Review - Ryobi Airstrike 18V brad nailer

Summary: Buy one.

Ok, yes, I know, it's a Ryobi*, and that's a black mark of Black and Decker proportions right there.

BUT it's a power tool that's almost as much fun to play with as it's possible to have with your clothes on...while not being the sort of power tool I'd recommend for clothing-optional use.


What does it use:

Fits C1 brads (18 gauge, 1.00x1.25mm) from 15mm to 50mm (claimed), tested with 16, 25, 32 and 45mm (because that's what I had on hand) from, variously, Senco, Blackridge (SCA), Otter, and whatever brand Ryobi ships with it.


What does it do:

Fires 'em into timber, with excellent depth control. Minimum depth (on pine) seems to be average 0.3mm below the surface - that's with the depth gauge and air pressure at minimum settings. Upping the air pressure didn't seem to have any effect on sinking depth.

On hardwood (yellowbox and back fence, featuring 'wood ssp.') with 32mm brads, they were flush with the surface, or sinkable further by adjusting the depth gauge as required.

Ryobi does mention that more than 30mm into some hardwoods may too much of an ask. Since I can't think of a time when I'd want to actually brad nail 30mm thick ironbark, that's ok with me.


How does it do it:

Some sort of inbuilt compressor; before each fire there's a short whirring sound as it pressurises. No fuel or other gas cylinder required, the 18v battery does it all.


Nice features:

It has two LEDs that shine down to the contact tip so you can see what part of your body you are just about to shoot a brad into.

It also has a quick cycle time; I'm guessing at about three-quarters of a second. If you're an experienced nail-gunner who likes to use contact trip firing, you might be able to outpace it; if you need to think for a second or so before your subsequent shots, you wont.

It also has a belt clip, which, because of the tool's weight (about 2+kilos) will work wonders if you like to display plenty of builder's crack without having to bend or squat down. I...didn't bother attaching the clip on mine.

AND...the best feature...NO HOSE. Also, no air compressor, no unrolling the hose, no draining the compressor, no waiting for the compressor to pressurise, no SHUDDUGH DUG DUG DUG DUG DUG noise of the compressor pump kicking in.

It will (apparently) drive about 700 nails on a charge. (4,000 mA/h battery).

Noise level on firing is roughly equivalent to a similar airhose fed nailer.


Not so nice features:

The weight. Oh god, the weight.

If you are used to a featherweight air brad nailer, this feels more like hefting a sledgehammer. If you use it regularly and develop biceps of steroid abusing proportions, don't be surprised.

But I can't even lift my air compressor off the ground without updating my medical insurance, and the compressors gotta go where the little air bradder goes, so all things in perspective, it's not too bad for such a handy tool.


*Guilty confession. I also own a Ryobi cordless drill and cordless trim router, both 18v lithium.

You also forgot to mention that you cant get into tight corners like a Paslode angled brader does

I've never actually had that limitation pop up with a bradder. I can understand it happening with framing guns, but most bradding I've done has had plenty of clearance (skirtings, architraves, kitchen cabinets)

I've had this bradder for a few months now, and I'm very happy with it.

Works with 50mm brads just a well as it does with smaller sizes. I'm using Paslode 50mm and Project Air smaller sizes.

The depth adjustment is very accurate and the unit fires to the set depth consistently. I've not needed to adjust the pressure dial on the back, as I've used it mainly in ply and softwoods.

One thing to note if you've seen the American version, is that the Australian version does not have the bump mode switch. Was annoyed about this at first, but in use I would never need to shoot brads that quickly, so not a big deal.

Overall, it's come in very handy, and it works a charm. Price was great too. :2tsup: