One of my coworkers recently bought a reconditioned Porter Cable BN200A because the Senco SLP20 at work wouldn't countersink brads anymore. The first Porter Cable brad nailer he bought was defective (misfired), so he exchanged it for one that worked properly. We've been using the Porter Cable for several weeks now, and it has held up nicely.

We've mainly used it on quartersawn oak, particularly the smaller pieces of trim. The adjustable depth of drive functions as expected, and the nailer has had adequate power. It countersinks well and leaves only a small hole in the wood. The only time I've experienced difficulties with it was when I tried to fasten trim to a plaster-coated brick wall in an old house. The brads couldn't penetrate the brick behind the plaster. However, this isn't a shortcoming of the nailer since I couldn't even get my 15-gauge Hitachi finish nailer to drive through the brick without pretzelling.

I like the short height of this brad nailer--it came in handy when attaching trim behind a cast iron radiator where there wasn't much room. Another nice feature is the cap that covers the air inlet when not in use. This helps keep the ever present jobsite dust & dirt out of the nailer.

My only complaint is that the safety mechanism lies below the firing hole. This means that if the non-marring tip isn't used, there needs to be a solid surface at the bottom portion of the nose. If the gun is pointed perpendicular to a wall or floor with the nose pressed against quarter-round shoe base molding only the top portion of the nose hits the quarter-round shoe base but the molding curves off so much that the safety doesn't get depressed. I have to position the nailer parallel to the wall to get it to fire into the shoe base, but unfortunately this puts the wide axis of the brad's head (the brads have rectangular heads) against the grain of the wooden shoe base.

If you're trying to decide between buying a 15-gauge or 18-gauge nailer, perhaps this will help. In my opinion, the 15-gauge nailer is more versatile because 1) it can fire longer nails (good for attaching crown molding, door casing, baseboards and some framing applications); 2) it can be used for structural applications like setting prehung windows & doors; 3) the 15-gauge nails are more difficult to bend so they have better success when firing into hard or dense surfaces (plaster & lath, plaster over mortar, soft brick, thick MDF, etc.); 4) angled 15-gauge finish nailers can fit into some spaces better than straight brad nailers. However, the 18-gauge brad nailer excels in firing into small diameter trim pieces (door jambs, shoe base, etc.) and in situations where the size of the nail hole is more important than the strength or length of the nail. Although some 18-gauge brad nailers can fire up to 2 inch long brads, the longer brad lengths are so thin that they sometimes have difficulty penetrating dense materials without pretzelling all over the place. A 15-gauge nail will generally penetrate farther and hold better.

I gave the Porter Cable 4 stars (instead of 5) because the first one my coworker bought was defective.

Update: Since writing this review I've bought an Hitachi NT50-AE and a Paslode T200-F18 brad nailer. I wouldn't recommend the Hitachi, but Paslode deserves serious consideration.

Second update: Hitachi has now come out with an improved NT50-AES nailer that no longer misfires and is my favorite, even over the Paslode.

I'm a wood worker and being in the business has made me a hard to impress consumer when purchasing tools for my home. I have had good luck with other Porter Cable tools and this gun is no different. I used this gun right out of the box to install 1500 feet of baseboard and crown molding. Other projects have included frames and redwood planter boxes. Its depth is easily adjustble, the handle is comfortable, and the air release is easily adjusted on top. Best of all is the easy loading of nails. I have used the unit alot in the past couple months and have yet to have ANY jamming. Add to that the capability to shoot 2" pins and you won't hear any complaints. Take it from someone that is dissappointed more often than happy when it come to buying online..this is well worh the price...its a home run.

I've had a BN200A for about six months now and have used it for everything from small nailing tasks to installing 1"X6" T&G. It has never jammed or misfired and its performance overall has been outstanding. In fact, I am in the middle of a remodel of our barn and am working side by side with a contracor/friend who uses a Senco SLP20 and he can't believe how well the PC performs. I have a Senco SFN40 (15 ga.) but decided to go with the PC 18 ga. because I wouldn't be using the smaller gun that often. Boy was I wrong. It has actually seen more use. All in all, the quality of this gun the and range of fasteners that it shoots make for an incredible value. Hope it helps!

I bought this nailer in a rush and did not have time to research others. I was using a friend's Hilti and he needed it back and I was halfway through some kitchen cabinets. It has not let me down... I have shot tens of thousands of brads and it has not jammed yet. I was really wanting an impulse or cordless nailer but the price and my uncertainty of the reliability of these units steered me back to air powered. Because it works sooo nicely I will have to accidently drop this one off a truck to even look at another.

This is actually my first nailer and probably my last. The build quality is second to none. I've used it to do repairs and for some of my own creations as well. Nailing into soft and hard woods is of the utmost ease. The exhaust port is a little snug and therefore difficult to turn but adds to the feeling of sturdiness that is so reassuring. You know that it won't slip and point in the wrong direction while you're not looking. I usually run anywhere between 80 and 90 PSI. I can't comment on how easy it is to clear jams because I simply haven't had one yet and I've driven over 1000 nails to this point. It's much lighter than you would expect. The case is adequate. It feels great in my hand. The trigger is effort easily depressed. Can't say enough about it.

My company owns 2 of these brad nailers and we really like using them. This unit was well thought out even down to the nice compact case it comes in that so nicely holds a full box of brad nails. I say this because I also have a Senco brad nailer FP25XP and the case size is huge in comparison. The BN 200A is a no nonsense brad nailer that works. In comparison with the Senco FP25XP the performance seems comperable with the Senco in "Turbo" mode (switch is on the side of gun). I have no idea what you would do with normal mode as the nails would not set for me. The Porter cable nailer is a little smaller as well but in all fairness is limited to 2" as compared to Senco 2 1/8" brads. This makes no difference to me though since the common size available is 2". At this point my choice for my next purchase would be the Porter Cable BN 200A.
br /Note: We use these units primarily to install shoe molding.

Hello All,I'm so thrilled with this new brad nailer that, I'm telling everyone about it. I purchased this unit as a replacement for an older model Campbell Hausfeld brad nailer. What I LOVE about this unit is, that it has the ability to ADJUST the brad depth. For many moons my only means of doing this with my Campbell Hausfeld unit, was to drop the air pressure.(What a royal PITA)I also purchased brads ranging in length from 5/8"-2" to test the gun with.The BN200A shot all the above brads without a catch, not a single misfire nor any problems with drifting brad depths. I can't say enough good things about this nailer!! If you're looking for a great little brad nailer at a good price, then look no further! I truly believe that you too will find the weight and quality construction of this brad nailer outstanding.

I actually bought Porter Cables BN125A 18 gauge brad nailer, which is the same unit, but accepts 5/8" to 1 1/4" brads, instead of the 3/4" to 2" brads that this BN200A accepts. I don't think I will run into a situation where I need a 5/8" brad, instead of a 3/4" one, so the 200A would be my choice, if I was doing it over again. Besides, it was practically the same price, and the 200A accepts up to 2" brads, instead of only 1 1/4". They call these Brad nailers because the nail is so small. At 18 gauge, it makes the tiniest hole. That is great if you are doing natural-stained finishes. The 16 gauge finish nailers, take the same nail, just larger, making a larger hole, and the 15 gauge is larger still, and actually makes a D shaped hole. Fine if you are puttying, and painting over the hole. The 15 gauge is the most powerful of the three. So if you really want to nail it, that is the one to get. The 16 is strong, not like the 15 though, but will get the job done, even with 2 1/2" nails. Driven into Hickory, and hitting a knot, not, get the 15 for that. I have not had any firing problems with the tool. I notice on the new 15 that if your finger is even touching the trigger, like any more than just laying on it, when you depress the nose, then try to fire, it gives you a misfire. The nail does not load, so you get a ding, without the nail. Have to be sure to keep your finger completely off of, or lightly touching the trigger when compressing the nose-safety feature. I haven't had a lick of problems with my 18 gauge, and 16 gauge. The tool is lightweight, feels good in your hands, and is well built. Definitely does what it is supposed to do, and does it well.

I already owned a Craftsman electic brad nailer but it couldn't drive bigger brads and had truoble sinking brads in hard wood. As soon as I got this I grabbed some 2" brads and drove them into oak just to test. No problem. Never had a jam. Just put in new baseboards throughout the house. Easy job. Great quality. I would buy this again.

In addition to the features listed for this nailer, I discovered that it will also shoot 5/8" brads. With this much flexibility, it's really an all-in-one tool. If I could find 1/2" 18 ga. brads, I think it would shoot them as well. I have a lot of respect for Porter-Cable and hope this doesn't make the BN125 obsolete. Great nail gun!

An Update:
br /I have now had this nailer for about 2 years now and can say the 5 star rating still applies. I have shot another 3-4000 nailes and have had exactly ZERO issues. Still has not jammed or misfired once. As I complete the trimwork around my house, I am always pleased when I can use this nailer. I have lent it out to my neighbors and family and they love it,... maybe too much.
br /
br /Original review:
br /Used this great little nailer for over a year, shot close to 4000 nails, not a single jam or misfire. Not sure how people put up crown molding without a nailer. Honestly, this tool is a no brainer and for the price (I Paid $99) there is no reason to deny yourself.
br /
br /18 gauge nails are thin and can wander when you shoot them. Had one come right back out 1/2" above where I shot it because it hit a nail head. The nail did not actually eject back out at me, but the end of the nail DID come out. So, keep fingers clear, wear saftey glasses, and don't be in a rush. This is not the fault of the nailer, just the nature of thin gauge nails.
br /
br /If you are doing any finish work, base boards, cabinetry, chair rail, wall frames, crown molding, whatever, this nailer plain works.
br /
br /Only negative: Makes you want to buy more Porter Cable equipment.

This nailer has either misfired or failed to load a brad since the day I got it. I tried everything from 3/4" to 2" brads in half round, quarter round and base molding. I was putting some finishing molding on a bench seat and I would end up with 1, 2 or 3 holes because the gun would not reload or feed from the strip of brads. By the way, these brads are all Porter Cable OEM.
br /
br /The gun is brand new and is in the Factory service center in San Diego for warranty work. I was originally promised a repair in 5 to 7 working days, then 7 to 10 working days. It is now going on day number 12 and I still don't have my tool repaired. I just got through reading all the glowing remarks about the quality of this tool and its great performance in the previous reviews. I must have gotten the "Mother of All Lemons".
br /
br /Picked up the repaired (?) tool 3-24-06, 14 working days after dropping it off at the Factory Repair Center in San Diego. The repair receipt said they cleared a nail jam (there was no nail jam), cleaned, lubed and tested the gun.
br /
br /On 4-10-06 I loaded the gun with 2 inch Porter Cable brads and fired it 11 times into a pine two by four. It failed to shoot a brad four out of the eleven times. So, back to the repair center it went. The clerk took the gun and some brads into the back room and test fired it. She came back out and told me that they were going to keep my nailer kit and that Porter Cable would send me a new kit in about 14 working days. The saga continues.
br /
br /The clerk also told me that if I expected the tool to work all the time, I would have to pay more than $100.00 for a brad nailer. I thought I had already upgraded instead of buying a Harbor Freight $30.00 knockoff, but apparently, I was mistaken.
br /We'll see what happens when I get the supposedly "New" tool.
br /
br /Just received (4/18/2006) my new (Mfg Jan 2006) BN 200A nailer kit under warranty replacement. I loaded it with a strip of 2" brads and it misfired 2 out of 10 times. I then loaded it with 3/4", 1", 1 1/4" and again 2" brads. It never misfired after that. It seemed to work better and freeer as the parts of the gun wear and break in. Hopefully I've had the last of my maintenance problems with this tool.

I bought this to put the molding around doors, baseboards, etc. Before I bought this, I would hammer the nail in, and then get a nail set to sink it, and the put a bunch of caulk in the hole. This nailer made it way easier, and I never have had a problem with it. One squeeze of the trigger, and it was sunk.I liked this thing so much, that I bought a Porter-Cable Framing nailer.

The BN200A is the first nailer I buy and don't have any complaints about it. I agree with the other ratings provided. It came nicely packaged and even had near 1,000 fasteners to start with. I used it to nail through some 3/4" oak and oak plywood and performed very well. No jams, no mishaps! ...

I was looking for a 2" brad nailer to do wood trim and help with furniture building. I wanted an 18 gauge for the tiny hole that it makes and virtually non-existent wood splitting compared to a 15 or 16 gauge nailer. 2" is enough to go through the trim and drywall and bite into the wall stud.I originally bought a Senco FP18 brad nailer based on Senco's reputation and the fact that it went on sale for a great price at the local Menards. However, it did not set brads very deep in the wood - barely 1/32" below the surface, any size nail, any type of wood, at 120 psi. The Senco went back, and I ordered this Porter Cable from Amazon with the free shipping. Ordered Sunday night, arrived Thursday. This nailer has a very solid feel and does an excellent job setting the brads deeply into any wood, including 2" brads into solid red oak. It works fine off of 90 psi.I am very happy with this unit, and with Amazon's shipping. I've ordered lots of various things from Amazon and always have great results.

I purchased this tool for restoring an old dresser which I inheireted from my Mom. This was my first "finish nail/Brad nailer" and, honestly, I sure was pleased and surprised just how much "easier" it is to reuse old wood (70-75 years) and NOT have it split! I wanted to use all the original wood, small blocking etc. possible and this little nailer made it reality. Thank you Porter Cable for making such a quality tool at a reasonable price. I'm very pleased and the Dresser turned out excellent! Again, thanks to Porter Cable for the good tool and price.

I bought this nailer after being disappointed with the performance of a Bostitch nailer. This is better made, a little heavier but has been reliable and not misfired at all.
br /
br /It shoots a variety of nail lengths and does what it says on the box. Amazon sells this item at a bargain price.

This was my first nail gun and it has served well for a number of remodeling projects and architectural trim jobs. The gun is very solid, yet light weight and simple to use. It accepts a wide variety of brad sizes. It is a snap to load and has easy-to-see reload indicator. The supplied case is handy and has room for a good supply of brads. It has only jammed a few times (my fault) after many thousands of brads - is very covenient to clear the jam without the need for tools. Adustable nail-head set is great feature. Definately one of my best tool buys.

I must admit, I have very little experience with nail guns and this is my first one. When I was in the market I was torn between the PC BN200A and a comparable Senco. My boss (who is a general contractor) tried to talk me into the Senco. He states he has had very goodluck with them in the past. Well due to the cost and the reviews of both, I decided to go with the PC. I have no regrets so far. I have done many projects around the home, including all trim in my house. It has not had any problems. The depth gauge works well. The exhaust port can be directed away from your face. It fits into tight places. It is comfortable in my hand. It has not jammed so far and it is fairly inexpensive. Overall, I am pleased with it and would purchase another PC nailer.

I've uesed this tool for about 6 mos. now, and find that it does everything I need in the way of brad nailing. Loading is easy, and depth adjustment is easy and accurate. The head design allows access to tight places and drives the brad accurately. I have had some problems with 2" brads veering off, and as a result don't use anything larger than 1 1/2" brads. I think that this is more a problem with the 18 gage strength vs. the tool, so if I need anything 2" long, I use a 15 gage finishing nailer.

This nailer is amazing. I thought it might be useful in my hardwood flooring project as I had to do some face nailing and nail back baseboard and bull nose afterwards. I'm very glad I bought it, it made the whole job sooo much easier and fun too. I wasn't sure if I needed a finish nailer too but this seems to leave such small holes. It even comes with a pack of 1.25 inch nails to get you going
br /Highly recommended and very reliable

I tried the Porter Cable BN200A and the Bostitch BT200K. The PC worked flawlessly, felt more solid, and just generally outperformed the Bostitch. This surprised me since I own other Bostitch nailers and am quite satisfied with them. The Bostitch would not throw the nails consistently slowing down my work flow considerably. Additionally the PC seems to be able to tolerate different types of nails more easily. All in all the PC is just simply better. Spend slightly more and save yourself time and trouble => Buy the Porter Cable.

I've only used one other brad nailer and it was as flawless in functionality as this one, but the PC has more features that make it worth the price.I really like the nail-depth setting, it's a LOT nicer than adjusting air pressure(yuck!!) I also like the swiveling exhaust port, I always seem to get in a position that I get an oily blast of air in my face before I remember to move the port somewhere else.I haven't had a single problem with it, no jams or misfires.Very nice tool!As far as the fit and finish, this guy is top notch. It feel solidly built and very well balanced. I actually like that this only has a single-fire trigger. I can't see needing to use a brad nailer at the pace of one of the bigger framers with a bump trigger. One is available at extra cost if you find a need, though.

UPON RECEIVING MY PC, I TRIED IT ON SOME SCRAP MOLDING. IT WORKED GREAT--COUNTERSUNK JUST RIGHT -- NO MARING OF THE SURFACE. TRIED IT ON 3/4" OAK -- WORKED GREAT. NOW I AM READY TO USE IT FOR THE PURPOSE INTENDED -- TRIM MOLDING THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE, CRAFTS,ETC.

The tool itself has worked flawlessly for me, but the case is very unsatisfactory. The black buckle-shaped clips which lock the case are junk. On this case, and on two similar cases from Porter-Cable (for sanders), the clips broke after a short while and relatively little use. It seems to me that any first-rate manufacturer should "recall" and replace such low-quality parts, but instead Porter-Cable tells me I must buy more of the same if I want to fix the cases.

I did a lot of research before I decided to go with the Porter-Cable. I have only out about 500 nails through it, but so far so good. Good action, light weight, and a great price for the upper end of the brand names. I am happy with my decision.
br /Travis, Johnson City, TN

With the purchase of this gun, to replace an old CH 18 gauge gun, I now own "the full range" of PC nailers including a framing gun (the full round head version), the 15 gauge, the 16 gauge, and the narrow stapler. I tried other models along the way but always ended up purchasing the PC. They see a lot of remodeling work and perform marvelously.
br /
br /What I like:
br / -- Plenty of power
br / -- Easy depth adjustment
br / -- Easy jamb clearly, although they do not jamb often
br / -- Option to change triggers from contact to sequential and visa, versa
br / -- Works predictably regardless of pressure between about 80 -110 lbs.
br /
br /What I would change:
br / -- add a trigger switch to go from sequential to contact without changing triggers.
br / -- move the exhaust port to the back.
br /

I did a lot of research and comparison prior to purchase. This unit really does a great job with up to 2" brads on baseboards, door window casings, crown moulding. Plenty of power, light weight, well-built. I've pounded 1,000's of nails over the years and should have bought this unit a long time ago.

I've owned this brad nailer for about 5 years. In that time, it has never - not once - not ever - misfired. I have fired several thousand brads of varying lengths through it.
br /
br /The tool is lightweight and easy to handle. It recoils hardly at all.
br /
br /It is an excellent tool and a pleasure to use.

I have used this with 1 1/4" brads so far, been 100% reliable. Easy to use, good product.

All of my nailers are porter cable. They are quality made and perform great. Have had no problems with this one or any of my other nailers. Easy to adjust drive depth and feels good in your hand. No gripes from me on this nailer.

This is an excellent tool. Well made and easy to use. The shoe is located behind the nail location, so you can easily see where the brad will be placed. Free shipping was faster than promised.

I'm very happy with my new BN200A nailer. It comes in a nice plastic case with a small oil bottle for periodic lubrication and space for the owner's manual and nails. Both myself and my dad used it putting up crown molding and trim and we were quite pleased. Only thing to keep in mind is that when you remove the nails or change to a different size nail, one of the old nails stays in the "chamber" (using the firearm analogy). SO the next nail is still an old nail. Perhaps most or all of the other nailers are the same. Don't know. But again, overall, I am very pleased with the quality, feel and performance.

Very light, durable, and reliable too. I completed all my baseboarding, framing work and I also used this in making my work bench, and I was pretty satisfied. This is my first buy and I heavily rely on reviews, so I highly recommend this tool.

Built well (I also love Porter Cable's narrow crown staplers) except for one gripe. The plastic guard around the safety tip is too fragile and Ive lost the one on my nailer and had to borrow the one from my stapler (which is partly broken from outdoor use). When new and intact the guard is great and sits behind the "barrel" for a better view to your target. With the safety tip cover missing nailing casing edges is hard to do without nailing with the gun parallel to the trim (not too wise using chisel point nails). If I can find a source I'm gonna buy about 50 replacement tips because I'm sure this gun will be lasting me a long time.
br / It leaves a small neat hole and has plenty of punch. It seems to be pretty forgiving of lower pressure as my compressor drops pretty far before recycling and my last gun (The BOSTICH magnesium 2") would fail to recycle at that point. I can Not recommend the Bostich except for homeowners or occasional use.
br / Side note: If you're gonna do a lot of TG the PC narrow crown stapler is the perfect gun. It's tip fits just right to set the staple in the perfect spot. But buy extra tips.

I have used the BN200A for doing door and window casings and it works well, is light weight, well balanced. I have used a comparable Bostitch Brad Nailer as well (don't remember the model). The two seem comparable. I like the shoe on the BN200A as it nails on the front of the shoe (can judge exactly where the nail is going and can get closer in tight spots) instead of the others that nail to the rear.

It really is a great tool. While I havn't had it long enough to speak to how well it holds up, it sure does work extremely well. The depth setting is good, exhaust deflector easy and although I havn't had to clear a jam, the process looks to be quick and easy. It is very lightweight and easy to hold in one hand at ackward angles, while using the other hand to position the pieces. Getting it going and hooked up to my old compressor was a snap.... especially with the adaptors and fittings in the accessory pack which includes a nice air gun, tire inflator and enough quick connect fittings for more pneumatic tools when I get them. Highly recomended for the home workshop.

This is by far all the brad gun you'll ever need. For the weekend warrior, or the professional, this gun is the best choice. It shoots a brad every time, no miss-fires with this gun. It performs perfectly with hardly any maintenence. The brads aren't even expensive and the small countersunk hole is easily filled and dissappears right before your eyes. Porter Cable make a brad nailer that shoots up to 1 1/4" that just isn't enough brad for lots of situations so buy this one to get the 2" capasity. You will definitely not be dissapointed. Like the guy from the Men's Warehouse says, "I guarantee it".

I purchased this nailer as part of the pancake compressor combo. Great tool. REliable - never jams - and the variable adjustment works great as well. I highly recommend it!

Great for non stress trim Small hole Easy to putty 2 inch will hold plenty of weight

I've used this a few times and it's worked out great! I just finished installing hard wood flooring in my living room and this worked out great to nail the boards that were too close to the wall to use the flooring nailer and also for the 1/4 round molding around the room. Installs the brads pretty clean.

This litle nailer works excpionaly well when used for what it is intended for, plenty of driving force,easy to handle in tight spots and light weight makes it invaluable in fastening mouldings and trim work. Works very well when fastening material when gluing. I have three P/C nailers from a framer, finish nailer and this brad nailer, use them a lot and not had a mis-fire yet. Love my Porter Cable products

I am very happy with the quality of this Porter-Cable brad nailer. I attached it to a small air compressor, a Coleman Powermate (about $50), and a long air hose, and it's like I am a professional installer. It has already come in handy with some of my home improvement projects, such as when I replaced our kitchen door. You can't believe how easy it was for me to put up the mouldings, just line it up and in about 10 seconds, I have nailed one side down with 7 brads. For do-it-yourselfers, you gotta have this!!

/-ORDERED ON 9/8/06-RECEIVED ON 9-11-06. OPENED BOX PUT 3 DROPS TOOL OIL IN TOOL. TOOK IT TO SHOP HOOKED IT UP AND FIRED 15 SHOTS INTO 3/4" BOARD NOT 1 JAM!!!!! I'VE NEVER OWNED ONE BUT LIKE THE QUALITY SO FAR... SO GO FOR IT A LOT EASIER THAN DRILLING OAK AND HAVING TO USE A SET. GREAT PRICE GREAT DELIVERY. I JUST TRIED NAILER ON SOME OAK TRIM ON 9/15/06
br /AND IT WORKED GREAT. NOT 1 JAM OR CRACKED PIECE OF OAK. IF YOU WATCH NORM OF TOH YOU'LL SEE HE USES A PORTER CABLE ON HIS FURNITURE PIN NAILING IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR NORMMY IT WILL BE FINE FOR ME

I've owned the previous model and lost it, so I bought this one and still very happy with this choice. Other retail store doesn't carry a 2" nailer, which is very useful when doing crown moldings and baseboard. Couldn't be any happier.

Just installed some crown molding and baseboards and the Porter Cable brad nailer did the job just fine. The 2" brads secured the each of them well and needed no further setting with a nail set.

The BN200A was my first pneumatic nailer. A friend recommended an 18-gauge nailer in place of the hammer and nail punch I had used up to that point. While in a high-end tool store, the salesman told me that the Porter-Cable BN200A was by far his best seller and garnered the most positive feedback - so I purchased one. Upon using it for the first time, I found it to be a very high-quality tool and it worked as well, if not better, than I hoped it would. I was also met with two pleasant surprises. The first was how strong the joint was; I could not easily pull apart two pieces of oak fastened together with a single brad. The second was how close to the end grain I could drive a fastener; setting a brad less than ½" from the end of ¼" oak trim did not result in any splitting. This unit is powerful and reliable - not a single jam to date. I could not be more pleased with it.

I own three porter cable nailers; this one as well as a 16 guage 2 1/2 inch, and an 18 guage 1 1/4. All three work flawlessly, and are holding up well considering I've used them for years.

After less than 500 nails, this nailer has stopped working properly. When you depress the trigger, it only shoots a nail every other time. It still drives the hammer, so there's an indentation, but no nail is driven into the wood.Porter Cable's support has been non-existent. I recommend looking elsewhere for a brad nailer. If you need a reliable, no-frills router, Porter-Cable's still the way to go. But for a nailer, given the problems I've had with this tool, and the design problems with the FCN 200 floor cleat nailer, I won't be purchasing another Porter-Cable air tool.

I bought this nailer in order to do projects around the home. So far, it's worked well. I used the larger version Porter-Cable framing gun a few years back while employed in construction and was impressed with its operation, especially considering it was well used and banged up! I would recommend the Brad Nailer for the do it yourself user; however, I'm not sure how it would work out for day in, day out production use.

this is the first nail gun i've owned so i don't have much basis for comparison. however, it has worked great for me for installing crown moulding and other trim work. i've only had it jam once. i would buy this one again

Versatil nailer. Fires right on every time. Case included for protection and the way these things get thrown around this is a good feature.

I bought the Porter-Cable BN200A brad nailer to install baseboards. It worked very well. I used 2 inch PC brads and only had one misfire. It is easy to load and the depth adjustment worked as designed.

This is a great tool. I replaced the original model BN200 that lasted for years--ever since they first were made. The new one-BN200A- has corrected any little problems the old one may have had such as lack of directed exhaust, etc. My tools are used every day in a professional shop.

I've had mine about 9yrs and it's never failed. It can handle most jobs from lite shelving to cabinets and is a real dream for moldings and paneling. Ever tried tacking mitered corners without hitting the wall or your thumb? Any "pancake" air compressor will handle air nailers, inflatable toys, and that tire you forgot to fill last nite and a host of small air tools.

Worked good right out of the box. The case has a nice storage area for different size brads. I would buy again.

I have used it for 2 years. It got heavy use doing a tongue groove basement and kitchen cabinet remodel, never failed to satisfy, and the 5 stars are well justified. I also bought P-C's outstanding FR350A framing nailer for jobs needing more than 2" brads and it seems I never pick up a hammer anymore.

Excellent product and easy to use. We utilized it to install our new kitchen and it made things much easier.

Extremely satisfied. Great time saver. Has not failed one time since purchase.

i can honestly say that i never regretted purchasing this tool. i upgraded to the 2" capacity brad nailer, and use it almost everyday to trim doors, windows, crowns, baseboard etc. it never jams on me, and i find that i use it more than my finish nailer.

This was my first air operated nailer. I had no problem adjusting the nail depth and using it with a small 3 gallon air compressor.

THIS PRODUCT IS THE BEST THING I HAVE PURCHASED IN A WHILE. IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH AIR EITHER AND THAT HELPS IF YOUR LIKE ME AND DO LITTLE PROJECTS ALL THE TIME. AMAZON WAS ALSO THE CHEAPEST ANYWHERE ON THE INTERNET. THEY WERE FAST AND RELIABLE. 5 STARS

I had a Very hard time finding this Porter Cable (2 inch 18gauge-most offered instore was 2", 16 Gauge) in any walk in stores. The Cheapest I found was $119 thru the home depot website. This one being $70 saved me $50 and it came in 2-3 days by using FREE Super shipper! Mega Cuddos!!!

You can trust Porter cable products. I am a contractor and 90 percent of my tools are porter cable

Awesome nailer. The improvements to this model from the earlier version are great. Smoother operation, handles well, rapid firing, plastic tip to protect wood is a great addition.

I was previously using a hammer nails to do molding replacement. Silly me, I borrowed my neighbors compressor ( which you will need to go along with the nailer) changed my life!!! This is a quality tool. It does a neat, quick job. I also used it to put together wood wine racks. No more hammer marks on the freshly painted trim, no more split marks in the wood.

Great brad nailer, very quiet, and the perfect weight. Perfect for trim work and even starting those first rows for hardwood flooring.

I have had this nailer for a couple years now and would highly recommend it. I've had only one jam and it was because I hit a hidden screw once. Has plenty of power to drive a 2" brad through hard woods

Brad Nailer comes in a plastic case with an oil bottle, instructions, and 1-1/4 brad nails. The case is okay, nothing fancy. It has room to store more packs of nails and the instructions. The gun fits nicely in the case and doesn't bounce around.
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br /The gun is light, comfortable, and fits nicely in my hand (6' Male, avg. size hands). The gun does not feel cheap and plasticy. It feels like a strong well built tool. The trigger feels a bit loose and sloppy but the safety on the gun tip prevents accidental firing. Adjustment knobs are easily identifiable and intuitive. Loading and unloading of the brads is very simple, quick, and intuitive. The rotating exhaust port is a handy feature. It feels firm and well built when rotating. Attachment of the air hose is simple. The max PSI is molded into the bottom of the handle incase you ever loose the instructions.
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br /The gun fired every time for me. No misfires. I went through approx. 200-300 brads in my last job. Oiling the gun was simple and no oil was seeping from the gun. The gun tip stayed intact and never fell off. The gun did not jam up at all during my job.
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br /I'm comparing this to a DeWalt Brad Nailer I used in the past. Overall, this is a good nail gun, but the DeWalt was just as nice in my opinion. If I had to choose between them and they were the same price... I'd take the Porter-Cable because it feels lighter and smaller.
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br /I'm a do-it-yourself guy who has a house that needs lots of trim and finish work. I also do helper jobs for others.
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Never sets nails to the same depth.You will need a nail set and a hammer to use this gun.Now it shoots every second nail.I replaced it with a Senco nail gun.

I have no regrets thus far,I have been using it for 2 weeks now and up till now I have not had to clear a jammed nail.
br / Great Tool,
br / Anton.

Excellent for use around the house on moldings, chair rails, etc.A great addition to the tool box!

Is the first nailer I have purchased, but I have used it to make four or five things now, and let me say I love it... I wished that I would have got the nailer alot sooner.

I have just recently purchased this gun from a local hardware store. .... I really like the way it feels, the grip is very comfortable and the countersink setting is handy. I need to use it more to really write a fair review. I was also looking at the Senco. Based on what I have read and on the way this gun works, for the money this is the way to go (the Senco is twice the cost). When I get more hours with this gun I will edit my review.

HAD TO GO THROUGH TWO DIFFERENT BRAD NAILERS BEFORE I GOT ONE THAT WAS NOT DEFECTIVE