A "can't miss" tool purchase.
Written: Jul 13 '00 (Updated Feb 27 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Perfect operation, Trigger guard, Good Reputation
Cons: Expensive, Somewhat heavy
The Bottom Line: Works every time.
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| cjoler's Full Review: Porter-Cable 2 1/2" Finish Nailer DA250A |
My father and I are remodeling my home. I am a tool lover, but usually need an excuse to purchase one. Covering our kitchen and living room with tongue and groove plank siding provided the opportunity.
I researched my choices thoroughly and narrowed my choices down to Senco and Porter Cable, based on input from members of a woodworking newsgroup and magazine reviews. My local Lowe's department store sealed the deal by only carrying Porter Cable at the time.
I recently used the nailer to install the tongue and groove on my 25'x25' downstairs living room/kitchen combination. I also covered several center partitions around a staircase. I did not have a single jam with this gun, nailing though standard pine barn siding (5/8-3/4 inch, I believe), half-inch drywall, and into extremely old, hard-as-a-rock oak studs. I used the supplied 2-1/2" nails and quickly had to purchase an additional box of the PC brand.
Although I purchased the angled version for future furniture building, I found it very useful in the corners of the living room and for nailing the shorter pine pieces between the exposed upstairs ceiling joists. The angle made it much easier. If I had opted to nail my boards on the tongue and groove instead of the face, it would have been even more useful. The trigger action worked very well also, with double shots only happening when I was hesitant pulling the trigger. (I have read several stories of nailing to close to the edge of a board and the nail takes a right turn into your free hand.) I would estimate that over 99% of all nailheads were well recessed, the contrary only being when I hit drywall screw or something below the surface.
My only complaint is that the nailer gets fairly heavy after fifteen minutes or so of solid use, but I imagine most of them do. I believe that I paid around $219.00 for this tool a little over a year ago, and have since seen only slightly better pricing through magazine advertisements and catalogs.
My experience with Porter Cable tools has always been a positive one, and this purchase was no exception. You can't go wrong with the DA250A. There are cheaper nailers out there, but you usually get a less-machined, finely tuned tool for the price.
UPDATE: It is now 2007 and while I don't use this tool daily, I have used it for many projects. I have used it to nail beadboard paneling to my kitchen ceiling, to trim out much of my house, to build projects/props for church, and many other things. Still no mechanical problems with the nailer whatsoever.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
cjoler
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Member: CJ Oler
Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 0 members
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