DEWALT DCN660D2-QW Review

Second-fix carpentry — fitting skirting boards, architraves, door casings, and decorative mouldings — is the stage of a build or renovation where the finish quality becomes visible to everyone who walks into the room. The difference between a professional-looking job and one that looks rushed often comes down to consistency: every nail driven to the same depth, every fastener countersunk just enough to take a dab of filler without leaving a crater. A 16-gauge finishing nailer is the tool that delivers that consistency. Where a hammer leaves inevitable variations in depth and the occasional glancing blow that dents the wood, a finishing nailer places each nail exactly where you want it, at exactly the angle and depth you set, every single time. Cordless models have matured to the point where they match pneumatic tools for driving power while adding the freedom to move between rooms, floors, and even job sites without trailing an air line behind you. For anyone facing a house worth of trim — or even a single room — the right finishing nailer turns what could be a frustrating, inconsistent job into something you can take pride in.

When investing in a cordless finishing nailer, the battery platform matters as much as the tool itself. If you already own cordless tools from a particular brand, a bare nailer that shares those batteries can save you hundreds compared to buying a full kit. If you are starting fresh, a kit with two batteries and a charger gets you into the ecosystem with a spare battery for uninterrupted work. Beyond the platform, evaluate the firing mechanism: gasless (fully mechanical) nailers have largely replaced gas-cartridge models because they eliminate fuel costs, fumes, and the carbon cleaning that gas tools demand. Look for dual firing modes — sequential for precision and bump-fire for speed — and a nail range of at least 32 to 63 mm to cover both delicate trim and substantial baseboards.

This review covers the Dewalt DCN660D2-QW, the 2 Ah battery kit version of Dewalt's gasless 16-gauge finishing nailer. We assess the same brushless motor and flywheel mechanism found in the premium 5 Ah kit, the 32 to 63 mm nail range, the sequential and burst firing modes, and whether the smaller 2 Ah batteries still deliver enough runtime for real-world trim carpentry. With a 4.1 out of 5 stars rating from 50 users — a larger sample than the 5 Ah kit variant — there is more feedback to draw on for this specific configuration.

At the heart of the DCN660 is Dewalt's brushless 18-volt motor driving a flywheel-based mechanical firing system — no gas cartridges, no combustion, no fumes. When you pull the trigger, the flywheel releases stored kinetic energy to drive a 16-gauge nail into the workpiece with consistent force regardless of battery charge level, temperature, or altitude. The nailer accepts 16-gauge straight-collated nails from 32 mm to 63 mm in length with a 1.2 mm diameter, covering thin decorative bead through to heavy skirting boards and door casings. The 20-degree magazine holds 110 nails, which is competitive for this class of tool and keeps reloads to once or twice per room on typical trim jobs.

The D2 kit designation means this package includes two 2 Ah batteries and a charger rather than the larger 5 Ah batteries found in the P2 kit. For finishing nailers, this is often a smarter choice: finishing nails require far less energy per shot than framing nails, and the lighter 2 Ah batteries reduce the tool's overall weight during extended overhead use. The trade-off is more frequent battery swaps — a 2 Ah battery will drive roughly 600 to 800 nails per charge depending on nail length and wood density, which is ample for a room of trim but may need a midday swap on larger jobs. The dual-battery kit ensures you always have a charged battery ready.

The tool itself is compact and well-balanced. At 2.6 kilograms with a battery fitted, it sits comfortably in one hand for sequential work and does not become a strain during overhead crown moulding installation — a common pain point with heavier nailers. The 20-degree magazine angle keeps the profile slim, letting you nail into tight corners where walls meet ceilings or where adjacent trim pieces leave little clearance. The sequential firing mode gives precise single-nail placement with a deliberate trigger pull, while burst mode fires up to 4 nails per second as you move the nose along the workpiece — ideal for long skirting runs and panelling where speed matters.

Dewalt includes everything needed to start working: the nailer, two 2 Ah XR lithium-ion batteries, a charger, and a moulded carry case. The depth adjustment wheel is tool-free and lets you dial in exact countersink depth for different wood species — MDF needs less depth than oak, and having the adjustment accessible without a hex key saves time when switching between materials on the same job. The magazine release is also tool-free for fast jam clearance, and the double-security trigger system requires both the nose contact and trigger to be engaged, preventing the kind of accidental discharge that can ruin a piece of trim or worse.

Customer satisfaction is solid at 4.1 out of 5 stars from 50 reviews, notably higher than the 3.9-star rating on the 5 Ah kit variant, suggesting that the lighter battery configuration may actually be the better-balanced package for most users. The bestseller rank of #365 in Staplers & Tackers and the tool's presence on the market since 2016 provide additional confidence. Manufactured in the Czech Republic, the DCN660 is part of Dewalt's XR 18V ecosystem spanning over 140 tools, so the batteries and charger will serve any future Dewalt cordless purchases. At 503.36 EUR, this kit delivers the same tool as the more expensive 5 Ah version at a lower entry price, making it the value pick in the DCN660 range.

This cordless gasless finishing nailer kit with dual 2 Ah batteries is the value-conscious choice for carpenters and renovators who want Dewalt's proven DCN660 tool with lighter batteries for reduced overhead fatigue and a lower entry price than the 5 Ah kit.