PORTER-CABLE BN200C

PORTER-CABLE BN200C 2-Inch 18GA Pneumatic Brad Nailer Kit Review

Porter-Cable BN200C: A Pneumatic Brad Nailer for Professionals and DIYers?

With so many brad nailers on the market, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. But fear not! Today, we’re diving into the PORTER-CABLE BN200C 2-Inch 18GA Pneumatic Brad Nailer Kit, a new iteration of the BN200 series. Let’s see if it lives up to its claims of being great for both professionals and DIYers.

PORTER-CABLE BN200C is highly recommended by professionals for its ability to meet expectation from heavy duty jobs in a large project with frequent use. The internal piston of BN200C generates enough power to drive standard 18 gauge brad nails with consistency in every shot. This air tool has the capacity to do all kind of brad nailing task that is not limited to small home repair jobs, picture frame or kitchen crown installation. A suitable brad nailer for professional contractor and DIY alike. Before deciding what brad nailer you want to buy, find out more about the latest development and new feature PORTER-CABLE added in BN200C from our review.

Highlights:
  • Versatile Fastener Capability: Drives 18-gauge brad nails from 5/8″ to 2″, handling diverse projects from delicate trim to sturdier tasks.
  • Pneumatic Power: Requires an air compressor for consistent power, potentially limiting portability but offering reliable performance.
  • User-Friendly Design: Features like a comfortable grip and tool-free adjustments promote ease of use.
  • Professional Durability: Promises long-lasting performance with a focus on reliability, potentially appealing to both professionals and DIYers.
PORTER-CABLE BN200C
Who Should Consider the BN200C:
  • Professionals: Seeking a reliable and powerful tool for demanding projects.
  • DIY Enthusiasts: Wanting a versatile and durable nailer for various home projects.
  • Users Preferring Pneumatic Power: Comfortable with the air compressor setup and appreciate consistent power.

Compare Price of PORTER-CABLE BN200C with similar 18-Gauge brad nailer

Potential Benefits:

  • Handles diverse projects: From delicate trim work to sturdier applications, the nail size range offers flexibility.
  • Reliable power: Pneumatic operation can provide consistent driving force for secure fastening.
  • Easy operation: User-friendly features can make it suitable for both experienced and novice users.
  • Long-lasting performance: The focus on durability suggests it can withstand regular use.

Potential Drawbacks:

  • Pneumatic Operation: Requires an air compressor, limiting portability compared to cordless options. Consider your workspace and project needs.
  • Maintenance: Pneumatic tools often require more maintenance than cordless models. Factor in cleaning and lubrication needs.
  • Alternatives: Compare the BN200C to similar brad nailers in terms of features, price, and brand reputation.

Features & Specs

Key Features

  • Air Inlet Size: 1/4 in.
  • Depth of Drive: Adjustable
  • Dry Fire Lockout: Yes
  • Fastener Capacity: 100
  • Fastener Collation: Adhesive
  • Fastener Gauge: 18
  • Fastener Type: Brad Nails
  • Firing Modes: Sequential Actuation
  • Fitting Type: NPT
  • Jam Clearance: Open Nose
  • Lubrication: Oil-Lube
  • Magazine Angle: Straight
  • Magazine Type: Side Loading
  • Max. Fastener Length: 2 in.
  • Min. Fastener Length: 3/4 in.
  • Operating Pressure (PSI): 70 – 120
  • Tip Style: Non-Marring

Specifications

Item model numberBN200C
Item Weight1.24 pounds
Product Dimensions10.4 x 2.6 x 9.2 inches
MaterialMetal
Power SourcePneumatic
Item Package Quantity1
Number of Handles1
Included Componentscase
Batteries Included?No
Batteries Required?No
Warranty3 Years Limited Warranty, See more
PORTER-CABLE BN200C-Diagram

Unboxing

We like to confess one thing for full disclosure and our commitment to be honest with our reviews. Here is the thing we are bit more favorable to one that offers nailer with hard casing than the one with bare tool. In first look, we liked the rugged casing that comes with BN200C. Plastic molded casing more look like storage for military grade hardware and inside it you will find the PORTER-CABLE BN200C 18GA Pneumatic Brad Nailer, 1/4 in. Male Quick Plug with Dust Cover, 500-1-1/4″ Brad Nails and 500-1″ Nails, 2 Standard No-Mar Tips, Belt Hook, Oil, and Operating Manual. Included accessories can vary depending on location and offer available at that time, and please check before buying. The nailer design suggests PORTER-CABLE made the tool for rough use for your construction need and surprisingly lightweight derived from magnesium body will make it durable. Tool dimension and ergonomic design suggest it will be easy to handle even if you lack of previous experience with the brad nailer.

Inside of PORTER-CABLE BN200C

It is the perfect combination of power to drive maximum brad nailer into hardwood and get fine finish carpentry and woodworking. Porter Cable made it possible with an internal piston that provides power and consistency through every shot. Long life maintenance-free motor also keep work area from straining. All these parts are housed safely inside the magnesium body of the nailer giving stability and longer use. However, oil-lube is required to keep the pneumatic brad nailer working properly.

Brad Nailing Performance of BN200C

PORTER-CABLE BN200C is precisely built for sinking standard 18GA brad nails from 5/8″ to 2″ length commonly used in all kind of carpentry and woodworking job involving a brad nailer. Straight angled magazine with sideloading design can hold upto 100 adhesive collated fasteners. We found BN200C is very easy to reload by simply flipping the magazine lock, load from the side and lock it back without ant tool. It is also equipped with a low nail indicator. Porter Cable added Sequential style trigger for safe nailing and tool-free depth of drive adjustment for easy selection of depth of sinking nail. Open nose design gives the user a tool-free quick jam release function that improves nailing experience. Other useful designs that help tool performance are removable non-marring nose to protect against marring the work surface, rear exhaust keep contaminates away from work and trigger lock-off switch prevent unintentional firing. With all these features PORTER-CABLE BN200C is slated for all kind of brad nailing job.

BN200C’s Key Convenience

PORTER-CABLE’s excellence in tool making is not limited to performance only, the design of BN200C also indicate, they spend a significant amount of time for user comfort and convenience. Holding the integrated rubber grip handle for the first time really feel comfortable and easy control of the tool. Another thing we noticed is a reload fastener indicator on side of the magazine that notifies the user about the low nail. Adjustable belt clip help user to carry the nailer while not in use. Intelligent placement of contact safety behind driver guide gives better visibility to the user. Lastly, onboard tool storage has space to keep the extra non-marring tip.

BN200C Price Vs Value

It’s the most tricky part of any product review, how to measure product value against the price you pay to have it. In most cases, people are happy to buy the premium priced product from the brand that is perceived to be high value and high in quality and vice versa. Buying power tool only for its brand value or face value is not a great idea. We like to consider all the aspect of the product to find its true value. In terms of value proposition, Porter Cable BN200C is a reasonable priced pneumatic brad nailer. The overall value of the package outweighs its price. You might consider buying it for numbers of reasons. Three year limited warranty, rugged carrying case that is full of accessories, its proven performance with hardwood, user friendly design and Porter-Cable brand itself.

Things that will impress you

  • Magnesium body for durability and lightweight at 2.375 lbs.
  • Power to drive maximum fasteners into hardwood with internal piston catch that provides consistent maximum power on every shot.
  • Long life maintenance-free motor
  • Tool-free depth of drive and jam release
  • Removable non-marring nose tip prevents damaging work surface.
  • Reload indicator and adjustable belt clip.
  • Integrated rubber grip for user comfort and control
  • Military grade carrying case with different accessories
  • Three years limited warranty

Things you may not like

  • Lacking Dry Fire Lockout mechanism
  • A user need to install separate contact fire trigger for bump firing
  • The oil-free operation is not available. Oiling requires for regular use.

Buyers Feedback on PORTER-CABLE BN200C

Porter Cable is not new in power tool industry and offers all kind of power tool sold in online and hardware store near you. Whatever product we review, we try to collect customer feedback to compare our findings. Though it is not so popular as Hitachi or Bostitch, it do have a solid user base. Data collected from online sources indicate 70% to 80% user rated 4.5 out of 5 and bottom level rating among its user is hovering around 7%. Our own scoring system rated 8.32 out of 10 for overall score. We measured all the aspect of PORTER-CABLE BN200C in terms of Features, Design, Quality, Performance, Usability, Ease of Use and Value for Money to overall score.

Read Customer Review on PORTER-CABLE BN200C

Our Assessment

In short PORTER-CABLE BN200C is an ideal 18GA Brad Nailer for perfect finish carpentry and woodworking. Its application in large scale commercial project can be treated as the certificate of reliability in all kind of brad nailing task. BN200C design delivers optimal performance with its durable, lightweight, low maintenance and remarkable features that differentiate it from other air powered brad nailer. With few minor drawbacks, it can be your choice for best pneumatic brad nailer if you consider low price and great value you get from it.