If you regularly shoot into narrow profiles or very tight inside corners, the nose length and body bulk are a constraint to plan around. For 90% of trim tasks—baseboards, door casing, cabinet face frames, light molding—it’s accurate enough to work quickly and cleanly.

Runtime and battery strategy

With the included 2.0Ah pack, I drove a few hundred 1-1/4-in brads with bars left on the gauge. Expect a couple hundred to several hundred fasteners per charge depending on length and material. If you’re on a full-day trim push, keep a second battery on the charger and rotate. Charge time is about an hour, so even a single extra 2.0Ah pack keeps you working without interruption. Larger packs comfortably increase runtime but add weight—something I noticed immediately on the nose-heavy balance.

Cold garages do slow any lithium tool a touch; the DCN680 was no exception. In near-freezing temperatures, the first few shots felt slightly sluggish, then it settled in.

Maintenance and reliability

The advantage of this platform is what you don’t do: no oiling, no fuel cells, no compressor drain-down. Keep the nose clean, blow out the magazine channel, and store nails dry. The tool-free mechanisms held up fine in my use. The low-nail lockout is protective of both the driver and your work surface, but it means you’ll reload with a small stack left. That’s worth remembering on a ladder—don’t try to squeeze out the last few shots.

I appreciate the three-year limited warranty, and the 90-day return window is enough to find out whether the balance and workflow fit your projects.

Where it excels

• Trim and finish work in finished spaces: Quiet, hose-free, and quick to deploy for base, casing, crown backers, and scribe strips.
• Cabinet installations: Consistent set depth for light attachments and fillers without risking a compressor in a customer’s kitchen.
• Punch lists and small projects: Pull it from the bag, make the fix, put it away—no setup or teardown tax.

Where it falls short

• Extended overhead or ladder work: The weight and front-heavy balance add fatigue compared to a pneumatic gun.
• Very tight corners and profiles: The nose is slimmer than earlier cordless models but still bulkier than a compact pneumatic.
• Long 2-in brads in dense hardwoods: It can do it, but you’ll need careful technique and the occasional second squeeze to ensure full countersink.

Tips to get the best results

• Set the depth on scrap for each nail length and material before starting trim.
• Keep the magazine topped up; the low-nail lockout saves your work but surprises you if you’re not expecting it.
• Use sequential mode for visible shots; reserve bump mode for repetitive fastening on panels and backers.
• Maintain a square, firm hold at the nose to reduce deflection and jams, especially with longer brads.
• Rotate two 2.0Ah batteries for uninterrupted workflow without adding much weight.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt DCN680 for remodelers, trim carpenters, and serious DIYers who value hose-free convenience and consistent results over all-day lightness. It delivers reliable driving power, thoughtful controls, quick jam and stall recovery, and enough runtime on the included 2.0Ah battery to get real work done. The trade-offs are weight and bulk—and if you swing a brad nailer all day, a pneumatic setup still wins on fatigue. But for most trim and cabinet work in finished spaces, this nailer saves time, reduces setup hassle, and produces professional results with minimal fuss. If you can live with the heft and keep a spare battery handy, it’s an easy tool to integrate into a 20V MAX kit.