Air Tool Reviews

Pro Tool Reviews publishes reviews of pneumatic tools or air tools from most major manufacturers. Our air tool reviews includes best framing nailers, staplers, and brad nailers. Pneumatic tool reviews of roofing & siding nailers as well as best air compressors 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. 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.

Ridgid roofing cutter shingles

Ridgid Roofing Cutter Review R040SCA

One of the most difficult parts of doing a new roof (there are so many to choose from) is cutting away the shingles that you run over the side of the drip edge as you make your way up the roof. Typically you do this with a combination of hook or straight blades, depending upon whether you’re cutting from the front or backside of the shingles. Ridgid’s new Pneumatic Roofing Cutter sets out to provide a way to use the air line you’ve already got run to the roof and simplify a job that was previously quite tedious and which required several blade changes to accomplish.

Ridgid R040SCA Pneumatic Roofing Cutter Review

Ridgid R040SCA Pneumatic Roofing Cutter Review

One of the most difficult parts of doing a new roof (there are so many to choose from) is cutting away the shingles that you run over the side of the drip edge as you make your way up the roof. Typically you do this with a combination of hook or straight blades, depending upon whether you’re cutting from the front or backside of the shingles. Ridgid’s new Pneumatic Roofing Cutter sets out to provide a way to use the air line you’ve already got run to the roof and simplify a job that was previously quite tedious and which required several blade changes to accomplish.

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.

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.

Bosch FNA250-15 15 ga Angled Finish Nailer Review

Bosch FNA250-15 Angled Finish Nailer Review

The FNA250-15 15-ga finish nailer from Bosch is quite possibly the most convenient and lightweight finish nailers we’ve used to-date. With conveniences like a trigger that can easily change modes without having to be replaced, to an adjustable drive depth that can be activated with your fingers, this tool is taking construction and finishing to a new level of simplicity. Its small size and lightweight frame makes it easy to maneuver into tight spots and get that last corner shot. We actually brought it along to a few job sites and interviewed several pros, letting them handle and use the Bosch FNA250-15 Finish Nailer for themselves. Reactions, while different, were all quite positive. Most shared similar comments about how the tool was easy to hold, had little girth, and could be adjusted at will. Though we never encountered any jams, the business end of the tool can be taken apart so easily that it was easy to see that any difficulties or problems could be dealt with quickly and conveniently.

Bosch BNS200-18 18 ga Brad Nailer Review

Bosch BNS200-18 18 ga Brad Nailer Review

We’ve tried about every Bosch nailer to-date, and it looks like, with the BNS200-18 18 Gauge Brad Nailer, the company just may have saved its best for last. It’s smaller than most brad nailers we’ve seen to-date. It’s also extremely light at just over two pounds. It feels natural in the hand and is extremely maneuverable, with above-average ergonomics and features that really count – like dry-fire lockout and a tool-less trigger mode change. In a word, it’s fantastic.