Air Tool Reviews

Pro Tool Reviews publishes reviews of pneumatic tools or air tools from most major manufacturers. Our air tool reviews includes framing nailers, finish nailers, staplers, and brad nailers. Pneumatic tool reviews of roofing & siding nailers as well as air compressor reviews also fill this section. While recent excitement surrounds the use of cordless nailers and battery-powered products, pneumatic nailers and air tools still dominate. These tools occupy a wider place in framing and construction. Pneumatic Air Tool Reviews vs Cordless On the jobsite you’ve got to get your work completed on time and on (or under) budget. That means you need the most efficient method for framing and finishing. That involves the speed and agility offered by pneumatic air tools. Cordless nailers knock out punch lists quickly, but nothing currently matches the economics (and ergonomics) of an air powered nailer. That goes for framing as well as finishing applications. When you search through these reviews, pay attention to the ratings so you understand how we rated each tool and how well it did in our testing categories.

Duo-Fast DF175-CN Cap Nailer Review

Duo-Fast DF175-CN Cap Nailer Review

We typically avoid roofing whenever we can. There, we said it. It’s a grueling job that, in Florida, takes everything out of you. Of course, in the home renovation world, the more we “avoid” it, the more we end up doing it anyway. Roofing in the South is a job best left to those who don’t mind charging a fair wage to live and work out under the hot sun, bent over a black felt-papered roof driving thousands of nails until you feel as if there’s no conceivable way that much water could have possibly poured out of your body without rendering you into a living, breathing piece of beef jerky. Yes, that last sentence was long – just like every roofing job we’ve ever done. If I want to take every opportunity to shorten the time up on a roof, then certainly the guys who only do roofing need a tool like the Duo-Fast DF175-CN Cap Nailer. Why? Because, like all great tools it saves you time and energy. If you can shave an hour or more off that hot roofing job, in Florida, in June, you’re going to want to do that. You’re REALLY going to want to do that.

Stinger CN100 Cap Nailer fastening

Stinger CN100B Cap Nailer Review

When we got to check out a preview of National Nail Corp’s Stinger CN100 Cap Nailer at the 2011 International Builders’ Show, we were impressed – and that was before their product manager, Rocky Stroud, sent us one for a proper review. When you live in Florida, roofing is something you have to deal with on a regular basis – but it’s not exactly the most enjoyable form of employment – at least not in the summer. When the humidity is at 98% and the sun is beating down on you in June, anything you can do to get off that roof more quickly is going to be music to your ears. The Stinger CN100 Cap Nailer is the brainchild of National Nail Corp which is in the business of manufacturing high quality fasteners for the commercial and residential construction markets. The Stinger CN100 is their latest product, and it positions itself as a way to speed up the job of fastening underlayment, felt paper or Tyvek-style housewrap while still adhering to most local building codes that may not yet accept staples.

Bosch FNS138-23 Pin Nailer Preview

Bosch FNS138-23 Pin Nailer Preview

In the past we reviewed the Bosch SN350-20F Framing Nailer, and the Bosch FNA250-15 15 ga Angled Finish Nailer. Now, the company showed us its latest pneumatic nailer product – and this one is really perfect for the avid woodworker. The Bosch FNS138-23 Pin Nailer has a zero nail dry fire lockout mechanism. If ever a nailer needed dry fire lockout, it’s the pin nailer. Designed to shoot nails with an almost invisible footprint, it’s likely you won’t realize you’ve run out of nails until something falls down that you thought was secured. With the way Bosch designed this nailer, you only get locked out when all the bails are gone and you can load up a couple new clips of nails without losing any along the way.

Porter Cable C1010 1-Gallon Quiet Trim Compressor Review

Porter-Cable C1010 1-Gallon Quiet Trim Compressor Review

We often use trim compressors to do smaller projects because of their compact size, convenience and mobility. The Porter Cable C1010 1 Gallon 135 PSI Max Quiet Trim Compressor is all of that and more. Overall weight is a very manageable 24 pounds and there is a protective steel roll cage that also doubles as the carry handle, allowing the compressor to be carried in an upright position. Probably the biggest feature of this little compressor is that it is oil-free and quiet. Normally you can’t say both of those words in the same sentence when talking about compressors. Somehow the engineers at Porter-Cable figured out how to make this little guy maintenance-free and you can stand to be in the same room with it when it is running. Our plan was to find out if it really is as good as they say it is.

Paslode TetraGrip Subfloor Fastening System

Paslode TetraGrip Subfloor Fastening System Review

Squeaking subfloors can be a homeowner’s nightmare and one of the hardest things for a contractor to fix once the final floors are installed. Potential problems can be eliminated from the onset in new construction and even renovation work with the new Paslode TetraGrip Subfloor Fastening System. This system uses the proprietary TetraGrip Subfloor Fastener and the dedicated Paslode PF237C Pneumatic TetraGrip Coil Nailer. These fasteners drive like a nail, yet hold like a screw thanks to their revolutionary “barb-threaded” design which deliver the holding power of a floor screw. Productivity over using screws is greatly increased because you can drive these fasteners as fast as you can pull the trigger on the nailer. This nailing system may be a game changer for the residential market and we will try it out to see what we think.

Duo-Fast DF150-CS Button Cap Stapler Preview

Duo-Fast DF150-CS Button Cap Stapler Preview

If you’ve ever done a roofing job (and most of our readers seem to have some knowledge of this type of work) you’ve laid down button caps to secure felt to a rooftop. That job is made simpler with the addition of pneumatics. We’ve tried several different systems, like the Fasco America SideWinder Windstrips Stapler we reviewed last year. Now, Duo-Fast has a new product, the DF150-CS Button Cap Stapler. This system allows you to shoot staples and plastic button caps at the same time. As you can imagine, it’s perfect for roofing felt applications as well as housewrap. Most jurisdictions not locked to Broward County rules will allow the use of a tool like this on roofing felt and housewrap.

Porter-Cable 1 Gallon Quiet Trim Compressor C1010 Preview

Porter-Cable C1010 1 Gallon Quiet Trim Compressor Preview

Having a full sized 4-gallon compressor for framing and other construction projects is great, but what about the smaller job where you don’t want a larger compressor that takes up lots of space and is bulky to maneuver? For that, Porter-Cable has introduced its new heavy-duty, one-gallon, 135 Max PSI quiet trim compressor (model C1010). This is the kind of tool you want to bring with you to do punch lists and smaller trim work, making it perfect for general contractors, trim carpenters, and remodelers. It’s even suitable for woodworkers, wanting a lightweight tool for furniture assembly.

Emglo EM810-4V Compact 4-Gallon Oiled Air Compressor Review

Emglo EM810-4V Compact 4-Gallon Oiled Air Compressor Review

The Emglo EM810-4V Heavy-Duty 4 Gal Oil-Lube Stacked Tank Air Compressor has twin tanks, a cast iron cylinder and a central handle that makes it easy to carry around on the jobsite. With a 1.1 HP motor, plenty of air capacity and air delivery; this compressor has the ability to drive up to four brad or finish nailers or two framing, roofing or flooring nailers at one time with out slowing down. We think that this 56 pound compressor should meet the needs of most trim carpenters, remodelers, light duty framers, roofers or flooring professionals. The Emglo EM810-4V Compressor is backed with a one-year limited warranty and can be found in Lowe’s Home improvement Centers.

Emglo EM810-4M 4-Gallon Dolly-Style Twin Tank Air Compressor Preview

Emglo EM810-4M Twin Tank Air Compressor Preview

The Emglo EM810-4M 4-Gallon Dolly-Style Twin Tank Air Compressor is designed to meet the needs of the trim carpenter, remodeler, framer, roofer or flooring professional. With a 1.1 HP motor and an oil-lubricated cast iron cylinder, performance, durability and reliability are built in. The capacity and air delivery gives this compressor the ability to support up to four brad or finish nailers or two framing, roofing or flooring nailers at once without compromising performance. The 88 pound compressor is easy to maneuver around the jobsite thanks to the wheel kit, which features two 10 inch pneumatic tires with metal hubs and a solid axle. The Emglo EM810-4M Heavy-Duty Compressor is backed with a one-year limited warranty and will be available in September 2011

Duo-Fast DF150S-TC TICO Nailer Review

Duo-Fast DF150S-TC TICO Nailer Review

The new Duo-Fast DF150S-TC TICO Nailer is designed specifically for driving 1-1/2″ nails in joist hangers and other metal strapping commonly used in residential construction. This nailer was made for the job site, so you can be sure that you will get the durability you need to handle everyday use. Thanks to its many nice features, like a compact, lightweight body and a probing tip to help find the holes, you can expect a considerable boost to your productivity when it comes to nailing tasks that require these 1-1/2″ type of nails.