The DeWalt Cordless Framing Nailer Shows Off Upgraded Power and Performance
Engineered lumber is growing in popularity on jobsites around the country, and framing nailers need to have the driving power to contend with it. Considering how much framing is soft SPF (spruce/pine/fir), that can be a challenge for some models. We got our hands on the latest DeWalt 20V Cordless Framing Nailer to see what it can do with modern framing materials.
Pros
- Improved active flywheel technology
- Interchangeable magazine
- Compact enough to fit between studs
- Aggressive toe-nailing claw design
- Zero ramp-up
Cons
- A little bulky
- Tooled jam clearing
DeWalt Cordless Framing Nailer Performance
- Nail Range: 2 – 3 1/2 in.
- Nail Gauge: 0.113-0.148 in.
- Magazine Capacity: 36 nails
- Magazine Pitch: 21°
- Drive Type: Flywheel
- Firing Modes: Single fire, Bump fire
Driving Power
When we talk about driving power, there are few tests more telling about a framing nailer’s capabilities than driving nails into an LVL beam. The reason for this is that these beams are exceptionally dense and can present a challenge for even Pro-grade framing nailers.
To my delight, the DCN920 was able to effortlessly sink 3-inch framing nails into our LVL test beam. Even with depth gauge fully extended, our nails sat completely flush. This is a very impressive feat that puts it in the upper echelon of cordless framing nailers.
Active Flywheel Technology
DeWalt is one of the few companies that utilizes a flywheel as part of their nail firing system. In the past, this has been an Achilles heel for these nailers because it resulted in a pretty significant firing delay.
If you’re familiar with the previous iterations of this nailer, speed is definitely a factor where you’ll notice a huge difference. Like many framing nailers, the DCN920 features sequential and bump-fire modes. It wasn’t difficult to find a rhythm that this nailer could keep up with in bump-fire mode, but the big improvement is the sequential firing mode. Thanks to DeWalt’s active flywheel design, you no longer have to wait for the motor to spool up between shots, greatly improving its overall performance.
Toe Nailing
Shifting toward the business end, DeWalt includes a removable no-mar tip that won’t damage delicate materials. For toe-nailing, remove the plastic cover to expose the claw tip. This allows the nailer to really “bite” into the material at a better angle, so it’s less likely to slip while working.
DeWalt Cordless Framing Nailer Design Notes
- Model: DeWalt DCN920
- Power Source: DeWalt 20V battery
- Weight: 8.6 lbs (bare tool), 10.0 lbs (with kitted 5.0Ah battery)
- Length: 14.8 in.
Size and Weight
The DCN920 weighs in at 8.6 pounds as a bare tool and an even 10 pounds with the kitted 5.0Ah battery. It stands 14.25 inches tall and measures 14.8 inches from tip to tail. It’s total head length gives it a distinct advantage when nailing between studs during a framing project. Overall, this framing nailer has a nice balance, making it easy to maneuver without excess wrist fatigue.
Compared to pneumatic nailers, DeWalt is noticeably heavier, but this is true across the board with cordless nailers. The big tradeoff is that you get to leave the hoses and compressor behind, ultimately saving time on setup and breakdown at the end of the day.
Ergonomics
As a matter of comfort, I tend to really enjoy DeWalt’s ergonomic grips because they conform nicely to my palm. One big difference with this nailer is the actual size of the grip. It’s noticeably larger than many of their other drills or impact drivers—it actually reminds me of the DCF961 20V 1/2-inch Impact Wrench in overall size and feel. DeWalt draped the grip with a grooved rubber overmold to help channel away sweat and debris, ultimately helping you maintain a secure hold on the tool while you’re working.
Jam Clearing
While jams are too common with modern nailers, they do happen from time to time. Start by removing the battery and nails. To access the firing chamber, use the kitted hex wrench to loosen the two hex bolts on top that hold the magazine in place and rotate the magazine forward. This gives you a clear view of the firing chamber so you can clear the jam. Once you’ve cleared the debris, simply rotate the magazine back into position and tighten the bolts.
In addition to occasional jams, this nailer may stall out from time to time when the motor is unable to complete the drive cycle. In this case, just rotate the stall-release lever on top of the tool body and the mechanism will retract. If it doesn’t automatically retract, continue with the jam clearing procedure.
Depth Adjustment
Adjusting the drive depth is as easy as turning a knob…literally! Simply rotate the adjustment wheel located on top of the firing chamber until you get your desired depth.
Pro Tip: Keep a scrap piece of material on hand to quickly double-check your drive depth after making any adjustments.
Interchangeable Magazines
The DeWalt DCN920 is designed so you can easily swap out the stock magazine for the DZN920 extended magazine. This increases your total nail capacity, allowing you to fit two full strips of nails at a time.
Additional Features
- Dry-fire lockout
- Compatible with the DeWalt Tool Connect chip
- Trigger lock-off switch
- Removable no-mar tip
- Folding metal rafter hook
- Two-position belt hook
DeWalt Cordless Framing Nailer Price
This nailer retails for $379 as a bare tool and $479 as a kit. The kit includes a 5Ah battery, charger, and a storage bag. DeWalt backs this nailer with a 3-year limited warranty, 1-year of free service, and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
If you’re partial to a 30° magazine, the DeWalt DCN930 Cordless Framing Nailer is available at the same price points.
The Bottom Line
The DeWalt DCN920 Cordless Framing Nailer really hit the mark in terms of overall performance and design. Its confident driving power, solid feature set, and improved flywheel technology really helped this nailer earn high praise from our team. If you’re on the hunt for a replacement for your old pneumatic framing nailer, I’d highly suggest the DCN920 be in the running.
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