Amazon.com

A cordless nailer—it's true. This ingenious nailer is powered by battery and fuel cells, beating the heck out of a cumbersome, heavy, loud compressor. Still, it's amazingly light and easy to handle because of its smart, compact design. For the professional, it's a huge time saver—there's no setup involved. For the do-it-yourselfer, it's the power and convenience of a compressor-fired pneumatic nailer without the compressor. This Paslode will fire up to 1,200 fasteners without a new fuel cell and up to 4,000 fasteners without a battery recharge. Imagine building a deck, framing in an addition and scrambling around on a roof without dragging an air hose behind you. We think it's great too for when you'd normally have to rely on a generator for power. Just charge your battery, and you're nailing. Ingenious.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Fast setup for less downtime and more productivity
• Weighs only 6.9 lbs. for comfort and control
• Voltage indicator light for monitoring power
• Cycle rate: 2 to 3 nails per second for optimal productivity
• Rechargeable battery for extended use

Reviews (2)

What you get is GREAT!
Amazon does not have a good description of this package deal, but I got it today and its a great deal. In addition to the cordless nailer, battery, charger and case, the Contractors' Performance Pack comes with an extra battery, a car adapter for the charger, 2 fuel cells, lube oil, a can of degreaser cleaner, and safety googles. I am very satisfied.

With the pro pack and the $50 off it's a great value
I use this once a week for tight quarters framing and easy one handed nailing anytime. It's light enough for no arm strain and dependable enough to use all the time. It's not designed to shoot 5k-10k nails a week, I didn't buy it for that. You have to clean these regularly to keep them up but so what, it's easy. With the Pro kit which is an honest $79 value thrown in, and Amazon's $50 off this can't be beat. This is my third over a 14 year period. To be honest the first one was a POS and I took it back. I still have the second one and it still works, it's just time for new. ... Read more

Amazon.com

To be honest, we looked twice at the price, certain the folks at Amazon had made a mistake. But sure enough, they're right--and so is the price. Porter-Cable makes some of the best pneumatic tools in the industry, and these nailers are two prime examples. The 16-gauge is sturdy, compact, lighter and quieter than you'd expect with a grip even smaller hands can get around. Great balance, easy depth-of-drive adjustment, and a pleasure to use. Similarly, the 18-gauge is light but rugged, comfortable and maneuverable, even in awkward places or after long runs. Some other features we like: a special hardened driver blade, a sequential fire trigger, a visual reload indicator, a safety located behind the driver guide for driving brads in tight spaces and an easy-to-adjust depth guide. Both guns have directional exhausts, too. The pancake-style compressor has a six-gallon tank and easily runs both guns at the same time. It's light, portable and doesn't want much from you in terms of maintenance--it's oil-free and Teflon-coated. Some other reasons to like it: a high-flow regulator, an easy-to-read air pressure gauge, automatic thermal overload protection, an industrial-style quick-connect body in the air outlet, and a long-life motor with replaceable brushes. We can't imagine this deal will be around forever.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• 300 PSI, 25' vinyl air hose, one air hose fittings (1/4" male plus & coupler), and pipe joint tape
• Finish any woodworking project with this limited edition kit
• 16 gauge, 3/4"–2-1/2" finish nailer (model FN250B)
• 18 gauge, 5/8" –1-1/4" braid nailer kit (model BN125A)
• 135 psi, 2hp, 6 gallon pancake style compressor

Reviews (26)

great value nailer kit
This combo nail gun/air compressor set is a great product combination and wonderful value. I really like it. Each nail gun comes complete with a sturdy plastic carry case, a supply of nails, and tool oil. Everything comes pretty much ready to use. Just break in the air compressor (which only takes 15 minutes) and you are ready to go. The air compressor moves around from vibration when it starts up - I had to put it on a rubber mat to keep it from scooting along my basement floor. It probably wouldn't be a problem on a job site where the floor is not so smooth. The guns load easily. I used the finish nailer to build a display rack for my wife and had no mis-fires or jams using Porter-Cable nails. (I bought the B & C nails that Amazon advertised for these guns, but after later reading the negative reviews about them, I have been reluctant to use them - don't waste your money on them like I did - you can buy Porter-Cable nails at local big name home centers, which are not all that expensive).

This is a great value and well worth the money spent. However, UPS handling has gotten so bad with heavier items that you will be taking a chance by buying it online.

Great value!
This kit is an amazing value. One Senco nailer costs more than this whole set. As some one said earlier, I got tired of borrowing compressors and guns from relatives. I used the brad nailer to make 11 porch rail columns out of MDO plywood. (That's 44 pieces that needed to be glued and nailed.) This task would have taken me days with the conventional hammer and nails. I finished the project in an evening. The brad nailer is an extremely useful tool when building projects that require gluing. The thin gauge brads hold the project together while the glue is curing and the leave a hole that is practically invisible. This replaces the use of many clamps or clamps in awkward positions.
The finish nailer is easier to load and as smooth as my father's $300 Senco finish nailer. It is also about half the weight. The ability to drive 2-1/2" nails is a big plus.
The compressor is a little loud but extremely efficient. It actually powered a Senco framing nailer better than the Emglo compressor I am used to using. These tools are great for the hobbyist, home improvement guru, or home craftsmen and they will last for many years. However, the everyday use of a professional will probably wear out the finish nailer and compressor in a year or so. But if you work out of your home you can't go wrong with this set up.

Should have bought it long ago!!
WAY COOL! What else can I say. Should have bought it long ago, but thought I could get by with a hammer and a nail set. Change is tough. Buy it!!!

Crown Molding the EZ way......
I purchased the P-C Combo Kit to install crown molding. This is the best deal available. The compressor is indeed quite noisy. Wear ear protection. Never had a nail gun jam. Wish I had purchased one earlier. I bought this with the "Crown Molding & Trim Instalation Kit by Quint Measuring Systems". Buy the compressor kit with the Quint book & Angle finders & you won't make a single mistake. I didn't. Quint MS also offers an Excel program that is very nice. Just measure & plug in the value..... couldn't be easier. For my first attempt at installing crown molding, you couldn't tell my work from a pro's.

Why don't YOU have one yet!?!?!?!
Hello,

My father in-law bought this kit at Home Depot back in January. He told me about it and I saw it but just couldn't plunk down the money. Then I helped him put all new baseboards in his house last weekend. I got home, got on Amazon.com and found that there was a sale coupon which brought the price down to about $275.00 for this kit. SOLD!! This is an awesome kit. Great nailers, Great Compressor at a GREAT price. Other people have reviewed the equipment so I won't repeat what you know. Snatch one of these up ASAP before there gone. I know Home Depot in the Sacramento Area no longer sells them, all sold out. If your looking at it, you'd better buy it now, they ain't gonna last much longer. I did the Free shipping and I got lucky. Ordered it on 6/28/04 @ 727 am PDT, and received it today, 6/29/04 @ 1227 pm PDT, OVERNIGHT for free, WOW. God bless Amazon, God Bless Porter Cable and most importantly God Bless the United States of America. Now, I'm gonna go build something, don't know what, but I'm gonna build something.

Take Care ... Read more

Amazon.com

Porter-Cable never disappoints, especially with their air tools. Here's a great nailer for the contractor or do-it-yourselfer in the Southeast, Gulf Coast and Western regions with its 22-degree plastic collated round head framing nails from 2 to 3-1/2 inches long. We like the new rounded body style on the nailer, which Porter-Cable says has doubled the tool's life, and we can tell you it feels right in the hand. It's still packing plenty of power, even though it's more compact. As always, we're fond of its tool-free adjustable exhaust, tool-free adjustable depth of drive with detents, and an internal piston catch for consistent power. The triggers can be set to restrictive or contact mode, so you've got complete control over nail release.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• One year limited warranty
• Great value for the price
• Powerful enough to drive nails into engineered lumber
• Compact body design for better balance and style
• Kit includes nailer, air fitting with dust cover, oil, operating manual and carrying case

Reviews (3)

SO SWEET !
This is my first framing and I like it. I only compared this tool to the reviews I read online from various construction sites. There are no bad reviews on this gun, just that they would not use this everyday. With nails loaded I found some scrap and fired one off. The head was proud of the surface but
with an adjustment I was sinking them in seconds. I like the sequential fire mode better, but i'm not use to the gun yet.
The bump fire mode is real dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. The first nail sinks, then the recoil, next thing
you are forcing the gun down to fire again all by reaction.
Before you know it you just fired 4 nails and one an inch above the surface, it's like a machine gun!
Buyer beware !!! All of the framing nailers are not toys !
They are not like the brad, finish nailer and narrow crown
stapler all of which are lightweight and easy to control.
Price was a major factor when buying this, but I was looking
at the Hitachi NR83A2 for about $100 more.

Great Framing Nailer
Just finished house number 2 with this bad boy. You just can't beat Porter Cable. Stick with the 350A instead of buying the 350mag. It is only about a pound heavier, comes with a case and you save $40.

Very Well Balanced Machine, little fatigue during the day. Great hands-free depth adjustment. Extremely easy to load, advance and clear. You can change from restrictive to sequential fire easily on the trigger.

My Hitachi can now be retired, I will not go back, this is my framing nailer of choice. As another reviewer seems to have found out, this is not an appearance nailer, for something like siding you may want to try the Porter-Cable RN175A Coil. I have had no problems sinking 16D's in even engineered lumber. For everyday use the 350A is highly recommended.

Round head framing nailer
This gun lacks for power when using 16s on KD spruce framing. I have a large compressor capable of delivering 110PSI, 25 gal. with 3/8" hose. There is a fair amount of kickback but even when well braced it will leave heads proud. I wanted the round head for appearance on exterior trim. The plastic collated nails leave little bits under each head which ruins an otherwise nice flush look. I would not recommend this gun for contractor use. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If installing hardwood floors is in your immediate future, the Porter-Cable FCN200 two-inch flooring cleat nailer is a smart tool to consider. The nailer is designed specifically for installing tongue-and-groove hardwood flooring with L-shaped flooring cleats and a thickness of 1/2 to 25/32 inch. The nailer works on 70-100 psi of compressed air and drives cleats with accuracy and force through even the toughest woods, but without damaging even the most delicate pre-finished floor. A 45 degree angled head saves time and frustration. A mallet is included to help position flooring strips prior to nailing them into place. And a rear-load, gravity-fed magazine makes cleat loading fast and easy (though some issues with the last few cleats in the clip have been reported). The tool is solid and stable. Heavy-duty, die-cast construction ensures quality. It also gives the tool a little bulk, but it's still relatively easy to use and well worth the effort.--Carl Thress ... Read more

Features

• One year warranty/30 day performance certification
• Drives standard "L" cleats from 1-1/2 to 2 inches
• Non-marring base will not damage flooring materials
• Safety trigger prevents accidental firing
• Balanced design provides better stability, keeping tool upright

Reviews (5)

Porter-Cable FCN200 2" Flooring Cleat Nailer
Excellent nailer. I have laid over 1,500 feet of flooring with 2 jambs. It takes about 45 seconds to clear a jamb using the provided tool. Also the last nail in a set from Porter Cable seems to eject about 20% of the time which is not a big deal to me. Tells me to fill up. I let someone who used a hammer nailer use this one and he could not believe how fast and how much more power he got from the floor nailer.
After using for a few days and since the 2 jambs I have not had any additional problems. Senco nails for me are better than the Porter Cable. Senco nails have a glue that keeps them together where as the Porter Cable break like staples in your pocket or pouch. Overall an excellent tool but for $400 plus what do you expect. If you are on the fence over various brands go with Porter Cable. The nails are available locally and the tool performs well.

Last cleat symptom
I read another review of the last cleat problem. I had several instances where the last cleat damaged the job before I realized what was happening, the tool also "dropped out" as many as four of the last cleats. One set of four got jammed in the mech. and was necessary to disassemble tool.I called the Porter Cable factory they said, "never heard of that problem, the tool should drive the last cleat".They did reccommend that I take it for warranty repair. I examined the pusher mechenism and could see the reason as the pusher does not go completely forward to push cleat against wall of dispenser. The pusher also hangs up at the last four or five cleats because of the latching arrangement causing the cleats to drop out. A visit to my local tool store showed the same conditions on the same model. I am using the tool to install brazilian cherry which is very hard, there is no problem in that respect it drives the cleats home every time and the tool is easy to use. I have been using Porter Cable products for 20 years and never had a problem before. If they re-design the pusher and refit the tool I will give it a 5 star rating.

Excellent
This is a great must have tool for DIY wood floors. While every company that's in the tool business seems to make a nailer (Senco, Bostitch, etc.), what sets the Porter-Cable apart is it's balance and civilized look. The look doesn't matter, but if you don't want to mar the wood floors by having a tool keel over and damage the floor, then this is the tool to get.

The "last nail" comment is a very true. If you try to drive that single last nail, unpredictable results may occur. In my case, I had to throw the piece away (actually cut it for the closet), since the last nail went in almpst parallel to the surface of the wood and skimmed the finish off the top. If the wood hadn't been there, it probably would have shot across the room.

Finally, although the pneumatic nailers save you from backbreaking hammering, the nose takes more than just a light tap. A slightly sharp wack will drive the nails perfectly. Too soft and the nails don't get driven all the way. Too hard, and I'd be afraid that the tool would get damaged.

Highly recommended.

This is a winner!
Porter-Cable's flooring nailer FCN200 is a joy to use. It's well balanced, it stays upright, gentle to pre-finished floors and very trouble free. My one caution would be not to use it down to the last nail, reload while there are a few nails left in the gun, it sometimes has "issues" with that last nail. That said, it's the tool to use for installing a hardwood floor.

Great Floor Nailer
This is an outstanding floor nailer. Very easy to use, very easy to set into place and then without hesitation, the nail is set into 3/4" oak. ... Read more

Features

• Precisely drives staples at proper angle and depth
• High-speed, mallet-actuated pneumatic operation increases productivity over manually-operated tools
• Adjustable to material thickness and tongue positions
• Eliminates hammer marks
• Long reach handle for increased comfort and added control

Reviews (15)

Some things are just built and designed better!
I purchased this nailer from Amazon to lay 3/4" hardwood flooring in several rooms in my house. I have since fired about 5000 staples through it without any problems whatsoever. This stapler is very well designed ergonomically and mechanically. The mallet is big and somewhat massive in weight but there is a purpose in that. It takes very little effort and just a slight tap to drive a staple because it is pneumatic. So if a board lays nice and straight, then a slight tap will suffice, but if you have a somewhat uncooperative piece of flooring, then you will appreciate the heft of the mallet because it will cause the most finicky of boards to come together and lay tightly. The handle is long and fits well in your hand. Consequently your not bent over as much. My first floor laid was oak and I've started my second which is brazillian cherry. This wood is extremely heavy and dense. This stapler does not care how hard the wood is, it just works and flawlessly at that. After all isn't that what you want from a tool, flawless performance!

A Do-it-yourself-er's Initial Thoughts
I purchased the MIIIFS stapler to lay approximately 1,700 sq. ft. of 3/4 inch red oak flooring in my new home. After installing well over 1,400 sq. ft. here are some of my observations:

1) The tool makes it very easy for a novice to put down a nice, tight hardwood floor. If the boards are laying tight an easy swing of the mallet is all it takes to fully seat a staple (more on this later). If the board is warped the MIIIFS can stand up to a solid mallet smack without any trouble. The mallet's plastic face, by the way, does not show any signs of cracking so far.

2) The stapler efficiently uses the its air so you do not need a big compressor. I have been using a 1.5 hp unit with a 6 gallon tank. Output is set at 85 psi. I doubt such a small compressor could supply two nailers simultaneously, but it handles one quite nicely.

3) The stapler did develop a small air leak near the top shortly after I began using it. The amount of leaking is small (based on psi drop at the compressor) but does make a distracting noise. This leak does not affect the function or reliability.

4) At your starting wall you need to face nail the flooring until you get about 6 inches from the wall. After that you'll have enough room to get the stapler into position.

5) As you approach the far wall the stapler can be used up to the last 13 or 14 inches.

6) As mentioned earlier the tool only requires an easy mallet smack. However, if you don't swing firmly enough the staple will not seat fully. This is usually caused by crowding against the far wall and not having enough room to swing the mallet.

7) The firing knob is too stiff to actuate by hand reliably - the mallet is required. It would have been nice if there was a way to trigger the stapler by hand then you could use it much closer to the far wall.

8) I have not had any problems with jamming. The unit I've been using has reliably shot every staple right down to the very last one in the magazine.

9) I have heard some rumors of staple-style flooring nailers damaging the floor's tongue. After closely examining several hundred staples in oak I'd say that about 2 or 3 percent show any signs of tongue damage. Some of this infrequent damage is due to stapling through a knot or due to handling. Some is due to the MIIIFS. I'm not sure how this compares to nail-style nailers. Anytime you send a fastener through kiln dried hardwood you're bound to have some occassional splitting.

Would I buy the MIIIFS again? You bet I would. Despite its few minor shortcomings this tool has saved me a LOT of work and the price is lower than other pnuematic nailers that I've looked at.

Bostitch flooring stapler
The cadillac of flooring staplers! Anyone can put down hardwood flooring like a pro with this one. Would have liked to had a case included, instead of the cardboard box it came in. I guess that doesn't affect the performace, although protecting the stapler could prevent problems down the road.

Need it, Get it!
I did 750 sqft of oak. not one problem, great tool, did not have the misfire problem on last stables. no break downs, perfect every time. Loaned out to friend, expect the same results. will be selling it used shortly. (I don't need it anymore), and will recoup a bit of my costs. Bob

Bostitch M111FS 3\4" flooring nailer
I've been installing hardwood floors for 22 years or so and I'am in need of another nailer. These are a little heavy but can really fly on the big open rooms. The problem is their to expensive. The reconditioned ones are perfect. I started my company 20 some years ago and used power nailers wich are fine and recently went to air powered nailers about 10 years ago. I see no savings on line what so ever except the reconditioned ones that can be repaired on the job site with a $20.00 kit. My Regards Rem. ... Read more

Features

• Holds up to 200 two-inch face and angle Porta-Nails
• Both angle and face nails
• Consumes 4.5CFM at 90PSI
• Oil-less system
• Mallet activated for greater impact

Reviews (11)

Hammerhead 2
When I check out the review on this product before I ordered I was unsure about my decision. I rolled the dice and ordered the Hammerhead 2. I am a professional contractor specializing in upper end work. We spare no salt in having the best equipment on the market. This tool has well out performed my expectation and then some. If you have ever used other brands you will know that it is easy for first time help to accidently nail on the surface instead of on the tongue. I just finished a floor with 600 feet and my new helper only had one accident. This nailer has front resting pads that set on the subfloor. This makes postioning the nailer a snap. Other nailers on the market don't have this and that is why I went with this tool. It is big but not heavy. The tool being tall keeps you from bending over so far. It comes with a case and a hammer that you will simply love. I would recommend this to anyone. The extra hundred dollars was money well worth it...

Good machine
This was my first attempt at installing hardwood floors. Purchasing a nail gun was a top priority. The market is limited but the few nailers out there all come with high marks. I chose this particular model based upon the few excellent reviews on this forum and the quick change option from floor to face nailing. The gun sits easily and quickly each time. The different types of nails/staples/ cleats receive their own praise but my personal choice was the porta nail. The nail itself appears to be stronger and heavier compared to the others. Your local Home Depot carries the porta nails, but not this particular nailer. This nailer is a tough find and have not been able to find anyone that stocks it, other than Amazon. The gun has worked flawlessly, and comes in a complete package. You have to purchase other shoes to fit flooring outside 3/4 inch. Since I will only install that type it is not a big deal, as of yet. Just tapping the gun is enough, no need to slam. Works great each time and have installed about 800 sq feet without a single problem. Makes a novice like me, into a more experienced novice in short time. Great purchase and was not jumping for joy at the price. Still, I was not forced to buy it and I do believe you get what you pay for.

Cost less to buy this tool than to hire someone to do it.
Save yourself the cost of hiring with this tool. If you know how to cut wood and measure, this is all you need to put in wood floors. I am very impressed with the quality of the tool and ease of use. The PortaNails used for the tool are excellent specialized cleat nails specifically designed for this tool. I've heard complaints from professionals about air powered flooring nailers. But I think they are blowing air themselves. Everyone likes to defend their job. But this is a job any builder or knowledgeable homeowner can handle with this tool.

Great floor nailer!
I bought this tool to put up 800sq feet of strip oak flooring. I'm a total novice. After putting 400sq, I must say I'm very happy with my purchase. It comes with a nice case, hammer, safety glasses and face/blind nailing attachments. And boy let me tell you, when you do a job (any job) the tools you use can make or break the project. Using this nailer has been a pure joy. Blind nailing is a no brainier. The cleat sits on the subfloor and against the tongue. A simple tap on the trigger and BAM! Only one compliant: This is big tool and will force you to face nail the last 5 rows.

GREAT NAILER
I have been placing hard wood floors for years. This is the best nailer I've used to date. It's high in cost but you get what you pay for. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

No other nail gun is even close!
I am a roofing contractor. I have tried a few other brands of nail guns but none can come close to the quality and durability of the Hitatchi! There is nothing else to say. You can not beat this gun. It won't dissapoint you!

Awesome nailer
I researched several roofing nailers and based my decision on the reviews I read about the Hitachi. I have shingled two roofs so far and have had zero problems. The second roof I did was for a friend and he helped with his Poter Cable nailer. It was picky about the nails that were used, jamed often and had no depth setting. The Hitachi kept plugging along and never missed a beat. The depth setting was crucial for the different situations when installing shingles. After years of hammering nails and seeing other guns in action, I highly recommend the Hitachi NV45AB2.

THE PERFECT ROOFING NAILER
Hitachi has long had the best roofing coil nailer on the market with the NV-45AB. This new and improved model actually made the best thing even better. It is very similar to the previous nailer but it offers an easier method to reload coils. Much more durable than any of its competition. I have tried them all. Max, Bostitch, Senco, Paslode. Nothing can surpass the Hitachi!

the review
the roofing nails went all the way in a nd the wood diddn't split ... Read more

Amazon.com

Long nails into hardwood? No problem. Working overhead? It's only 4.2 pounds. Hate having the exhaust in your face? Tool-free, 360-degree adjustment takes care of that. No time for jams? Clearing takes no more than a couple of seconds because of the quick-release nose. The magazine is made of nylon, but it seems as rugged to us as any metal magazine out there. That's also why this nailer is so easy on the hands. Add to that a nicely padded grip and a selective trigger and you'd think you have the perfect nailer. But get this—there's a built-in dust blower that clears light debris and dust from your workpiece. Hitachi quality leaves nothing to want.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Superior power drives 2 1/2" nails into the hardest woods
• Selective trigger for flexibility in firing operations
• 15 guage finish nails
• Shoots 15 gauge 1 1/4" - 2 1/2" Angled finish Nails
• Lightweight at only 4.2 lbs.

Reviews (4)

Reliable and Tough as Nails
I've used this gun quite a bit and it hasn't misfired yet. It's simple to use and feels solid, made to last. Plenty of power too; sinks 2 1/2" nails into pressure treated fir with no problem. In white pine I had to back the pressure off to keep it from sinking them TOO deep! The air nozzle feature should be on every finish nailer. You'd be surprised how handy it is; no need to put the gun down to clear away the chips etc... that always seem to get in the way of a good fit. The only drawback I found is that you'll have to go to a good hardware store to find an air fitting for it. Once that's done it's the perfect finish nailer.

great nailer
i bought this nailer several months ago. great finish gun. the little button near the top/side of the gun is an air blower. great to have available when doing base, to blow away the crumbs from falling plaster or debris that is in the way. just push and it blows it away, nice added feature that the others don't have. have had no problems and would recommend this highly

good tool--bad customer service
excellent tool--but no free shipping as advertised--but bought the tool anyway! don't know if this is indicative of amazon policy--used car salesmen!

Full Time Finish Carpenter
I currently run five Hitachi, three Senco, and two Max finish nailers. The Hitachi NT65MA2 is the best nailer I have. It is very light with minimal recoil. It has enough power to sink nails in maple effortlessly. It is stone cold reliable- it has never broken a driver after five years of fulltime use (bought my old NT65MA in 98). The safety works well without marring. It shoots the Senco DA series (also UA) nail which has become the defacto industry standard. Hitachi appears to have spared no effort in designing and building the best 2 1/2" finish nailer. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Time is money, so no wonder this is one of Hitachi's best sellers. Its ability to fire plastic-collated full round head framing nails from 2" to 3-1/4" means you're getting the job done faster at an amazing three-nails-per-second. No fiddling with tools to adjust the drive depth, either, which is another great feature. Though it's not the lightest nailer we've handled at 7.9 pounds, it's so nicely balanced that the weight isn't really a detriment. It didn't jam on us, but if it should, we think clearing would only take a second due to the nice open nose design. Framers, roofers and truss builders will really get their money's worth out of this workhorse.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Lightweight (only 7.9 lbs.) and
• Drives 3 nails per second
• Full round-head, plastic strip collation
• Shoots 2" - 3 1/4" x .113 - .131
• Nail capacity of 64-70 nails

Reviews (1)

The best framing gun out there
I just returned my DeWalt nail gun and purchased this Hitachi. What a diffefrence. I love this gun. It's dependable and built tough. It takes the abuse of a job site, and keeps working. Their almost indestructable. The only draw back is the lack of a depth adjuster, but well worth it. I would recommend this gun to anybody, the weekend warrior or the full-time framer. ... Read more

Amazon.com

No compressor. No hoses. No kidding. And no sacrifices in speed or power, either. There's absolutely no comparison between this performer and the fuel-cell powered competition, which we thought was a great innovation. But there's no costly fuel cell to replace on this tool—-just pop on a recharged XRP battery and get back on the job. The only difference you'll feel between this and a traditional pneumatic is that you're not tethered to an air hose. It's just as fast and fires just as powerfully into both soft and hard joints. We love that you can choose bump or sequential mode for precision or speed, something most nailers don't offer, and the integrated headlight is another impressive addition, really lighting up your workpiece even in the worst conditions. There's a fantastic six-position numbered dial to reference your depths, so you can move easily between, for example, baseboard and crown molding without struggling to reset the depth. DeWalt's covered what would have been our main safety concern: An air tool can't fire without a hose, but what's to keep this one from being accidentally fired? They've built in a contact trip lock-off. We were pleased with the troubleshooting process, too—the nosepiece is clear and very accessible, letting you clear a jammed fastener without screwdrivers or wrenches, though we couldn't get it to jam for us. Rear loading is simple and fast, and it accepts most brands of 16-gauge nails. The 20-degree angle gives you a little more maneuverability in tight spaces than the straight magazine, but you can't go wrong with either one. It's built tough for the job site, but the home hobbyist would love this tool. Just hook it on your tool belt and go; it's truly one of the coolest tools we've seen and the kit has everything you need: a one-hour charger, two 18V XRP batteries, reversible belt hook, no-mar tip, safety glasses and the heavy-duty kit box. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• 6 position dial allows the user to move between applications without having to re-acquire exact depth setting
• Easy access to the nosepiece for the simple removal of a jammed fastener without the use of screwdrivers or tool wrenches
• Tool works as fast as you do with consistent nail penetration into both soft and hard joints
• Sequential operating mode allows for precision placement and the bump operating mode provides the user with production speed
• Headlights provide increased visibility in low-light conditions or confined areas without any light

Amazon.com Review

When it comes to designing nailers, Hitachi keeps the end user in mind. Their siding coil nailer, engineered for serious siding work, impressed us with its light weight (only 4.6 pounds), which does wonders for your arm (not to mention your productivity) toward the end of a long day. We're also suckers for a good grip, and the NV65AH has a great one--it's rubberized, and, unlike a lot of other tools we've known, it's also a width that normal-size humans can get their hands around. This nailer's got an easy-to-operate depth-of-drive adjustment as well, to countersink or flush-drive nails, and a smooth firing mechanism. The air deflector pivots 360 degrees--a nice, user-friendly feature.

One feature we'd like to have seen is the two bumper plates that go on the front and back of other Hitachi models. These plates really go a long way toward protecting a nailer from unnecessary wear and tear, and, in the end, they probably extend its usage quite a bit. But, on the whole, this is a nice piece of equipment. We'd be happy to fire it up any day. --Michael Shilling ... Read more

Features

• 30-day satisfaction guarantee and one year warranty on parts and labor
• 360 degree adjustable exhaust deflector
• Lightweight, only 4.6 pounds
• Depth of drive adjustment
• 1-1/2- to 2-1/2-inch-by-.090-.099, wire and plastic collated coil nails

Reviews (10)

Performance and Precision
This nailer is like a german sports car. It's got power, performance and handles like a dream. The single most important feature for a good siding nailer is the ability to accurately dial in the depth that the nails are driven. For cedar, or cement board siding the depth of drive is crucial. This nailer lets you adjust the depth of drive with absolute accuracy. You can flush nail all day long and you almost never have to pull your hammer out to set a proud nail. In addition, this nailer is light at 4.6 pounds which is also important when your using it all day on a ladder or scaffolding.

The other feature that I love is that the nailer is extremely well balanced for a coil nailer. Most coil nailers are nose heavy because they don't have the stick housing to counter balance them. This nailer is not nose heavy and just has a great feel in your hand. Of all my tools, this is one of my favorites. I have not had a single jam and I've fired thousands and thousands of nails with it. This is a high performance tool, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has any amount of siding to put up. It's a time saver, and truly a joy to use.

Great coil nailer!
I shot one box of 4800 2 1/4" ring shank galvanized nail through this gun the first time I used it. Oiled it often and kept clean as possible. There was the occasional miss where the nail had fallen out of the coil but it was harmless. Depth gauge worked well and was easy to adjust. This gun is lightweight, the Senco is a beast.

Awesome nailer
I had started hanging cedar shingle by hand,but it was way too slow and I was wasting alot of shingles due to breakage. I purchased this nailer and it proved to be a time and labor saver. I needs to be kept oiled or it will jam but very easy to unjam. Do not think twice just buy it. Now I have a fence to build, lucky me I already have mine.

worth the money
This is the best coil nailer I have ever used! I have run a siding crew for over 5 years and have tried them all proformance wise this gun rates #1 in my eyes.

Single shot trigger is optional
Great gun. Be aware that the single-shot trigger will cost you $25 from Hitachi. Pretty annoying, since Senco sends theirs out for free. ... Read more

Features

• Includes 1 year limited warranty on parts and accessories
• Uses 15 degree 3/4- to 1-3/4¿ wire collated roofing nails
• Rounded body style for updated look
• Powerful high performance motor with adjustable tool-free exhaust diffuser
• Steel safety contact with dual carbide inserts

Reviews (2)

Works good!
I have one of these little nailers - mostly used for roofing sheds. It works good. No complaints. Maybe one nail in 80-100 I'll finish with a light tap with a hammer. That's probably more a ding on the little compressor I use than on the nailer. For what I use it for it works fine. As the man said - It sure beats a hammer.

I have a love/hate relationship with this nailer
I should preface this review by saying that this is the first nailer that I have owned other than a brad or staple nailer. My exposure to nailers of this size is limited.

I just finished a siding job on a rent house that I own. The siding I used was Hariplank and it called for roofing nails for installation. I paid $249 for this nailer at Lowes.

The good:

- Much better than a hammer!
- No jams whatsoever
- Durable and tough (with the exception of the magazine cover)

The bad:

- Heavy!!! During the middle of my siding project I worked two days on a habitat for humanity project. On that project I used a DeWalt angled framing nailer. The DeWalt was much lighter than the PC. When climbing up and down ladders and on roofs a few pounds is really noticed.
- Inconsistant driving depth. Probably half of the nails stopped 1/4" - 1/2" short of being flush with the siding. When I attempted to adjust the depth some of the nails were impacting too hard so I had to back off the depth again. Maybe this had something to do with the fact that the material was fiber cement rather than wood?
- The magazine cover is made from a very flimsy plastic. It didn't break on me but I imagine that one day it will.
- For the price a carrying/storage case would have been nice. ... Read more

Features

• Tapping block included
• Powerful
• Easy to use
• Tool-free adjustable base will install 1/4-inch through 1/2-inch laminated flooring from almost every manufacturer
• Drives staple at a perfect angle

Reviews (7)

Throw away the glue, buy this tool
This tool enabled me to take on more than I would have had I continued to use glue like they told me to do at Home Depot. The first room I worked on I used glue and decided I had to find a better way, this was it.

The flooring went down easier, the finished product was much better, and the frustration level went down.

The hardest part was learning how to load the staples. After that it was a snap

An Excellent Choice
You can not go wrong with this stapler! It is easy to setup and performs flawlessly. I have done several-hundred square feet of 3/8" engineered hardwood flooring without a hitch. I highly recommend this tool!

The Perfect Choice
The S3297-LHF flooring stapler did the job! Beats gluing. I have layed over 500 square feet of the 3/8" engineered flooring without any negative issues with this stapler. Looks like I will be laying flooring in more rooms in the future, according to my wife. This was the first flooring that I have put down and it turn out to be a professional job, thanks to the S3297-LHF Bostitch Stapler. This is the tool to buy if you want your floor layed correctly.

Needs a case.
I bought this stapler after using a Porta-nailer to install 1000 sq. ft. of hardwood laminant flooring. The Porta-nailer was bulky, hard to use and couldn't do the last 3 rows since you have to hit it with a hammer to drive the nail. With the S3297-LHF-2 I could do upto the last row which of course had to be face nailed. I would recommend this to anyone who has to lay laminant flooring. The only thing that disappointed me was that it doesn't come with a case for storage and the keeping it in the cardboard box beats up the box.

Easy and Great
I purchased this to install 3/8 engineered flooring and it is very easy to use. Loading is simple and fast and the instructions are brief and clear. I have installed 150 sq ft out of 500 sq ft total and the only problem I have encountered is running out of staples and not realizing it until I am a few boards down. Don't know how to solve that. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This Porter-Cable 18-gauge, 2-inch brad nailer is a compact, comfortable-to-carry unit that might not offer quite as many extras as other (more expensive) units, but it's very reliable and does its job well. This nailer shoots standard brads from 3/4 to 2 inches long and has an anodized magazine with a reload indicator. The die-cast aluminum body is lightweight but still very strong, and the handle is comfortable to hold, even over long periods of time. The quick-release nosepiece lets you clear jams quickly and easily. Other features include a sequential fire trigger, a safety that's located behind the driver guide for driving brads in tight spaces, an easy-to-adjust depth guide, a directional exhaust port, and a removable rubber nose. The kit comes with a 1/4-inch male coupler with dust cover, a rugged plastic carrying case, oil, and 1,000 brads. --Jonathon Tudor ... Read more

Features

• One year warranty/30 day performance certification
• Uses standard 18 gauge brad nails from 3/4 to 2 inches long
• Adjustable exhaust port and depth-of-drive
• Removable non-marring tip to protect delicate work
• Quick-release nosepiece for fast clearing of jams

Reviews (29)

Call Me Quick Draw Magraw!!
Hello All,

I'm so thrilled with this new brad nailer that, I'm telling everyone about it. I purchased this unit as a replacement for an older model Campbell Hausfeld brad nailer. What I LOVE about this unit is, that it has the ability to ADJUST the brad depth. For many moons my only means of doing this with my Campbell Hausfeld unit, was to drop the air pressure.(What a royal PITA)I also purchased brads ranging in length from 5/8"-2" to test the gun with.

The BN200A shot all the above brads without a catch, not a single misfire nor any problems with drifting brad depths. I can't say enough good things about this nailer!! If you're looking for a great little brad nailer at a good price, then look no further! I truly believe that you too will find the weight and quality construction of this brad nailer outstanding.

Sweet!
I've only used one other brad nailer and it was as flawless in functionality as this one, but the PC has more features that make it worth the price.
I really like the nail-depth setting, it's a LOT nicer than adjusting air pressure(yuck!!) I also like the swiveling exhaust port, I always seem to get in a position that I get an oily blast of air in my face before I remember to move the port somewhere else.
I haven't had a single problem with it, no jams or misfires.
Very nice tool!

As far as the fit and finish, this guy is top notch. It feel solidly built and very well balanced.

I actually like that this only has a single-fire trigger. I can't see needing to use a brad nailer at the pace of one of the bigger framers with a bump trigger. One is available at extra cost if you find a need, though.

Works well, great price, better than Senco FP18
I was looking for a 2" brad nailer to do wood trim and help with furniture building. I wanted an 18 gauge for the tiny hole that it makes and virtually non-existent wood splitting compared to a 15 or 16 gauge nailer. 2" is enough to go through the trim and drywall and bite into the wall stud.

I originally bought a Senco FP18 brad nailer based on Senco's reputation and the fact that it went on sale for a great price at the local Menards. However, it did not set brads very deep in the wood - barely 1/32" below the surface, any size nail, any type of wood, at 120 psi.

The Senco went back, and I ordered this Porter Cable from Amazon with the free shipping. Ordered Sunday night, arrived Thursday. This nailer has a very solid feel and does an excellent job setting the brads deeply into any wood, including 2" brads into solid red oak. It works fine off of 90 psi.

I am very happy with this unit, and with Amazon's shipping. I've ordered lots of various things from Amazon and always have great results.

A good little brad nailer so far
One of my coworkers recently bought a reconditioned Porter Cable BN200A because the Senco SLP20 at work wouldn't countersink brads anymore. The first Porter Cable brad nailer he bought was defective (misfired), so he exchanged it for one that worked properly. We've been using the Porter Cable for several weeks now, and it has held up nicely.

We've mainly used it on quartersawn oak, particularly the smaller pieces of trim. The adjustable depth of drive functions as expected, and the nailer has had adequate power. It countersinks well and leaves only a small hole in the wood. The only time I've experienced difficulties with it was when I tried to fasten trim to a plaster-coated brick wall in an old house. The brads couldn't penetrate the brick behind the plaster. However, this isn't a shortcoming of the nailer since I couldn't even get my 15-gauge Hitachi finish nailer to drive through the brick without pretzelling.

I like the short height of this brad nailer--it came in handy when attaching trim behind a cast iron radiator where there wasn't much room.

If you're trying to decide between buying a 15-gauge or 18-gauge nailer, perhaps this will help. In my opinion, the 15-gauge nailer is more versatile because 1) it can fire longer nails (good for attaching crown molding, door casing, baseboards and some framing applications); 2) it can be used for structural applications like setting prehung windows & doors; 3) the 15-gauge nails are more difficult to bend so they have better success when firing into hard or dense surfaces (plaster & lath, plaster over mortar, soft brick, thick MDF, etc.); 4) angled 15-gauge finish nailers can fit into some spaces better than straight brad nailers. However, the 18-gauge brad nailer excels in firing into small diameter trim pieces (door jambs, shoe base, etc.) and in situations where the size of the nail hole is more important than the strength or length of the nail. Although some 18-gauge brad nailers can fire up to 2 inch long brads, the longer brad lengths are so thin that they sometimes have difficulty penetrating dense materials without pretzelling all over the place. A 15-gauge nail will generally penetrate farther and hold better.

I gave the Porter Cable 4 stars (instead of 5) because the first one my coworker bought was defective.

A litte gem, well engineered with consistent results!
I tried the Porter Cable BN200A and the Bostitch BT200K. The PC worked flawlessly, felt more solid, and just generally outperformed the Bostitch. This surprised me since I own other Bostitch nailers and am quite satisfied with them. The Bostitch would not throw the nails consistently slowing down my work flow considerably. Additionally the PC seems to be able to tolerate different types of nails more easily. All in all the PC is just simply better. Spend slightly more and save yourself time and trouble => Buy the Porter Cable. ... Read more

Features

• Directional exhaust
• Drives both wire framing and plastic sheet siding collated coil fasteners
• Weighs only 5.5 pounds
• New side-load bucket with tilt-out feature for quick and easy fastener loading
• Accurate tool-less depth of drive

Reviews (2)

Great Nailer, Great Buy
Amazon's Tool Crib shipped on time with no glitches. The 75 nailer is typical of Hitachi's great nailers, and has the versatility to do framing and siding. Mine has gone through about 4000 2" Senco and 3" Bostich nails for fence building without a miss and little sign of wear. Since I only use it once in a while, I'm confident it will last me a lifetime.

Once again, Hitachi produces a superior product.
I was in need of another siding gun, and saw the NV75AG just hit the market. Being that I own the siding (4 years use) and framing (8 years use) versions Hitachi makes (both superior products), when it came time to get a second nailer for siding the choice was clear. For several years I have been contempating getting a coil framer. When sheeting walls on the ground I loose considerable time reloading with the stick framer. This gun holds over 225 nails in one coil! And should my stick framer blow a top seal, or sider fail, the NV75AG will allow me to continue.
The gun functions flawlessly, with both the depth adjustment on the gun and a non maring tip included. Hitachi includes all allen wrenches and fittings, something other makers should but don't.
Only complaints, cost and plastic skirting. Cost, well it takes the place of 2 guns. Skirting, easily removed. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The first time you pick up the Bostitch N62FNK-2, you mightwonder if such a lightweight finish nailer (it weighs just 3.8 pounds,the lightest in its class) can really get the job done. But once youpull the trigger and feel the 400 in./lbs. of driving power at yourfingertips, those doubts will disappear and you'll wonder how you everdid without it before. Rugged and sturdy enough for virtually anyapplication, the N62FNK-2 delivers fast, clean, accurate results usingfinish nails from 1 to 2-1/2 inches in length. An oil-free engine meansno unsightly stains on your work--a definite plus--and no need for messylubrication, an even bigger positive. Tool-free maintenance and depthcontrol only add to the allure. --Carl Thress ... Read more

Features

• No-mar tip protects surfaces
• Oil-free engine requires no lubrication and won't stain work surfaces
• Magnesium housing makes the nailer durable and lightweight--only 3.8 pounds
• Delivers 400 inch/pounds of driving power
• Drives BFN-style finish nails from 1 to 2-1/2 inches long

Reviews (41)

Have No Fear
I am in the process of remodeling my "old" house. The walls are plaster which have become very brittle and delicate over the years. Hammering to install new molding was out of the question. I needed a gun that was light, powerful, easy to operate, and didn't require oiling so as not to make a mess in my home.

I purchased the Bostitch N62FNK-2 nailer (my first nailer) based on the customer reviews and manufacturer information. This gun is absolutely amazing! It delivered everything I wanted in a nailer. I saved money because I didn't damage any of the existing plaster walls, all nails held firmly the first shot...hammering would have been a nightmare!!

I was a little apprehensive about using a nail gun since I had never owned one before. It was so easy and so fast!! My only improvement idea would be that the manufacturer offer variety nail packs, so you don't have to buy such large quantities of only one size nail... BUT... Have No fear...Go for it...perhaps the best tool I have ever owned!

The Glock of finish nailers...
This gun is 6 stars but five is all that's available : ) - Picked this up today researched my (...) off ... looked at these nailers PC DA250 - Senco 40 - and the Bostitch. Well let me tell you, the folks at Bostitch have done thier homework on this gun it is superb...

The PC is to big, to heavy, to awkward and needed oil, nice gun, but simply put - outdated...

The Senco came in a close second. I chose the Bostitch for power and features the (ABS plastic and Magnesium) make this one of the lightest if not the lightest guns available, 3 something pounds. Doing away with the bulky cleat up front to clear jams (feeder pops off with the flick of a button, can't be easier) makes seeing your work area a breeze - you can look right down the front ramp no obsticles in your way. This thing punches thru Oak-Maple-Ash, like butter... I've seen comments about nail availability - well I was at Lowe's and Home Depot today and both had more nail selections available for Bostitch than for Senco any size nail I wanted was right there...

Anyone that knows guns will know what I'm saying when I say "this is the Glock of finish nailers" state of the art - top shelf, great job Bostitch...!!! This will be the standard all the rest will follow...

Home owner
I purchased this gun and i love it. It has a great feel due to its light weight. When you use this gun you will know that bostich has done their homework on this one. It has all of the features i could ask for and for a great price. As for finding nails forthe nailer my local lowes or home depot has all various sizes but only in quanities of 3500. I dont really mind it at all ill have plenty for other projects.

Duo-fast vs. Bostich
From the sound of these reviews, the gun seems to work pretty good for homeowners & such. I've been a carpenter for 40 years. I've been using finish nailers for about 20 years. My last nail gun was a Duo-fast. I finally retired it recently, after 17+ years of service. Since the local lumber yard carries Bostich nails, I went with Bostich. I've had the gun 18 months & the piston rod has broken 3 times. Replacing it myself still cost me $35.00 a pop. Anybody who has trimmed a door or window or installed baseboard, knows it's immpossible not to hit a screw head or sheetrock nail once in a while. Well, everytime I hit one, the piston rod breaks. It breaks in the exact same spot. It appears to made of cast aluminum or something, instead of hardened or stainless steel. I like the gun & am thinking about getting somebody to manufacture a functional rod for me, since Bostich doesn't know how.

Simply The Best
Just purchased another for my Dad. I bought mine three months ago. Arrived on a Friday and by Monday I had installed 5,000 linear feet of baseboard, door and crown moulding. No jams, no drips, no runs and no errors.

If you are new to air tools, or just nail guns, here's some hard learned advice for you. Don't buy off brand nails, hoses, connectors, etc and try to save a few dollars. You will regret it and probably wind up spending more than if you had bought the quality item in the first place. Nowhere more so than the world of tools is the old addage "you get what you pay for" true. Also, use the 50% rule when selecting a compressor. Buying one that is JUST enough to run the tool you are using will not only shorten the compressor's life and servicability, it will frustrate you and leave you with a bad impression of the compressor or tool because your compressor is running almost constantly. So, do some research and buy a compressor at least 50% more capacity than what you think the minimum is. I'm running this nailer with a 5 HP 25 gallon compressor and it only kicks on every 75 nailings or so. My neighbor has a 2.5 HP 4 gallon dual tank that kicked on every 5th to 6th nailing when he borrowed my nailer. The cost difference is minimal, but the overall satisfaction at the end of the day is worth a ton.

Back to the nailer. To date, over 10,000 nailings and still NO JAMS. It's light weight, easy to get into tight spots and with a little practice you can get good enough to paint you moulding prior to install since this gun will not mar the surface or leave oil marks. It's a whole lot easier to paint several thousand feet of moulding on a set of sawhorses in the shop than it is once it's installed 2 feet over your head. Just use some white putty to fill the very discrete nail holes and you're done.

PROS:
* Oil free (Very big plus)
* Lightweight and sturdy
* Virtually maintenance free
* No tool needed to set depth
* Fits into tight corners

CONS:
* Haven't found one yet. Well, maybe they could include an assortment of 4,000 nails instead of only 1,000 that are all one size. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Porter Cable’s redesigned angle nailer fires standard 15-gauge angled finish nails and brings along a list of improved features and benefits. For starters, Porter-Cable upped the nail capacity, taking nails from 1 inch to 2-1/2 inches. The streamlined body balances the ample magazine in the center of the handle rather than off to one side, offering better balance than most of its competitors. Another nice redo: the angled coupler minimizes interference with the air hose during reloading. The tool’s weight is down, too, from 6 pounds down to 4.2 pounds, thanks in part to a new Teflon cylinder and a high-impact plastic magazine. The magazine loads from the rear with a by-pass pusher you can reach from either side of the tool. A non-marring rubber nose tip (with on-tool storage) will protect your workpiece. This nailer comes with a restrictive trigger, but a bottom-actuated trigger kit is available from Porter Cable.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Adjustable exhaust port and depth-of-drive for maximum comfort and control
• Drives 1-inch to 2-1/2-inch, 15 gauge DA type finish nails
• Internal piston-catch ensures full driver blade stroke every time
• In-line glass filled magazine for left or right hand access
• Quick-release nose piece for fast clearing of jams and less down time

Reviews (9)

Is this a cannon or what?
I was building a cabinet the other day and using this nailer, and man, I tell you, you could feel and hear the power of this puppy throughout the shop. It fired rounds of 2" nails in solid oak and with every shot, there was a consistent message being sent out to the wood, "don't mess with me"!
When working with solid hardwood material, and finish nails, the last thing that you want is your nails to be proud of the surface where you have to go back and set them all manually, or the nailer leaving an ugly mar on the surface. None of that with this baby;) It sets the nails and does it exactly where you want them. Very nice tool!

This tool is more powerful, than the 16 gauge finish nailer
I have been using Porter Cables 16 gauge finish nailer, and their 18 gauge finish brad nailer, for over a year now. It has performed great. I was doing some tongue and groove cedar on a wall, and wasn't able to get a the nail on the 16 to sit down flush in the upper corner of the tongue. I picked up one of these 15 gauge, the new DA250B, and this thing kicks butt. It is substantially more powerful, than the 16 gauge. POW, their is no mistake about it. What that amounted to, was the 16 gauge would not drive the nail all the way into the inaccessable corner of the tongue. When I tried it with the 15 gauge, it drove the nail in further, all the way to clean with the surface, down in the corner. The 16 gauge took it to the extent the tip would go, but the 15 gauge went beyond the restriction, all the way to a flush finish. So you could say, the tongue extends out farther on the 15, like beyond flush. It is not the air pressure, I'm running it on a 6HP 60 gallon tank, or the setting of the head depth, I played with all of those. It simply is a more powerful machine, and the tongue appears to extend more, to drive the nail deeper in situations where you can't get the head all the way in a corner. It drives it in anyway.
I would like to make a comparison. It is like comparing the 18 gauge to the 16, but moreso. Maybe it is the new technology, but this thing kicks. The second you fire the first nail, you know it, before you even look at the result. It does leave a larger hole of course, and it has a slight D-shape to it. Reminds you of the old hand forged nail look, but on a finish nail size, and it is a little hole, rather than an exposed nail.
You will notice that Porter Cable states that it is improved to accept other manufacturers nails. I think that may be the nature of the problem some others were experiencing with the older model. They put strange nails in the gun, but now it can accept them.
I highly recommend it, and I expect it will give me the same reliability the 16 and the 18 have given me over the year.

Perfect the first time
I purchased this nailer as a companion to a P-C brad nailer that I had gotten in a combo kit. I was building cabinets for my garage (about 20 feet worth) and wanted something that could handle larger nails. I built drawers, face frames and various wooden assessories for the cabinets. I went through nearly 1000 shots in the first week without the least problems or bumps. And the time it saved in labor probably paid for the unit. I have had no trouble with it at all. When not in use, I keep it clean and cased... the secret to air tools. The overall quality is very good... well worth the price. So far, solid and reliable.

Exactly as expected
I would give it 4.5 stars but that is not an option. I got this one for xmas, I guess the wish list on amazon does work (hehe). Just finished up a basement finsish, shot about 4 boxes of 2.5" and 2" nail through it, not a one miss or jam (watch me jinx myself). I do know that porter cable has completely redesigned the "B" version of this gun, maybe all the negative feedback for it was for the "A" version. I can't complain about this nailer, not in the least, except it seems to be slightly inconsistent in the "blow out" in the wood. It feels light in your hand and the adjustable exhaust is great.

Expensive to repair
I bought the DA250A after owning the Porter Cable brad nailer/compressor combo for over one year. I never had a problem with either one, and was expecting the same performance, but I was very disappointed. It worked fine with the Porter Cable nails it came with (about 500 nails), but it consistently jammed using Senco nails, gouging the magazine, rendering the nailer useless. Speaking of gouging, a new magazine is about [$], one third of the cost of a new nail gun! I can see why Porter Cable redesigned the gun, but I am now wary of buying another product from them despite the good luck I've had with their router and brad nailer because of these problems. Porter Cable should give a trade-in allowance on this poorly designed product. ... Read more

Features

• Rafter hook and measuring rule on the magazine
• Powerful
• Lightweight and well balanced
• Low recoil
• All-weather use

Reviews (18)

Framing Contractor - Grand Rapids Michigan
...It seems that all the experienced framers in the area prefer the Hitachi nailer. I disagree. I prefer the Paslode. The balance, and weight make a big difference to me. I also prefer the nails. You do not have to concern yourself with the plastic flying into your face. Some will say the Hitachi is a faster gun, however I am unable to find anybody who is able to run either gun to its full potential. The only reason I gave it a four star is because of the clipped head nails. If I can find a round head nail that will work with this gun, it would become a 5 star review for sure...

I've always liked Paslode air tools
When I started framing we had an older silver looking Paslode gun that felt like it weighed a ton (chuckle), and a brand new one that felt like you were using a finish nailer (it was light in comparison). Both guns shot nails extremely well. In fact, they were more dependable than the other brands that were available on the jobsite (Hitachi & Senco).

Since somebody decided to liberate me from my Porter-Cable FC-350, I decided to go back to my beginnings and purchased this Paslode gun. I do not feel that my choice was flawed at all.

You've got to make sure that your pressure and the depth adjustment are in tandem or you will have overdrives or stand-offs. This is the case with any nail gun though.

I'd always recommend Paslode guns to anyone who would ask. Besides, I'd rather use paper collated nails too.

Paslode F350S
As the owner of a professional custom wood crating shop, we fire 1000's of nail monthly. This is by far the worst product we have ever used. It came miss firing and not firing from day one. Our supplier thought we were crazy, but upon checking w/ the factory it was discovered to have a Paslode known problem. (The old nieve corporate mentality - getting the customers $$ and worry about it later)It was updated and repaired several times, but continues to not fire and blow air either from the head or trigger (apparently from poor fitting internals). We can not deal with this piece of junk. It's headed to the dump.....

Good Nailer
This was my first framing nailer, and I lucked out with a good one. It can get right between studs on a 16" OC. I have never had a problem with it. The gun is powerful -no problems sinking nails. - Comfortable and well balanced. It is a little loud and has some recoil, although not as much as my full-head nailor. No jams so far. The light weight won't wear you out either. I don't think you can go wrong with this gun.

No plastic collation spit out at you, or to clean up!
Yes you can get round drive heads, which is more appealing to the eye.
Yes you have to pull the wrench out to change the depth, however I do not have to do that too often, it is not a bother to me.

I have the Impulse Framer (The new orange one not the old black one) as well, I much prefer the pneumatic.

Why have a cordless chop saw right next to your plug in table saw? Cords and hoses are a part of the jobsight.
Impulse' days are coming, but not for anytime soon. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Remember when you were a kid on Christmas morning, with a pile of new toys to play with--but no batteries? Well, Porter-Cable's not going to let that happen to you again. Here they've packaged their hard-working 18-gauge brad nailer with its power source--a 15 amp, 120-volt, 6-gallon compressor driven by a 2-horsepower oil-free motor. Fill up the nailer with standard 18-gauge brads from 3/4 inch to 2 inches long, hook up, and you're ready to install baseboards, chair rails, moldings, even make quick work of those wooden craft items like country shelves and vegetable bins. Here's a nice feature: the safety is located behind the driving guide, so you can work in tight spaces. The die-cast body weighs only 2-3/4 pounds, and a removable rubber nose won't leave a mark on your workpiece. There's a handy depth adjustment for setting the drive depth of the nail and a directional exhaust port. When the anodized magazine's visual reload indicator tells you you're empty, reach into the rugged carrying case, where there's room to store 5,000 brads. The kit comes with quick connects, 25 feet of 300 psi air hose and thread sealing tape. It's the perfect combination at a really good price. Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• 1 year limited warranty
• Professional nailer shoots 3/4" to 2" 18 gauge brad nails
• Nailer features cushion grip, depth of drive, quick-release nosepiece, and directional exhaust
• Oil-free compressor produces 3.7 scfm at 40 psi and 2.7 scfm at 90 psi
• Complete kit with quick-connects, 25' 300 psi air hose, thread sealing tape, nailer case, and wrenches

Reviews (4)

Great product delivers almost everything promised
This nailer kit is by far one of the greastest additions to my home workshop. The tool is flawless and the uses for readily available compressed air keep on coming. Ordering from Amazon was easy and the product arrived on time in excellent condition. One of the main reasons I purchased from Amazon was the $50 promotional certificate. DON'T EXPECT AMAZON TO HONOR THEIR OFFER. All you get is some gibberish about a technical error from Amit. Fat chance I will ever buy anything from Amazon.com again.

A happy owner!!
I bought this kit because I wanted a larger compressor than I had, one with a tank, and a brad gun. I came upon this and bought it. The gun is great and never jams and is easily adjustable. The compressor works flawlessly. My only complaint (be it a minor one for me) is that the thing sounds like a jackhammer. It is LOUD!!! I mostly use it in my garage so I ended up puting it in a shed outside and running a hose into the garage. Now I barely hear it. The 4 stars is only because of the noise level.

Good deal for the money
Positives: works very well, plenty of power to drive nails into hardwood, doesn't split the wood (even at the edge of a board), it's consistent in depth of drive, doesn't mar the surface, and the price is good.
Negatives: none other than the noise of the compressor, but hey it's a power tool what do you expect.
Summary: highly recommend!!!

Perfect for my needs.
I purchased this kit because I had a ton of baseboard molding to replace. This included everything I needed in one convenient package and is perfectly sized for my needs. I have used it for molding installation and have purchased two additional nailers to use with the compressor: a framing nailer and flooring stapler. The compressor will cycle more often because of its small capacity but that is not a problem as long as you are near an electrical source. This is the perfect size for the home improvement enthusiast. ... Read more

Features

• Low recoil
• Lightweight, weighs 4.7 pounds
• Angled magazine
• Adjustable depth of drive
• Requires no lubrication

Reviews (4)

Great Nail Gun!
No issues with mine, great handling, nails set perfect everytime, quieter than most, and oil-free! I have used different sized nails with no problem. Buy one it's great!

Sometimes doesn't shoot
I purchased this nailer from the BOB to install lots of 3/8" plywood sheets in the garage. A friend had lent me his Pasco framing nailer for the 2x4's. The Pasco works well, no misfires, no jams. The contractor must have it set in production mode because it was easy to shoot two nails in trigger pull.

The Senco was also a joy to use. No noticeable weight, well balanced, and considerably quieter than the Paslode (it is a smaller gun). Depth of nail was easily set and consistent.

I had three complaints with the Senco: 1) Air connector nipple was not included, necessitating another trip to the BOB. 2) Nails do not shoot consistently. I can fire 20 times, then 4 misfires. Usually when I'm in the most inconvenient place. It has something to do with the safety switch or nail guard not completely activating when the gun is set. I will contact Senco and/or BOB today. If they can advise a fix, the gun stays. If not, back it goes. Too bad.

Another great SENCO product.
This is a great nailer. It is both smaller and lighter than the SFN40 which is (was) the standard by which all other finish nailers are compared. One outstanding feature of this tool is that it is very quiet, while still able to drive and set 2.5" nails with ease. The depth adjustment and exhaust vent settings work just like other SENCO units, so no complaints there. You cannot go wrong with this unit.

Great for crown mouldings
I bought one of these guns recently as a replacement for another nailer. I put in thousands of feet of crown moulding every month and have yet to have any sort of misfire or double nailing. It also sets the head of the nail comfortably below the surface each and every time. ...Yet another great SENCO tool! ... Read more