9/10
Porter-Cable is one of those brands that professional woodworkers rely on, and this 18-gauge straight brad nailer is no exception. We like the weight and balance of this nailer, and it drives brads consistently without a problem. It scored high marks for precise alignment with clear sight lines to the tip. The only downside is the lack of a dry-fire lockout to prevent firing when there are no nails in the magazine, but it’s easy to see your nail supply in the cartridge. That aside, the Porter-Cable has an adjustable depth drive dial and easy-to-read gauge, tool-free jam release, stahl release and safety lock.
This tool weighs 5.9 pounds and customers find it comfortable to use and ergonomically balanced. Expect to shoot 1,300 nails before you need to charge the 20-volt battery. The Porter-Cable lacks bump firing and features like a dry-fire lockout compared to the higher priced models we tested, but this is a solid tool that’ll make your projects run smoother.
When you want the perfect finish, Porter-Cable nails it. If you’re new to Porter-Cable tools, be sure to pick up this kit with the battery and charger included.
Pros
- Great sight lines for precise placement
- Rubber tip for for minimal marring
- Depth adjuster dial
- Tool-free jam-release
- Affordable
- Three-year limited warranty
Cons
- No dry-fire lockout
- No carrying case
10/10
Makita loyalists love the performance, quality and durability of their saws and drills, and find that the brad nailers perform equally as well. This Makita 18-gauge cordless brad nailer is great for DIY projects, especially if you own compatible battery-powered Makita tools. It accommodates nails from 5/8 of an inch to 2-inches, and drives up to 1,000 nails in a single charge using the 18-volt 5.0 Ah battery.
Makita offers features like the easy-to-access adjustable drive depth dial, dry-fire lockout and contact or sequential nailing on this tool. In our testing, we love how easy it is to see the tip, aiding in accurate brad placement. But the shape of this nailer gives it a back-heavy feel that we found uncomfortable at 7.32 pounds. This is the only gun that requires a tool to take apart the nose to clear jams. Even though Makita is a brand that professionals rely on, if you’ll be using this on a daily basis for long periods, you might want to consider a more comfortable option.
Pros
- Easy-to-see tip for precise placement
- Non-marring rubber bumpers
- Quick-charging model
- Dry-fire lockout
- Contact or sequential nailing modes
- One-year limited warranty
Cons
- Tool required for jams
- Bulky design
- Battery sold separately
What to Look for When Buying a Cordless Brad Nailer
Before making your decision on which cordless brad nailer is best for your shop, consider these factors:
Tool Weight
If you’re installing crown molding overhead, a few extra pounds could make the difference between aching shoulders and a pain-free job. Out of the nailers we tested, the Paslode nailer weighs in at a slight 4.7 pounds. At the other end of the spectrum is the 7.32 pound Makita.
Look at the Tip
When you’re installing trim, it’s important to place nails accurately. To do this with a brad nailer, it helps to have a clear view of the gun tip. The Porter-Cable is an example of a gun with sight lines that allow for a clear view of the tip. The tip on the Milwaukee tool is harder to see. A non-marring rubber or silicone tip is important for fine woodworking to avoid damaging the wood.
Drive Depth
Having an adjustable depth drive is also important to protecting the wood. This feature allows you to adjust for the hardness of the wood and drive nails to the perfect level for your project. Nowadays, the depth drive adjustment is easily accessible with a tool-free dial on the body of the machine.
Dry-Fire Lockout
Many of these nailers have a dry-fire lockout feature that prevents the gun from firing when there are no brads. Without this feature, you could keep on nailing without realizing that the gun had run out of fasteners, wasting time and energy. Most of the guns have a small window in the nail cover with some means of signaling that the brads are running low. We like Ridgid’s transparent cover that shows at a glance how many brads are left, as well as what length they are.
Sequential Firing
In single-fire mode, the trigger needs to be released between shots. Switching to sequential firing allows the trigger to be held down to “bump-fire” brads by just pressing the nose of the nailer against the workpiece. Be aware of this feature, but don’t let it drive an entire buying decision. Bump firing isn’t critical to most trim carpentry or woodworking.
Clearing Jams
In the past, you may have had to disassemble the tool to clear jams, many newer models have quick-release mechanisms to clear jams quickly. Tool-free jam release is a term you will see when shopping for a user-friendly brad nailer.
Stall Release Feature
Occasionally, the driver in these brad nailers will get stuck. A few tools have a stall release lever to reset the driver. Other tools instruct you to remove and then replace the battery. Then, you press the nose against a scrap of wood and pull the trigger to reset the driver. Be sure to read this section of your instruction manual to see how your tool works.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our hands-on testing team is in the trenches each day working on projects. These experts have experience with an array of tools, large and small, including these battery-powered nail guns. As cordless tools become more popular, we wanted to share their insights and testing results to help you make the right purchase for your investment.
How We Found the Best Cordless Brad Nailers
Our team of Family Handyman Pros tested these brad nailers and have used many of them on their personal and professional building projects. The majority of brad nailers we tested are 18-gauge models, the most versatile brad nailer. To see how these battery-powered brad nailers performed under adverse conditions, we drove hundreds of 2-inch brads into 2-1/4-inch solid oak. Then, we tested in real-world conditions by nailing oak casing to an oak jamb.
You’ll probably never have to drive a 2-inch brad into solid oak—even some conventional nailers can’t do that. But hey, we thought it would be an interesting test. The Makita and Ryobi nailers were the only ones that struggled with this task, but every model we tried is capable of driving 1-1/2-inch brads through 3/4-inch oak into a pine jamb, which is (probably) the most difficult nailing job you’ll encounter in normal circumstances.
In our testing, we had very few brads get jammed in the tip of the tool. But when this does happen, it’s nice to be able to clear the tip without tools. All of the brad nailers, except Makita, have tool-free jam clearing. On most tools, you release a latch on the front to access the jammed brad. To access a jam on the Milwaukee tool, you just release the nail clip cover.
Most of the nailers we tested use the motor to compress air in a cylinder. The compressed air pushes a piston that drives the brads. While the Paslode uses a cartridge of ignited fuel in addition to battery power, DeWalt and Porter-Cable have taken a different approach from the two methods above. In their nailers, a spinning flywheel provides the driving force. To ensure rapid firing, a few of these nailers rev up as soon as you press the nose to the workpiece.
Other than the significantly lighter weight of the Paslode, we didn’t find any advantage of one technology over the other. There’s a split-second delay with the flywheel models, but it’s not bothersome. Every model, regardless of the tech behind them, drove brads well enough to install standard trim.
FAQ
What’s better: a 16-gauge or 18-gauge brad nailer?
The 16-gauge model will drive longer nails for stronger fastening while an 18-gauge brad nailer is meant for finer trim and carpentry work. “As with any fastener, the length is determined by its application,” says O’Donnell. “When working with trim between 3/4-inch and 1/2-inch thick, I always use brad nails between 1-1/2 and 2 inches in length.”
“In the last decade, cordless brad nailers have come a long way,” O’Donnell continues. “For large jobs, like framing, I still prefer a pneumatic nail gun and compressor. But for smaller jobs, I reach for a cordless brad nailer immediately if I am just nailing up some quarter-round or re-securing a flooring threshold.”
Can I use a brad nailer for baseboards?
Absolutely, a brad nailer is the tool to use to install baseboards.
How do you use a DeWalt cordless brad nailer?
DeWalt is one of the most reliable and feature-rich brad nailers on the market. First, read the user guide and get familiar with the tool. Operation of a cordless nail gun is as easy as charging the battery and having some scrap wood to practice on. Get to know the depth drive adjustments on different wood species. Get a feel for the rhythm of your tool, its lag time, bump features or consecutive firing modes. The more comfortable you are with the tool, the easier it will be to tackle your project.
