SENCO FN55AX Fusion F-18 Cordless 18-Gauge Brad Nailer Review

Manufacturer: Senco
Model: FN55AX
Price: $379
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With
the rise of cordless finish nailers, Senco takes a different approach
by using a sealed nitrogen cylinder and a lithium-ion battery to keep
them powered. Recently we had the chance to try out the FN55AX Fusion
F-18 Cordless 18-Gauge Brad Nailer. We found that this nailer packs
in a pile of useful features, has plenty of power, and will keep up
with pneumatic nailers. More and more we are turning to brad nails
for our finishing projects because of their great holding power
combined with the very small head size. A smaller head size means
less patching and putty when you are done. There is a lot to like
with this nailer and it comes in near the top of our list of
must-have tools.

The
Senco FN55AX Fusion F-18 Cordless 18-Gauge Brad Nailer came packed
inside a large black zip up padded tool bag. Inside the bag there is
more than ample room for the tool, the charger and the battery. In
fact, there are extra pockets inside and outside the bag that makes
it handy to store nails and other small parts and tools. The overall
body of the nailer is made of what appears to be ABS plastic with
black rubber over-mold on the handle area and on just about any part
that might come in contact with your sensitive trim materials. On the
top of the tool is a red aluminum cylinder. Inside this cylinder is a
permanently sealed charge of nitrogen gas – and this is where the
“magic” happens. The nitrogen gas actually gives this
nailer its pneumatic-like punch to drive the nails. as we mentioned,
the gas system is permanently sealed and, by way of the battery
power, the nitrogen is continually being compressed and recycled
within the cylinder. While this might sound like a perpetual motion
machine, the laws of physics still prevail because, over time, there
is a slight pressure loss of about 5 psi for every ten to twenty
thousand nail shots. Senco’s engineers claim that the cylinder will
hold its useful charge for around 100,000 nailing cycles. For the
scope of this review, we are going to have to trust Senco on these
numbers (we just don’t have that many projects lined up, or that kind
of time!) besides, for those of you who are trim carpenters, you know
that after 100,000, you’ll have worn out your nail gun anyway and be
ready for a new one. And by that point, if you have been doing things
right, this nailer should have paid for itself many times over.

Easy
depth of drive adjustment and no-mar tip

Just
like any professional quality tool, the Senco FN55AX 18-gauge finish
nailer has all the functionality and features that you would expect.
On the lower part of the handle is a sliding switch that makes it
easy to adjust between single fire, off, and bump-fire modes. Nail
depth is also easy to configure by way of an adjustment wheel located
on the top front of the tool. There’s even a visual gauge to show its
current position. If the magazine ever becomes jammed, there is a
release button that opens the business end of the magazine for easy
access to the nail channel. The included 18 Volt lithium-ion battery
has a built-in LED battery level gauge so that you instantly know how
long your tool or power source has before it needs a recharge. Since
the nailer only came with one battery, it makes it easy to be able
check the status of the battery before you get into a project. also,
it takes just 15 minutes until the charger brings the battery up to
80% of its capacity. In about 45 minutes you get a full charge. Last
but not least, there is a belt hook located at the base of the handle
that can be easily removed or repositioned to either side of the tool
to suit any user.

 Lithium-ion
battery with built-in battery level meter

Testing
and Use

Given
the versatile size and availability of straight 18-gauge brad nails,
the Senco FN55AX has endless possibilities in doing light to
medium-duty levels of trim work. Plus, the idea of not having to
drag around an air compressor, hose and drop cords is huge. We used
this nailer to trim out some custom built-in bookcases. We first
built the individual bookcase sections in our shop and then
transported them to the office where they were to be installed. Once
we had everything lined up and secured to the wall, we used the Senco
FN55AX to secure the crown trim around the top edges, the ribbed trip
between the shelves and the trim around the base. At first glance we
thought the nailer looked a little large for being a brad nailer, but
after completing this project, we actually found it to be quite
balanced. Not once did its size become an issue with installing any
of the trim. The tip was easy to see and precise nail placement was
not a problem. The built-in LED light also was a welcomed feature
that will make nailing in the dark obsolete. The battery life was
more than sufficient as we did not need to charge it through the
course of an entire day of doing trim work. The power level gauge
built into the battery is also a helpful feature that we wish more
manufacturers of Lithium-ion powered tools would take note of.

Easy-to-load brad nail magazine

Conclusion

The
Senco FN55AX is a wonderful cordless nailer that can totally replace
its pneumatic counterparts. After getting a lots of good use in, it’s
really easy to recommend this nailer. While it does have a high
initial cost, given the long warranty and no need for compressors and
hoses, it’s still a compelling choice. If you are on the market for
a portable trim brad nailer we would suggest you put this tool
towards the top of your list. Professional features, precision nail
placement and complete portability… what more do you want?

Specs

• Firing Mode: Selectable Actuation Trigger
• Fastener Capacity: 110
• Fastener Type: straight 18-gauge
• Fastener Range: 5/8″ – 2 1/8″
• Battery: One 18V Li-ion
• Charger: 80% in 15 minutes, 100% in 45 minutes
• Height: 13″
• Length: 11″
• Width: 3″
• Tool Weight: 6 lbs – 5.4 oz
• Warranty: 2-year limited