About 2 months ago, we wondered what the 2nd generation Craftsman Nextec Hammerhead cordless auto hammer would look like. Well, it looks like we have an answer! As you can see, the G2 Hammerhead features an articulating head that allows it to reach awkward or tighter workspaces with greater ease.
The G2 Hammerhead’s articulating head can be set at 90°, 45°, and 0° (straight). It operates at 3600 impacts per minute, and can hammer common and finish nails up t o 3.5 inches in length.* It also features a new LED light for illuminating work areas, an electric brake, and a 3-color LED fuel gauge.
Included with the G2 Hammerhead kit will be the new Craftsman NEXTEC QuickBoost Battery Charger, a 12-volt battery, and carrying case.
The G2 Hammerhead is expected to be released in May 2011 with an MSRP of $100.
* As we saw in our auto hammer review, such tools can drive 3.5″ nails, but this is not something we recommend if other options are available.
I am disapointed, I was hoping for something closer to the M12 palm driver. This isn’t a great change/improvement in my mind to the first version. Oh well guess I’ll end up buying the M12 palm driver.
I was expecting (and hoping for) a more dramatic redesign. Still, the G2 does improve upon the 1st-gen Hammerhead.
The M12 palm nailer is not without its shortcomings, namely its size, but does seem to be a heavier-hitting tool. To be fair, the Hammerhead was always marketed as a homeowner/DIY tool.
We have quite a collection of tools in the M12 lineup, several hackzalls, a few Pex expanders (uses our older Uponor cones), several drill drivers, right angle drills, 3/8 impact drivers and even plastic pipe shears. We’ve been disappointed with their tubing cutter and now this tool type too – where we bought only 1 of the M12 palm nailers, tried it and decided that we will stick with our Bostitch and Senco pneumatics – unless we have a job where the comperssor/air hose is definitely out.