DEWALT D51238K 5/8-Inch to 2-Inch 18-Gauge Brad Nailer

5 Reviews

1. I’ve had this brad nailer for about 5 years now and it works just as good as the first time I used it. I always put a drop of oil in the inlet every time before I use it and it has never given me any problems. Easy to load, easy to use…no complaints here.

2. When I use this product it requires more time to clear feed jams than I spend actually setting brads. I have used a variety of 18 guage brads including Spenco and Bostitch – no difference. I have tried lubing and not lubing – no difference. I have adjusted pressure at the (DeWalt) compressor from low end of the recommended range to the top end – no difference. I have used the depth setting up and down – no difference. I have had a couple of days when misfeeds have been rare and others when it takes clearing a misfeed five times for each brad that is set. Amazon was no help. By the time I finished trying different brands of brads and adjusting everything it was more than 30 days from date of purchase – no help from Amazon at all. I have a cheapo HF model – been using 10 years with only rare misfeed – but it only shoots 1 1/2 inch brad not 2″. DeWalt could take some lessons in reliability from the maker of that one. I would not buy again.

3. This is my first nail gun. I’ve used some, many years ago, but never owned or used one with any regularity, so I don’t have any info for the pros out there. My review is more for the homeowner, weekend warrior like me. I’m currently involved in a significant demolition and reconstruction project, part of which includes the installation of a wooden privacy fence. I already have most of the fence installed, but this tool would have been very handy for nailing the slats, saving me a ton of work and I intend to finish the project with the gun. I’m also going to install a lot of paneling, where this gun should prove to be very useful, although I’m now thinking that I should have gotten a 15 or 16 gauge finish nailer, like this Dewalt DEWALT D51257K 1-inch to 2-1/2-inch 16 Gauge Finish Nailer, even though it’s quite a bit more expensive. The 18 gauge nails are pretty small and will probably hold small loads well, perhaps even medium loads with lots of nails installed. But, I think that I’d have gotten more utility from a heavier gauge finish nailer.

   But, I already have this nailer and don’t really need an arsenal of nail guns, so this one should fill my needs as an avid homeowner DIY type. I would suggest to anyone like me, that you buy at least 1 palm nailer to use with this gun. I bought both a standard, full size Ridgid palm nailer and a Senco mini-palm nailerSenco PC1195 Mini Palm Nailer. Amazon sells several full size palm nailers, like the Bostitch Bostitch PN100K Impact Nailer Kitand Dewalt DEWALT D51180 Heavy-Duty Palm Naileralong with the mini palm nailers like the Senco and Grip-RiteGrip-Rite GRTMP16 16d Mini Air Nailer. These nailers are great for using normal boxed nails, up to 3 1/2 inches.

   Getting back to the Dewalt brad nailer, I’m very happy with the tool and so far it has worked flawlessly. It’s not too heavy and is easy to use in most situations. The only real limitations are the size of the nailer and the attached air hose that can sometimes be an issue where you’re trying to put a nail. Most of the time, you can position the gun and hose quite easily to install the fastener. As I intimated above, the size of the nails are the limiting factor, which certainly isn’t the fault of the gun. Just make sure that all of the nails you buy for the nailer are 18 gauge, which is clearly marked on all of the packages that I’ve seen, like these from BostitchBostitch BT1350B-1M 2-Inch 18-Gauge Brads, 1000 per Box. I purchased a couple of different lengths here on Amazon.

   The nailer comes in a very nice storage case and includes a decent pair of Dewalt safety glasses and an allen wrench. I was rather surprised to see that they didn’t include a small bottle of air tool oil. If this is your first air tool, be sure to buy and use some air tool oil like the Campbell Hausfeld linked here.Campbell Hausfeld G2820 Tool Oil, 8 oz.

   My only aggravation with the tool was that it didn’t come with a hose attachment. I bought and installed a quick connect ball swivel industrial air hose fitting, like this Air Locker AFM44PMS 1/4 Inch Male Swivel Plug which helps a little with the hose positioning issues. The biggest problem though, was removing the protective plastic plug that they had installed to protect the tool’s air hose connector threads. I had a heck of a time getting that thing out of there, finally getting it out by tearing it into several pieces with a pair of needle nose pliers. I don’t understand why Dewalt didn’t install an industry standard connector. Both of my palm nailers came with connectors already installed and you can buy 4 brass male and a female industrial quick connectors by CMT here on Amazon for under $5, linked here 5-Piece Quick-Connect Air Coupler Set – Solid Brass. So, the added cost of having a good connector already installed on this tool, would have been a price I’d have happily paid. As it is, it is definitely not ready to go, out of the box.

4. This is my first air tool and I bought it to install some quarter round. Instead of drilling a hole, hammering in a finishing nail and then sinking it with a punch I just pulled the trigger on the nailer and in went a brad with a barely visible result. This is quite the time saver and does an excellent job. Wish I had tried this years ago but better late than never, as the saying goes.

5. I’ve had mine for over a year now with no problems. We also have one at work that has trimmed at least 100 doors and three times that many windows with little sign of wear. Being able to shoot 5/8″ all the way up to 2″ nails is a big advantage this gun has over many of the other guns in the same price range.