"NO HOSE. NO COMPRESSOR. NO GAS. REQUIRED TO OPERATE". This is how PORTER-CABLE introduces its battery-powered (lithium-ion) cordless nailer series to users. Of all the brad nailers included in this series, PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA 20V MAX Cordless Brad Nailer is the most user-recognized battery-powered cordless brad nailer. Its amazing robotic body design is really great and unique as well as the performance is also comparatively better than its competitor. Yes! Today we will review the PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA cordless brad nailer and discuss every aspect of this nailer to find out why this nailer is so popular among the users.
PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA 20V MAX Cordless Brad Nailer
Key Features & Specifications
4.7 / 5
There is a great variety of battery-powered (Lithium-ion or NiCad) cordless brad nailers available in the market with the same binding power as a pneumatic brad nailer. Still, its weight is the major drawback to be the perfect replacement for the pneumatic brad nailer. The main reason behind the excess weight is the battery, and none of the brands yet to launch lightweight battery-powered brad nailers, but PORTER-CABLE is an exception. PORTER-CABLE introduces the PCC790LA, which is the lightest battery-powered (Lithium-ion) 18 gauge brad nailer on the market. In addition to being lightest in its class, its sporty outlook and features will amaze you.
A Little Overview On The Porter-Cable PCC790LA
Porter-Cable designed the PCC790LA with the utmost care and thoughtfulness. It requires only a 20V Lithium-ion battery that eliminates the need for air compressor, air hoses, or expensive gas cartridges. This nailer comes with a 1.5 Ah (Amp-hour) battery, and you can drive up to 450 nails per charge. If you want more firing power from a single charge, you can check Ryobi One+ P320 with Ryobi P108 4Ah One+ battery, which can drive up to 1700 nails per charge. However, PORTER-CABLE purposefully designed the PCC790LA motor to provide consistent firing power into various materials and climate conditions.
PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA is a well-balanced brad nailer for small or comprehensive wood applications like finishing, cabinetry tops, sub-flooring, paneling, crown molding, delicate wood trim, and other household repairing works. Most importantly, it has all the features that we recommended to check before making a purchase decision in our brad nailer buying guide. However, DIYer or home users can start using PCC790LA immediately after the battery is fully charged. Professionals will also greatly appreciate this nailer as PORTER-CABLE offers high a capacity 4Ah battery to increase the nail firing capacity, which can fire up to 1300 nails per charge.
What’s in the box
PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA is shipped in a typical paper carton box but doesn’t include any hard carrying case like DEWALT DWFP12231. So, you may need to buy a tool case separately to keep your nailer away from dust when not in use and organize other accessories. Other than PCC790LA brad nailer, you will get two no-mar pads and an integrated hang hook. Nailer package also includes,
- PCC680L Battery (1.5 Ah)
- PCC691L Charger
Design
The overall dimension of PCC790LA is almost similar to the comparable cordless brad nailers. At first sight, the head looks bigger and bulky compared to other cordless brad nailers we reviewed, such as Ryobi P320 Airstrike 18V One+. Some users may experience slight complications when working on corner spots, and placing the nose tip within 2½ inches of the wall surface can also be inconvenient. However, the lightweight body and optimal center of gravity help you to hold the PCC790LA in multiple positions with ease that lessens your fatigue. Another plus point of this nailer is the compact design that allows you to work using it any time in any place. PORTER-CABLE also integrated an ergonomic grip to PCC790LA that fits almost all hand sizes to make usage more comfortable. The battery unit is attached under the grip handle, its easy to open and reattach with sliding action. Moreover, Multi-functional dual LED light will help you to illuminate the workplace and error indication.
Performance
Performance is the first thing that we naturally consider before buying any tool for any purpose. In the case of nailers, performance is a blend of multiple things, such as design, weight, functionality, and features. Apart from design and lightweight, let’s learn about some of its key components that make PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA one of the top-performing cordless brad nailers.
Nail Size & Magazine
With PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA, you can easily drive 5/8 inch to 2-inch long brad nails in any hard and soft trim. Also, you can load up to 100 nails (depending on size) in its magazine. The loading and unloading function is effortless – simply press the red magazine button located at the magazine bottom right, slide it down, load the nails, and slide back to close.
Driving with Accuracy
The depth-of-drive wheel will allow you to adjust the depth of your fastener. The depth adjustment dial is very simple to use, and the indicator is easy to see if you require to adjust depth. While its sequential firing mode works great with the right depth setting, but lack of bump firing mode may disappoint some users.
Tool-Free Jam Clearing Mechanism
PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA equipped with an easy to use tool-free jam release mechanism. It’s perfectly designed and user friendly. While the users rarely experienced nail jamming with this nailer, but if you experience any – simply remove the battery first, pull the red release lever, and then loosen the latch on the nose to clear the jam. It’s easy!
Lithium-Ion Endurance
If you have prior experience using any battery-powered brad nailer, you must have noticed that the depth of the drive becomes shallower as the battery charge weakens. However, you will not experience such issues with PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA powered by 20V Max lithium battery. This nailer can drive the nails at a consistent depth until the battery runs out. A 1.5Ah PCC680L is included with this nailer package, and the battery takes 65-200 minutes to charge fully. Unfortunately, no low battery indicator was found.
Other Remarkable Features
Apart from the features already discussed, PORTER-CABLE added a few more user-friendly features to give more convenience and flexibility. Let’s start with LED light – it’s located on the front, which allows illuminating the dark corner spots and drives nails precisely. The belt clip is a great addition and comes in handy, especially when your tool is not in use. Most importantly, PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA is a low maintenance brad nailer and features oil-free operation. Moreover, no-mar nose tip prevents your workpiece from dents or stains, and trigger lock stops accidental firing.
What Users Think About PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA
Another best way to know about any product is to ask the previous user about that product. Thanks to e-commerce, you can now quickly get the user reviews on any products from those platforms such as Amazon. However, PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA is also available in various e-commerce stores, and a large number of real users submitted their reviews to help new buyers. So, forget about the sales pitch but rely on real user comments before taking the final buying decision. However, our study found over 2,100 buyers submitted reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5. It’s very impressive, and only 5% of users are not happy with this nailer performance.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Final Thought
Overall, PORTER-CABLE PCC790LA 20V Max 18 Gauge Brad Nailer Kit is a great cordless battery-powered brad nailer. You can use this nailer for any brad nailing task, but the lack of dry fire lockout and bump firing mode may disappoint some users. Professionals will also love this nailer as they know the benefits of a cordless nailer. So, they no longer need to dragging heavy air compressor and hose if they get a cordless brad nailer as powerful as a pneumatic brad nailer.