Air Tools
August 23, 2010
Win a Duo-Fast DF225C Coil Siding Nailer from Tool Snob!
The nice folks at Duo-Fast are supplying us with one of their new coil siding nailers to give away to a lucky reader. The new gun is lightweight (lighter, as far as we can tell, than any other pro-grade siding nailer on the market) and takes plastic-collated nails to reduce the nasty, rusty staining that can happen with metal-collated nails. It's got a street value of about $370.
We've had one for a while now and have been testing it out for an upcoming review (hopefully to be posted before the contest is over) and so far, it's been a champ.
So to enter, leave a comment at this post telling us two reasons why you should be the one to get the nailer. We'll choose the winner based on who we think is most deserving, or who makes us laugh, or who, at that moment, we think is the most sincere. It's a crapshoot, really, what exactly we're looking for, but we'll know when we find it, so just be yourself. We'll do the drawing on Tuesday, September 7th, the day after Labor Day.
More information on the tool is at Duo-Fast and the press release on the gun is after the jump. If you don't have the patience to wait for the contest to end, but you want one of these nailers oh so bad, you can pick one up at Amazon.
Continue reading: "Win a Duo-Fast DF225C Coil Siding Nailer from Tool Snob!"
August 11, 2010
Bosch BNS200-18 Brad Nailer - Review
Last year, Bosch got into the pneumatic game with a lot of fanfare, most of it centered around something they called Full-Force Technology. In a normal pneumatic gun, a portion of the air blast enters a reserve chamber and is used to reset the firing pin. Bosch removed these chambers and figured out a way to create an entirely separate second blast of air in order to do the dirty work of pin resetting. Without these chambers, a lot of bulk could be removed from their guns, and without a portion of the air used to reset the firing pin, the guns could be more powerful, 10% according to Bosch.
Well they recently sent us the BNS200 brad gun to check out and we put it to the test, first in regular use and then in the shop. In this second setting we directly compared it to two other solid guns that we have; our old reliable Porter-Cable and the gold standard of brad guns, the Cadex 18.50.
Continue reading: "Bosch BNS200-18 Brad Nailer - Review"
August 10, 2010
Popular Mechanics Cordless Finish Gun Test
My latest article for Popular Mechanics was posted up yesterday. In this one, I compared the various fuel types available for cordless finish guns. In other words I pitted the DeWalt against the Paslode against the Senco Fusion. As a control, I also threw in the Bosch pneumatic. A few of the test results are pretty surprising, so if you're into finish guns or if you're even just part of the tech crowd, it might be worth a look see.
Read the article here.
July 20, 2010
Senco Fusion F-15 Cordless Finish Nailer - Review
There's been a lot of buzz around the Senco Fusion. And if you're to believe what Senco has been saying about it, there should be. To give it all some context, you need to know that, to date, the technology behind cordless finish guns seems, well, incomplete. There are the gas powered guns, which take a battery and a removable gas cartridge, but they smell terrible and have the added expense of replacing the gas cartridge. Then there are the nailers powered by a flywheel motor, which have solved the dual fuel problem (as well as the odor), but are lacking in power, particularly when dealing with hardwoods. So there are options out there, but you're getting yourself into a tradeoff; sure I don't have a compressor or hoses, but I've got a smelly gas cartridge or I've got a gun that has some difficulty with mahogany. There isn't any ideal situation out there.
So the Senco Fusion seeks to fill this gap and combine the best of both arenas. Its goal is to fuse the manueverability of the cordless gun with the power of the traditional pneumatic nailer. And how does it attempt to do this, you ask?
Continue reading: "Senco Fusion F-15 Cordless Finish Nailer - Review"
June 22, 2010
Paslode PF150S-PP Positive Placement Metal Connector Nailer - Review
Paslode, a company that makes nail guns and only nail guns, has recently released a new Positive Placement Nailer (PPN). If you don't know what a PPN is, it looks like a miniature framing gun, but it has a way to pinpoint the location of the nail. On other brands, this is done with the tip of the nail sticking proud out of the nose, but Paslode does this with a little metal beak. So you just press the beak where you want the nail and pull the trigger. With this in mind PPNs are created specifically for nailing off metal straps, joist hangers, hurricane ties, and other pieces of perforated metal. Paslode was nice enough to send a sample of the new nailer our way, so we happily tested it out.
First, a bit about this gun. The most significant change that Paslode has made is to reduce the gun to a single nail size (1-1/2"). It's the most common size for metal hangers and meets most code requirements. Because there is only one nail size, Paslode could minimize the width of the nail magazine and thus make it longer without sacrificing any weight. The Paslode can accept two full strips of nails meaning less pauses in the workday.
The feel of this tool is great and it looks like it can really take a beating, which is good, because we've seen how professional framers treat their tools. And even with the extended magazine, the gun is compact enough so there's no problem jamming it into joist bays and other tight spots (it's pictured below next to the Paslode framer).
We tested it in the shop with a ledgerboard mock-up and we also took it to work for some day to day action and the tool really performed well. If you've never used a PPN before, you'll be surprised at how easy it is to use and how fast it makes things go. And we're happy to note that the Paslode is powerful enough so that if you feel the hanger is light on nail holes, you can just blast additional nails right through the hanger.
Obviously, this is not a tool for Jimmy, the neighborhood DIY guy who wants to build a deck. He'd be wasting his money. But if you're part of a construction company or if you're just getting started in the business and you're still in the 'I'll build a deck for anyone' phase, this tool will pay for itself in no time.
The PF150S goes for the somewhat large price of $369 and is available at your local Paslode dealer. You can call Paslode direct if you can't find one). It's a lot to pay, but it's a really nice tool.
February 10, 2010
Paslode Positive Placement Metal Connector Nailer
If you're unfamiliar with metal connector nailers, they're essentially nail guns for joist hanger nails. Obviously, they're not for the casual DIYer, or even the serious DIYer. They're for framing crews and construction sites. They differ from framing guns in that they're usually shorter (so they can fit in a joist bay) and the tip of the nail hangs out of the nose of the gun a little so you can place it in the joist hanger hole. Like we said, not everyone needs one, but if you've ever built a deck, you can quickly see the value of the tool.
Paslode has recently released a new version of their gun. This one is specifically designed for 1-1/2" nails, the most commonly used size. It also looks like it has an adjustable exhaust and the same aluminum housing that we saw on their framer. There's no word on price, but something like this is going to be at least $200.
Paslode even has an interesting calculator so you can see how much money you'd be saving with a metal connector nailer here.
November 25, 2009
Bosch Full Force Compressors
To go along with their new air guns, Bosch is releasing five new compressors (three hand carry and two wheelbarrow). Like the guns, Bosch isn't content with releasing a generic old compressor with their logo on it, nope, they've got to get all 'advanced innovation' on us.
The new items have a few stand-out characteristics that separate them from the pack. First, the hand-carry models are twin tank units with the tanks positioned vertically. This allows for a more effective single drain system as well as a better center of gravity. As someone who routinely lugs a 4-gallon compressor over uneven ground and up staging ladders, I can attest that this is not an improvement to be ignored.
The wheelbarrow compressors also have the single drain as well as a redesigned handle so it's easier to wheel it around.
I had the opportunity to give these compressors a look over (in a non-work environment), and we liked what we saw. The weight distribution really does make it easier to carry and the drainage set-up is one of those, "you mean no one ever thought of that before" kind of things.
As for pricing, the hand-carry models are in the $300-$400 range and the wheelbarrow's are up around $1,100-$1,500. So like the Full Force guns, they're more expensive than the rest of what's out there, but when compared to other top brands, the difference isn't all that great.
There's more information at the Bosch website here, and if you're interested in more nitty-gritty information on the compressors, the press release is after the jump.
The Bosch compressors are available at Amazon.
Continue reading: "Bosch Full Force Compressors"
October 21, 2009
Campbell Hausfeld WL6701 26-Gallon Compressor - Review
Campbell Hausfeld is in the process of releasing a full line of pneumatics for the DIYer. Among the items are a finish gun (our review here), a framing gun, and a brad gun. Since you need a compressor to operate all of these tools, it makes sense that they're going to be releasing some of those as well. Turns out that in their new line, they've got two 8-gallon models and a mondo 26-gallon model which comes complete with some extra goodies for the DIYer. It's this last one that we were lucky enough to test out, courtesy of the fine folks at CH.
First off, the usability is great. the knobs are all easy to use and are very well marked. The on switch is a bright red foot pedal, so even if you've been drinking heavily you won't be missing it. The compressor also comes with a handle and a cool three wheeled bottom which makes it very easy to move even over the uneven and cracked cement floor of our shop. The whole package sort of reminded us of the robot from Lost in Space.
Usually, compressor space is dead space for anything else, but CH has thought this through and flattened the top of the unit. It's specifically designed to hold other CH air tools, but obviously you can really put anything there.
The compressor also has two different ports for hoses. One, lower down by the foot-operated on-switch, comes hardwired to a coil hose. At the business end of the coil hose is an air gun, and to make things easy, CH has supplied a number of different inflator tools to attach to the gun. So whether it's a car tire, a soccer ball or a bike tire, you've already got what you need. The coil hose is great too. It stretched from the garage all the way around the truck with no problem. After the first stretch, we lost some of the coil tightness, but that's no biggie. The second air port is up by the controls and is the standard female coupling you'd see on a regular compressor.
The most interesting aspect of the compressor is something called No Wait Inflation. What this means is that the coil hose fills with air first, so if you're just going to just top off the tires, you don't have to wait for the entire tank to fill (which takes a while). Because we're so busy lately, we've become pretty impatient, so this feature is a great addition in our eyes.
We were floating around Amazon the other day and saw that someone had written a review of the compressor giving it only one star. They said it was loud and that it took forever to fill. Sounds to us like they just described every compressor we've ever used. It's no question though, the CH compressor doesn't fill up in record time, but it's 26-gallons of compressed air. What do you expect? And if you can't wait, there's the recoil hose. That's sort of why it's there in the first place. If you're going to use the tank for a pneumatic gun, just get the compressor started first and by the time you're set up, you're good to go. Or be like everyone else and never drain the thing.
The bottom line is that this would be a nice compressor for anyone who is looking to bring their home workshop to the next level. It costs about $350 so it's a bit of an investment, but it's less expensive than other compressors of similar size and it comes with a number of useful attachments so you can get right to using it. Also the No Wait Inflation is great in a pinch.
More information at CHCompressors.com
At Lowes ($339) and Amazon ($459)
July 30, 2009
Campbell Hausfeld Angled Finish Nailer - Review
Campbell Hausfeld is out with a new line of pneumatics (www.chnailers.com/)that are specifically designed for the casual user. We recently got a chance to test out their new Angled Finish Nailer and check out all the interesting new features.
First off, we have to give CH some serious applause for including an instruction manual that's actually helpful. Like we said, this is a gun for the first time user and occasional DIYer and that's someone who is likely going to need a quick primer on compressors and guns. The instructions are nicely laid out, easily referenced, and very helpful to someone who's trying to understand how their first nail gun works. Thankfully, it has no resemblance to the generic 'manual' that comes with most other tools ('make sure to wear eye protection...etc")
Continue reading: "Campbell Hausfeld Angled Finish Nailer - Review"
July 20, 2009
Bosch Finish and Trim Nailers Available
Way back in late April, we told you about Bosch's new line of pneumatics. Upon announcement of the line, they only released the framing guns, probably because they were worried about flooding the market with too much awesome at once. Well, the first wave has passed and they're now releasing the four finish guns; the angled finish nailer, the straight finish nailer, the brad nailer, and the crown stapler.
We tried all of these out when we visited Bosch HQ and were quite impressed with them. They're all equipped with Full-Force Technology, which boils down to less wasted air, more powerful nail drives and a smaller gun. For more information on FFT and the rest of the line, check out our earlier post on the subject.
FNA250-15: 15-gauge angled finish nailer at Amazon ($390)
FNA250-16: 16-gauge straight finish nailer at Amazon ($335)
BNS200-18: 18-gauge brad nailer at Amazon ($120)
STN150-18: 18-gauge finish stapler at Amazon ($125)
June 16, 2009
June 10, 2009
Paslode Unveils New Website
Paslode has recently redesigned their website and anyone who ever tried to navigate around the old one knows how welcome this change is. There would be times when we would be looking for information on a tool and we'd simply have to give up. Seriously, it was like they were playing Space Invaders and all the other tool companies were playing Half-Life. But now, after the redesign, the site is really top notch; it's easy to navigate, there's a ton of information on the tools, and it just generally looks alive (as opposed to the old one which looked like it had been sprayed with Round Up). Three cheers for Paslode!
The site also has a blog as well as an invitation for you to become a member of the Advisory Board.
At the moment, you can even win a CF-325 Cordless Framer (our review here) if you help them name the blog.
Visit the site and experience the glory at Paslode.com
Check out our reviews of Paslode tools here.
May 22, 2009
Campbell Hausfeld Nail Guns
It looks like Campbell Hausfeld is revamping their line of nail guns with the release of three new pneumatic weapons. The guns have a number of interesting features, which appear to gear them towards the DIY set. The price is also going to be a bit lower than the pro crowd, which is always nice.
There are three guns in this release; a 34 degree framing gun, an 15-gauge angled finish nailer, and an 18-gauge brad nailer. The three guns have a new streamlined look which is a nice departure from the blocky primary blue of past CH guns. As far as features go, there are a number that have essentially become standard on today's guns like an adjustable exhaust, dry fire lock out, and easy access to a jammed nail. But the CH guns have quite a bit that we've never seen before. These new features include a little laser point to indicate nail location, a low nail indicator light, and a tethered no mar tip. But the boldest of these new features has to be the built-in stud finder on the finish nailer. One other thing that is worth mentioning is that the CH guns all come with a swiveling male plug. Sure, it's a small touch, but to us it's an essential (and smart) one. Why swiveling plugs aren't on every gun made is beyond us.
Like we mentioned earlier, the guns look like they're geared toward the DIYers. Most carpenters we know still scoff at using a laser with a miter saw, so we can't imagine the eye rolling we'd see in this case. But if you're not using nail guns everyday, we can think of some situations where the laser could be helpful. And as for the built-in stud finder, it initially strikes us as a tool trying to do too much, but when we get down to it, we realize that if it works, it could save a lot of time and anguish. And when we hop in the time capsule, we can envision a world 10 years in the future where all finish nailers come with some sort of stud finder on them. Who knows, maybe this is the initial stage of a technology that will catch on.
The pricing on these tools is just where you'd expect, pretty much one 'level' below the pro tools. The framer will be about $200, the 15 gauge about $140, and the 18 gauge around $90. These prices sound reasonable to us.
The tools will be available in early June at select retailers (CPO, Air Compressors Direct), but it's our guess that we'll also start seeing them at Amazon as well as the box stores.
There's plenty more information on the guns at CHnailers.com, which, by the way, is one of the nicer micro-sites that we've seen in a while.
April 20, 2009
Bosch Full Force Pneumatic Nail Guns
If the tool industry was an above ground pool, last week Bosch was the 300 pound man cannonballing into the center of it. While the company is doing a lot that is impressive, the waves and splashes mostly emanate from the release of their new line of pneumatic tools.
This is a wonderfully aggressive move for a couple of reasons. First, until now, Bosch hasn't shown any interest at all in the pneumatic category, seemingly content to leave that arena to Hitachi, Paslode, Bostitich, Senco and all of the other companies known for their quality air tools. Secondly, because they're bosch, they're not going to simply release a line of tools that is equal to or even slightly above the competition, they felt the need to throw the long ball and redesign the category from the ground up.
The chief advancement of the new Bosch nailers has to do with something as seemingly boring as resetting the nailing piston. If you take a look at the framing gun you have out in the garage, the first thing you'll notice is how bulbous the body is. This is because when you pull the trigger the firing piston not only shoots the nail, but it also directs some of the air into something called a 'return chamber,' which then becomes pressurized and causes the piston to reset. Bosch and their engineering mentats saw a way to remove this return chamber completely by having the release of the trigger set off a second, smaller blast of air that does the job of resetting the piston. The two chief benefits of this development are 1) air is no longer wasted in the return chamber resulting in a stronger gun (10%, according to Bosch) and 2) without the added bulk of the return chamber, the guns can be slimmed down considerably (20% smaller, according to Bosch).
We were lucky enough to get our hands on these new nail guns and we have to admit that they are very impressive. The majority of the size reduction seemed to have taken place in the width of the tools, giving the line a very sleek and streamlined feel. And from what little we got to test them out, we really liked what we saw in the power department.
Bosch is leading off the line with the release of two framers, one full head and one clipped head. May will see the release of two wheelbarrow compressors, and the rest of the current lineup will hit in July; an angled finish nailer, a straight finish nailer, a coil roofing nailer, a narrow crown stapler, a brad nailer, and three hand-carry compressors. Our guess is that it won't be long before we see a 23-gauge pinner as well.
Now how about price? The Full Force guns are hitting the market as top of the line items and therefore aren't exactly being given away. As a reference point, Amazon looks like it will be selling Bosch's 15-gauge angle finish nailer for about $225. The Senco and Porter-Cable, both quite high end are going for just a hair less than $200. Most other models average out to a price of about $150-$170. So the Bosch are definitely more expensive, but it all comes down to that crucial cost/save analysis. From what we saw (and felt) of these tools, $25, $35, $65 isn't a whole lot of additional investment for what you're getting in return.
Like we said earlier, it's a bold move by Bosch and one we suspect will pay off in the long run.
Bosch Full Force Pneumatics at Amazon
Here's a video we found that does a nice job of describing how Bosch removed the air chamber...
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Megapro 13-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver - Review
