DeWalt 1" Magazine Cordless Concrete Nailer

Why I reached for this nailer

On a recent interiors job—bottom track on slab, a few runs of furring on block, and brackets into light structural steel—I put DeWalt’s cordless concrete nailer (DCN891) into regular rotation. I wanted a fast, cordless way to pin track without fuel cells or powder charges, and the 1-inch compact magazine promised better access along walls and inside tight mechanical chases. After several days of mixed fastening, I have a clear sense of where it shines and where it still feels like a specialty tool.

Setup, controls, and ergonomics

Out of the kit box you get the tool, a standard/drywall nose piece, and not much else—no battery or charger. That’s fine if you’re already on DeWalt’s 20V platform; I ran it primarily on 5.0Ah packs. Bare, the tool is 8.9 lb; with a mid-size battery the working weight lands around the 10 lb mark. At 16 inches long and 15.5 inches tall, it’s husky for overhead work but reasonably balanced for waist-level fastening.

Key usability details that matter on site:
- 33-pin, 15° strip magazine. With the compact 1-inch mag, reloads come more often than with larger housings, but the shorter body does make a difference in tight corners.
- Variable power settings. The dial gives you meaningful steps; I could control spalling on green slab and still drive confidently into older, harder concrete by bumping power.
- Interchangeable nose pieces. The included drywall tip helps register on track and keeps things consistent; swapping is quick.
- Integrated LEDs. Small thing, big help when you’re shooting in low light near base plates.

The driver piston is field-serviceable, which prevents a small issue from sidelining the tool for a week. That’s a practical advantage over designs that need a service center for wear parts.

Performance on concrete

For track into cured slab, the DCN891 is fast and consistent. Cycle time is quick enough that layout is the constraint, not the tool. With 0.102"–0.145" pins in the 1/2" to 1" range, I had dependable set depth without mushrooming the head or pulverizing the surface, provided I chose pin length sensibly and matched the power to the material. The lack of combustion is noticeable—no fuel smell, fewer fumes, and less noise than powder shots—so you can work in occupied spaces without getting side-eye from adjacent trades.

A few notes from the slab:
- On very hard, old concrete, shorter pins at a higher power setting gave me better hold than simply going longer. The tool lets you tune that without guesswork.
- In green or softer slab, dropping power reduced blowouts and surface spall.
- Misfires were rare. When one did happen, clearing the strip and reseating the pins sorted it quickly.

The magazine’s 33-pin capacity does mean you reload more frequently during long runs of track. The positive is you don’t fight a long magazine when shooting near obstructions or inside shallow soffits.

Performance on steel

Shooting into light structural steel and heavier gauge studs worked well with the right pins. The tool has the muscle to seat hardened fasteners cleanly, and the variable power again helps avoid overdriving. I wouldn’t pick it as a universal solution for thick structural members, but for the kind of light steel fastening typical in commercial interiors—clips, track to steel, hangers—it’s efficient and repeatable.

Overhead and vertical work

Here’s where the tool’s strengths and compromises meet. The compact magazine improves reach, but the overall weight still adds up on overhead and long vertical runs. After a couple dozen ceiling shots in a row, I felt it in the shoulders. The LEDs earn their keep overhead, and the nose design gives a stable register, but if your day is primarily shooting above head height, plan for breaks or consider a lighter-duty alternative for portions of the work.

The 2-inch accessory magazine

Swapping to the DCN8906 accessory magazine expands fastener length to 1-1/4"–2-1/4". That makes the tool more versatile for sill plates, furring strips on rough block, or situations where you need deeper penetration. The trade-off is exactly what you’d expect: a longer, heavier package that isn’t as nimble in cramped spots. The swap is straightforward, and if your workload spans short and long pins, the ability to convert is valuable. If you rarely need over an inch, the standard compact mag keeps the tool handier.

Maintenance and reliability

The DCN891’s serviceability is a real plus. Being able to access and replace the driver piston on site turns “tool down” into a short break, not a lost day. In use, the tool ran cleanly, and clearing a jam—on the rare occasion it occurred—wasn’t a knuckle-busting affair. The included kit box is durable enough for daily transport, and DeWalt backs the tool with a 3-year limited warranty, 1 year of free service, and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. For something that depends on a piston and a lot of shock loads, that support matters.

Battery life and jobsite impact

On 20V 5.0Ah packs, I could comfortably get through typical track layout and a smattering of brackets without swapping batteries mid-morning. Runtime will swing with material hardness, pin size, and temperature, but the takeaway is you don’t need to carry fuel cells or powder loads—just batteries you likely already own. The cordless, combustion-free design also simplifies logistics: fewer consumables, no separate storage requirements for charges or fuel, and less paperwork on some sites.

Noise is still present—you’re driving steel into concrete—but it’s markedly less jarring than powder-actuated shots, and there’s no combustion residue. Dust is minimal at the point of impact compared with drilling and anchoring. If you’re working in hospitals, schools, or labs, that cleaner process can be the difference between getting the job done during the day versus waiting for off-hours.

Fasteners and cost considerations

You’ll want to stock the right range of DeWalt fasteners. Diameters from 0.102" to 0.145" cover most interior fastening, and the 1/2"–1" lengths in the compact mag hit the sweet spot for drywall track and light attachments. Cost per shot compares favorably to powder-actuated when you factor in not buying loads, and there are no gas cells to age out. That said, the pins are still a dedicated consumable—budget accordingly and keep several lengths on hand so you can adapt to variable slab conditions without overdriving.

Where it falls short

• Weight for overhead: Even with the compact magazine, the mass catches up to you above shoulder height.
• Reload frequency: The 33-pin capacity means more stops during long, uninterrupted runs.
• Tool-only purchase: Not an issue for 20V users, but a consideration if you’re cross-shopping and don’t own compatible batteries.
• Length limitations without the accessory mag: Out of the box you’re capped at 1-inch pins; if your work frequently needs deeper bites, you’ll want the 2-inch magazine.

None of these are deal-breakers, but they define who will get the most value from the tool.

The bottom line

The DeWalt cordless concrete nailer earns a spot in my concrete fastening kit for interiors and light commercial work. It’s quick, consistent, and cleaner than powder-actuated options, with real-world conveniences like variable power, integrated LEDs, and a field-serviceable driver. The compact 1-inch magazine is genuinely helpful in tight areas, and the option to swap to a 2-inch magazine broadens its range when needed.

I recommend this tool for drywall and framing crews, remodelers, and MEP trades who regularly fasten to concrete or light steel—especially in occupied spaces or sites that restrict powder-actuated tools. You’ll work faster than drilling and anchoring, avoid the hassle and cost of fuel cells or charges, and get predictable results with less mess. If your day is dominated by overhead fastening or you constantly need longer pins, plan on the accessory magazine and be mindful of the weight. For most track, plate, and bracket tasks at or below shoulder height, this nailer is a practical, efficient solution that fits neatly into a 20V workflow.