Two readers have sent in tips that Dewalt is soon coming out with a new 20V Max brushless cordless drywall screwgun. Dewalt posted a teaser image of the new DCF620 screwgun on their auto-load knife promo page, but no additional details followed.
I’m sure that more details are inbound, but here’s what we know so far:
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It’s a drywall screwgun, and it’s powered by a brushless motor, probably with power and runtime optimally balanced.
As with other cordless screwguns, it’s fair to expect the new model to be built for high speed and maximum runtime. Driving in drywall screws is probably tedious enough without having to worry about tracking down the charger or spare batteries.
Dewalt still offers an 18V model (DC520KA), and it looks like this new model is a completely new redesign. This is expected, as brushless tools are often designed from the ground up to maximize the features and benefits for users. The exception seems to be what Milwaukee did with their Fuel brushless band saw, which looks to have been heavily inspired by their corded band saw design.
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There will also be a collated magazine attachment that converts the tool to an auto-feed screwdriving system.
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I’m not too up to date about drywall screwgun developments, so I did a bit of searching to see what else is out there. Apparently Bosch released a new brushless screwgun in Europe a couple of months ago, the GSR 18V-EC TE.
I peeked at the Bosch specs (via their UK product page), and their new screwgun can drive in 3400 screws per charge.
Seeing as how I have never picked up a drywall screwgun in my life, I can’t really gauge how the two models stand against each other. This is made harder by how Dewalt hasn’t released anything but a teaser image. I’ll fill you in on the details once I learn more.
Thanks to Joe and Justin for the tip!
Richard
One thing I can say – after doing a reno job that involved re-walling a wall that required 80 sheets of sheetrock – is that having a drywall driver makes your life much much easier.
Two of us did the job, one with a drywall driver, one with a regular drill… and the number of times the regular drill forced the screw too far in (leading to a lot of mudding later)…
DeWalt et. al. also sell drywall screw adapters for a very nominal price, but even then they’re not as good as a dedicated drywall driver… regular drivers are usually too torquey for a big drywall job.
Thanks for showing this, Stuart – I’ll add the Bosch to my wish list of tools to pick up next time I’m in Europe.
Beth
These look incredible. I can’t wait to test them! Let me know when you hear of their release date!
Cameron
your predictions for 20v expansion are coming true and I’m sure there are plenty more to come.
JohnnyFbomb
That looks badass!
Cody
I’d prefer to have the Bosch over the dewalt model I don’t like the trigger lock on the dewalt model kinda cheap looking. It’s hard to see but it’s on top of the trigger.
Joe M
…No it’s not… It’s below the trigger… It’s a little slide-switch like on the DCF680 Gyro. You’re seeing a little gap above the trigger that appears to be where the trigger meets the body.
You can still feel free to not like the DeWalt, but… The trigger lock is below the trigger, not above. Have a look again and see.
Mr. Yellow
Yeah, the trigger lock is below the trigger.
The switch above the trigger is to select forward/reverse.
Jason
The nice thing about the Bosch Brush less Drywall gun is they offer a collator attachment. Dewalt might offer one we just don’t have all of the info so far about the tool. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfsvjCLwsNA&list=UUCIRefp5vnHKo1QV_wIdaRw
Julian Tracy
I’ve hung a ton of drywall in doing near 8 large basement jobs as well as asst remodeling work, but have never gotten the hang of using a drywall gun, plus – who wants to drag a cord?
I do have the Hilti collated gun and it is invaluable and a huge timesaver for ceiling drywall especially. For walls, it’s so so, as if you don’t approach the screw at a true 90 degrees, it’ll get driven in funky and won’t counter sink.
Bought the Ridgid collated gun and it was crap – returned it after a few strips through it.
I primarily use my Makita 18volt impact, it’s one of the recent (year ago) generations that have 3 torque/speed settings – makes it a very versatile tool.
Dan
I use my Makita impact for drywall too, its one of the first Lxt ones but still working great, I don’t do enough drywall to justify a screw gun and as we plaster all of it anyway you don’t have to worry to much about driving each screw perfectly.
fred
When I was working – we used Senco guns for years for drywall and decks – some were corded (the DS300AC we used on decks) and the and some (the DS202-14V NiMH cordless) we used on drywall. Both used collated strips – readily available at Home Depot etc. Both were quirky in that they jammed when using a full-length strip – but if you cut the strip in half they never jammed
Dan
We did have a cordless Senco but didn’t replace it when the batteries died about 5 years ago, the problem was it didn’t get enough use really and collated screws cost more, for the relatively infrequent need I have a couple boxes of screws and the impact driver works great, The Senco worked very well though and I would have a corded one if I had to do decks, but in 10 years I have never had to build one.
Matthew Fant
I really like the updated swivel feature to the belt clip. Hell, I like everything about it so far.
greg
The trigger lock is underneath, I’d be willing to bet that the forward/reverse switch is what you see on top of the trigger
SteveR
Trigger lock issues aside, the thing that I wondered about was the driver portion itself. The nose piece appears solid and integrated into it, but I wondered about the #2 Phillips screwdriver bit; do you provide the bit yourself? If so, how is it retained; is it held in place with a set screw, or is there a strong neodymium magnet for retention purposes? Or is it part of the nose piece, which would require periodic replacement?
A few years back I bought an accessory driver bit that just chucks into a drill to drive drywall screws. It has an aluminum collar press-fit around the business end of a 2-inch hex driver. The collar permits the #2 Phillips driver to recess the screw to just below the surface of the drywall, so you don’t go too deep. This sets the screws at a consistent depth and makes mudding over the screw holes simpler. For anyone that’s interested, that piece is made by EZPOWR; the model number for it is 79294. It is further identified as ISOMAXAAA, with B21P2 below that. It wasn’t very expensive (I purchased it through McMaster-Carr), and can be moved from drill to drill as needed.
Mr. Yellow
You can remove the nose piece (see also the lock icon on the nose piece) DeWALT will also have an autofeed adapter (collated screws) that you can use with this gun.
If you take the nose piece of, there’s just a regular bit holder with a bit in it.
You can take that out and put in a longer bit when you use the autofeed adapter.
You don’t have to mess around with set screws or anything.
Sean
It’s not cordless but Bosch has a screwgun that has an optional auto-feed attachment. It acts like a normal screwgun or you can snap a complicated “nosepiece” on the end that auto-feeds.
It’s not something I would ever need but I love the fact that Bosch innovates by creating “x-in-1″ tools that aren’t just gimmicks. Another example is the impact wrench they created recently that has a 1/2″ socket retainer with a 1/4” hex bit holder inside. This alone could be enough for some people to pass on the separate impact driver . It also potentially eats into Bosch’s profits but it’s like they’re making a statement that that they care about the customer’s needs first. (Just my opinion.) Oh I am not sure if they were first but they have a miter saw/table saw combo. Genius.
I guess this was about a Dewalt screwgun so I guess I’ll say one relevant thing: does anyone know if Dewalt makes a similar auto-feed attachment or if any other companies make one? Or is there even a “universal” one?
Jason
Bosch has a Cordless brush less drywall gun that can take that adapter you are talking about or be used to drive individual screws. It’s not available in the USA yet though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfsvjCLwsNA&list=UUCIRefp5vnHKo1QV_wIdaRw
Dan
Those Miter saw /table saw combos are known as flip over saws, I don’t know who was first but Elu was making them 30 odd years ago, I’m surprised it didn’t get a Dewalt rebrand when they took over.
Mr. Yellow
DeWALT will have an autofeed adapter to use collated screws with this screwgun.
Dez
When is that coming out???
mike
I need a new gun now!! Let me know ASAP when it comes out!!
Mike Dompierre
I instal drywall for a living and have a 18 v makita screw gun that is a litle bit too slow, this is why nothing beat an electric dewalt SG…
But i used my friend 20v dewalt impact and keep on dreaming the day they will come out with the SG 20v dewalt
If you need some one to test it ! Dont hesitate!
Mike Dompierre
Sorry jason i have that bosch adapter abd the screws go to deep … Lost the receipt and can bring it back , i will trow it as far as i can !
matt
anybody know what the part number is on the collated attachment for this tool? thanks.
Thad
here is the video for the gun complete with auto feed attachment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH4xptvt_mo&feature=youtu.be
Thad
http://www.contractorsupplymagazine.com/pages/Spre/Portable-Electric-Tools-DEWALT-DCF620-20V-MAX-Brushless-Lithium-Ion-Drywall-Screwgun.php
Jake McBride
ive been hanging board for 28yrs , I picked up my new 20 volt Dewalt gun 2 days ago , and returned it yesterday ,they gave me a new 1 and after 2 hrs it’s hooped , I bought my first Dewalt cordless in 1997 , still have it and it runs but it’s a novelty , I have bought 22 of the 18 volt in the past 4 years get them repaired until the warranty runs out then they r garbage , Dewalt switched the transmissions approx 5 yrs ago and they have been junk ever since , the new gun 20 v does not work in a holster , it puts pressure on the trigger and within a couple hrs the trigger sticks on , very annoying , they combined the new trigger and forward reverse switch and it hangs up , very disappointed , my crew hangs on average a million board ft a year , so we need tools that work , unfortunately the new Dewalt was a big let down , they should have kept the forward reverse button the same as in the older models , as far as sinking screws it’s not as nice as te older model where you could control the speed better , and not over or under sink the screw , and if you did it was easy to correct with a quick turn of the nose cone the new gun has a lock on the nose cone and when you spin to deepen the screw it tends to take lock off and you find yourself picking the nose cone up off the floor , not very handy when you have a 14 ft sheet over your head , and the nose cone is on the floor , , all and all I would not recommend this gun to a drywaller , you will be disappointed very quickly , I don’t think the designer has installed much drywall ,
smith black
This drywall srewdrider does not last long and it is copycat from veryold hilti made model… Maybe hilti sold old patent or dewalt want to hit head to wall hard. Hilti has newest version about 5 years and it is small and last long .
DWH
Has anyone had any problems with the chuck jamming?