Senco's new Fusion trim nailers operate unlike any drive system you've seen before and represent a giant leap forward in hose-free technology. As in pneumatic models, a cylinder-housed piston creates the force to drive fasteners, but the system uses a captive volume of nitrogen to pressurize, shoot, and repressurize over and over in a closed loop. The tool's motor applies force on the upstroke to pressurize the piston, so the driver shoots down the instant the trigger is pulled, just as it does with a pneumatic nailer. That's why the company bills the Fusion trim nailers as the first 'cordless pneumatic' tools on the market.
In my architectural woodworking business, finish nailers are the pneumatic tools we use the most, and having a good complement of nailers for every application is critical to the success of a custom job. My primary arsenal of finish guns includes a 15-gauge finish nailer and an 18-gauge brad nailer. I also have a 16-gauge finish nailer, but I've always preferred the 15-gauge tool for its angled magazine and – for some uses – slightly larger fasteners. The straight magazine and perpendicular shooting angle of the 16-gauge nailer make it difficult to get into tight places. It's just too clumsy for most installations. So it stays in the shop, and even there it sits on the shelf most of the time.
Cordless drill/drivers have come a long way since the first one I purchased more than 20 years ago. It's interesting, though, that some have come full circle and ended up about the same size as those small, early tools, but with much better performance.
Many multifunction tools don't live up to all they're supposed to do, but the Fein MultiMaster is a rare exception. I've used one for about eight years; I don't use it on every job, but when I need it, I'm glad I have one. I originally purchased it for the exclusive purpose of making accurate plunge cuts, but I soon discovered it performed well on many other functions. Already sold on the utility of the tool, I jumped at the chance to review Fein's new and improved model.
On most kitchen cabinet installations, the mounting screws are inconspicuous and the client never notices them.
