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ToolGuyd > Power Tools > Cordless > New Dewalt Cordless Electrical Cable Stapler, DCN701

New Dewalt Cordless Electrical Cable Stapler, DCN701

Sep 28, 2018 Stuart 38 Comments

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Dewalt Cordless Wiring Stapler

Dewalt recently announced a new cordless electrical cable stapler, model DCN701, which they say is 2X as fast as manual hammer stapling (using a DCB203 2.0Ah battery stapling 12-2 Romex in 2×4 wood).

The new Dewalt cordless cable stapler is designed for fastening NM-B (Romex) type wires and cables, and can also be used for low voltage applications. There’s a proprietary guide that helps users drive staples safely and accurately over cables. Translation: there’s a staple guide that helps prevent users from stapling through cables.

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Dewalt Cordless Wiring Stapler Fastening Romex Wire

It is compact, weighs 4.7 lbs without battery, and features a center-mounted LED light for eliminating shadows or working in low-lit areas. The belt clip can be positioned on either left or right sides.

Dewalt Cordless Wiring Stapler DCN701D1 Overhead Application

Dewalt says that their new Electrician’s Stapler can replace manual cable fastening methods, and its compact size allows for use in tight spaces and even overhead.

Dewalt Cordless Wiring Stapler DCN701 Approved Cable Combinations

They provided me with this chart that shows the stapler’s compatibility. The new special 1″ insulated staples, model number DRS1800, are UL-listed and can be used with single and even double-stacked cables ranging from 14-2 to 10-3 (single stack only for this size). It can also be used for CAT5, coax, and other low voltage cables.

Price: $199 for the bare tool (DCN701B), $249 for the kit (DCN701D1)

The kit includes a 2.0Ah battery pack and charger.

As of the time of this posting, pricing on the staples is said to be $8 for a 540-count box.

ETA: Early 2019

The new Dewalt DCN701 Electrician’s stapler is said to be made in the USA with global materials.

First Thoughts

Not knowing much about cable stapling options, but having witnessed a couple of wiring jobs, this looks like a convenient new tool to add to an electrician’s tool kit.

It seems great that there’s a single 1″ fastener size that can work with a range of Romex wire and even low voltage cables.

But that new special staple gives me something else to think about. At the moment, Dewalt is still finalizing retail partnerships, but I’m told that the new staples will be widely available at independent distributors and other retailers. My concern is this – what happens if you need a new box of staples ASAP, and your local supplier doesn’t carry the staples?

From the response I received from Dewalt, it seems that they’re all but promising me that an electrician can find more staples quickly and easily. Their assurance, and the fact that there’s a one-size-fits-all staple, has me cautious, but pretty much convinced.

Of course, the staples will likely be widely available online. But being a proprietary form factor, I’m thinking of scenarios where an electrician might leave their last box of staples at a job, in the wrong tool bag or van, or if they simply miscalculate how many they might need for a job and need a fast resupply.

Dewalt Cordless Wiring Stapler Romex Staples

Here’s what those Dewalt DRS1800 staples look like. It seems to me that the stapler has one power level, and the plastic cable shield prevents over-pressure situation that could restrict, crush, or damage, non-metallic cabling.

Is there anything like this on the market? Most electricians seem to prefer hammering staples into place, and the electrical staplers I’ve seen, like the GB Cable Boss ($26 via Amazon and unfavorably reviewed) are widely frowned upon.

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Sections: Cordless, Electrical Tools, New Tools Tags: Dewalt 20V Max, Dewalt DCN701, Dewalt DCN701B, Dewalt DCN701D1More from: Dewalt

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38 Comments

  1. Corey says

    Sep 28, 2018 at 11:00 am

    Super interested as an electrician, however I’m skeptical of the rate at which sparkies will adopt something new if it’s incompatible with the hundreds of pounds of traditional Romex stables they all already own. Great innovation none the less in my opinion

    Reply
  2. Ct says

    Sep 28, 2018 at 11:19 am

    Very cool…those staples can me a massive hassle at times..this could be great for those running a lot of romex

    Reply
  3. MtnRanch says

    Sep 28, 2018 at 11:47 am

    I’ve used a romex stapler for years with good success and lot of time (and fingers) saved. A powered version will be a big step forward.

    Reply
    • james hartley says

      Feb 8, 2020 at 10:12 am

      What brand of wire staple gun have you been using. I’ve only seen the GB brand in manual and the Dewalt in battery powered

      Reply
  4. Jim Felt says

    Sep 28, 2018 at 11:58 am

    I’ve shot both T25 and T37 Arrow staples for maybe 1500 feet of all black Cat 5E shielded and unshielded plus RH6QS the past couple of days in an awkward (and visible) retrofit situation.
    How will one size staple possibly work in various vintage/hardness of dimensional/manmade “lumber” with all the various size wire they’re claiming it will work with?
    Some sort of digital feedback loop? Magic?
    And the tool itself looks fine for unobstructed 10-12-14 gage runs but tight spaces? Or carefully/tightly paralleling existing runs?
    I hate my 3 US made Arrow staplers after any long use but I’m thinking for tidy work this beast is just too big.
    Not to mention the proprietary staple issues.
    But to be positive maybe others like Bosch or Hilti will enter this odd niche market and Li-Ion world will add yet another near “must have” tool.

    Reply
    • Framer joe says

      Sep 28, 2018 at 2:24 pm

      Bosch or Hilti but not dewalt, slightly bias ?

      Reply
      • Mike says

        Sep 28, 2018 at 2:36 pm

        Dewalt has already clearly entered the market, I think he meant Hilti and Bosch will join Dewalt.

        Reply
      • Jim Felt says

        Sep 28, 2018 at 2:46 pm

        Naw. I started with corded and went to Makita 9.6 then in maybe 1995 Dewalt 18V NiCads.
        They all worked when I gave them to Jimmy Carter’s ReStore a few years ago.
        I simply moved on. Fit and finish, extraordinary repair service and the odd not (yet?) available in the US tools.
        It’s kinda like Wera or USAG v. Stanley Works or sometimes even Klein.
        And the bother to research and source stuff is a hobby of mine…

        Reply
  5. fred says

    Sep 28, 2018 at 1:31 pm

    Let’s see how it catches on and gets reviewed.
    At the least it says that Dewalt engineers are thinking about what new tools might have some appeal.
    Maybe a Dewalt PEX stapler is next? We had manual ones from Mangone (and their Telecrafter brand), Watts and Malco, plus a Mangone pneumatic and they need some update and competition.

    Reply
  6. Framer joe says

    Sep 28, 2018 at 2:25 pm

    Love the expansion and thank you for mentioning where it’s made ?

    Reply
    • Jim Felt says

      Sep 28, 2018 at 2:46 pm

      Totally agree!

      Reply
    • Spencer Wyche says

      Jul 20, 2020 at 4:17 pm

      I love this tool.Milwaulee better step.or step off.I actually bought another one for my apprentice and once he got used to it,his production nearly doubled.

      Reply
  7. John T Sullivan says

    Sep 28, 2018 at 4:52 pm

    I’ve been using the GB Cable Boss for at least five years. It’s not perfect, but I don’t think it deserves the hate that it seems to be getting on Amazon. Honestly it’s no more difficult to operate than any other manual stapler. I don’t think a pro electrician would want to bother with it most of the time, especially if they’re nimble with a hammer and standard Romex staples. I found this to be a great substitute wherever I’m tempted to use a 2-nail flat cable clip (Morris 35000) or a coaxial clip. Having a powered version seems like a nice upgrade, as long as the fasteners are standardized enough as to be interchangeable.

    Reply
    • John T Sullivan says

      Sep 28, 2018 at 4:55 pm

      I phrased that poorly: someone needs to establish a standard for this type of fastener. As long as the manufacturers pump out their own proprietary fastener, these specialty tools will have an even steeper uphill climb to popularity and acceptance in the marketplace.

      Reply
  8. James says

    Sep 28, 2018 at 6:58 pm

    How do they not have a 23 gauge pin nailer yet?

    Reply
  9. Curtis says

    Sep 28, 2018 at 10:09 pm

    I’d be interested in one made specifically for coax. I can’t see how you could make an electricians stapler do both jobs well. Coax frequently needs to be concealed on the outside of a building, so getting into corners is important. It’s also important that the staples don’t compress the coax. Electrical staples are about 4 times bigger and 20 times stouter. They’re designed to hold ac wiring securely in the middle of a stud. I’d be even more dubious of using them with cat5. It’s really easy to break those thin little twisted wires.

    Reply
    • fred says

      Sep 29, 2018 at 1:20 pm

      Maybe something like a battery powered version of the Telecrafter staplers?

      https://www.techtoolsupply.com/RB2-Telecrafter-Insulated-RG6-Stapler-Single-p/rb2.htm

      Reply
      • Curtis says

        Oct 1, 2018 at 12:20 am

        Those are alright, but they’re not great for hiding wires. The plastic pieces seem to prevent damage and they hold pretty well. I’d really like to see some sort of battery powered T25 stapler with some sort of protective coating to prevent damage to the cable.

        Reply
  10. Big Adam says

    Sep 29, 2018 at 2:22 am

    C’mon Dewalt, take this tool and switch out the magazine for one that holds regular T50 staples of various leg-lengths……….please ?

    Reply
    • fred says

      Sep 29, 2018 at 1:15 pm

      Might be OK – but T50 – flat top 3/8 inch (10mm) crown staples are not of great use for stapling up NM (Romex) or many other wire styles

      Reply
      • Big Adam says

        Sep 29, 2018 at 1:46 pm

        I’d say they are pretty useless for stapling Romex!
        My point is that this is a new form-factor compact stapler and I doubt it would be too challenging to use it as the basis of a T50 stapler, much like the old Makita model.

        Reply
  11. Benny says

    Sep 29, 2018 at 7:59 am

    DeWalt can make a cordless Romex stapler but they can’t make a cordless 23 gauge nailer!!!! Your killing me DeWalt!!!!!

    Reply
  12. Koko the Talking Ape says

    Sep 29, 2018 at 7:25 pm

    I don’t know much about electrical installation, but I do know that big staples (like those used in fencing) are a PIA to hammer in evenly.

    So what about those one-legged things, like nails but with a shallow plastic hook to hold down wiring? They look like they’d be easier to hammer in than staples. Do they work? Are they legal?

    Reply
    • fred says

      Sep 29, 2018 at 10:39 pm

      I’ve seen quite a few fencing staplers around recently. Paslode’s New Zealand subsidiary (Stockade) makes one that use their fuel canisters. Several companies make pneumatics – and Fasco now has a battery cordless 10.5ga (not 9ga yet anyway)

      https://www.nailgundepot.com/fasco-11616f-cordless-fence-stapler-details.html

      Reply
  13. Matt says

    Sep 30, 2018 at 5:08 am

    As an electrician this interests me. The staples look to be 2 metal pins conjoined by a semiflexible plastic. There must be some kind of depth of drive setting. Although that could be handled by the “nose” of the tool. I’d be interested to see how it does stacked 12/3 and 10/3 as well as 14/2. Different lengths of pins? Very few staples are technically certified for that wide of a range. If there’s multiple models for the different wires that would be a total pain for residential. I find myself pulling multiple runs at a time and they’re not always the same.

    If DeWalt allows this staple to become be used or licensed by others that would be great. If they don’t I can’t see it going anywhere fast. I also can’t see why anyone in their right mind would stock the staples – especially if there are multiple models for use with the various wires.

    Reply
    • Jason Childrey says

      Apr 18, 2019 at 7:57 am

      It staples a stack of 4 14/2s or a single 10/3 exactly the same, just enough to allow the cable a little room to slide but not too loose. The staples are a solid u shaped strip of metal with a plastic bit that protects the wire and some sort of purple coating which helps them hold in the wood. These things are absolutely amazing, I had to get the kit since I don’t have any other dewalt 20v stuff but the bare tool price is definitely not overpriced

      Reply
  14. Nathan says

    Oct 1, 2018 at 9:21 am

    I like the general idea and I hope it springs forth with a few additions. IE take this basic idea and maybe you can make one that uses versions of regular staples.

    OR even better interchangeable heads and collets (magazines? ie the whole black piece on the front) such that you can trade #1 for electrical staples with #2 for crown staples and #3 for wire staples . . . . etc. YOu buy the bare tool if you want and only get heads 2 or 3 or 6 etc as needed.

    Presto – High quality power cordless stapler widget. you would even use the BT software thing so as to program it for which head it’s using to keep from over or under driving them.

    just a thought.

    Reply
  15. Oleg K says

    Oct 13, 2018 at 4:44 pm

    $250 for a STAPLER? I don’t care how awesome the colors look, Arrow will (probably) deliver same performance for 1/4 of the cost of this awesome-looking yet drastically overpriced tool. I’d definitely pay $100~$120 for the KIT but at $250 they’re just delusional.

    Reply
    • JoeM says

      Oct 13, 2018 at 9:35 pm

      You’re joking, right? It’s a DeWALT… this is probably one of the lowest priced staplers they have in the 20Volt XR line. They range from this one, right on up to $700 for the original DCN690 series. Yes, that’s bare-tool. Charger and Batteries they go up another $100 for the kit. And, I haven’t counted lately, but that is a range of something like 8+ different staplers and nailers.

      Looking at Staplers on the Arrow site itself… they don’t make any Cordless Tools. Air-Powered tools, yes… Electric, no. They make crafting tools. DeWALT is making INDUSTRIAL Staple Guns, Staplers, and Nailers. The closest they have is the T50DCD, and that has been reviewed on ToolGuyd before, to nearly unanimous disappointment.

      https://toolguyd.com/arrow-cordless-stapler-early-review/

      If you think $200 is a lot for this tool, you are in WAY over your head here. Remember, this is an AMERICAN RETAIL price.

      Reply
  16. Robert Pennington says

    Nov 1, 2018 at 1:18 pm

    Wow, that would be handy. I’ve had to run a lot of Romex up in attics and what with gas and water pipes running around it can be a pain to try and hammer all those staples in. My wishlist: This stapler, the new joist drill, Pex crimper, Brad and finish nailer. Have just about everything else…

    Reply
  17. John says

    Nov 3, 2018 at 9:41 pm

    I would absolutely love this. Can’t wait and will buy one the moment they go on sale.

    Reply
  18. LIZ says

    Mar 27, 2019 at 7:59 am

    Dewalt cordless electrical cable stapler WHERE TO BUY IN UK

    Reply
    • Stuart says

      Mar 27, 2019 at 10:32 am

      That’s a question Dewalt.co.uk can probably answer.

      Reply
  19. Donald Bennett says

    Apr 9, 2019 at 10:00 pm

    I think this is bullshit I just bought the stapler and can’t get the Staples… Total bullshit DeWalt

    Reply
    • Jonw9 says

      Apr 17, 2019 at 6:05 pm

      My stapler and two boxes of staples just arrived.

      Reply
  20. Jason Childrey says

    Apr 18, 2019 at 7:48 am

    I just got one after my salesman brought it to a job. I was impressed, everything I have is cordless Milwaukee and I’ve been waiting for them to bring one of these to the market, but dewalt beat them. They also have a battery framing nailer which Milwaukee has yet to make, and it performs well also. This thing is awesome, it staples perfectly, not too loose or tight, will go straight into old hard woods that hand driven staples are horrible at, they’ll often bend over and pinch the cable if you’re not careful. The staples don’t pull out easily either, I can shoot in a staple and tie wrap my larger cables onto it without it falling out.. nothing like the junky hand operated romex staplers that wont shoot into anything but the softest wood. This will drive into solid oak with no problem and it definitely saves time and smashed fingers. It’s also small enough that it will fit most anywhere you could easily hammer in a stapler, and also awesome for spots where hammering is awkward and hard to reach, like underneath joists and other hard to reach spots. Once you’ve used it on a large rough in you won’t want to use manual staples ever again.

    Reply
  21. DeckmanBrian says

    Apr 20, 2019 at 8:22 am

    Just look8ng for some opinions. I am a professional deck builder and have to run a ton of low voltage landscape wire for deck lighting. I currently use the GB hand stapler but would love to add this stapler to my current DeWalt 20v/60v collection. Any opinions on using this tool for my application? I wish they would have designed it to use the GB staples because I really like the black ones due to the low visual impact under my decks. Thanks in advance.

    Reply
  22. Terry Everman says

    Jul 18, 2020 at 7:22 pm

    Works ok. One size staple fits all and no adjustments. Doesn’t get romex cable tight. If you tilt the gun forward the nails are tighter. Make jobs go fast especially in uncomfortable areas or where your reaching. You may want to tap the staple near the box to cinch the cable or romex. I find it useful, staples are pricey, but the time it saves makes them worth the cost. Once you get use to using it, you wont go back to hammer. Not for every job, but great addition to my tool kit. I believe when Makita or Bosh start making one, Dewalt will be forced to up their game.

    Reply

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