The Swiss Army Knife of Laser Levels: Leica Lino L2P5!

When you’re going about your business as usual, you likely won’t think much about where the ground is. This is something that we pretty much take for granted and we assume that when we need it, it will be there.

But then when you’re being paid to do work on someone’s home, suddenly the simplest task becomes very difficult. Cutting a straight line in a piece of wood, or drilling holes that are perfectly level and not sloping up at an angle is much harder than you might expect and thus you will find you need all the help you can get!

Fortunately, help is here in the form of the Leica Lino L2P5. This is a self-levelling line and point laser tool. But what does all that mean and is it a good choice when compared with other gadgets that do the same thing? Read this Review!

The Swiss Army Knife of Laser Levels

Leica calls this product the ‘Swiss army knife of laser levels’ and in many ways, that is a fair description. The device can produce 180 degree horizontal and vertical lines, has a wide 180 degree fan angle and four laser points calibrated to 90 degree angles. You can place this device in the corner of a room and use it to lay out pretty much the entire design.

What puts this above a lot of the competition though is the leveling pendulum. This tells you if the line is out of level by blinking and disabling the dots from point mode. The machine will then alter its angle to address the problem, so you can always be 100% sure that you’re getting the perfect alignment.

If you want to turn off the self-leveling though, then you can simply lock the pendulum in place and that will allow you to measure out angled lines.

The device itself is sturdy and relatively small, though not enough to fit in a pocket or be carried without the included bag. It will attach nicely to a tripod, or you can use the also-included target plate or magnetic adaptor. The Leica Lino L2P5 is highly versatile and should be suitable for a vast range of applications.

Pros and Cons: Level Up!

The Leica Lino L2P5 is one of the best line and dot lasers we’ve reviewed. While it is a little on the pricey side, all line and dot lasers are and what you’re getting here makes it superior to many of the competitors in terms of the value for money.

The self-leveling pendulum, fan angle and other features all help to improve your workflow and save time setting things up. The included pouch, batteries and mounting options increase the value further and the design is sturdy, relatively good looking and great well made overall.

What can also be said for the Leica Lino L2P5, is that the laser lines produced are very clearly visible. This is a green line and of course it’s up to you whether that’s your preference – it’s unlikely to be a deal breaker for most people though!

Reviews are also very good, basically praising the quality and the feature set. Note that this is intended for interior use.

Conclusion: A Good Option for Leveling

If you want to level up your DIY game, then the Leica Lino L2P5 is a good option. It packs a whole lot of functionality into its form factor and is well made with lots of options for expanding later on. It is clearly designed for professionals and the array of different features should ensure that it meets any requirements that you might have at any level.

Of course, it is a little pricey and if you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful way to find ‘down’, then this isn’t it. Your mileage may also vary when it comes to which of these features you actually need. A good rule of thumb when buying hardware for your DIY and home improvement though, is to look for something with more features than you need. That way, as you improve and develop your skills, the hardware you have will be able to keep up with you and you won’t find yourself spending even more money to upgrade your entire toolkit!

source http://www.toolerant.com/the-swiss-army-knife-of-laser-levels-leica-lino-l2p5/

Leica DISTO X310 Review: One of the best?

A laser distance measurer can provide you with incredibly accurate distance measurements that will greatly help your accuracy when it comes to building furniture and working on other woodworking or DIY projects.

These devices help you save time and remove the uncertainty that comes from using a tape measure to make a small mark in pencil and then hoping that you were holding the ruler straight…

The Leica DISTO X310 is one of the most popular laser distance measurers on the market and has a lot of fans. Let’s take a closer look and see if this is a good choice for your own workshop and whether there are any drawbacks you need to be aware of.

Product Description: Durable, Accurate and Reliable

To look at, the Leica DISTO X310 is a well made and premium feeling device. DIY tools don’t tend to have the best build quality or design but in this case, you can a sleek gadget around the size of an old Nokia 3310 and with a nice black and red color scheme. The LED screen is also very bright and large enough to be able to easily read the information presented. There are several buttons and these are easy enough to navigate and understand with just a little bit of practice finding your way around.

One very good feature of the Leica DISTO X310 is just how robust it is. This is very important for DIY work, seeing as we do have a tendency to drop our tools. To drop tools on top of our tools. And to cover everything in dust. And occasionally we smash them with hammers, just for good measure…

The Leica DISTO X310 is IP65 water and dust resistant, which means that it won’t get damaged when you’re creating a cloud of sawdust as you saw. It can also be dropped from 2 meters and will bounce without any damage.

As you would expect from a device like this, it will make 100% accurate measurements of heights and lengths and can work at indirect angles too thanks to a tilt sensor working at 360 degree angles. This means that you don’t need to worry too much about your unsteady hand – the device will compensate for your inadequacy!

There is also a mode for measuring distances with obstructing objects, height tracking and more. The measuring accuracy is 1mm and the range anything from 0.05 to 80 meters.

Pros: Excellent Durability, Design and Accuracy

In short, the Leica DISTO X310 is one of the best in its category. It looks and feels great to use and is highly accurate with lots of useful features.

The real killer app of this tool though is the water and dust resistance. This should come as a big relief for those who have seen their other tools bite the dust (pun intended) and is a very welcome feature.

Of course, nothing is perfect however. One thing missing here is a level, which could have been very handy and would have been a smart fit. It is also a very expensive device and seeing as a laser measuring tool like this is not essential for DIY, some people will likely choose to go without. You can make do with a tape measure and some pencil marks!

Conclusion: One of the Best

That doesn’t change the fact that the Leica DISTO X310 is one of the best at what it does. The lack of level is a little disappointing but the water and dust resistance are excellent, the range is very good indeed and the accuracy is spot-on.

All this means that this tool can serve as a life-long partner in crime, saving you a lot of time and helping you to make more accurate measurements. At the end of the day, that results in tables that don’t rock when you lean on them and to many, that is going to be a smart investment.

But if you’re happy to do things the old-school way, then of course you can make do with a tape measure and a pencil. You can claim that the wonky nature of your bookshelves is part of their charm and you did it on purpose…

source http://www.toolerant.com/leica-disto-x310-review-one-of-the-best/

Stanley STHT77138X Laser Distance Measurer TLM99 Review

A distance measure can be a very useful tool for a huge range of different applications. Whether you’re doing DIY woodwork and making your own chest of drawers, whether you’re measuring out the space in your front room to try and fit furniture, or whether you’re a professional landscaper, interior designer or surveyor… being able to measure exact distances is often a very useful ability and doing this with a small laser device really beats trying to do it with a tape measure and a pencil!

These are useful gadgets no doubt and Stanley is of course a well-respected and very well-recognized brand. So is this a match made in heaven? How does the Stanley STHT77138X Laser Distance Measurer TLM99 hold up?

Product Description: Low-End but Decent

In terms of the price and features, the Stanley STHT77138X Laser Distance Measurer TLM99 is very much a more budget option for your laser distance measurers. It’s possible to get all kinds of advanced features on these things, including cameras with ‘point finders’ for use outdoors. At the least, some distance measures will allow you to point your laser and draw a straight line from top to bottom using a lot of different sensors.

But this model lacks those kinds of additional features. And unfortunately, it also lacks a little common sense in terms of some of the design choices. Let’s rewind for a moment…

On the face of it, this is decent enough laser measure. It is a small hand-held unit which is straightforward without any real frills. It is yellow and black, which while not particularly attractive, is well suited to most worksites and will be easy to spot when you’re looking for it in a pile of tools and appliances.

The device has a single LCD screen and a few buttons beneath. But this is where things first start to get a little disappointing. Those buttons are rigid and quite wobbly for instance. In our testing, we found we had to apply a little pressure to get this to work. Seeing as the base isn’t terribly stable, this actually causes the device to move – thereby negatively influencing the readings!

There’s no backlight on the screen either, so it is hard to see in the dark. It also doesn’t have a way to fix it to a tripod and has no built-in level. The range is only 100 foot, which is quite short by most standards.

Pros and Cons: You Get What You Pay For

The pros of this device mainly revolve around the price, the compact design and the simple operation. If you’re a hobbyist looking to do some work around the house at the weekend, then it might just be a good choice. But for professionals or more serious DIY enthusiasts, this is a hard one to recommend owing to the lack of some basic functionality and the absence of several important features.

That’s because of the long list of downsides, including the lack of a proper fold out attachment, the lack of tripod attachment, the wobbly base, the rigid buttons without any tactile feedback, the short range and the dark screen! One more issue was that a few people found that it had some rather difficult-to-understand instructions.

Don’t get us wrong, this product does work and will take accurate measurements under the right conditions. In that scenario, it will provide you with readouts that are accurate down to 1/32 of an inch. If you’re willing to fiddle a bit and want something affordable, then it’s an okay pick. But there are better, even at this price point.

Conclusion: Not Our Top Pick

In conclusion then, the Stanley STHT77138X Laser Distance Measurer TLM99 is certainly not our top pick for laser measure tools! There are better out there, even at a budget price and this one just has too many unfortunate design choices to really recommend. Nevertheless, it’s still ‘fit for purpose’ and isn’t too expensive, so if you want a product by Stanley or if you can’t find one for less, then go ahead. Just don’t expect the best laser measure on the market and you should be relatively satisfied with what you get…

source http://www.toolerant.com/stanley-stht77138x-laser-distance-measurer-tlm99-review/

Spectra LL100N-2 Precision Laser Level Review

The Spectra LL100N-2 Precision Laser Level is a complete leveling crew built into a compact case. This means you can easily carry it with you and ensure that everything is level and even wherever you are. It’s excellent for being used on job sites and boasts the excellent quality and accuracy that Spectra is known for.

Product Description: An All in One Leveling Solution

This case includes the laser (of course), the tripod, receiver and clamp, grade rod and alkaline batteries and all of it comes in a nice hard shell in bright yellow for easy visibility. It’s simply a smartly put together package that should be quick and easy to use and that will definitely provide the accuracy you need.

In fact, operation is as simple as a single button press. It also has other time-saving features, seeing as it has a particularly long battery life.

The whole package looks very practical and built to last and indeed it is. Spectra claims that the package can survive a 5 foot drop without damage and if the tripod tips over, then it won’t cause any damage. Tip: if the tripod tips over, then it ‘aint level!

Of course, the tripod is only one way to use the level, while the other is to use the wall mount to attach it at the desired elevation. The device will detect whether it is being used horizontally and will then adapt appropriately.

The Spectra LL100N-2 Precision Laser Level will use a 360 degree plane of laser light to cover entire work areas and can take measurements up to 500 feet.

There’s no mention of the precise accuracy but the reviews and the Spectra brand should mean you can buy in confidence without having to worry about any imperfections.

Pros and Cons: Leveling the Playing Field

Many of the pros of this product revolve around its form factor and easy use. Having everything in one case is an excellent advantage and it means that you simply need to grab it by the handle and bring it with you to the worksite or wherever else you might need a level. That case also adds to the resilience, as does the excellent durability of the equipment provided. This is another big plus and when combined with the impressive 3 year warranty, it should last long enough to get more than your money’s worth.

Of course, just how useful this is for you is going to depend on your intended usage. If you’re into home improvements, then you might not need the bright yellow hard case or impressive shock resistance and that means you might be able to get the same thing elsewhere for less money.

The other advantage of the Spectra LL100N-2 Precision Laser Level is just how quick and easy it is to use. In our tests, the one button operation really was a big boon and helped us get accurate measurements quickly. All other readings are on the receiver with an image, which makes everything clear and means you aren’t left guessing when it comes to the sensitivity. The product isn’t over-engineered and that’s a real selling point.

The only potential concern is the receiver window which can be a little tricky to see through. Not a huge deal but something to consider.

Conclusions: A Solid Purchase

The Spectra LL100N-2 Precision Laser Level is a solid purchase both literally and figuratively. With incredible durability and the additional hard case, this is a level that will stand the test of time and that is well suited to more active workplaces. Then again, this might be overkill if you’re just a hobbyist, so you don’t necessarily need to fork out extra in that case.

What you may not realize, is that Spectra is actually the biggest manufacturer of levels in the world. This tells you that they know what they’re doing and means you can assured that you’re getting some serious accuracy and performance from a company that does this all day long. Definitely a good purchase and one that you can rely on – just decide first whether you really need all of the design features that you’re paying for with this one!

source http://www.toolerant.com/spectra-ll100n-2-precision-laser-level-review/

Topcon RL-H4C Review: A powerful level!

Rotating Laser levels are essential tools for a wide range of jobs and particularly in construction and surveying. Of course a laser level’s job is to ensure that the everything is built on the same level and that it will be perfectly horizontal or vertical. If this isn’t achieved then there’s a good chance that any construction is going to fall down!

Otherwise, a level can be used for basic home improvement – you can use it to ensure that curtains are hung straight for example, or that you drill holes that are all properly aligned. Whatever the case, laser levels have a range of applications and are incredibly useful; the trick is just to get the right system for your own applications.

How does the Topcon RL-H4C stack up? Let’s take a look…

 Everything You Need to Get Leveling

The Topcon RL-H4C rotary laser level provides everything you need to start taking accurate measurements and is ideal for taking onto worksites thanks to its handy carry case that will protect it from falls and accidents.

The case is a durable yellow plastic that is easy to spot and that will protect your equipment from falls and other accidents. The Topcon RL-H4C packed within is similarly yellow with a firm, rigid construction that you know can survive a few drops. It also has wo front handles for easy carrying and comes with a range of extras such as a bracket for attaching to beams, batteries and a handheld control. There’s also a warning sign to alert people on site about the laser.

The tool is incredibly quick to use and to find a level and includes self-leveling motors to ensure that you don’t need to fiddle with it yourself. Just set it and forget it! The high powered 2.4mW diode is also especially effective and gives a very impressive 800m diameter for the working reference. That means you can leave it in one place and measure out an entire property. There’s also a rechargeable battery and when all this is combined it becomes a much more powerful level laser than what is offered by the majority of manufacturers.

The product also impresses with its IP66 water resistant housing, which will mean it can be used in heavy rain and that it won’t be damaged by all the dust created on a typical worksite. And in case you’re not impressed enough with the excellent durability, there’s also a 5 year warranty so you can be extra sure it’s not going to die before its time!

Pros and Cons: Amazing Power, Accuracy and Durability

This product essentially offers everything you could need to bring with you onto the worksite. It is designed to handle a wide range of construction levelling tasks with ease and is very quick and simple to operate. In our review period, we found the self-leveling one of the biggest advantages of all. With no screws or bubble vials, you simply just set it up and it’s good to go. Manual slope functioning allows you to match a slope up to 5 degrees.

We were also very impressed with the sheer power and the huge radius. And businesses will love the amazing warranty and incredibly study construction.

All in all then, this is a particularly impressive laser level that we can recommend whole-heartedly. The only slight disappointment is the lack of included tripod. Many other products do include a tripod and this means you’re going to have to add to the price by getting one separately. Certainly not a deal breaker though and you should find you can find bundles if you’re willing to look around.

Conclusion: Top Quality for Serious Professionals

In short then, this is one of the most powerful laser levels on the market right now and is all the more impressive too thanks to its self-leveling and complete lack of leveling screws or bubble meter. It’s highly durable and perfectly suited to the worksite – it’s only a shame that you’ll need to buy the tripod separately.

And of course, this is only going to be useful for real construction work. For those who want a level to use around the house, there are cheaper options available with less rugged construction and fewer advanced options.

source http://www.toolerant.com/topcon-rl-h4c-review/

Leica Disto d810 Review

The Leica Disto d810 is a high end laser measurement tool that will help you to make perfectly accurate measurements and that comes packed with all of the premium features that you could possibly be looking for.

When it comes to DIY and woodwork, accuracy is everything. You’ll often find yourself measuring the length of pieces of wood, measuring indents so that you can make joins and more. Get this wrong and you can end up with a piece of furniture that rocks when you lean on it (leading to many spilled cups of coffee) or picture frames that don’t hang straight. For those of us with OCD, there is little worse…

But is the Leica Disto d810 worth it for you? Do you need to shell out this much on your measuring tool when a piece of tape measure will do the same job? Let’s take a closer look…

Product Description: Professional Grade Accuracy

This is one of the nicer looking tools that you’ll have on your workbench, even if that isn’t saying much. Spend this much on a laptop ($704) and you’re looking at something with a premium, chrome finish and a stunning 4K screen. Spend it on a tool and you’re looking at a rubbery phone. Still, the black and red makes for a nice colorscheme and the screen is large and bright. It just feels a bit like a phone from the 90s…

But that design is there for a reason. This tool is IP54 certified, meaning that it is highly splash and dust resistant. That is great news for woodwork because, as you no doubt know, this has a tendency to kick up a fair amount of sawdust that gets into everything. With the Leica Disto d810, you can rest assured that’s not going to be a problem and that your device will keep working.

The screen also serves a purpose. This has a point finder camera with a 4x zoom. That means that you can find the exact point and distance you want to measure and use cross-hairs on the screen to line it up. This will speed up your workflow and make for more accurate measurements.

The device is capable of measuring up to 650ft or 660ft with a 1mm accuracy. Outdoors, you can measure up to 820ft with a 1/16” accuracy.

That is extreme pin-point accuracy and added features help you to avoid obstructions and measure at unusual angles.

Pros and Cons: Great Connectivity but Not Necessary for Everyone

The Leica Disto d810 is no doubt a professional piece of technology and will come in very useful for architects and property developers as well as home improvement fanatics. The camera lets you take screenshots to go along with your measurements and the Bluetooth connectivity means that you can quickly upload all this information to your computer or to the cloud. It’s great for working in teams. The extreme accuracy and dust resistance are also great bonuses.

But not all of these features are going to be ‘must-haves’ if you are mainly a hobbyist. If you are looking for a tool to help measure out sheets of wood for home-made furniture, then you don’t really need this kind of distance and the camera and screen are only going to occasionally be of use.

And on the downside, it does feel that some of these features have been a little poorly implemented at the price point. There’s no ‘pinch to zoom’ here, instead you need to press a button, watch the screen go blank and then wait for it to refresh with the zoomed in picture. It’s small and grainy and while it’s great for a measuring tool, it’s far from being at the standard of a smartphone camera.

Conclusion: A Professional Tool for Professional People

If your job revolves around making precise measurements and you can see yourself making use of the camera, then this is a great purchase. And it’s tax deductible so why not?

But then again, you are also spending a lot of money for features that not everyone will need. Hobbyists can make do with the Leica Disto X310 and still enjoy a more than capable device.

And it’s just a shame it doesn’t ‘feel’ a little more premium…

source http://www.toolerant.com/leica-disto-d810-review/

Leica Disto d510 Review

The Leica Disto d510 Review is an excellent laser measuring tool that can help make a wide range of jobs easier.

Forget using a tape measure the next time you need to drill a hole in a piece of wood, or measure the length of… a piece of wood! Instead, you can simply hold the device at one end and get a precise reading for the length and know precisely where you need to cut. The same goes for hanging pictures, for measuring space for furniture, or for creating precise floor plans as a property developer or realtor.

This is one of many laser measuring tools though and one of many laser measuring tools from Leica to bare the Disto name in fact. How do you know if you’re getting the right model and whether you need this particular gadget? Read on and let’s take a closer look at the Leica Disto d510.

Product Description: Amazing Accuracy and a Slew of Features

We’ve been using the Leica Disto d510 for a while now during our review period and we’ve found that it is highly accurate and comes with all the features you would expect.

The device itself has the look of an old Nokia phone. It is small, oblong and a little bit rubber.

Also like a Nokia though, the device is highly durable. Do you remember people claiming that you could shoot a Nokia 3310 with a bullet and it wouldn’t show a scratch? Regardless of where such absurd claims came from… this device too can survive a fall and also an awful lot of dust in your workshop thanks to the IP65 rating.

As with other laser measurement tools, the Leica Disto d510 has a fold out attachment that you can use to fix into place and from there, it will let you know precisely where to cut.

But it’s the full color screen and digital ‘point finder’ that really puts this device above the competition. This is designed for outdoor use and essentially allows you to use cross hairs on the screen to line up your shot and then calculate the distance of any element that you can point it at.

Pros and Cons: Great Features and Durability, Not for Everyone

That camera is perhaps the big selling point of the Leica Disto d510 and is something that will be very useful for a range of applications. If you find yourself taking outdoor measurements – perhaps for landscaping or measuring the height of your gutters, it is going to come in handy indeed. In fact, the Leica Disto d510 is designed specifically for outdoor use, despite its slew of indoor features.

The Leica Disto d510 also wins points for its water and dust resistance and its shockwave build quality. You get a ton of extras in the box too, such as a pounch with a belt loop, and a wrist strap.

The downside is that this is an expensive tool and that the features won’t appeal to everyone. There’s no mention of a level for instance, which will come as a disappointment for some users (though you can get a tripod with one built in). The screen is also very slow to update and not particularly large or crisp, which is again a bit of a let down considering the price.

Still though, this is one of the very best in its class and really the only question you need to ask is whether you actually need that screen or the other outdoor features. If you mainly work with wood in your own workshop, then a cheaper option like the X310 might be a better pick.

Conclusion: A Great Device for Outdoor Measurements

To conclude then, this really is a well made piece of technology that does exactly what it claims and does it well. There are no bells and whistles though: the lack of level is a shame and the screen is small and slow.

The question then is whether you’re willing to pay extra for those features. And the answer to that is likely to come down entirely to the kind of work you’re doing. For some users, this tool will be a Godsend.

source http://www.toolerant.com/leica-disto-d510-review/

Hilti Laser Level PM 2-L Reviewed!

The Hilti Laser Level PM 2-L is a rotating laser level from Hilti that uses an exciting sounding technology called ‘always on pulse power’. That sounds like something from a comic book but does it actually have any real-world benefit? Just what is a Hilti PM 2-L anyway, and do you need one?

Hold the Line

The Hilti Laser Level PM 2-L is capable of drawing either a horizontal or vertical line that has a big fan angle to allow you to cover your entire work area. It also includes a self-levelling functionality, which basically allows it to show you precisely where ‘down’ is (in case you forget) and to make sure that everything is perfectly parallel with the ground that should be.

The device has excellent accuracy at 3mm at 10m. It also has a self-levelling accuracy of +/- 4 degrees at room temperature. The lines it can create are 10m and 30m.

The Hilti Laser Level PM 2-L itself is relatively small and compact and has plenty of rubber to ensure that it can survive a fall – good news for butter fingers (and another way that it can quickly find the ground…). It is red and black and has just a single switch for locking the laser in place. It can fit in a pocket and allow you to measure things all around the neighbourhood, if you so wish.

So, what are the applications for something like this? Well one obvious use is when hanging wall brackets, pictures and the like. This will help you to not only find ‘down’ but also ensure that all everything is hung along the same horizontal line. It can also be useful for making a series of identical cuts, or for cutting a straight line – simply follow the laser!

Pros and Cons: Accurate and With Lots of Features

The device is highly accurate and the potential applications quickly present themselves once you get one of these. While you might love home improvement and DIY, you probably don’t love spending hours lining up pieces of wood only to find your cuts aren’t straight. And you probably don’t love drilling holes into your wall and hoping against hope that they’re in the right place!

This device has everything you need to remove those concerns and a few nice added features too. The integrated magnets for example are great for attaching to drywall tacks or to steel beams. Also included is a wall angle bracket for fixing to a range of other points and generally, this is a very versatile device. It’s also great for playing limbo and doing your best M:I impression.

But is it more accurate than other devices of its ilk? Not especially. And you’ll have a hard time finding any reasonable explanation as to what ‘pulse power’ actually means or why we should care about it!

At $310 it is a little on the expensive side considering it’s not self-leveling and there are more affordable options out there. Judged on its own merits though, this is a very useful device for levelling and for providing guiding lines to help you cut straight and hang everything nice and evenly. For those with even mild OCD, that is going to come as a great relief.

Conclusions: Let’s Level With You…

At the end of the day, this is an excellent rotary laser level and does exactly what it says it does. Reviews are very positive and in our testing, we found that the lasers had great visibility. The included wall bracket and magnets are good choices and the construction is solid and will survive the occasional fall.
With all that in mind though, it won’t be a necessary expense for every hobbyist and you need to think whether this is the right choice for you. You can use simple bubble levels and even phone apps for finding the ground in a less accurate manner and there’s an awful lot you can do with a pencil.
Like all these gadgets the benefits are very much worth it for professionals and can make life much easier for hobbyists. The question is just how to best spend your hard earned cash and what you think is a priority.

source http://www.toolerant.com/1445-2/

Best Framing Nailer Review: NuMax SFR2190 VS Freeman P4FRFNCB

“Why is it there’s never time to do something right,” one of my friends once complained to his employees, “but there’s always time to do it over?” His point, of course, was that he would rather have them spend extra time on the fundamentals of a job, rather than having to go back later, tearing down what has already been built just to fix what has already been done.

Selecting the best possible tool is one of the things you simply have to take the time to do right, since the choice will affect productivity and job quality for years to come. In this article, we’ll review two solid choices. Neither of these are bad products, but our goal will be to decide which is truly the professional choice.

Overview: Two Great 21 Degree Framing Nailers

Freeman P4FRFNCB
This is currently available as a very reasonably priced 4-piece combo set: a 21 degree framing nailer, a 15 gauge 34 degree finish nailer, a brad nailer as well as a stapler.

Buying each of these separately will certainly end up costing you more, but how many tools doing basically the same thing do you need? It’s no saving, after all, when you pay extra for a tool you’ll never use. Most people, including building contractors, will probably be perfectly happy with just a framing and finish nailer. How often will you be installing trim that’s too delicate to use a finish nailer on, and will it really be faster to mount it with brads rather than just gluing it? In my experience, a finish nailer can do almost anything a brad nailer can, but not vice versa. A stapler is great for plywood or upholstery, but chances are that you already have one if you need it.

Numax SFR2190
This is a no-frills nail gun useful for framing walls, installing sub floors or general jobs such as erecting a wooden fence. Like the Freeman frame nailer, it’s intended to use nails of between 2” and 3 1/2” with round heads.

How They Stack Up!

Value For Money
Freeman: an all-in-one option to equip you for almost any job, but buying 4 air tools for the price of perhaps two or three makes no sense if you only need one of the four.

NuMax: Just a framing nailer that you can use for other kinds of job, too, at a reasonable off-brand price.

Comparison: Totally depends on what you need. If you go for the combo option, you’ll probably end up using the other tools, too; but there’s no need to go that route if you’re sure you just need a framing nailer.

Quality
Both products seem to be solidly constructed. Of course, you’re not supposed to use either as a basketball, but dropping one shouldn’t be enough to break it. The majority of leaks in either can probably be fixed by just disassembling it and replacing an o ring.

What kind of warranty the manufacturer is willing to offer is an important vote of confidence, since they actually lose money if their product doesn’t last. Both warranties come with the usual terms and conditions, but while the NuMax is nominally under warranty for 12 months, the Freeman offers a seven year limited warranty!

Comparison: Both companies have good reputations where customer service is concerned, and neither tool is going to fall apart from being normally handled. However, the seven year limited warranty on the Freeman wins hands down.

Ease of Use
Both framing nailers are constructed using a high strength, low weight magnesium alloy, both weighing about eight pounds. Since you might use it for hours on end with your arm extended, this can become significant. On the other hand, if they were much lighter, the recoil will be transmitted more directly to your forearm each time, so I suppose this is a tradeoff. Ergonomically, both offer comfortable, non-slip grips and are easy to use either horizontally or vertically. Both are of about equal size: shooting the nail at an angle helps, but you will still have trouble getting into really tight spaces.

You can rotate the air exhaust 360° on either model, without which ability you’d have to use eye protection every time you use it. Neither has a problem with frequent jamming, whether using branded or generic nails of the correct type. I found the Freeman framing nailer to be the more difficult of the two to reload, though this will doubtlessly become easier as you use it more.

The NuMax comes with two interchangeable triggers: one normal and one “bump” trigger which speeds up sequential firing significantly. For safety reasons, this mode is meant to be used by people with some experience in using nail guns, so the average handyman will be better off sticking with the normal trigger. If will also refuse to fire when the magazine contents is low. Pneumatic nailers are not designed to be used when there is no nail for them to push against, so this can avoid damage to the machine and the work surface. However, it’s easier to remove the last few nails when inserting a new clip, since the machine sometimes has trouble picking them up.

Comparison: Either will get the job done, but the faster sequential firing on the NuMax, combined with its dry-fire protection, will pay dividends on large jobs. Loading nails also seems to go a little quicker, although the final three in a strip tend to misfeed.

Versatility
Both products take essentially the same nails, and either can be used to install wood siding, hang drywall or nail something to a 2 by 4. That having been said, they are designed only to accept the types of nails specified: fasteners such as roofing nails won’t feed correctly, and these devices are not meant to shoot nails into concrete.

The NuMax has an additional function in terms of being able to adjust the depth to which it drives nails. This may be useful if constructing formwork that will be dismantled afterwards, or to prevent burying the head of lighter nails, but is not likely to be used on every job. I found that getting this adjustment exactly right is quite difficult, but it’s certainly better than playing with the compressor’s regulator and hoping for the best.

Comparison: A tie. Either will do what you expect of it, but don’t expect it to be a universal tool.

Performance
Either of these will work fine with a smallish pancake compressor capable of maintaining 100 PSI, although heavy work will of course require a bit more horsepower. As long as the pressure is available, either will drive nails reliably and consistently. The occasional knot in your wood can be expected to deflect or bend a nail, but this is true for any framing nailer. There will always be a couple of nails you need to finish off with a hammer. In terms of maintenance, simply feed it a few drops of oil before use, try to keep grit and dust out of the mechanism, and 99% of your nails should be driven perfectly.

Comparison: As you would expect from two quality products, they both perform nearly flawlessly. That having been said, use an adequate compressor (especially if powering more than one tool simultaneously) and always use the right kind of nails to avoid misfeeds.

User Instructions
If you’ve used nail guns before, you’ll probably not feel the need to look at the instructions, but a first time user’s experience can be influenced by the quality of the manual. The Freeman combo’s instructions were not entirely clear, although it shouldn’t take forever to figure out. Despite having a few extra functions, the NuMax instructions were somewhat easier to follow.

Comparison: Not exactly a dealbreaker, but I appreciate the extra effort NuMax put into this aspect of usability.

The Final Score

Neither of these products are bad buys or of questionable quality, so which is better for you depends almost entirely on whether you can find a use for the three additional tools bundled with the Freeman framing nailer. It’s a bargain if you actually need the stapler, finishing nailer and brad gun, but not especially economical if a framing nailer is all you really want.

The NuMax product gave the impression of being slightly more optimal for heavy, long-term use, but this advantage is slight. What type of compressor you are using is far more relevant. The NuMax also seemed to be marginally easier to use and offers slightly enhanced functionality.

On the Freeman’s side, the seven year limited warranty certainly sounds good. If only covers defects in workmanship and materials (i.e. not damage arising from normal wear and tear, nor use in a truly commercial setting, and so forth), but being brave enough to offer coverage of any type for that long implies a special dedication to quality.

You can find more expensive nailers, but either the Freeman or NuMax should be totally sufficient for weekend handymen as well as most contractors. You can expect tens of thousands of hassle-free nails to be driven by either.

source http://www.toolerant.com/best-framing-nailer-review-numax-sfr2190-vs-freeman-p4frfncb/