Porter-Cable’s nailers have been the choice of professional contractors for two decades because of their reliability and durability. Let’s look at these two brad nailers and see which will best help you get the job done.
PORTER-CABLE BN200B 5/8-Inch to 2-inch 18-Gauge Brad Nailer
Many satisfied customers have used this finish nailer for years without a misfire. They also like the broad range of sizes it can handle. Let’s see why it has been so popular.
Advantages of the BN200B
- This nailer doesn’t require oiling so there’s less time spent maintaining it.
- Instead of adjusting pressure at the compressor there is an on-board depth-of-drive adjustment wheel with preset detents. It’s located near the trigger for convenience.
- Should there be a jam, there is a release latch built into the front of the BN200B. This makes it easy to clear out jammed nails without using tools or taking apart the nailer.
- The BN200B shoots 18-gauge nails between 16 to 50mm in size. It holds up to 100 nails in its magazine. It operates on a sequential fire trigger pulls, one nail at a time. This is designed for careful placement of fasteners.
- There is a low-nail reload indicator window in the magazine. This helps prevent dry fires.
- The BN200B has a lock-off switch for safety, but the BN200C does not have this feature.
- There is also a contact safety located behind the driver guide.
- Since brad nailers are often used to fasten finished work-pieces, the BN200B comes with a no-mar tip to avoid scratching or denting painted or varnished surfaces. The tip can be removed and stored on the nailer.
- The BN200B has an aluminum housing, which is sturdier than the magnesium casing on the BN200C.
- The BN200B weighs only 2.6 pounds and measures 9.75 x 10.4 inches.
- There is an adjustable belt hook so the nailer can hang on the left or right side of the user.
- The BN200B comes with a sample pack of 1000 brad nails, safety glasses, a ¼-inch air hose fitting, and a carrying case. The BN200C does not include safety glasses in its kit.
- Porter-Cable offers a 90-day money-back satisfaction guarantee, a 1-year free service contract, and a 3-year limited warranty.
Disadvantages of the BN200B
- If the user wants bump contact firing they must install a different trigger from Porter-Cable.
- The BN200B is slightly larger than the BN200C, which could cause a problem when working in tight corners.
PORTER-CABLE BN200C 2-Inch 18-Gauge Brad Nailer Kit
Porter-Cable released a newer version of the BN200 nailer. Let’s see what they did differently.
Advantages of the BN200C
- The BN200C is also maintenance-free, requiring no oiling.
- Instead of changing air compressor pressure, there is an on-board depth-of-drive adjustment wheel with preset marks, or detents. It’s located closer to the trigger than it is on the BN200B so it is possible to make one-handed adjustments.
- The body is made of magnesium and the size is slightly smaller than the BN200B. Its light weight helps when installing crown molding or other overhead tasks. Its smaller size makes it easier to squeeze into corners.
- The BN200C uses 18-gauge nails from 16 to 50mm. It holds up to 100 at a time. The magazine has a window indicator that shows red when nails get low.
- Should there be a jam, there is a latch in the front of the nailer to make the jam easy to clear without using additional tools.
- The removable no-mar tip stops the BN200C from damaging finished surfaces. It stores on-board when not in use.
- There is a contact safety behind the driver guide on the BN200C, but there is no lock-off switch like on the BN200B.
- The adjustable belt-hook hangs the nailer on either the left or right side.
- The BN200C comes with a ¼-inch air hose fitting, sample brad nails, and a carrying case.
- Porter-Cable offers a 90-day money-back satisfaction guarantee, a 1-year free service contract, and a 3-year limited warranty.
Disadvantages of the BN200C
- If the user wants bump contact firing they must install a different trigger from Porter-Cable.
- The BN200C does not come with safety glasses like the BN200B does.
- There is no safety lockout switch for the trigger like there is on the BN200B.
- Magnesium is a softer and lighter material than aluminum, so the BN200C may not handle being dropped as well as the BN200B does.
Conclusion
Since there’s no appreciable difference in maintenance, power, or function, we need to look at the details to make a choice between them. The BN200B has the lockout switch safety feature which could prevent accidents, especially if there are children or inexperienced users where you are working. If you’re hard on tools, also consider the BN200B because its aluminum housing may stand up to drops and falls better than the BN200C does. Porter-Cable also includes safety glasses in the kit with the BN200B, but not with the NB200C.
The BN200C is a little smaller in size than the BN200B, which could be what you’ll need for working in small spaces. Its depth-of-drive wheel is closer to the trigger for one-handed adjustments.
Either nailer has a solid history of positive reviews from satisfied owners.
Click here to purchase PORTER-CABLE BN200B on Amazon!
Click here to purchase PORTER-CABLE BN200C on Amazon!