Are Cordless Nail Guns Any Good?

Designed to eliminate the need for compressors, hoses, or costly gas cartridges, modern day cordless nail guns are just as powerful as their pneumatic( air-powered) competitors. Today’s cordless nail guns combine electric motor technology with the latest in battery advances to bring a nail gun that is just as powerful and infinitely more portable!

Who are Cordless Nail Guns Made For?

Battery powered cordless nail guns are made for both the professional and DIYer / Weekend Warrior. They are tough enough to handle the job site yet so easy to use that anyone will feel comfortable an in complete control using one in their own home. The quiet, lightweight design of cordless nail guns makes them easy to use and not as intimidating as having to use air compressors, hoses, oiling tools, and the loud air nailers of traditional design.

What is a Cordless Tool Ecosystem?

Are you wondering what exactly the term ‘tool ecosystem’ means? It’s most commonly used to mean using the same tool brand and/or battery system. To make the tool brands all the same.

In the world of cordless power tools, having the same tool ecosystem, or battery ecosystem, means being able to increase your versatility and usability of your tools! Keeping the same battery type across the board means one battery will run several types of tools and you won’t have to purchase separate chargers, batteries, and other things that end up being a waste.

Staying in my own personal tool ecosystem was why I decided to buy the Craftsman V20 Brad Nailer for my own use in my small workshop. I bought the Craftsman V20 8-Tool Combo Kit in 2019 and have loved using them ever since. Now that I have the cordless brad nail gun, I have even more batteries to share, an extra charger to use, and another tool to add to my cordless arsenal!

Curious about the other cordless tools offered by Craftsman? Check out my article covering their 8-Tool Cordless Combo kit! I bought this kit myself in 2019 and have loved using it ever since!

Watch My Video Unboxing, Review and First Use!

https://youtu.be/TyPuoBnSzRo

Watch my YouTube video as I unbox, review, and use the Craftsman V20 Cordless Brad Nailer for the first time! This is the first time I have ever used a battery powered cordless nail gun and was very impressed! I don’t see a need to ever go back to a pneumatic nailer again. This cordless nail gun is great!

What is Included in the CMCN618C1 Kit?

Included in the box you get all the tools and accessories you need to start working! You get the nail gun tool itself (CMCN618), a 1.5 Ah Lithium Ion battery (CMCB2011), a V20 20V MAX* Lithium Ion battery charger, belt hook, assortment of brad nails, and a user’s manual.

For me, getting the belt clip was a wonderful surprise and bonus you don’t normally find in tool kits today! It is very handy to have the clip for hanging on the wall and while using the nail gun during projects.

Where Can I Buy This Tool?

The Craftsman V20 Cordless 18 Ga. Brad Nailer Kit is available from a variety of stores, both online and in-person.

The nail gun can be purchased online from Amazon, Lowe’s, or ACE hardware.

For in-store purchases, Lowe’s Home Improvement and ACE Hardware are your go-to brick and mortar stores for picking one up today in the USA.

How Heavy is the Craftsman v20 Brad Nailer?

The Craftsman v20 18ga Brad Nailer (CMCN618C1) comes in at just under 6 lbs. for the nail gun by itself. Add in the included 1.5 Ah battery, and some brad nails and the total tool weight comes to 6 lbs. 3.3 oz. Not bad! The weight of the nail gun and battery combined are well below the weight of a gallon of milk!

Craftsman v20 Cordless Brad Nailer Specs

FEATURES

• Drives adhesive collated 18 ga. brad nail strips

• Provides reliable use in varying climate conditions (hot or cold)

• Tool-free jam and stall releases for ease of use

• Tool-free depth settings for nail depth

• Belt hook for ease of use while working

• Cordless design negates the need for compressors, hoses or costly gas cartridges

• Balanced center of gravity provides comfort in hand during use

KIT INCLUDES

• (1) CMCN618 18 ga. Brad Nailer

• (1) CMCB2011 V20 20V MAX* 1.5 Ah Lithium Ion Battery

• (1) V20 20V MAX* Lithium Ion Charger

• (1) Belt Hook

• (100) 1 inch Brad Nails

• (100) 1-1/4 inch Brad Nails

• (100) 2 inch Brad Nails

• User Manual

SPECIFICATIONS

• Capacity: 100 brad nails

• Magazine Loading: Bottom Load

• No Mar Pad: Two Included

• Grip Style: Overmold

• Power Source: Cordless

• Tool Height: 11.56 inches

• Tool Length: 12.5 inches

• Tool Width: 4.2 inches

• Tool Weight (without battery): 5.3 lbs

• Trigger Lock-Out: Yes

• Voltage/Battery System: 20V MAX*

• Power Tool Type: Cordless, Lithium Ion

• Case Type: No case included

• Charger Included: Yes

• Battery Included: Yes, 1.5 Ah Lithium Ion

WARRANTY & SERVICE

3 Year Limited Warranty

For three years from the date of sale, the product is warranted against defects in material or workmanship. Find Out More

Craftsman Service

Craftsman is confident in the quality of their products and they will repair, without charge, any defects due to faulty materials or workmanship within the specified warranty. Find Out More

What Tools are Included in the Craftsman v20 Kits?

There are a handful of Craftsman v20 cordless combo kits available on the market today, which I really appreciate. Having so many tool combos to choose from allows each person to cater their tools to their needs and really get what is best — way to go Craftsman! Let’s jump into the most popular combo kits on the market and go over what each kit includes.

Craftsman v20 Cordless Drill Combo Kit, 2 Tool

The Craftsman v20 Cordless Drill Combo Kit, 2 Tool (CMCK200C2) is a classic two tool combo kit offered by Craftsman for anyone looking to drill and drive everything they can find. The following tools and accessories are included in this kit:

• 1/2 in. Cordless Drill with 2 speed gearbox and 280 UWO of power. (CMCD700)
• 1/4 in. Cordless Impact Driver with one handed bit change and 1,460 in lbs of torque. (CMCF800)
• (2) 20V Lithium Ion 2.0 Amp Hour Batteries (CMCB202-2)
• 20V Battery Charger with a 60 minute or less charge time (CMCB104)
• Fabric Tool Bag
• 3 year Limited Warranty

Craftsman v20 Cordless Drill Combo Kit, 4 Tool

 The Craftsman v20 Cordless Drill Combo Kit, 4 Tool (CMCK401D2) is what I consider to be the best Weekend Warrior kit. The 6 1/2″ circular saw is incredibly handy to have for cutting lumber or sheet goods and this kit is awesome for seeing you through those short projects around the home. The following tools and accessories are included in this kit:

• 1/2 in. Cordless Drill with 2 speed gearbox and 280 UWO of power. (CMCD700)
• 1/4 in. Cordless Impact Driver with one handed bit change and 1,460 in lbs of torque. (CMCF800)
• 6 1/2 in. Circular Saw with tool-free adjustments and on-board tool storage. (CMCS500)
• LED Work Light with pivoting head and three super bright LEDs giving 140 lumens of output (CMCL020)
• (2) 20V Lithium Ion 2.0 Amp Hour Batteries (CMCB202-2)
• 20V Battery Charger with a 60 minute or less charge time (CMCB104)
• Fabric Tool Bag
• 3 year Limited Warranty

Craftsman v20 Cordless Drill Combo Kit, 8 Tool

 The Craftsman v20 Cordless Drill Combo Kit, 8 Tool (CMCK800D2) is the absolute Mack Daddy combo kit you can buy. This is an entire workshop in a bag! You get just about every tool you will need to get any job done! This is the kit I purchased after researching all the various configurations. I am excited to make most of my workshop cordless with this kit. The following tools and accessories are included in this 8-tool kit:

• 1/2 in. Cordless Drill with 2 speed gearbox and 280 UWO of power. (CMCD700)
• 1/4 in. Cordless Impact Driver with one handed bit change and 1,460 in lbs of torque. (CMCF800)
• 6 1/2 in. Circular Saw with tool-free adjustments and on-board tool storage. (CMCS500)
• Reciprocating Saw with 1 in. stoke length, variable speed trigger, and in a compact size at 14.5 in. in length. (CMCS300)
• Jig Saw with 3 orbital settings and universal blade system for T and U blades. (CMCS600)
• 5 in. Random Orbit Sander with onboard dust collection and 12,000 OPM speeds for fast material removal. (CMCW220)
• Oscillating Tool with variable speed from 8,000-18,000 OPM and tool-free universal attachment system. (CMCE500)
• LED Work Light with pivoting head and three super bright LEDs giving 140 lumens of output (CMCL020)
• (2) 20V Lithium Ion 2.0 Amp Hour Batteries (CMCB202-2)
• 20V Battery Charger with a 60 minute or less charge time (CMCB104)
• Fabric Tool Bag
• 3 year Limited Warranty

Video Review of the Craftsman v20 8-Tool Combo Kit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNUBVwl8xo8

Curious about other Tools I Use? See my most recommended items here!

Are Craftsman Tools Still Lifetime Warranty?

Historically, Craftsman was known for their lifetime warranty on their tools. As their product line has diversified over the years, so has their warranties and coverage terms. For the Cordless (V20) Hand Held Power Tool series Craftsman’s warranty is a 3 Year Limited Warranty.

3 Year Limited Warranty
“For three years from the date of the sale, the product is warranted against defects in material or workmanship.”

In addition to the 3 year limited warranty, they offer a 90 Day Satisfaction Guarantee that you’ll be happy with your tool or you can return it. As always, proof of purchase is required for any warranty honor so be sure to hang onto your receipts! For more information visit the Craftsman website here or call their Warranty Support at 1-888-331-4569 (in the US).

How to Craftsman Prices Compare to DeWalt?

Anytime you talk about tools, DeWalt is bound to come up in conversations. It seems to be people’s gold (or yellow) standard for comparing other tools brands to. This also seems to be a common theme whether or not the person has ever owned a DeWalt tool or if they have any direct experience with the opposing brand’s tools. I don’t want to disappoint you, so let’s compare prices between Craftsman and DeWalt tools. These prices are as of December, 2019 and are from Amazon.com additionally, I am putting the List Pricing so any sale prices are not factored in.

2-Tool Kit: Drill, Impact Driver

Craftsman v20 Cordless Drill Combo Kit, 2 Tool (CMCK200C2)​
$164.00

DeWALT 20v Cordless Drill Combo Kit, 2 Tool (DCK240C2)
$199.00

4-Tool Kit: Drill, Impact Driver, Circular Saw, Light

Craftsman v20 Cordless Drill Combo Kit, 4 Tool (CMCK401D2)​
$199.00

DeWALT 20v Cordless Drill Combo Kit, 4 Tool (DCK421D2)
$235.00

What is the Best Cordless Tool Kit Deal?

Answering the question of what is the best cordless tool kit deal is very subjective. Each person has their own requirements, constraints, and priorities. Here are questions to ask yourself to help narrow down your options. These are all questions I asked myself.

• What is your budget?
• How much can I afford to spend?
• What are my needs?
• How often do I plan to use these tools?
• Do I have existing cordless tools that use the same battery?
• How confident do I feel in the tool manufacture to produce a quality product?
• Tools are investments, does the company have your back if something goes wrong?
• What are my top tools that I need to get from a kit? This will give you an idea of the minimum tools you’ll want in a kit.
• What are the tools I never plan to use? This can help you narrow down kits that may include tools you do not care to own.

In the end, no one can (or should) tell you what tool to get. It’s a decision you have to make for yourself and your individual needs. I hope this article was helpful and informative for you! If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them for me below. Thanks!