Datasheet

battetTZ-fire
bnd
Look, Ma, no hose!
But are these
tetherless tools worth
the weight?
tool
industry insider
1|\
ver the
past
year
or so,
three
I lmanufacturers(Paslode,
V
Porter-Cable, and Senco)
have
unleashed
l8-gauge brad nailers that
require neither an air compressor
nor an
elecrical
outlet.
Their
power
sowce: a
rechargeable battery
pack
and/or a
fuel cell.
After extensively testing all three
mod-
els, we found that these tools
deliver on
their
promise
of
power,
mobility, and
con-
venience. We certainly don't miss drag-
ging
out
the
air hose to tack banding on
the edge of a shelf or cap a cabinet
with
crown
molding.
Convenience
has its
price,
though.
You'll
pay
as
much for one of these nail-
ers as
you
might for a similar
pneumatic
model and a small compressor.
And
these
5-
to 7-pound machines weigh
from two
to three times as much as their
air-driven
counterparts
(weighin
g
2t/24 Vz lbs.) .
Although the
three tools use different
methods
to
generate
the driving force,
each nailer
proved
reliable, easily
punch-
ingsh-2" brads
into 2"-thick maple. And,
none
jammed
during our tests.
How the three
nailers
perforrned
in
our tests
Paslode IM200-F18,
$980
800/682-3428,
www.
paslode.com
How it
works:
Like
the engine
in
your
car,
the
battery creates
a
spark that
ignites fuel in the
cylinde4
powering
the
piston,
drive6 and
the brad.
High
points
O
nt
s lbs., it's the
lightest in
he test.
O
fnis
technology
has
been
proven
in Paslode's
larger
airless
nailers.
O
Drives
brads as fast as
you
can
pull
the trigger.
low
points
$
Highest initihl
cost.
Disposable fuel
cells
will
set
you
back about
$8
per
cell.
Each
cell
is
good
for about 1,000 fasteners, and has a shelf life
of about 18 months.
O
mut exhaust smell.
$
Regular
maintenance,
including
partial
,
disassembly of tool,
is important.
O
Only one 6-volt battery comes
wih fte naile[ it
bkes two
hours
to fully charge, and
it will
dis-
charge if left in fie bol
Porter-Cable
BN200VL2,
$ZZ0
800/487-8665,
www.porter-cable.com
How it works:
The 12-volt,
NiCd
battery
powers
a small onboard
compressor that
refills
the air
reservoir
after
every
fastener is
driven.
High
points
O
Besides battery
power,
the nailer
also
has an
air
fitting
so
it
can be used as a conventional
pneumatic
nailer.
O
['s tre
least
expensive
model in
the
test.
O
Quick-release.nosepiece
makes
clearing
jammed
fasteners simple and
fast.
low
points
O
lt's heavy
(7
lbs.)
and
tail-heavy,
at
that.
S
Comes
witr
only one battery; and
it
will
discharge
if accidenhlly stored
witrout
shutting off
power.
O
ruoisy onboard compressor runs for 2-3 sec-
onds after
each fastener is fired.
Won't drive a fastener unless trigger
is
pulled
within
3 seconds of depressing safety
tip.
No
"empty
magazine"
indicator.
Continued
on
page
3O
n
n
www.rvoodonline.corn
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