Sure, in the consumer world, Hitachi means stereos and televisions. But in the world of construction, the company sits at the table with the heavy hitters. Hitachi's 18-gauge finish nailer has--for starters--an excellent grip. One thing we love in a nailer is a good grip. Basically, it's a safety issue: our hands sweat on the job, and we don't want to lose the handle on a gun and ping a buddy across the room. Some companies don't seem to get this, but Hitachi delivers, with a 360-degree rubber-strip grip that sticks to the hand without being bulky or interfering with the smooth firing mechanism. Because of its clever all-metal alloy construction, this nailer is remarkably lightweight, too: only 3.2 pounds. The exhaust port pivots 360 degrees, letting you keep dust to a minimum and oil off your work. We also like the side-loading magazine and jam release, which save your fingers the trouble of going where they'd rather not. One feature we'd like to have seen is the two bumper plates on the front and back that are showcased on other Hitachi models. These plates really go a long way toward protecting a power tool from unnecessary wear and tear, and, in the end, they really do extend a tool's life by quite a bit. But such criticism is relatively minor. This finish nailer is a solid piece of work. --Michael Shilling
