Capable Cordless Brad Nailer
This Milwaukee 18v finish nailer holds up to challenging materials with a great combination of power and consistency.
Over the last four months, my crew and I have used Milwaukee’s 18v, 18-ga. cordless brad nailer for trim and finish work both inside and out. In that period, there were only four nails (yes, I counted) that I had to finish with a nail set, and in the same timeframe the nailer only misfired twice. And we haven’t gone easy on it—we’ve used it with some challenging materials, including fly ash, composite decking, pressure-treated yellow pine, LVL, and hardwoods like red oak and maple. It has proved to be a great combination of power and consistency. It leaves very small holes, has no ramp-up time, and accepts brads from 5⁄8 in. to 21⁄8 in. long. Other features include a 110- nail magazine, dry-fire lockout, and a belt hook. The battery life with a 3-amp-hour battery is amazing. My guess is that it drives hundreds of nails on a single charge.
This may be the first battery- powered nailer on the market that could replace its air-powered counterpart. It can certainly keep up and doesn’t require the hassle of a hose or expensive gas fuel. The rest of my crew likes the nailer, too. In fact, I frequently have to track it down because one of the other carpenters has made off with it. In short, this is the best cordless brad nailer I’ve ever used.
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Aaron Butt, a carpenter in Salem, Mass.
From Fine Homebuilding #292
