I totally get what you're saying about the weight. I borrowed a cordless nailer from a buddy last summer when we redid our shed roof, and yeah, it felt a bit top-heavy at first. But honestly, after an hour or so, I kinda adjusted to it. Still heavier than pneumatic for sure, but not a deal-breaker for me. If you're already noticing every ounce though, pneumatic might still be your best bet...
Yeah, cordless definitely takes some getting used to. I borrowed one last fall when we patched up our porch roof, and at first, my wrist was feeling it big time. After a bit though, it wasn't too bad—guess you just kinda adapt. Still, I ended up going pneumatic when I bought my own this spring. Mostly because the price difference was pretty noticeable, and honestly, I didn't want to deal with battery replacements down the line.
One thing I'm curious about though—have you guys noticed any real difference in power or consistency between cordless and pneumatic? The cordless felt solid enough for shingles, but I've heard mixed things about tougher materials or colder weather...
I've used cordless plenty of times in colder weather, and honestly, it's held up fine. Pneumatic definitely has that consistent punch, but cordless isn't far behind these days... especially newer models. Battery life can be annoying, sure, but power-wise they're pretty close now.
Have you had any issues with cordless nailers losing power as the battery drains? I've noticed some models start strong but lose punch halfway through a charge, especially on thicker shingles or colder mornings... Curious if newer ones solved that yet.
"I've noticed some models start strong but lose punch halfway through a charge, especially on thicker shingles or colder mornings..."
Yeah, I've run into that exact issue before. Seems like battery tech has improved a bit lately, but it's still not perfect. I remember last winter we had a pretty cold morning—probably around 20°F—and my cordless nailer started off great, but halfway through the job it was barely driving nails flush. Had to swap batteries constantly just to keep things moving.
One thing I've wondered about is whether the newer brushless models handle battery drain better than the older brushed ones. Brushless motors are supposed to be more efficient and consistent, right? Has anyone here switched from brushed to brushless and noticed a significant difference in performance consistency as the battery drains?
Also makes me curious if certain battery brands or voltages handle cold weather better than others. I've heard some guys swear by higher voltage setups (like 36V or even higher) for roofing work, claiming they maintain power longer under load. But then again, higher voltage usually means heavier tools and batteries... so there's always that trade-off.
Another thought—could it be partly due to battery age or condition? Lithium-ion batteries degrade over time, especially if they're frequently drained completely or stored improperly. Maybe some of these issues we're seeing aren't just about the tool itself but also how well we've maintained our batteries over time.
Anyway, it'd be interesting to hear if anyone's done side-by-side comparisons between different cordless nailers in colder conditions or with thicker shingles. Are there specific models out there now that genuinely hold their punch consistently throughout the entire charge cycle?
