It's been about seven years since we first reviewed the Paslode Impulse finish nailer (Toolbox, 8/91). In all that time, Paslode has been the sole manufacturer of a self-contained nailer — one that doesn't require an air compressor or hoses. Impulse nailers are driven by an internal combustion engine fueled by compressed gas. Such an unusual design had a few early bugs that Paslode gradually worked out, creating a consistent and reliable nailer that's slowly finding its way onto job sites. In fact, Paslode's pioneering step into "linear combustion" technology has found a small but growing market for this new nailer category, and this success has attracted company. In January 1998, Porter-Cable introduced the Bammer,
