Porter-Cable 1-1/4" Brad Nailer Kit: Versatility you want for a price you can afford
Written: Nov 11 '05 (Updated Nov 11 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lightweight and highly portable, affordable, simplicity of use, built in automated safety features
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: No other brad nailer, compressor or kit offers the kind of affordability and usability that this one offers. It is small and light, but strong and built to last.
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| bribri343's Full Review: Porter-Cable 1-1/4" Brad Nailer and 2HP Compressor... |
Some Background Information:
The Porter-Cable brad nailer is by far one of the best power tools I have ever bought in my career as a carpenter and hobby furniture builder. I don’t know what people would do with out a nail gun. Using a hammer and nails these days and then counter sinking them is not only tiresome but it is tedious and a waste of time; especially when you can pick up this versatile tool that can be used all over the house and the work place for next to nothing. I bought the kit from home depot, and for about $150 I was able to get the gun, the hose, compressor, and carrying case, a steal if you ask me. Not only did it come with all of the extras that came with the Home Depot kit, but it came with a box of 1,000 nails to get me started. And seeing as how air is free and I had dozens of projects that needed a nailer for, I was on a one way road to problems solved!
First, I used it for putting the rest of the quarter round in on one of my bedrooms. In a matter of minutes, I was done. I laid the pieces down, pushed them tight and shot nails seamlessly in. The gun does a great job at countersinking as well and can be set by the pressure with the easy to use gauges on the pancake compressor. Less hassle, less time, and saved money if you ask me. Later down the road, I have used it for nailing up furniture specifically using it to lock in tennon and other joints alike after the projects were glued up. It gave it the sometimes needed extra support. Not only have I used this professionally, but I have used this Brad Nailer to put up all kinds of molding and for multiple home projects and it has yet to fail me whatsoever. But that is enough about me and what I use it for, lets get down to the nitty gritty of why YOU should buy this over the competing ones out on the air tool market today.
Feel free to skip around in this article, if opinions aren’t for you and you are looking for what is EXACTLY in this kit for example, scroll down and find its corresponding section. (in this case, right below)
The Goods:
When you buy the combo kit you are going to get a pretty big cardboard box with everything snuggly fit inside. Here is what you will get.
Compressor: You will first find the huge but portable pancake compressor. I say huge, because it is a 2HP 6 gallon tank and portable because for a 6 gallon tank, you can take it and put it just about anywhere picking it up with just one hand. It is oil free, which means less issues and literally no maintenance. It is powerful and can support multiple nail guns at a given time, and can be used for other air tools such as spray guns, air guns for your wood or metal shop and other air tools alike. The one feature I liked instantly was the fact that it has dual gauges, one for the pressure in the compressor and one for the pressure that is being fed to air tool. With a simple turn of the knob conveniently located in the front, you can increase or decrease pressure. Along with the knob, you also have the factory built feature of a “cut-off” point. It allows you to fill up a compressor to a given point, but also if you forget or don’t set it right, it won’t get dangerously overfilled. Safety is key when using any power tool, and as I say, if the power tool doesn’t have some kind of safety precautions, it is worthless. The compressor also in addition to that automatic feature has a coolant system built in that thinks for itself. I can’t tell you how many compressors I have seen on a job site that people burn out because they work it too hard, this one knows when it is getting worked too hard and will respond to it by flowing cool air to its motor. If it gets TOO hot, it will shut off. Safety, but also a guarantee that you won’t damage your compressor simply by using it.
Air Hose: You will also find a 25 foot 300 PSI air hose, also manufactured by Porter-Cable. Many companies throw in cheap accessories, Porter-Cable doesn’t. They don’t risk the integrity of the product to save money and time on junk accessories. The hose is strong, flexible and pre-bent so that winding it up is a breeze. Has a quick connect on it so you can fit it right onto your compressor, nailer and other air tools easily and hassle free.
Brad Nailer: This nailer is tough and rough, but has a gentle feel. With a rubber grip, you get the hard dense feel you want but with the comfort that keeps your hands so that they aren’t fatigued or stressed at all. Lately companies have been cheap routing EVERYTHING when it comes to power tools, Porter-Cable doesn’t. The nailer is made of die cast aluminum. Weighs next to nothing and is as hard as a rock. It takes up to inch and a quarter brad nails, and as small as 5/8s. All of those sized nails can be found at your local hardware stores and home improvement centers, and porter-cable makes all of their own, but doesn’t restrict you to just their nails. It has a directional air vent, and can be adjusted to expel air to any direction you choose. Inserting nails is a breeze and isn’t as flimsy as other nailers. You simply press a metal latch and it is spring loaded and pops open. Nails fit easily in and are magnetically caught for proper insertion. Close it up, and you are ready to go. When you are done, you simply quick release the gun from the provided hose and it will automatically rid the pressure and air from the gun for you.
The Case & Accessories: In addition to the hose, the compressor and the nailer, inside the case when you open it up you will find that Porter-Cable has given you the extra leg up by giving you a package of 1,000 nails, 2 allen wrenches, oil for the nailer, Teflon tape for the connections, manuals and some couplers for connecting to other devices that don’t use the same sizes.
The Facts & Whys:
Everything sounds great doesn’t it? But possibly you have seen others that you are tempted to buy over this one. Maybe you are thinking, you just want to part it out and buy it separately and don’t want the commitment. That is fine, it is good to shop around, but lets lay down the facts before you make any kind of decision.
Buying this nailer or compressor separately is not only silly, but it is down right not economical. Think about it for a second. The compressor alone will cost you just under $200, and the last time I checked the price of the compressor it was just shy of $90. Do we even have to do the math here? You are saving a ton of money. If you don’t want the nailer and want the compressor for your home or professional shop or job, buy it, and sell the gun, or better yet keep it because most likely when you get the kit, you are going to use everything in it. I said the same thing, not worth the money, I just need a compressor. Within a week I had a friend who wanted the nailer. I said good luck! I kept it and now use it all the time along with my compressor. So the point is, money saved, whether you want the compressor or the nailer or both.
Not only is it a steal, but just about every problem you will run into with any other nailer Porter-Cable has innovated and found a solution for. The directional vent for the exhaust, the automated shut offs and safety features for the compressor, the dual gauges, adjustment knob and automatic pressure release from the nail gun after you are done with it for that time. I’m about to arrive to one of the biggest reasons to buy this combo, one of the biggest considerations to any tool or appliance purchase.
The Warranty: This combo package comes with an unprecedented warranty plan and both the brad nailer and compressor come with 1 year parts and labor. Most brad nailers and lesser brands do come with warranties, but good luck getting in touch with the company or finding parts for the gun or compressor. Porter-Cable is a trade name, and you can find service centers and part suppliers everywhere. They have teamed up with Delta, and Dewalt to provide certified service centers even in the smallest of small towns to the biggest of cities. If you happen to break it, it can be fixed cheap or free, that is the Porter-Cable guarantee.
Lets Review:
You will get this big box, with a great 18 gauge brad nailer, a 6 gallon 2hp compressor, a versatile air hose, and a hard durable plastic carrying case that comes loaded with stuff to get you started right away! I’m assuming you will get to enjoy all of this as I did because after all, they are practically giving it away it is so cheap for the quality you get, something that will last and work every time as if it was designed to when it was built. And if anything goes wrong, you have a solid well run company there to back you up and help you resolve issues and fix your tools regardless of the situation.
I hope you enjoyed my review! I’m not a Porter-Cable employee nor am I endorsed by them, I’m just a satisfied tool user and buyer of theirs for years and years to come. I have seen their products and especially this one perform on a wide spectrum under different elements and conditions and seen a company that can back me up when I need them most.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
bribri343
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Member: Brian Sheldon
Location: Connecticut, USA
Reviews written: 10
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
Open Minded Entrepreneur With A Great Outlook For Life.
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