Makita has come out with a new 18V cordless brad nailer that they say delivers “air nailer like” performance. The new compressor, like the Craftsman Speedshot brad nailer, Ryobi Airstrike brad nailer, Ryobi Airstrike stapler, and Ryobi Airstrike finish nailer, and not too unlike the Senco Fusion nailer, features built-in air compression technology.
According to Makita, the internal air compressor provides less reaction force and “air nailer like” shot feeling to the operator.
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Compressed air inside the nailer is generated by a piston action created by the DC motor.
Features and Specifications
- 18 gauge brad nailer
- Compatible with 15 mm to 50 mm nails (5/8″ to 2″)
- 110-nail capacity
- Can drive 1,000 nails on single 3.0Ah battery charge
- Ergonomic grip
- Protective rubber bumpers
- Anti-dry-fire mechanism
- Driving depth adjustment
- Narrow nose for easy nail aiming
- Sequential and bump-fire modes
- LED work light
- Low battery LED warning
- Weighs 7.7 lbs with battery
The new Makita BDN500 cordless brad nailer is currently only announced for the international market, and there has been no word as to whether it will be released in the USA.
First Thoughts
Makita’s new cordless brad nailer looks appealing, but I cannot quite shake the feeling that the Makita nailer looks somewhat chunky, especially compared to Ryobi’s Airstrike models. At 7.7 lbs, the Makita nailer is also a little heavier than the ~6.5 – 7.0 lb Airstrike and Speedshot nailers. On the optimistic side of things, the configuration of the nailer and its narrow top potentially means easier precision nail placement.
fred
With battery powered tools – it may be more about what platform you have bought into than about who has the best design. Ultimately when enough of the old stock wears out, you have more batteries that no longer hold a charge than those that do, or you are confronted with one (or preferably 2 or 3) game changing tools from someone else’s lineup – then you make the switch. When I was working we probably had 100+ Makita 18V tools and double that number of batteries. So buying one or more of these for punch-list jobs to replace our Paslode impulse brad nailers would have been a likely thing to do. Recently, I think that Milwaukee 18V tools (e.g. PEX Expanders, Force Logic crimpers and Knockout punches, and new Viega-style black-iron pipe tools) have started “creeping into” the old lineup – and my “heirs” may be considering a slow switch from Teal to Red. I say ‘slow switch” because the lines do not overlap in all cases. Just like Makita not having the plumbing tools like Milwaukee’s, I know of no Milwaukee replacement for the Makita concrete vibrators we used – nor this new brad nailer.
Daniel
I make frequent trips to both Europe and Australasia. Does anyone know if I were to buy the tool there would it be compatible with the 18 volt batteries I have at home? Seems to me it is just the charging system that is different and not the batteries, but what do I know? 🙂
Stuart
It *should* be compatible, but it’s at your own risk to try. You could always carry an 18V battery pack on your travels to find out for sure.
I cannot think of any reason why they wouldn’t be compatible – DC volts are DC volts. The only difference should be in the battery chargers, which would match local AC line voltages, frequencies, and plug form factors.
Hilton
I’ve bought four Makita 18v tools on Amazon and had them shipped over to South Africa. The airlines and couriers won’t ship Lithium Ion batteries so I just bought those locally together with a 220v charger.
Just make sure you don’t try and use the smaller capacity batteries on tools that require serious power.
Chris
Wish this had been out when I bought my Dewalt 18v XRP brad nailer. Currently it is my only cordless tool that is not makita 18v LXT. But I don’t use it enough to really justify buying this to replace it, just to use the same batteries.
Toolfreak
Looking forward to a Bosch version.
Can’t say I really care for the “aircore” tech they use in these. Just make it a mechanical nailer, no need for air pressure to do the work. Seems like just an in-between gimmick to get hardcore air-tools only people to adopt a cordless nailer prior to everything going airless.
Steven Marshall
Does anyone have a release date for this in UK or Australia?
Daniel
I have the same question but in regards to availability in Canada?
alke
Hi,
does anyone know where I can get this in Toronto I cannot seem to find it.
Nam
Very handy tool that works on the fly. No messing with compressor hoses or noisy pumper going off. You have to be careful using it, mainly it works great for softer wood. But me and my lead supervisor were really disappointed that the nails will not drive completely through for finish trim work like crown moulding. Even at full depth settings. Hopefully makita will get this issue resolved. Takes getting use to, but it saves a lot of room and time.
cesar quintero
what is the prices on the nail gun
cesar quintero
I NEED THIS IN CALIFORNIA USA
Joseph Roberts
Excellent review. Powerful and cordless. High capacity and not so heavy. Perfect.
Marc osmond
Steer clear of this nailgun, it’s a terrible machine! Misfires more than any other nailgun I’ve ever used.
Dayn
What sort of nails does this take?? Does anyone know
It obviously take straight nails but are they senco type or paslode type??
JMG
This is the first Makita tool that I have ever been truly dissatisfied with. Prior to purchase I had read many different reviews on it, and unfortunately, the reviews that had the best information in them have turned out to have been the bad reviews that it received. After the tool was delivered to me I ran a test on it using 1 1/4″ brads on both softwood and hardwood. I made certain that the depth setting was on the deepest possible before starting and then began on a piece of doug fir. On this piece of soft wood the tool worked as advertised setting every nail at full depth, but when I tried the nailer on a piece of white oak, the results were not so good. In fact, the tool was anything but consistent. The first five nails seemed to set approximately flush with the surface of the material and then it started to set the brads in a very inconsistent manner, sometimes setting them flush, but most times leaving the brads proud by as much as 3/16 of an inch. The length of brad used is well within the manufacturers specs for operation and the tool failed to deliver.
At the same time I ran this test on the Makita, I also ran an older Dewalt cordless brad nailer using the exact same nails. The Dewalt set every nail, and while it did not set the nail heads as deep into the hardwood as it did the softwood, it did set them consistently to the same depth. I cannot recommend the XBN01z for anyone who would want it for production purposes. It simply does not perform well enough in the variety of materials a professional might run into on a daily basis to make it worth any consideration.
Performance aside, there are a couple of other issues that I feel I should mention. First, the balance of the tool in operation is unusual. It is very bottom heavy and holding to tool horizontally for any length of time would tire one out much sooner than if you were using a different tool. Much like a pneumatic tool with a long hose attached to it. Secondly, the continuous operation mode does not operate like it’s contemporaries. It operates at about the same speed as the single nail setting and does not offer enough of a speed increase to make it worth having as an option. In other words, when activated, it still requires that the tool cycle up before firing the nail when you apply pressure to the tip. The design of the Dewalt tool, in comparison, allows a rapid bump fire when set to continuous mode.
The above is basically the review I posted on Amazon prior to returning the tool to them. The inconsistencies in the tools ability to set a nail in hardwood were a bit baffling as I was testing in a clear piece of hardwood with approximately 16 to 20 rings per inch. Cutting away the material afterwords revealed no anomalies. The tool just would not set the brads to a consistent depth and was very random in the depth it did set them to.
arleigh
Just a suggestion, but wondering if a spray wax might help with delivery on the nails ?
Bruce
I build and install high end custom cabinetry. I often need a tool like this for punch list items and installations . So having and really liking my 18v makita tools I decided to get this. I’ve had it for 4 months and am massively disappointed. It worked well with poplar trim and pre finished maple plywood for a couple of months. Now it won’t work 9 times out of 10. Don’t waste money on this. It is garbage. We’ll see if it can be fixed.