All construction and woodworkers know that having a good set of power tools is essential to completing jobs accurately and efficiently. Being able to drive nails quickly with a tool instead of by hand shaves countless hours off of any project and also increases the accuracy of the drive. One of the most essential tools in the toolkit for that purpose is the framing nailer, such as the Freeman PFR2190. But is this a good framing nailer? And how does it compare to other framing nailers on the market? This article will provide a thorough review and comparison of the Freeman PFR2190 to answer your questions.
What Is the Freeman PFR2190?
The Freeman PFR2190 is a framing nailer, which is a gun-shaped, handheld woodworking tool that drives nails into wood. It significantly speeds up the process of nailing larger pieces of material to one another. It is generally used for more heavy-duty construction projects.
How It Works
This tool uses air compression to drive nails into wood at a rapid pace. The nails are driven from a large cylinder located directly above the tip. When you are ready to fire it, you align the cylinder and nail tip in the direction you will drive the nail. You should press the nailer into the wood before you pull the trigger to depress the nail tip, which fires a single nail. You ideally should depress the nail’s head about 1/8 of an inch into the wood. Then you repeat this process for the other nails that you need.
Uses
This nailing framer can be used for two styles of nailing: through nailing and toe-nailing. By through nailing, you can drive one nail perpendicular to the face of the wooden board into another. By toe-nailing, you drive the nail into the wooden board at an angle. It can be used for such projects as siding, roofing, fencing, framing, or even wall sheathing.
Safety
You should always wear safety equipment such as safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, and close-fitting clothes when using this tool. Also, read the manufacturer’s operation manual carefully before use and follow all guidelines strictly. This framing nailer comes with such safety features as a nail tip. You should never disable the nail tip or pull it back while firing to reduce the chance of injury significantly.
Advantages and Disadvantages
One advantage of the pneumatic framing nailer over other types of framing nailers, such as battery-powered framing nailers or fuel-powered framing nailers, is that these usually have more power because of using compressed air and are also faster. However, they require a long hose to be hooked up to an air compressor, so they are less portable than other types.
Freeman PFR2190 Specs
Design
The Freeman PFR2190 is pneumatic, which means it manually connects to an air compressor with a hose. It weighs 17 pounds and has measurements of 12″ x 18″ x 2″. It is black and orange and features a strip nail loading type. It can accept 21-degree full-headed nails between a minimum size of 2 inches and a maximum size of 3.5 inches.
The body is constructed of magnesium, which lowers the weight of the tool and increases durability. The driving blade is constructed of high-strength, heat-treated steel, while the cylinder is made of anodized aluminum. The O-rings are made of Teflon. The high-quality materials ensure that the tool’s performance will stay up to par.
Technical Features
The nailer also comes with a 360-degree, adjustable exhaust vent to prevent moisture spots on the surface of the wood. It features an interchangeable trigger which allows you to switch between contact and single firing. The dust cap and air filter prevent damage to the driver. It also features a non-marring rubber tip to prevent damage to the wood surface. The anti-dry-fire system stops firing when you reach the last three nails, preventing jams and damage. All these features can be expected on a high-end nail gun.
Pricing
The Freeman PFR2190 can be purchased for around $$ to $$, making it quite affordable when compared with other framing nailers. This nailer can be found on Amazon and other online retailers such as eBay, Aircompressorsdirect.com, Woodcraft.com, and more. It can also be found at retail and home stores such as Walmart.
How It Compares
We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare.
- DEWALT DCN692M1 20V MAX XR Dual Speed Framing Nailer
- Hitachi NR90GR2 Gas Powered Plastic Strip Collated Framing Nailer
- BOSTITCH Framing Nailer
Freeman PFR2190
[amazon box=”B002EVPO5E”]
Ease of Use ****
We gave ease of use 4 stars because it hooks up to an air compressor and uses strip loading nails.
Nail Capacity & Versatility ****
We gave nail capacity and versatility 4 stars because it holds 80-100 nails but only accepts 21-degree full-headed nails.
Design Quality *****
We gave design quality 5 stars because of the high-quality, durable materials and the variety of technical features.
Warranty *****
We give the warranty a 5-star rating because it comes with a 7-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Affordable
- Made of durable, high-quality materials
- Adjustable exhaust vents
- Interchangeable trigger
- Air filter and dust cap
- Non-marring rubber tip
- Anti-dry-fire system
- 7-year limited warranty.
- Holds 80-100 nails
Cons
- Only accepts 21″ full-headed nails
- Some users report problems with double firing
DEWALT DCN692M1 20V MAX XR Dual Speed Framing Nailer
[amazon box=”B00JJBX9UY”]
Design
The DEWALT DCN692M1 Dual Speed Framing Nailer is a battery-powered framing nailer that takes any brand of nails from 30 degrees to 34 degrees. It can drive 3.5-inch nails thanks to the brushless motor and engine design. The dual-speed brushless motor automatically calculates nail size and adapts the firing force to each nail. It runs on the battery power of a 20-volt lithium-ion battery and weighs 7.8 pounds, making it lightweight. The nosepiece is easily accessible for the removal of jammed nails.
Technical Features
The DEWALT DCN692M1 features two operating modes: sequential and bump. Sequential operating mode allows for precision placement while bump operating mode provides production speed. It has a trigger lock-off safety feature that allows you to disable the trigger when the tool is not in use. It also includes tool-free depth adjustment for increased accuracy, dry fire lock-out, a stall release lever, and an adjustable rafter hook for portability.
Ease of Use *****
We gave ease of use 5 stars because it is battery-operated and easy to load.
Nail Capacity & Versatility ***
We gave nail capacity and versatility 3 stars because, while it only holds 55 nails, it holds a good range of any brand.
Design Quality *****
We gave design quality 5 stars because of the dual-speed brushless motor and the variety of technical features.
Warranty ***
We gave the warranty three stars because it comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Solely battery operated
- Dual-speed brushless motor
- Holds a good size range of nails of any brand
- Two operating modes
- Tool-free depth adjustment
- Dry fire lock-out
- Adjustable rafter hook
- Stall release lever
- Carrying case included
- 3-year limited warranty
Cons
- Only holds 55 nails
- Some users report problems driving 3.5-inch nails
- More expensive than other drivers
Hitachi NR90GR2 Gas Powered Plastic Strip Collated Framing Nailer
[amazon box=”B07L8ZJ2NG”]
Design
The Hitachi NR90GR2 features a lightweight, compact design that allows it to fit into small spaces easily. It only weighs 7.9 pounds and has an Elastomer grip that reduces vibration and accidental slippage.
It is cordless and powerful, using a 7.2-volt nickel-cadmium battery and fuel cartridges. This battery and fuel power give it to the ability to drive 1,000 21- degree nails (up to 3.5 inches long) per hour. In one charge, the nailer can run up to 4 hours, allowing you to drive 4,000 nails before having to recharge. It can also drive two nails per second, making jobs fast and easy.
It takes not only Hitachi fuel cartridges but also fuel cartridges from Bostitch and Paslode. The nailer comes with accessories such as a cleaner/degreaser, a fuel cell, a 4mm hex bar wrench, safety glasses, nail lubricant, and a carrying case.
Technical Features
Some great features of the Hitachi NR90GR2 include the dry-fire lockout, which stops the tool from firing when there are five nails left in the strip and allows you to fasten while preventing damage to the tool and the work surface. It includes a dual-firing mode (bump and sequential) for versatility and no-tool depth adjustment for excellent precision and accuracy. The indicator light alerts you when the battery is low so that you can avoid unexpected battery drainage in the middle of a project.
Ease of Use *****
We gave the ease of use a 5-star rating because it is cordless and easy to charge and load.
Nail Capacity & Versatility ***
We gave nail capacity and versatility a 3-star rating because it only accepts 21-degree, full-head nails.
.
Design Quality *****
We gave the design quality a 4-star rating because of the lightweight, ergonomic design and good technical features.
Warranty **
We gave the warranty two stars because it only comes with a one-year warranty.
Pros
- Powerful battery
- Portable, compact, and lightweight design
- Drives 4,000 nails in 4 hours on one charge
- Accepts Paslode and Bostitch fuel cartridges
- Plenty of accessories included
- Dry-fire lockout
- Dual-firing mode
- No-tool depth adjustment
- Indicator light
Cons
- Expensive initial purchase
- Replacing fuel cells can be expensive over time
- Louder than other guns because of fuel cartridges
- Not suitable for longer projects because of expenses
- 1-year warranty
BOSTITCH Framing Nailer
[amazon box=”B000A79HWA”]
Design
The BOSTITCH F21PL is another pneumatic framing nailer, but it is more lightweight than the Freeman PFR2190, weighing 8.1 pounds. The magnesium construction makes it both lightweight and durable, while the skid pads and rubber grip make it safe and easy to use. It works with 21-degree nails at a size range of 1.5″ to 3.5″ and has 1,050 in/lbs of driving power. It features two quick-changing nose pieces, which allows you to switch between metal connector and plastic-collated nails.
Technical Features
The BOSTITCH F21PL has such features as a tool-free drive depth adjustment for ease and convenience. You can also switch between single and multi-drive modes just by pressing a trigger. It includes an adjustable rafter hook for hanging while working on projects.
Ease of Use ****
We gave ease of use 4 stars because it hooks up to an air compressor and the magazine is easy to load.
Nail Capacity & Versatility ***
We gave nail capacity and versatility 3 stars because it holds up to 20 plastic-collated nails and 60 metal connector nails, and only works with 21-degree nails.
Design Quality ***
We gave design quality 3 stars because, while it is lightweight, it lacks some additional features of other framing nailers and it is bulky in design.
Warranty *****
We gave the warranty 5 stars because it comes with a 7-year warranty.
Pros
- Lightweight for a pneumatic nailing gun
- Magnesium construction
- Rubber grips and skid pads
- 1,050 in/lbs of driving power
- Quick-changing nosepieces
- Tool-free drive depth adjustment
- Tool-free firing mode switch
- Adjustable rafter hook
Cons
- Continuous fire mode can be difficult to trigger
- No carrying case included
- Noisier than other nail guns
- Bulky design
- Slow reload
- 60-nail capacity
Conclusion: Our Rating of the Freeman PFR2190
After thoroughly reviewing and comparing the Freeman PFR2190 to other framing nailers, we give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. It is made of high-quality and durable materials that ensure consistent, long-lasting performance. It also has many technical and safety features found on high-end framing nailers, such as an interchangeable trigger, adjustable exhaust vent, non-marring rubber tip, air filter and dust cap, and anti-dry-fire system.
Though it lacks a bit in nail capacity and versatility and has some reported issues with double firing, the abundance of technical features and great design make this affordable nailing framer a worthwhile investment for professionals and beginners.
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