Hitachi NT50AE2 18-Gauge 5/8-Inch to 2-Inch Brad Nailer 

Hitachi power tools have already gained a high reputation in the market for their product quality and durability. Also, there is a high demand for Hitachi pneumatic power tools in the professional arena. Go to any job site in your area involved in framing, roofing, or finishing work, and you’ll probably see more than one Hitachi nailer in action. However, today we are going to review Hitachi NT50AE2 18-Gauge 5/8-Inch to 2-Inch brad nailer. If you are looking for a brad nailer for your next carpentry project or for minor repairs around your home or simply want to replace your aging brad nailer – Hitachi brad nailer NT50AE2  might be your best choice. Here is a comprehensive review of Hitachi NT50AE2 -

Design & Features

Hitachi NT50AE2 is not a new product on the market. The new thing is that the Hitachi power tools have been rebranded as Metabo HPT. However, it’s been in the market for several years now with impressive user’s feedback. Our research found that this nailer got a solid 4.4 out of 5.0 rating (Source Amazon) from its users and is still continuing. Not only users ratings, but also it’s the least expensive pneumatic brad nailer with some exclusive features and built quality.

Let’s dig deeper and find out what it has to offer that makes it popular among users. The first impressive thing the about Hitachi NT50AE2 is its weight. It’s a lightweight brad nailer, and the weight is only 2.2 pounds. Hitachi uses aluminum to build the NT50AE2 body to reduce weight and make it durable at the same time. Also, its elastomer grip ensures comfortability, accuracy, and efficiency. The nailer magazine can load up to 100 nails from 5/8 inch to 2-inch length, and you will need 70-120 PSI operating pressure to drive the nails properly. In addition, Hitachi NT50AE2 also features a tool-free jam releasing mechanism for easy and quick nail jam removal without any additional tool. Also, there is a yellow indicator (see the picture below) in the composite magazine window, which will let you know whether you’re running out of nails or not at a quick glance.

The nail indicator is just in place of a dry fire lockout, but this nailer doesn’t offer a dry fire lockout option. So, the nail indicator might be the only way to understand when you should stop firing nails to avoid damaging your workpiece from dry firing. In addition to the nail indicator, it also features 360-degree adjustable exhaust to direct the expelled air as of your choice. Overall, with the exception of a few design flaws such as the non-swivel fixed air inlet, it has all the qualities to be considered the best brad nailer. Due to fixed air intel, it can cause difficulty in moving freely with the nailer. Therefore, you have to go through other key features of Hitachi NT50AE2 to get the bigger picture.

Dual Firing Options

Hitachi NT50AE2 features a selective actuation mechanism for making tool-less firing transitions. It will allow you to switch between bump fire and contact fire modes easily – simply use your hand to slide the selection control up or down. Contact firing mode is ideal for projects that require precise nail driving, while the bump firing mode can be used for fire nails at a rapid pace where not much precision is required, and the project needs to be finished quickly. So, you can use Hitachi NT50AE2 brad nailer for a variety of different applications.

Adjustable Depth-of-Drive

Another great feature that Hitachi has added to the NT50AE2 is the adjustable depth-of-drive knot, which is located near the nailer’s nose. This neat feature will allow you to quickly and precisely adjust the drive depth without any additional tools – simply turn the dial half-way to make the changes. Even if you are an amateur, you can undoubtedly expect a professional finish to your work with Hitachi NT50AE2.

High Capacity Magazine

Hitachi NT50AE2 features a high capacity bottom loading magazine that allows you to load brad nails easily and quickly. You can load up to 100 nails (depends on nail size) from 5/8 inch to 2-inch length with head sizes between 0.075 and 1.9 mm. So, you can use NT50AE2 for a long time between loading and reloading. Also, there is a visual nail indicator to keep an eye on the number of nails available in the magazine. Also the Magazine alerts the user when nail quantities are down.

Lightweight and comfortable

The aluminum body makes the Hitachi NT50AE2 lightweight as well as durable. The weight is only 2.2 pounds, and body measurement is 10 x 9-3/16 x 2-3/8 inche (LxHxW). So, you may now imagine how easy it is to handle this nailer. Also, it’s soft Elastomer will give you optimum control and comfort for working all day long. In addition, to make this nailer more user friendly, Hitachi has equipped the NT50AE2 with a 360-degree adjustable air exhaust vent. Moreover, it includes a no-mar nose cap to protect your workpiece and the tool.

However, you may be confused about the no-mar tips, or it may seem missing with this model because you saw it in the feature list. Don’t panic, just check the reverse side of the nailer magazine, you will see it. Check out the picture below,