DEWALT DCN680B 20V MAX* XR® 18 GA Cordless Brad Nailer (Tool Only)

Why it's worth it

The DCN680B has a brushless motor, tool-free depth adjustment, and a micro nose that lets you see where the nail lands. It jams less than almost anything else in the category, and DEWALT's 20V MAX batteries are the easiest to borrow, replace, or add to.

The depth stays put, and that's the whole job. On painted trim, a nail that sits proud shows and a nail that blows through the face has to be filled twice. Pro Tool Reviews recorded a jam rate under one per 500 nails across pine, poplar, and MDF — among the lowest of any cordless 18-gauge gun. This Old House ranked it first overall, with depth holding steady across 200 straight shots into pine and MDF.

The micro nose matters more than it sounds. When you're setting a return on a door casing and you need the brad an eighth of an inch from an edge, you have to see the tip. DEWALT slimmed the nose down compared to its older DC608, and you can put nails where you mean to instead of where the tool lets you. The LED does double duty as a work light and a diagnostic readout.

From our review of 8 cordless brad nailers for trim carpentry, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +The depth stays put, and that's the whole job
• +The micro nose matters more than it sounds
• +Depth adjustment and jam release are both tool-free, which sounds like a small thing until you're on a ladder
• +One caution worth knowing before you buy: this is the bare tool

What to know

• –Owners report a recurring annoyance with the last ten or so nails on a strip
• –At about 6.15 pounds bare, it's not light