Stanley SBN200K 5/8 to 2-Inch 18-Gauge Brad Nailer

When it comes to versatility and value, it’s hard to beat the Stanley SBN200K 18-gauge Brad Nailer. This lightweight, air-powered tool accepts superthin 18-gauge brads ranging in length from 5/8 inch to 2 inches long. Brads are similar to finishing nails, except they’re considerably thinner and have tinier heads. As a result, brads can fasten thin wood without splitting it. The tool’s magazine holds up to 100 T-head brads.

The nailer has a working air-pressure range of 70 to 120 pounds per square inch, and it features a non-marring rubber tip, adjustable depth setting and a side-load magazine that has a handy visual indicator so you’ll know when it’s time to reload. And it weighs only 2.4 pounds, so you’ll likely run out work long before you get tired.

The SBN200K is ideal for assembling woodworking projects and delicate handicrafts, but because it accepts brads up to 2 inches long, it can also be used for light carpentry jobs, such as fastening chair rail molding, shoe molding, wainscoting and paneling.–Joseph Truini