Tool | Weight | Fastener Range
(length and guage) | Magazine Capacity | Tool Height
(from nosepiece to exhaust plate) | Tool Length
(from tool body to end of air inlet fitting) | Depth of Drive Adjustment | Collation Angle | Street Price |
Hitachi
NR65AK | 6.2 lbs. | 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches
(.131, .148, .162) | 44 nails
(2 strips) | 13-3/16 inches | 17-5/8 inches | No | 34-degree | $389 |
Comments: The
NR65AK is a sleek, streamlined, downright good-looking
tool. It's a breeze to fit into a 16-O.C. joist bay.
Its nail-probe hanger-hole locator is excellent. The
optional short magazine really makes it compact, but
reduces your magazine capacity by half. It's the
lightest tool in the category, is well balanced, and
feels good. Hitachi thought this tool through and
engineered it to set the standard for this category. On
its own, I love this tool. Throw in the color-coded
Tracker nails and I think it can't be beat.
800-829-4752.
www.hitachi.com/powertools |
Tool | Weight | Fastener Range
(length and guage) | Magazine Capacity | Tool Height
(from nosepiece to exhaust plate) | Tool Length
(from tool body to end of air inlet fitting) | Depth of Drive Adjustment | Collation Angle | Street Price |
Paslode
5250/65S PP | 9 lbs. | 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches
(.131, .148, .162) | 44 to 48 nails
(2 strips) | 13-5/8 inches | 12 inches | Yes | 30-degree | $399 |
Comments: Paslode's probe-style
hole locator is the best in the group. The probe is
very visible, which means that even in awkward
positions you can still place nails easily and
accurately. It's a well-made, low-maintenance tool and
worked perfectly; however, it's the heaviest tool in
the group, which can make it somewhat tiring to use.
Its code-stamped nails are a big plus. 800-682-3428.
www.paslode.com |
Tool | Weight | Fastener Range
(length and guage) | Magazine Capacity | Tool Height
(from nosepiece to exhaust plate) | Tool Length
(from tool body to end of air inlet fitting) | Depth of Drive Adjustment | Collation Angle | Street Price |
Senco
SN60MC | 7.7 lbs. | 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches
(.131, .148, .162) | 30 nails | 12-13/16 inches | 14 inches | No | 18-degree | $499 |
Comments: The
SN60MC is solidly built and mechanically dependable.
Working head on, it fired nails well; however, its nail
probe system didn't support the nail well: If you
pushed on it too hard the nail would shoot in at an
angle, which concerned us in the field. Its body is
compact, but it's hard to see the nail probe,
especially in awkward positions. 800-543-4596.
www.senco.com |
Tool | Weight | Fastener Range
(length and guage) | Magazine Capacity | Tool Height
(from nosepiece to exhaust plate) | Tool Length
(from tool body to end of air inlet fitting) | Depth of Drive Adjustment | Collation Angle | Street Price |
Stanley-Bostitch
N88RH-2MCN | 7.9 lbs. | 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches
(.131, .148, .162) | 61 nails | 14-3/4 inches | 19-7/8 inches | Yes (with framing nose) | 21-degree | $399 |
Comments: Stanley-Bostitch is on
to something with this dual-purpose nailer. Built on a
framing nailer's body, switching nosepieces makes it a
hardware nailer in seconds. The tool-less nosepiece
exchange works smoothly. A framing nailer is a lot of
tool for joist and rafter bays, though, and, although
it's light, it can be tough to move around. I wish they
could slim it down and find a way to dummy-proof it a
bit better, because I'll surely lose a small nosepiece.
The tool went into full production in September.
800-782-6539. www.stanleyworks.com |