Trade education and workforce development are two initiatives we value highly here at Dunn Lumber, so it should come as no surprise that we have close ties with Seattle Central College's Wood Technology Center (WTC). With roots dating back to the early 1900s, WTC's history intersects with ours at Dunn Lumber at various points (our very own Ed Dunn Jr. took some classes at Edison), and we're proud to be connected with such an exemplary educational institution.

Throughout the episodes in this series, we'll be speaking with Dave Borgatti, a long-time faculty member at the WTC, about the center's history, program offering, and various topics in woodworking education. Dave got his start in woodworking as a boat builder in Portland, Oregon, for Schooner Creek Boat Works, and ended up at WTC as an instructor in 1992. Since then, Dave has helped countless students—from boat builders to carpenters and cabinetmakers—learn the woodworking craft.

In today’s conversation, Dave and I are joined by Nick Brodeur, Territory Manager at Milwaukee® Tool, to go over the features of the cordless Milwaukee® M18 FUEL™ 21 Degree Framing Nailer—which is the brand’s most popular framing nailer in the Pacific Northwest 

We share key points from the conversation below, but make sure to watch the full video to get the most out of it, including demonstrations on how to load the magazine and use the nailer. 

A note on safety

Safety is always of utmost importance when working with power tools. And especially true when handling a nail gun. Jobsite injuries often happen not to the person using the nail gun, but people around them as a nail can accidentally hit something in the wood and skip back out. It’s crucial to wear eye protection when handling a nail gun as well as be hyper-aware of where the nailer is pointed and if it’s turned on. You’ll notice that Nick ensures that the battery is out and that there are no nails in the magazine as he covers the nailer's different features.  

Here are nail gun safety tips to keep in mind before getting started: 

  • Wear safety glasses and hearing protection at all times when operating electric or pneumatic nail guns.
  • Disconnect and remove the air supply and battery when adjusting or servicing the tool.
  • Ensure the push level (at the tool’s nose) is installed and operates correctly, and do not use a nail gun with a missing push lever.
  • Use sequential nailing setting (one at a time) for more control, precision, and to avoid firing the nail gun accidentally.
  • Avoid using your foot to brace a piece of wood in place when nailing—even with boots with steel shanks—as a nail could easily turn and cause injury.

Milwaukee® M18 FUEL™ 21 Degree Framing Nailer features

Milwaukee® M18 FUEL™ 21 Degree Framing Nailer’s key selling point is that it’s cordless—that means fewer parts to deal with and with the potential to break, no cords or hoses to maneuver, and no compressor. The compact tool can easily go wherever you go, from small spaces to up on scaffolding. 

Of course, the next big question is: What about its power? 

Nick shares that it has the same power, and “pop” as your typical pneumatic nailer (meaning a nailing powered by an air or gas compressor), all without having to drag a bulky compressor around your work site. And, since there’s no need for a compressor, there’s also no burst of exhaust release when the nail gun fires. 

Starting at 01:20 in the video, Nick points out several of the tool’s other convenient, useful features, including:

  • Two firing modes:
    • Sequential nailing, where the actuator has to be pressed in to the material you’re nailing before you can press the trigger to fire the tool
    • Contact or “bump” firing, where you can hold down the trigger and bump or bounce it along the material you want to nail into to keep firing nails 
  • A belt clip and rafter hook 
  • The ability to fire nails at the same psi level every time without any wait or downtime  
  • Adjustable depth gauge, allowing you to nail into soft or hardwood or choose to drive a sub-flush nail 
  • An attached hex key to adjust the magazine and remove jammed nails
  • An attached magazine that holds about 25 nails with the option to purchase an extended magazine that can hold about 75 nails
  • A 5-year warranty on the tool and a 3-year warranty on the lithium-ion battery  

How to load and use Milwaukee® M18 FUEL™ 21 Degree Framing Nailer

The best way to learn how to load and handle this framing nailer, which takes 2” - 3 ½” nails, is to see how it’s done. Starting at 06:48 in the video, Nick shows how to load nails into the magazine. Then, staring at 12:20 in the video, Dave shows how the nail gun fires, highlighting that the actuator has to be in contact with the material for the nail to fire. 

Differences between nailers 

While the M18 FUEL™ 21 Degree Framing Nailer is Milwaukee’s largest nailer, the brand has several other options in the FUEL™ series, including a 30-degree model, 18-gauge brad nailer, 15-gauge finish nailer, and 15-gauge stapler. 

What exactly does all that mean? Starting at 16:10 in our conversation, Dave explains with visual examples what the different sizes of nails are best used for and how they’re available in straight or angles collations (sets of nails that fit the nail gun magazine). 

Looking for other woodworking power tool reviews and demonstrations? Check out this episode with Milwaukee® Tool about its M18 FUEL™ ½” Drill/Driver, or browse all the previous episodes in our Wood Technology Center Series.