DeWalt 20V MAX XR Cordless Concrete Nailer Kit

Why I reached for a cordless concrete nailer

On a recent interior remodel, I needed to anchor steel track to a slab, attach furring to block walls, and tack conduit straps into CMU without dragging around a powder-actuated tool and a bucket of loads. That’s where the DCN890 came in. It’s DeWalt’s 20V battery-powered concrete nailer—no fuel cells, no spent loads to sweep up—just pop in a battery and a strip of pins and start fastening.

After a few days on site, I have a clear sense of where this tool shines, where it compromises, and who will get the most out of it.

Setup and first use

The kit includes two 5.0 Ah batteries, a charger, interchangeable contact trips (standard and a drywall-style nose), and a sturdy case. I swapped to the drywall nose for track work on slab and back to the standard nose for general concrete and block. The nosepieces change without fuss and give you the right profile and visibility for the task.

Loading pins is straightforward: it takes 15-degree strip-collated concrete pins in lengths from 1/2 to 2-1/4 inches. The magazine holds 33, which is plenty for short runs but you’ll still want spare strips in your pouch to keep up a steady pace. The dual LED worklights are useful in dim mechanical rooms and basements; they spill enough light to see the target hole and also communicate basic diagnostics if the tool isn’t ready to fire.

Power and driving performance

The standout is consistency. On poured concrete with typical aggregate, 3/4- to 1-1/4-inch pins seated reliably using the adjustable power settings. The selector gives you fine control to trade impact for depth. On newer, harder slab, I bumped the power up; on hollow CMU, I backed it down to reduce spalling and avoid blowing out the face shell. That adjustability is a real advantage over powder-actuated tools, which need a change of load to tame power.

Into block, the tool did well when I let the nose compress firmly and kept pins shorter (3/4 to 1 inch) for furring and clips. On steel, it handled light to medium gauge track and clips without drama, provided I matched pin spec to the material. In very hard, cured concrete or dense aggregate, long pins (over 1-1/2 inch) will test any cordless concrete nailer; with the DCN890 I had better luck stepping down a size and accepting a shallower embed with more anchors.

Recoil is present but manageable. The brushless motor keeps the cycle smooth, and the tool recovers quickly between shots. It’s not as violent as a .27-caliber tool, and that’s a plus for control and fatigue. It’s still loud—this is concrete fastening—so hearing protection belongs in your kit.

Runtime and pace of work

DeWalt rates about 600 shots per charge with a 5.0 Ah battery when driving 3/4-inch pins into concrete. That lined up with my experience on lighter-duty tasks. Real-world runtime varies with pin length and substrate hardness; ask the tool to drive longer pins into hard slab and your count goes down, as expected.

The practical takeaway: with two 5.0 Ah packs, I got through a full day of moderate fastening without hunting for an outlet. The lack of fuel cells is more than a convenience—it reduces consumables to just pins and batteries you probably already own. If you’re already in the 20V platform, that’s a big efficiency win.

Ergonomics and handling

This is a substantial tool. At about 4 kg, it’s heavier than a trim nailer and even some framing nailers, and the nose is bulkier than a powder tool. That weight is most noticeable above shoulder height. Along floors and walls it’s easy enough to manage, but long ceiling runs will have you taking breaks. The grip and balance are good for the class, and the contact trip is generous with a positive feel when you compress it against concrete.

The bulk has benefits: the geometry stabilizes the tool at the moment of firing, and the nose design helps keep pins straight on rough surfaces. Still, plan on a two-handed stance for accuracy and to keep the tool planted, especially on uneven block.

Jams, maintenance, and serviceability

Jams happen in concrete fastening—hit a hard aggregate or misalign a pin and things can kink. The DCN890’s tool-free jam clearing is quick; I cleared the magazine, locked the tool out, and opened the mechanism without rummaging for hex keys. I only encountered a couple of stoppages over a long day, and both were back in action in minutes.

A smart touch is the field-serviceable driver blade. That’s not a part you’ll swap weekly, but knowing you can replace it on site instead of sending the tool in can save a day of productivity if the worst happens. Routine upkeep is minimal: keep the nose clean, blow out dust, and check your strips for bent pins before loading.

Accuracy and surface care

Concrete fastening can turn messy fast. The adjustable power helps avoid cratered holes in CMU and overdrives on softer material. With the drywall nose installed, I got clean seats on track without distorting the flange. For furring strips on block, using shorter pins and dialing back the power kept the face shell intact while providing enough hold for non-structural attachments.

Aim matters: the LEDs help, but you still need to prep the surface—knock off loose skim and chalk lines you can see in low light. The tool benefits from a firm, straight push before firing; easing up on the nose right as it cycles is the quickest way to get a proud pin or a bent one.

Compatibility and fastener choice

You’ll need 15-degree collated concrete pins that match the tool’s spec. I had the best results using hardened pins with the appropriate diameter and washer selection for the application. The length range of 1/2 to 2-1/4 inches covers almost anything I’d do with a cordless nailer: track to slab, clips, straps, furring, and light steel attachments. Use shorter pins in brittle materials, and save the long ones for solid concrete when you’re confident in the substrate.

If you’re transitioning from a powder-actuated tool, note that not all pins are interchangeable; plan your fastener inventory accordingly.

Pros

• True cordless convenience: no fuel cells, no loads, fewer consumables to manage.
• Adjustable power delivers predictable depth across concrete, block, and steel.
• Brushless motor and efficient cycle provide steady pacing with less recoil than powder tools.
• Tool-free jam clearing and a field-serviceable driver minimize downtime.
• Dual LEDs and included nosepieces add real-world utility.
• Solid runtime: roughly 600 shots per 5.0 Ah battery in lighter-duty scenarios.

Cons

• Hefty and a bit bulky, especially overhead or in tight corners.
• Absolute driving power can’t match hot powder loads on the hardest concrete—pin length and expectations need to be managed.
• Magazine capacity of 33 is fine but not generous; frequent reloads on long runs.
• Warranty is only one year, which is modest for a pro-grade cordless tool.

Who it’s for

If you’re a commercial interior carpenter, remodeler, or MEP installer who regularly anchors track, clips, and straps into concrete, CMU, or light steel, the DCN890 makes a lot of sense—particularly if you already own 20V batteries. It’s also a good fit for facilities teams that want to eliminate powder loads for safety and compliance reasons. If your day-to-day involves heavy structural steel or the hardest, old aggregate where long pins are mandatory, you’ll still want a powder-actuated option in the truck.

Recommendation

I recommend the DCN890 for pros who value speed, cleanliness, and consistency over maximum brute force. It nails the essentials: reliable seating in everyday concrete and block, simple adjustments to control depth, fast recovery between shots, and real-world runtime with the included 5.0 Ah batteries. The trade-offs—weight, bulk, and a modest warranty—are easy to accept given the productivity gains and the freedom from fuel cells. Keep pin lengths realistic, use the power selector intelligently, and this cordless concrete nailer will replace your powder tool for most of the anchors you do in a typical day.