DeWALT 20-Volt Max XR Lithium-Ion Cordless 18-Gauge Brad Nailer (Tool-Only) Expired

For what it's worth, here is my experience with Dewalt cordless nailers. First, let me explain that I build 1 custom home per year (or sometimes as much as 2 years per home), so I make a living with my tools, but am not a high-volume contractor. Second, I own a lot of yellow tools (including a significant investment in their 20/60V cordless ecosystem)… Heck, I survived the pandemic on a 2-pack of Dewalt face masks…. Third, I do all of my own trim, wood ceilings, etc., and the homes I build have a lot of trim. Fourth, I don't expect power tools to last forever when used professionally, but I also expect them to last at least 1 year (and/or to have the manufacturer stand behind them).

All of that said, their cordless nail guns have been a source of frustration and disappointment. So, let me elaborate:

Framing nailer(s) - I have 2, both completely useless now, and even at their best, they were bad. Constant jams, and sticking pistons. I really need a functioning one, but this far, I have avoided the inevitable step of buying a different brand of tool.

15 Gauge Finish nailer - Fairly new, but so far so good… a little finicky on some nails, but I can work with that. My go-to finish gun when The job does not warrant setting up a compressor.

16 Gauge Finish nailer - Unreliable… jams a lot, often does not set nails, and sometimes just stops shooting, only to ' heal' itself later. I still use it, but I lack confidence every time I take it out.

18 Gauge Brad Gun - When the 16 gauge proved unreliable, I turned to the 18, where possible. At first, it was worthy, although it does have a habit of hooking nails out the side of boards… appears to not tolerate certain grains (as every subsequent nail in the same area hooks exactly the same). I am guessing the thin gauge nails just can' hold up to crooked grain, but never seen this with pneumatic guns. More recently, it has begun to 'throw' nails, at an average rate of maybe 1 in 10 or 15…. By 'throw', I mean that it drives the nail crooked as if it is is coming out of the gun wrong… leaving a nail sticking out of the work and bent over… I will have no choice but to find a replacement as it causes far too much repair work. I may swallow my pride and pull the trigger on this deal… but really am thinking of a new brand.

23 Gauge Pin Nailer - another new purchase. Worked flawlessly on our latest build. A little tricky to get used to the safety system, but (assuming it holds up), Dewalt got this one right.

Roofing Coil nailer: Another recent purchase, and so far, I love it. We don't roof, but do augment the roofers work sometimes, and so the small amount of. Roofing nails we drive make this the perfect solution.

So, in summary… not a fan of the 18 gauge cordless brad gun, the 16 gauge cordless finish nailer, or the cordless framing guns. Of course, your experience may differ. Unfortunately, I am invested in their line of cordless tools, making a shift to a new brand painful.

Thanks for letting me pontificate! Hope it helps.