Hands On: Ridgid 2 1/8” Brad Nailer
By Sean O'HaraIn Use
We started slow at first with one nail positioned carefully at a time and a slow pull of the trigger. To our amazement the nailer was very quiet and didn’t kick at all. All we heard was a small compressed air sound – like the sound the pellet gun you had as a kid made.
Looking at the first nail we fired, we found a small, neat hole exactly where it was supposed to be. Closer inspection revealed that the fastener was snuggly fit into the hole holding the two pieces together. We tried it again and again with the same results. It just worked – the first time and every time.
Corners or edges weren’t a concern as long we could get at the orange safely switch — just pull the trigger and the nailer would fire. It was very liberating. We nailed everything not, well, nailed down.
Though I can’t recommend using a nailer instead of glue, it does cut down on the need for as many clamps. Just glue up your pieces then shoot a brad or two to hold it together and you’re good to go.
Conclusions
From the very start, this little finish nailer was a road dog. It never faltered or gave any trouble to anyone who tried it in the TM shop. We’ve used it on several projects now and can’t think of a single complaint about it. It’s just a solid nailer that refuses to quit.
After having it around for awhile, it’s one of the few tools I would go out of my way to have. $90 for one of these and a compressor makes woodworking projects in the shop so much easier that I’d put one of these right up there with a tape measure in terms of tools I need to have.
R2138NA, 2 1/8” brad nailer [Ridgid]
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Via Amazon
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August 9th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Nice review Sean. Thanks for making me feel even worse at not having won the Ridgid Pneumatic giveaway
just kidding.. but some good stuff there.. I picked up a cheap compressor - mostly to inflate my daughter’s kiddie pool. But it’ll go to 120 psi - so I should be able to run a nailer like this without any problem.. Until I can pick up a real compressor.
August 10th, 2007 at 1:53 am
I have this nailer, and I love it. It’s my go-to tool for cabinetry and finish carpentry.
August 13th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Air nailers = exotic European sports car? Really? Everybody i know has a few
September 6th, 2007 at 10:11 am
For what its worth a 18 gage air nailer is wonderful. I have a $19.90 one from Harbor freight http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=40116 18 GAUGE 2-IN-1 NAILER/STAPLER KIT It is wonderful. I was doing some pretty big projects with it and used about 1000 staples (I guess, maybe a little less). I only had 1 jam, and that is my fault as I shut of the compressor and the air pressure was way low. It does require a allen key to clear the jammed brad. But for the price I was able to justify getting one, Wish I had done so earlier, very very useful!