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Whether you ’re a professional or a weekend warrior , a dependable finish nail triggerman can boost your productivity and simplify the task at hand . determine which type , though — pneumatic or cordless,15 or 16 gauge — mostly depends on your budget , intended project eccentric , work location , and personal preferences . For those who require the strong nailing functioning of a 15 - gauge finishing nailer but every bit appreciate the convenience of cordless operation , I recently tested Milwaukee ’s M18 Fuel 15 - bore finishing nailer , and I recommend checking it out .
Founded in 1924 , Milwaukee Tool has been one of the most trusted world power tool brands for a hundred twelvemonth . In recent tenner , the troupe has distinguished itself as an pioneer of pro - quality cordless hand tools . I late tested its 15 - gage cordless finishing nailer alongside some of the most equal to competitors on the food market , including a16 - bore DeWalt cordless destination naileras well as 15 - gauge pneumatic finishing nailers from Bostitch , Senco , Makita , and Metabo . The Milwaukee cordless electrical nail gun hold its own through a 1,000 - nail test and earn the Runner - Up honor , finishing a close second behind an telling lightweight pneumatic nailer from Bostitch . In this review , I ’ll detail my experience cultivate with the Milwaukee finish nailer , explore why I think it ’s one of the best options for pros and DIYers alike .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
Milwaukee M18 Fuel 15GA Finish Nailer: At a Glance
Rating:8.75/10
SPECS
PROS
CONS
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What is the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 15GA Finish Nailer?
It ’s rugged to find a cordless finis nail gas pedal more capable than theMilwaukee M18 Fuel 15 - bore destination nailer . It fork out the driving depth and hold power needed for heavy - duty nonstructural projects , such as install windowpane and threshold casing , baseboards , jacket molding , step stride and riser , and prehung door . And the kit I tested included everything to get begin : the 15 - gauge nail gun , an 18V 2Ah battery , a shelling charger , and a easy - sided carry case . All I needed to do was tote up nails .
This nailer do equipped with all the essential feature article to finish project quick and efficiently . Slightly cancel , the 34 - degree angled magazine publisher makes it well-to-do to access difficult - to - reach corners , and the minute header with LED lights allow excellent visibility for precise nail placement . Tool - free deepness registration and jam - clearing mechanisms keep downtime to a minimum . Users can switch between sequent and contact actuation modes with just the press of a clit . Additional convenience features include a reversible belt ammunition hook and supererogatory store space for no - mar tips on the magazine . It is compatible with all 15 - gauge DA - eccentric collated culture nails . The effective brushless motor , power by the included 2Ah battery , can drive up to 750 nails per charge .
I localize up four scrap dining table to try the nailer : 2 - column inch and 4 - inch - thick pine , and 1½-inch and 3 - inch - slurred oak tree . On the look of each test gameboard , I marked a 30 - column inch S - breaking ball to attend as a nailing guide . Then I followed the line of reasoning , driving a nail every ¼ in . I drove 1¼-inch nails into the 2 - inch pine and 1½-inch oak as well as 2½-inch nails into the 4 - column inch pine and quad - layered oak . I adjusted the nailing depth double on each panel to nail thrill and countersink the heads . Afterward , I examined the nail muddle for cleanliness , consistency , and truth ( Did I hit on the line or beside it ? ) . Up to this point , I had only used serial actuation since I was going for accuracy .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
Next , I shift to contact mode to examine nailing speed and jamming resistance . Using the same boards and nail size of it , but work freehand instead of following predrawn guidelines , I drove nail in horizontal row . I adjusted the nail profundity to more or less countersink on each board and maintained a beat of about two nail per sec until the powder magazine was empty . Afterward , I examined the hole for consistency . I noted any jamming or stalls that come , as well as how difficult it was to exculpate the jam .
After performing these test , I used the nailer to instal some baseboard trim and porch handrail cap to get a real spirit for working comfort . I noted how well it reached into the corner , how easy it was to place nail where I want them , and whether it caused any weapon system nervous strain or hand fatigue .
Ease of Use: 4/5
The Milwaukee M18 end nailer bid numerous features that make it one of the easier nail guns to operate . To get started , the magazine was easy to charge , and the nail drug peddler worked flawlessly to minimise misfire . Also , the way chooser switch made it quick and easy to interchange between sequential and contact actuation .
The 34 - degree angle magazine , more or less offset to the left side of the handle , made it both more compact and more agile than similar nailer with their cartridge directly beneath the grip . The center of balance was close-fitting to the grip , so it was easy to maneuver in any situation , and it check into soaked spaces . It was very jam - resistant — even with long nail rapid - firing into heavy hardwood — and on the rare occasions when it did muddle , it only take a couple of indorsement to sort out and get back to work .
The heavy weight of the nailer was the only drawback . This nail gun would be sturdy to use all day in overhead app , such as set up crown modelling ; but for mopboard , or anything at or below bureau height , it could be a great option .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
Power and Performance: 4.5/5
Through the various mental testing and projects , I drove 1,000 nail , experiencing zero stalls and one jamming . The jam happened in the rapid - terminate middleman mode with the longer 2.5 - inch nails and took about 5 seconds to crystalise . In short , theMilwaukee M18 refinement nailerdelivered ample driving power , serious profoundness consistence , clean holes , and splendid speedy - attack performance . Although the gun mat up heavy , the angled cartridge gave it dear remainder and maneuverability .
Other 18V and 20V cordless nailers in our original mental testing group came equipped with 1.5Ah or 2Ah battery , but only DeWalt tally Milwaukee ’s nail counting per charge . TheDeWalt 16 - gauge nailer , powered by a 20V 2Ah battery , outflank the rivalry with just over 800 nail driven per cathexis , but Milwaukee ’s 774 nail per charge was a very impressive functioning . The thicker 15 - gauge nails want more beat back force and declare oneself strong holding major power . Compare this with other cordless nailers in our test group , such as Ryobi ’s and Craftsman ’s 16 - gauge nailers , which each labour about 375 nails per charge .
As for nailing pep pill , the M18 15 - caliber finish nailer drove 400 nail at a charge per unit of two nail per second base , throng only once in the cognitive process . That ’s pretty serious . Milwaukee claim that this gun for hire can fire three nail per second , and it did that for me a twosome of prison term , but I seldom nail that quickly while work . Even better than the rapid charge per unit was the entire want of Allium tricoccum - up metre , even while the gun was in sequential mode . With pneumatic nailer , the power to pull the induction and at once send away a nail is something many of us take for allow , but most barrage fire - powered models lag for at least a schism secondly as the onboard air piston chamber pressurizes . I was impressed to see that this nailer performed very much like a pneumatic nail gunman .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
Quality and Durability: 4.5/5
Admittedly , the first 1,000 nail in the life of a pro - quality nail gun scarcely tell the whole story , especially when it get to enduringness , but I could at least glean some helpful perceptiveness . The Milwaukee M18 finale nailer is well build , and it features lots of rubber overmolding to supply supernumerary handle and absorb impact in the event of a drop . The nail magazine load smoothly , and the pusher never die to induct the nails full frontward , so I did not live a single misfire or stall during the exam . Jamming can occur for legion reasons , including excessive pressure by the wheeler dealer , so I ca n’t needfully fault the shaft for a single jamming in a 1,000 - nail test .
Our squad has tested legion other tools from Milwaukee ’s M18 Fuel line of assault and battery - powered top executive tools , including acordless framing nailer , theM18 Fuel Sawzall , and abattery - powered chainsaw . In the process , a pattern emerged . Equipped with high - magnate / high - efficiency brushless motors , these tool are specially design to provide professional - level performance that rivals plug - in electric or gas - powered tools , and they consistently receive high-pitched Deutschmark for lastingness , timbre , and user atonement . Our tester have arrive to the conclusion that if it come in from the Milwaukee M18 Fuel creature accumulation , it is likely to be a top performer in its family .
Value: 4.5/5
The kit that I tested sell for around $ 400 , including a battery and battery charger . Those who already own Milwaukee M18 battery and charger can get it as astandalone toolfor $ 329 . That is a little pricey than similar 15 - bore cordless finish nailers from Metabo HPT , Senco , DeWalt , and Ryobi . Though it ’s not the flashy prick among the group , it looks like fairly price .
With its hefty , rock-steady nailing ability and long runtime per battery charge , the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 15 - caliber finish nailer is a true meter recoverer . It keeps productivity high by eliminating downtime that would otherwise be spend readjust nail depth , piece ragged nail hole , clearing fix , resetting stalls , and charging batteries . In a professional environment , reduced downtime and mellow productivity adequate profitableness . For DIYers , it means few headaches and finding more sentence for other undertaking . Even though this prick costs a little more than some of its competitors , the meter savings and ease of surgical procedure should pay off the difference .
Is the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 15GA finish nailer right for you?
When it comes to heavy - duty nonstructural nailing projects , a 15 - gauge coating nailer is the go - to tool . The relatively thick nail shafts and small heads offer the holding power and hide - ability need for thicker , heavier wood projects . Traditionally , the go - to tool for the occupation has been a pneumatic nailer , but it has its drawback — namely that it come with the dissonance of an air compressor and the bowel movement restriction of being tether to an atmosphere hose . The Milwaukee M18 Fuel 15 - gauge angled finish nailer proffer nailing power and fastness comparable to pneumatic nailers but with quiet , innocent - ranging cordless surgical operation .
This is an excellent nail hitman for a all-inclusive ambit of projects . With its 34 - grade angle magazine , it has a balanced build that make it easy to guide . It is capable of access inner corners with ease . In my tests , it drove short and long nails into both hardwood and softwood with a gamey degree of truth and consistency of deepness . The narrow-minded head and LED lights provided splendid profile . All of the ascendence were conveniently placed and easy to operate . The only drawback was the weight — the 7.5 - pound nailer was a bite heavy for extended use in overhead applications . That said , this is an ideal general - intention culture nailer thanks to its grab - and - go portability and unsubtle functionality . If it vocalize like a good option for your projects , it probably is .
Where to Buy the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 15GA Finish Nailer
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a writer with an extensive backdrop in the green industry and an zealous DIYer who lives in a 50 - year - former home . When he is n’t write , he drop his time upgrading , repairing , and replace anything and everything in his home , thou , and garden . He test and write reviews about deal tools , lawn care and home resort intersection , and outside living trade good .
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Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
