Best Cordless Finish Nailers - Top Picks, Reviews & Complete Buying Guide
by Scott Miller Updated on
Finish nailers are not considered as versatile tools as they actually are.
Their usages are numerous, and they can be used on trim, to put furniture and cabinets together, to attach door and window moldings and thick baseboards and many more.
A finish nailer cannot be used for thin pieces of wood instead of a brad nailer, but in cases when a brad nail is not going to stay fastened, finish nailers would do the job.
The finish nailers models can be powered either pneumatically and with fuel cartridges. However, we have decided to give you a list of the best cordless finish nailers available on the market and discuss the benefits that go with them.
The aim of this article is to help you find what you are looking for and be sure that you have made the right choice.
By picking the right cordless finish nailer your work will be easier and more efficient.
As we will start with the most famous and at the same time the best possible model of a cordless finish nailer, we want you to take a look at features and impressive characteristics that the DeWalt DCS660B has to offer.
By knowing all the advantages of this model, you can determine whether other finish nailer’s models are worth the price.
Besides its compact design, great weight and angled head, this device is fully battery operated and what is even better, it boasts with a long lasting battery.
There is no need for compressor hoses or gas canisters, and this does not diminish its power.
This finish nailer has enough capacity to do is expected and, what might come as a surprise to you, the price is also a good value for money.
What is noticed as its drawback is the tendency to jam, but still this tendency does not happen so frequently that we will regret buying this model.
Maybe it happens more often than we would like it to happen, but when all the other impressive features are taken into account, this model is definitely one of the best.
That is why it is our top pick among amazing finish nailers.
The second best among finish nailers is definitely the Hitachi NT1865DMA for many reasons.
Not only does it possess great power and that much attention was paid to its design, but also it has some of the best features that a finish nailer can have in order to make your job easier, safer and efficient.
It is angled well so that you will be able get it into spaces which cannot be reached easily with not much trouble.
What makes the NT1865DMA model different from some other devices is the fact that it is cordless, but not entirely battery powered.
It still saves us from air hoses and compressors, and whether you will choose a finish nailer powered by compressed gas or purely through batteries is completely a matter of personal choice.
This model did not deserve the first place due to some drawbacks and one of them is that it is not comfortable to operate with due to the fact that it is quite heavy.
It is true that we put it in the third place, but the Porter-Cable PCC792LA model is definitely a budget-friendly one as it is best option for the money.
Being that it is quite cheaper than most of the other models, people often think that it has more weaknesses than advantages, but that is not the case.
The quality of the device is not in question and consumers will not feel cheated.
The device is completely battery operated so no need to worry about compressor or canister of butane gas.
The model boasts with a long lasting battery which will allow you to work without breaks in the middle of your work to charge the device up.
Among all the advantages, there are also drawbacks – its straight-head construction. Devices with the angled head enable you to slide your nailer in and fasten the end securely in place.
The Porter-Cable’s straight head would leave the edge hanging a little bit.
The Bostitch BCN650D1 got the fourth place on our list and with a reason.
It is a powerful, completely battery-powered finish nailing which is proud of its long-lasting brushless motor.
Nevertheless, wherever there are advantages, real limitations and budget considerations come as drawbacks.
This means that even though the BCN650D1 is a great finish nailer, its price is so high that you would think like you have to spend a fortune to have it.
Its features are in line with the price and people who are really into this field would consider it amazing to possess.
So, this model definitely deserves higher position on this list, but being on number four is just due to its price tag.
As some of the models have to be the last, we have chosen the Hitachi’s NT65GAPR model.
Among advantages that should be emphasized, the Hitachi’s NT65GAPR is lightweight and affordable finish nailer.
Being that it is designed for a single job and doing heavy-duty jobs would cause it to simply stop working.
The fact that it is the lightest model and it makes it easier to finish these jobs on unapproachable or difficult to reach places, such as the ceiling.
In the majority of cases, the device would not stop working before you are done, meaning that this is definitely a model worthy of consideration.
The fact that it is not as durable as you might expect can be overcome by its great capacity when large nails are in question.
People who cannot afford buying more expensive models should certainly take this one into consideration, as it is budget friendly, but they need to have in mind that the device has limitations in terms of nail size and durability.
Cordless Finish Nailers: The Ultimate Buying Guide
If you have gone through the above mentioned models, we are pretty sure that you got the idea which one is not suitable for you, no matter if it is due to its quality or price.
However, what people always worry about is whether they have made the right choice, even after a long period of deliberation.
So, we are offering you more reviews and describe the finish nailers characteristics in more detail.
For those who have doubts, the solution can be found here.
Which one is better: cordless or pneumatic?
Many people wonder whether to choose a cordless finish nailer or a pneumatic one and which one is better.
So, we are giving you some details which will indicate that cordless finish nailers should be bought rather than a pneumatic gun.
The first and foremost advantage of pneumatic nail guns is that they are much cheaper and that they run to either an air compressor or a tank of compressed air.
The fact is – you pay the pneumatic nail gun less than a cordless one, but you need to buy an air compressor which turns out the same.
It is true that you can use an air compressor in many other operations and that would not be wrong investment, but your nailer would still be impossible to move further away than the air hose allows.
Cordless nailers have experienced huge development in the last decade and the producer invested a lot in their design and quality performance.
Cordless means that the device is battery powered, or that the nailer is powered via small canisters of butane gas.
The gas in an internal chamber is ignited by an electrical spark the gas and the pressure of the expanding gas does the job.
This kind of nailer can affect a lot your moving around while doing the job.
You would not be able to reach some parts and what is even worse, you will feel so tired after moving the compressor whole day.
So, it is important to check whether it is a battery powered or a gas powered cordless finish nailer or it is a pneumatic one, before purchasing it.
Make sure not to buy a pneumatic one just because it is cheaper and you need a device whose main quality is portability.
Should I choose straight or angled cordless finish nailer?
The second important feature which can have a huge impact on you decision is whether you need a straight or an angled finish nailer.
This is determined by the type of work that has to be done, meaning whether you need nails to be driven in at an angle or straight.
Driving them in at an angle might look like an easy job to do, because their heads are mostly flush and have little footprint, but that is not always the case.
A nail driven in straight will hold just as fast as one driven in at an angle.
Angled-head nailers are the most useful in corners, so if you need to drive a nail at an angle, your decision should be an angled finish nailer.
What are important features to have in mind when purchasing a cordless finish nailer?
Trigger operation
When trigger operations are in question, there are two basic kinds of them: bumpfire and sequential.
The main difference between these two is that a bumpfire is faster, meaning that you can maintain pressure on the trigger.
You should pay attention to the fact that the faster you work, the easier it is to lose control of the tool and risk an incidental firing.
A sequential operation is slower, because it requires that you release the trigger between nails and press it in again before driving in the next nail.
That way your control is greater and would rarely lead to an incident.
In order not to make people choose one or the other, producers created models that accommodate both.
These are called combo finish nailers.
They have an internal mechanism by which you will be able to switch between modes of operation, or they require that you swap out triggers.
If you have taken a model which allows you to swap out triggers, you should know that they do not come with the additional trigger, causing an additional purchase.
Safety
It is important to take a look at safety features of each model.
They might require that the tip should be pressed against what you are driving the nail into to operate.
This means that you can press the trigger but it would not work until the tip is depressed fully.
Additional safety feature is a fan which is there to clear away the spent butane.
Depressing of the trigger would turn the fan on.
All these safety features are related to the gas-powered cordless nailers.
For other types of cordless nails, you should look for the quality design of their tips and the level of noise that the fan makes when in operation.
User comfort
The best testing of a finish nailer can be done if you visit a local retailer and try out various models and choose a model that is comfortable in your hands.
This is a tool that would be used for a longer period of time and the result of your work will depend on how you handle it.
So, the more quality tool would lead to more efficient and less tiresome work.
Price
Being that finish nailers are versatile tools their prices vary and can be even a few hundred dollars.
Whether you will buy a more expensive or not depends on your budget.
Price is in line with the quality of the tool, so professionals should definitely look for more expensive ones.
Furthermore, features play a crucial role in determining the price and if you will use the tool for not so frequent work, then there is no need to spend so much on pricey models.
Conclusion
Having taken a closer look at all the advantages and disadvantages of various models of cordless finish nailers we can say that the DeWalt DCS660B definitely deserves the first place on our list.
Its outstanding features, combined with power and quality, require higher prices and that cannot be disputed.
The Hitachi NT1865DMA model is very attractive due to its design, but not as great at the DeWalt one.
What it lacks is a comfortable grip.
The Porter-Cable PCC792LA is amazing when it comes to performance, and if not for its straight construction this would be the best choice of those lacking money for more advanced one.
The Bostitch BCN650D1 and the Hitachi’s NT65GAPR are super affordable, but cannot handle the heavy-duty work.
We hope you will benefit from the reviews in our buyers guide and that you will not regret your decision.
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