Hitachi - NR90GR Cordless Framing Nailer

Editor's Review: Cordless Framing Nailers

Like many other Hitachi tools, this round-head nailer has a comfortable grip, especially for smaller hands. The fuel-cell loading door is designed nicely, with a simple sliding latch that doesn't require finesse to open or close. Hitachi also supplies a one-piece, one-hour battery charger.

After these few positive points, this nailer goes downhill fast. It has the least power of all the guns tested, requiring the use of a hammer to set a lot of nails. The depth-of-drive setting--which requires an Allen wrench--worked but was often pointless because the nails weren't set to begin with. The nonreversible belt/rafter hook is on the right-hand side of the nailer, which is only convenient for left-handed carpenters. These nailers misfired more often than all the other guns we tested combined.

A clipped-head model is also available (NR90GC; $380). Although it is slightly lighter and more compact than its round-head sibling, it was much less comfortable to use.

Editor Test Results:

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