Over at Amazon, they recently listed a new Craftsman 18 gauge brad nailer, model CMPBN18K.
Unsurprisingly, the new brad nailer looks completely different from the CMPBN18SB brad nailer that Craftsman included in their air compressor + nailer bundle kits that hit the market a few months go.
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But, it did look familiar to me, and so I double checked. The Craftsman brad nailer looks to be based on Porter Cable’s BN200C brad nailer, which has plenty of positive user reviews online. At least, it looks the same on the outside, and the specs are comparable.
Craftsman CMPBN18K brad nailer features and specs:
- Can drive 5/8″ to 2″ fasteners (18 gauge)
- 70-120 PSI operating pressure
- Weighs 2.7 lbs
- 100 nail magazine capacity
- Sequential drive mechanism
- Belt/rafter hook
- Compatible with Versatrack wall storage (hooks and accessories sold separately)
- Oil-free
- Tool-free jam release
- Carrying case is included
Price: $100
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Compare(via Acme Tols)
Compare(Porter Cable via Home Depot)
Compare(Porter Cable via Tool Nut)
First Thoughts
The new Craftsman nailer seems reasonably spec’ed, but I do wonder about whether Amazon’s price is set in stone or not. Lowes also has it listed, for $89, but you can’t order it there yet.
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Porter Cable’s BN200C brad nailer seems to be identical in specs and appearance (aside for the rafter hook), and is currently available for $60 to $65.
According to my records and online price history tracking, the Porter Cable brad nailer typically sold for $70, or $50 during holiday shopping seasons. Interestingly, price trackers show that the Porter Cable nailer became unavailable on Amazon starting about a month ago.
Frankly, it doesn’t bother me that Craftsman seems to have taken the Porter Cable nailer, updated the grip overmold design, and changed the color from silver and black to red and grey. If the Porter Cable was a good nailer, and online reviews suggest it was – at least for its price – then why shouldn’t Craftsman have done that?
They could have changed the internals too, but without any changes to the tool housing? If anyone knows or finds out if or how the Craftsman and Porter Cable brad nailers might be different, please let us know!
I’ve been saying, Craftsman is the tool brand that will pull together all of Stanley Black & Decker’s construction and DIY tool brands – at least the ones we’re familiar with here in North America. That synergy (I know, I dislike the word too), means that they’ll draw from what the other Stanley Black & Decker brands have to offer, making changes and improvements where possible and necessary.
But, let’s just hope that the price dips down a little. Maybe I’m missing something, but why does the Craftsman cost so much more than the seemingly identical Porter Cable nailer?
If the tools are functionally identical and only different in branding and color, I’d say skip the Craftsman and get the Porter Cable to save $24-40. Unlike cordless power tool battery packs, air compressors and hoses don’t care about the color or brand name on the side of your nail gun.
We’ll be keeping an eye on this.
I have tried to keep track of and compare many of the new Craftsman tools as I could. For the most part, the new Craftsman tools seem to be priced as expected. Some of the new designs are priced fairly and proportional to what I would expect. Others seem to be heavily based on existing designs, such as this brad nailer, and are also priced as expected. Cases like this, where there’s a price discrepancy, or the perception of a discrepancy, have been the exception and not the norm. Still, it’s something to be aware of.
Nathan
wow now might be a good time to pick up the PC one. I need a quality 18ga. Was thinking a bostich smart point to compliment my 15ga.
Kilroy
I’ve had good experiences with the reconditioned Hitachi air tools I purchased through BigSkyTool (no affiliation). The “C” grade tools I’ve bought from them have a few scuffs or initials on them, but work well, and sell for a fraction of the price of new. The “A” grade tools have appear to have been used very little, if any, before.
andrew
Like a lot of SBD tools I suspect this is essentially the same 18g nailer you see across the line. Price will soon drop just like it has for all the other Craftsman tools that started high and dropped at Lowes.
Chet Steadman
I bought the PC version from HD in early December for $49. I have roughly 700 or so nails through it (based on what is left of the box I bought) doing some trim and carpentry work around my home. No jams, and the depth setting works exactly as expected. I’d pay $70 for it (probably), if that was the lowest price out there. Knowing the PC is cheaper than the Craftsman, for what is most likely the exact same gun, you’d have to be kinda nuts to buy the Craftsman.
The What?
The only thing that was changed was the color between the two. It’s a rare thing for pneumatic nail gun parts to be changed out because those parts are generally the same across the board. I don’t see sbd doing any r&d on pneumatics for craftsman. This appears to be the case for several of the cm tools that are being released as new tools. Let’s not forget that sbd sacrificed pc for the greater good of their new cm tools which are coincidentally identical (aside from color) to the pc tools for the most part. It’s a new name rebranding of an old brand that they are trying to get people to forget about. I guess it’s their approach on how to phase out porter cable. But they can’t be too obvious about it which is why the price is a little bit higher. The price will drop in due time. I’m sure a framing gun is soon to follow.
The What?
If sbd really wanted to take the next step with craftsman in the nailer market they might want to think about designing a cordless coil siding and roofing nailer. One that doesn’t require a fuel cell. Dewalt doesn’t even have one of these out. It would definitely boost the reputation of the brand. Sears craftsman made a professional line of tools, so there’s no excuse why sbd can’t do the same. If they want to make the most out of craftsman then they need to start thinking like Sears did in terms of expanding the name and its products to more than just the diy market. Sears had a shitload of professional and industrial tools aside from the diy stuff they made. Sbd needs to take a similar approach if they’re expecting people to take their brand of craftsman seriously. This would certainly be a good way to start a new professional line of craftsman tools under sbd.
Nathan
I can’t imagine there being a craftsman tool that won’t have a dewalt counterpart. maybe handtools but I doubt it