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This deal seemed to good to be true. Otherwise you're wasting your money. I've owned 2 of these little units now, and to be fair - they both worked great for a year to two years. THEN, when you need them most - they break down, and because they are "oil-free," they are sealed and unfixable.So if spending $300 every 1-2 years is what you want to do - keep buying these.
On June 27, 2009 it was $275 in the store. But, how much of an impact will they stand. I don't know if the previous model guns used metal or plastic assemblies, I didn't check that closely.* These guns are Porter Cable's new line of guns, kit or no. When I went to make the purchase at Home Depot, they only had one left. I don't have a need for all of the guns right now, but dollar-for-dollar it made no sense not to buy the kit, and I'm sure I'll need all 3 guns at some point.As an aside, I would like to have seen hard cases for the guns because they bang against each other in the bag. Maybe. Not as good as a metal roll cage, but better than nothing.* There is a bracket integrated into the housing for wrapping the power cord. Not something that would make me choose this over another brand, but a nice touch.* It's still very loud, hence the 4 stars.
Did they keep the same motor/compressor and lay it on its side. One possible advantage over metal assemblies is that they won't get bent out of alignment if banged about. PVC.All-in-all, I think it is still a fantastic deal. I decided about a month ago to get the CFNBNS kit.
I called the company and they said, not only is it not required, it's not recommended.* The magazine assemblies on the guns are made from industrial-strength nylon or plastic. For the record, HD had a low price already, and they've dropped the price another $25 as part of price cuts they are making due to the recession. Just wanted to note that it appears this model is being phased out in favor of the PC3PAK. So there were no delivery fees.Some of the changes in the new model- Compressor has been redesigned (Model #C2002) - * The compressor assembly on top of the tank is flatter. The specs are the same as the old one.* It now has a plastic shroud with an integrated handle for easier carrying. I thought at first PC might be incorporating cheap models into an entry-level kit, but these are the same model numbers listed on their web site for single purchase.The hose is 25 ft.
It appears to be very sturdy. The rest were were the newer PC3PAK, which I chose. A big plus.* There is now a plastic cowling surrounding the gauges and regulator to provide a measure of protection that was missing before. I don't know if this would eventually damage them, but just in case, I made cardboard separators from the flaps of the box it came in to layer between the guns. I was hoping the new plastic shroud incorporated some sound deadening, but it doesn't appear so.The guns included also appear to have been redesigned.* No oil required.
This will be the third time I'm replacing the regulator on the compressor. Further, the compressor takes a long time to come up to pressure and is loud enough to wake the dead.Guns are pretty good, seldom misfires. Inside the regulator pressure adjustment knob is a plastic part that controls outlet air pressure. This part is fragile and keeps on breaking every few months as it ages or wears down as it's adjusted.
The compressor on the other hand is loud( so be sure to unplug it when your sleeping, unless you enjoy sleepless nights), but that's expected from pancake compressors, since my new bostitch is almost as loud. They fire easily & have dual safety features, all 3 guns can be dismantled easily & work flawlessly. The tank is light & easy to carry on the job & can be placed easily in a small closet incase you wanted to hide it away when not in use. I have never owned a Porter Cable, and even today I still don't. For about a month I had borrowed my friends CFNBNS to do everything from nailing down 1000 square foot of tong & groove bamboo to putting up trim. First off, the nail guns are built solid, and have that quality feel in your hand, this isn't Ryobi or lower-end Ridgid, it feels like your holding something that will last for a lifetime, and it shows since my friend has owned & used this model extensively as a contractor for over 4 yrs without a single hiccup.All three guns can be held comfortably & are designed well. On the other hand it kept pressure evenly & spends only short spurts running. Sometimes the male end of the air hose would have a slight air leak (probably due to years of use), but that's an easy fix by tightening the adapter, for the most part there was no leaks.I'm extensively happy with the kits since everything is so compact & built so solidly.
but I wish i did. From my use of firing over 3000+ nails, it worked flawlessly without any jams & worked with 2" bostitch brads & staples. I'm now a fan of Porter Cable. The only small complaint is, you can easily run out of nails & not even know it, since it leaves a small recession in wood caused by the high air pressure, so keep your eye on the magazine otherwise you'll be spending 10 shots making indentations instead of firing nails.
nail guns work with no hitches. no problems yet. compressor fits anywhere around and is very manageable. must have for all wood working projects. i like the fact it has 150 psi.
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