I've been using cordless nailers for a few years myself, and I'd agree they're a game changer in terms of convenience. Battery life hasn't been much of an issue for me either—just keep a spare charged up and you're good to go. That said, I still keep my compressor setup handy for bigger framing jobs or when I'm working with denser hardwoods. Cordless nailers sometimes struggle to consistently drive nails flush in tougher materials, especially as the battery drains. But for trim work, punch lists, or quick repairs, cordless is definitely my first choice. Plus, not having hoses tangled around ladders or scaffolding is a huge safety bonus... learned that one the hard way years ago.
"Plus, not having hoses tangled around ladders or scaffolding is a huge safety bonus... learned that one the hard way years ago."
Haha, been there myself—nothing like tripping over a hose to make you rethink your setup. I switched to cordless nailers about two years back, mostly for trim and smaller projects around the house. Totally agree they're great for convenience and quick jobs. But yeah, I've noticed the same thing with hardwoods or thicker framing lumber. Had a small deck project last summer, and halfway through, my cordless started leaving nails proud. Ended up dragging out the compressor again—felt like stepping back in time, but it got the job done.
Still, for everyday tasks and punch lists, cordless is hard to beat. And honestly, after years of wrestling hoses and lugging compressors around, my back thanks me every time I grab the battery-powered nailer instead.
Interesting points here, though I have to admit I'm still a bit skeptical about cordless nailers for anything beyond small trim jobs. I've used both extensively, and while I totally get the appeal of ditching hoses (believe me, I've had my share of tangled messes too), I find myself reaching for the pneumatic nailer more often than not.
One issue I've consistently noticed with cordless models is their performance drop-off as the battery drains. Maybe it's just my particular model or battery setup, but when I'm working on larger projects—like framing walls or building decks—I can't help but notice that nails start sinking inconsistently after a while. It's subtle at first, but once you see it, it's hard to ignore. And then there's the downtime waiting for batteries to recharge if you don't have enough spares handy.
Another thing I've found is that cordless nailers tend to be heavier and bulkier because of the battery pack. On quick tasks, that's no big deal—but after an hour or two of overhead work or awkward angles, my wrist definitely feels it. Pneumatics might have hoses to wrestle with, but at least they're lighter in hand.
Don't get me wrong; cordless nailers have their place, especially for quick punch-list items or tight spaces where dragging around a compressor isn't practical. But for sustained use and consistent power over extended periods, I'm still leaning toward pneumatic setups. Maybe newer cordless models have improved on these issues lately? I'd be curious if anyone's had better luck with recent releases...
I totally get where you're coming from on the battery fade issue. Had a similar experience last summer when we were building a pergola in our backyard—started off strong, but halfway through the afternoon, the nails just weren't sinking consistently. Ended up switching back to pneumatic for the rest of the job. Cordless is convenient, sure, but for bigger projects, reliability wins out for me too. Maybe newer models have improved...haven't tried any lately myself though.
I've noticed the same thing with cordless nailers, especially when tackling bigger projects. Last fall, I was framing out a shed, and the cordless started off great—super convenient, no hoses to trip over, and easy to move around. But after a couple hours, I noticed the nails weren't driving fully, and I had to go back and manually hammer them flush. Not exactly ideal when you're trying to keep things moving along smoothly.
One thing I've found helpful is keeping a spare battery charged and ready to swap out. It doesn't completely solve the fade issue, but it does help maintain consistency a bit longer. Also, I've heard some of the newer brushless models handle battery life and power delivery better, but I haven't personally tested them yet. Might be worth looking into if you're planning more big projects down the line.
That said, pneumatic nailers still have their place. They're reliable, powerful, and consistent—exactly what you need when you're framing or building something substantial. Sure, dragging around a compressor and hose can be a pain, but once you're set up, you know exactly what you're getting with every trigger pull. For smaller jobs or quick fixes, cordless is still my go-to, but for anything substantial, pneumatic is tough to beat.
Your pergola project sounds like it was pretty ambitious, by the way. Props for tackling that yourself—it's always satisfying to step back and see something you've built with your own hands.
