Milwaukee Tool has announced 2 new M18 FUEL cordless finish nailers in 15 gauge angled and 16 gauge angled styles.
Like their predecessors, the new Milwaukee M18 Fuel finish nailers don’t require any gas cartridges – all you need to power them is an M18 Li-ion battery.
The brand says that they designed the new cordless finish nailers for precision and speed. The nailers were also designed to be compact and with clear line of sight for accurate nail placement.
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Both nailers feature sequential and contact actuation modes, and can drive up to 3 nails per second. Press materials point out that the nailers perform with zero ramp-up to boost productivity.
They feature a nitrogen air spring mechanism to provide as close to a pneumatic-like experience as possible.
Here’s a rear-profile view of both nailers. If you look closely, you can see where they placed the rubber bumpers. Milwaukee also redesigned the belt hook and moved it from the top rear of the nailer to the base just above the battery slot.
Shared Features & Specs
- PowerState brushless motor
- Sequential and contact (bump fire) actuation modes
- Tool-free jam clearing latch
- Tool-free depth adjustment
- LED work light
- Reversible belt clip
- On-board storage for 3 work contact bracket tips
- Bumpers & overmold for protecting finished surfaces
- User controls with power button and firing mode button
- 5 year warranty
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 15 Gauge Angled Finish Nailer
- 15GA finish nails: 34° DA-style
- 1-1/4″ – 2-1/2″ nail length
- Weighs 6.5 lbs (without battery)
- Kit: 2839-21CT
- Bare Tool: 2839-20
The nailer kit comes with a CP 2.0Ah battery, charger, and tool bag.
Price: $399 for the kit, $329 for the bare tool
ETA: November 2021
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16 Gauge Angled Finish Nailer
- 16GA finish nails: 20° angled
- 1-1/4″ – 2-1/2″ nail length
- Weighs 6.4 lbs (without battery)
- Kit: 2841-21CT
- Bare Tool: 2841-20
The nailer kit comes with a CP 2.0Ah battery, charger, and tool bag.
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Price: $399 for the kit, $329 for the bare tool
ETA: January 2022
Discussion
Milwaukee’s press materials say that they listened to user feedback in designing the new nailers. If you had any complaints about the Gen 1 nailers, does it look like they were addressed here?
Sometimes when a tool is updated, you can see some common features, or an evolution path. Here? Not so much. Just looking at the product images and side profile, it seems that Milwaukee completely redesigned the new finish nailers from the ground up.
Everything is new here – the large bumpers on the side, the magazine lock, the angle of the battery, the belt hook – everything is just different.
There are resemblances, however, to the Milwaukee M18 Fuel framing nailers. I would not be surprised if some of the advancements that made the framing nailers possible were adapted and refined here.
What do you think – are these the cordless finish nailers you’ve been waiting for?
Scott F
Can’t speak much to my wishes for the 15ga, really only used it 3x so far. But curious about any functional changes versus ergonomics and looks – is it newer/better? Any weight difference?
And where the HELL did you find that spec for 34 degree DA style nails?!? I wasted days and $50 with the wrong (FN style) nails when I bought mine because I could not for the LIFE of me find any specification on the internet, user manual, anything. I had to call Milwaukee and talk to a tech to learn there’s another style of nails/I had the wrong ones.
Stuart
(Note to self – work on update to finish nailer post – https://toolguyd.com/angled-finish-nailers-da-fn-difference/ .)
There doesn’t seem to be any difference in weight. (6.3 vs 6.4 lbs for the 15 gauge.)
I haven’t handled this model yet, and so I can’t comment on ergonomics.
It looks like the bump-fire specs were greatly improved. I believe that with the first model they focused on driving strength and consistency but found some users really like to rapid fire the nailers, and so this looks to be something they worked on here.
Big Richard
If a gun has the green 15 Ga marking/sticker on it, it is DA style. If it is a blue 15 Ga, it is FN. The boxes of nails will also have the same color coding, typically.
It looks like you were not the only person with issues, as on the Gen II they clearly marked on the magazine “34° DA”.
Chris S
I have the 18GA and framing nailer. The 18 is 2nd gen and the framing nailer is first gen (“It’s” first gen, but modeled on the same tech as all the other nailers 2nd gen, there was no framing nailer during the 1st gen nailer run).
Both are absolutely fantastic.
The nitrogen aspect is new over the first gen (I believe) and fires very quickly and consistently. The ergonomics for the 18GA are very balanced and make holding it in awkward positions a non issue.
The Framing nailer is heavier than expected at first use but it makes up for it with no hose to drag around.
These finish nailers should be very similar to the 18GA and I think they will be a treat.
Aaron S
looks like these are 3 lbs lighter than the framing gun
Peter
Did you had a chance to compare the framing nailer to the Dewalt?
Rafe
Unlike the 18G, the 1st Gen 15G is very good. I have owned it for a few years now. If this gun has improvements on top of that it’ll be very nice. 2nd Gen 18G is very good also.
Craig
I have the first gen 16g finish nailer (was purchased to replace a old paslode) and out of all my Milwaukee tools I hate it. The nailer tip is too bulky and only good for nailing on flat surfaces and even then you better have your nail set nearby. Would not set nails deep enough and forget about even trying to nail crown or any detailed molding. I’ll be selling my 1st gen and am willing to try the 2nd gen!
David Deray
Looking at the pictures I’m hoping this is exactly the problem they are looking to solve. I have the se problem with my first gen 15 gauge
Dave
Just get the 15G DA as the hole size is minimal but holding power much better.
Matthew
There’s that big of a difference in holding power from 15 to 16 gauge nails? Was leaning towards replacing my Gen 1 15Ga with a Gen II 16 ga because I like the paslode angled nails.
John P
Interested how the nitrogen blatter works. Hopefully someone will do a tear down.
Ben
Soooo glad this is updated. The old 15ga is so bad compared to the ultra smooth 18ga. Looks like the new 15ga will be just like the 18ga. Can’t wait! My 1st gen 15ga sinks nails great but the major issues are 1. The belt hook is useless 2. The line of sight is not good 3. The tip was way too big which meant skew nails were always left proud and 4. The magazine nail pusher mechanism breaks, if you load magazine with 1 nail too many and let the pusher go, it misses and shoots all the way to top of magazine and can snap the part which pushes the nails. It appears the new gun has addressed all issues!
MichaelT
Having the body of the nailer protrude below the magazine felt like a surprising design error in the 1st generation. I think I had always taken for granted an uninterrupted line from the nose of a nail gun along the magazine; that seems like nail gun 101.
CharlesinRichmond
I hated the first gen 15, and returned it. Love the 2d gen 18 and the framing nailer and pinner. Just ordered this, which is currently on sale at home depot for 249 bare tool
Jack B
How are the nail holes? I saw no mention of this. As a finish carpenter I look for perfectly driven clean holes. Especially when nailing pre finished high glosses materials. Is there any addition maring on either the 15 or 16 guage nailers?
Zack
Does the gen 2 16 gauge use 34 degree nails??? Or just the 15 gauge
Stuart
As mentioned in the post, the 16 gauge works with 20° angled nails.