Makita has come out with a new cordless 18V 23 gauge pin nailer, model XTP01Z. We’ve seen a lot of new cordless nailers come out these past few years, with most touting things like air-like power and performance, but there has definitely been a noticeable absence of smaller gauge nailers.
Makita previously came out with an 18V crown stapler (XTS01Z), currently $180 via Amazon, and the new Makita XTP01Z bears some resemblance to it.
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The Makita XTP01Z 23 ga pin nailer can handle a wide range of pins, from 11/16″ to 1-3/8″, and has a 130-nail magazine. Makita boasts that this pin nailer can drive up to 3,000 on a single charge, but don’t specific whether that’s with a 3Ah, 4Ah, or 5Ah battery pack. Regardless, that’s a lot of nails.
Additional features include an anti-dry-fire mechanism and a built-in LED worklights. It weighs 4.6 lbs with a battery, which you’ll have to supply yourself.
Price: $207 (battery and charger not included)
Buy Now(via Amazon)
John made a good point in our recent Makita $25 off $100 discount discussion. If you order one now, you get the $25 holiday discount, and you also get a place in line for when the pinner starts shipping.
First Thoughts
Although the new Makita cordless pin nailer looks a little bulky (it’s hard to tell without seeing it with a battery attached or in-hand), it certainly doesn’t look as large or unwieldy as Makita’s “air-like” cordless brad nailer which was previously released internationally but not in the USA.
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The ergonomics also look a little unconventional – just look at that curved grip – but looks aren’t everything.
If you’ve been waiting for a modern Li-ion cordless pin nailer, now might be a good time to consider buying into Makita’s 18V cordless power tool platform, if you haven’t already. This is pretty much your only option.
Thanks to John and John for the heads-ups!
JMG
Amazon has changed the price again. It’s now Approx. $210. Around the first of the month they were selling it at $236. It is sometimes a bit frustrating trying to keep up with all the price adjustments they make on some items.
Stuart
Amazon can sometimes do price adjustments if you email or chat with them, especially if an item hasn’t shipped out yet. Or if one orders at a higher price and sees the price drop, they can usually cancel and place a new order if it hasn’t shipped out yet. Doing so puts you in the back of the line, which is why a price adjustment might be a better option to try first.
fred
ToolUp has it for $200 – or $175 after the Makita25 coupon
Hugh
Will it set the longest pin that it can shoot into maple? This tool has been in Canada for about 8 years now. I don’t understand what took them so long to offer it in US markets other than the typical sue crazy American excuse.
Will
Absolutely not! – at least not the one I bought. It wouldn’t pin 2 pieces of 5/8ths mdf together without the pins sticking out 1/4 inch. I don’t understand how Makita can put a piece of crap like that on the market…or their 12″ sliding miter saw: the fence wobbles so much you can’t get a true cut
fred
We got an earlier version of a Makita cordless stapler (model BST221Z) back in 2009. Makita was bundling it with some kits and I recall that they said it was a $300 value. Our view was that it was just OK as a freebee. It could not fully sink even short staples in hardwood – as an example. Cordless tools have come a long way in 6 years – so I hope this tool is a lot better.
Lassi Ryöti
I bought a makita 23ga pin nailer about 5 years ago, pretty much the same tool as above. Only difference being a slightly different rubber overmolding. I live in the scandinavian market zone but i still wonder why it hasn’t hit the US market earlier.
Jon
This post makes it sound like a new tool, but this is just a refresh of the existing 23ga pin nailer (model number DPT351) that has been out for years. I bought one two years ago in Canada.
Hugh
How does it work? Will it drive the pins into hardwoods?
fred
I don’t know about this one – but their 18ga nailer gets some mixed reviews – with some folks saying it leaves brads proud on all woods. Thinner pins (23ga) may be easier to drive – so one may hope.
BTW – I find that I’m using a pneumatic 21ga pinner (Cadex CPB21.50) in my shop more and more – instead of my Grex 23ga and PC 18ga.
Hugh
Why do you like the 21 ga?
Lassi Ryöti
From my own experience, decently, but not well enough, leaves a lot of the pins too flush due to the nailer recoiling. Applying pressure on the tool helps, the harder the material, more you have to hold it. I still use it for window casings, leaves a very small hole. For doors i prefer a 16ga makita gas nailer, because the 23ga pins wont hold the casing well enough, all you need is one accidental kick and the pins give out.
Hugh
Thanks for letting me know. I guess I’ll just stick with my little Senco compressor and pneumatic 23 ga nailer.
fred
Hugh:
You asked – Why do I like the 21ga. Cadex?
Based on the bunch of trim molding (bead, egg and dart, rope etc.) that I’ve been doing lately – 21 gage pins just seem to work out better. I gave a 23ga Grex 635 that is probably better for the really small stuff – but on some of the pine I’ve been using – the pins often blow through and/or don’t hold as well as I’d hope. With 18ga., splitting the small trim pieces have been an issue. 21ga. is a compromise that works well for me – but I’m not sure that I couldn’t do without it.
It’s a bit like 15ga. versus 16ga. trim nailers. My go to tool was always a Hitachi NT65MA2 15ga. pneumatic. Some of my guys thought 15ga had a tendency to split – so they preferred 16ga. – even preferring to grab one of our smelly (IMO) Paslode IM250A guns (that I thought mostly useful for punch list work or places where an air hose was not practical).
Hugh
Thanks for the information. I’ll have to take a closer look at some 21 gauge guns. I know what you mean about the 23 gauge being a little too small sometimes.
Mike
I literally am unable to perceive even a tiny flaw in the design/build of any Cadex gun I’ve ever run across. Pity they’re a bit obscure, as they build tools that are just superb, and I’m sure more people would utilize them-if only they knew about them. I like Omer and Max and Fasco and most Grex, but Cadex is a step above. Actually, come to think of it Omer is pretty great, too.
My two and a half cents about 15 vs 16 ga: For me the type/brand of gun and fastener(and compressor settings/hose and fitting sizes) seem to affect splitting more than pin/brad gauge. Totally subjective, I have absolutely no actual data or anything. That’s just how it seems to me.
fred
Mike
I learn something new everyday! That’s why I like Toolguyd so much.
Thanks for reminding us about Omer. I’ve never seen their pinner in use. The only time I ever saw an Omer tool was at a local picture framing shop near me – so I thought that they might only make specialized tools. I had him doing some work for me last summer and he was using a pneumatic gun that shoots in something akin to glazier’s points and another one that fires a connector that holds the frame corner together. I inquired and he said they were made by Omer and that he had bought them in Italy. The latter gun reminded me of the Senclamp pneumatic (had a kick like a mule) we used in the shop.
Chrisk1970
I ordered one last week from an online retailer for $196 shipped. I just got an email indicating its shipped. This is going to be a great benefit in my shop when it comes in. I’m slowly gathering tools from the Makita lineup and am this far really impressed.
Rick
I have had this gun for a couple of years now. I ordered it from Europe. Altogether with shipping I paid over $400. I owned a cabinet business and it is a life saver for small pieces. The 1 3/16 pins doesn’t sink flush into Harwood all that great. I mainly used it for punch work.
Skippy_chippy
I borrowed the older model from a mate to fix some 12mm (1/2″) pine lining boards to pine ceiling joists. Used 30mm pins… couldn’t even sink them flush, by placing more pressure on the unit it left dent marks in the lining boards. Told him it was junk and went back to my 18g air gun….soo much better. I highly doubt this would sink any pins into hardwood.
Richard
If other countries are selling quality tools not in the U.S. market, why not buy direct from Canada or?