Lightweight and Dependable Porter Cable FR350B Pneumatic Framing Nailer Review at a Competitive Price
What We Like
We like a number of different features of the Porter Cable FR350B Framing Nailer. This nailer is great for materials of any density, including both hardwood and engineered wood.
You’ll need to use an air compressor with this model, but you can choose the force of penetration of your nail between 70-120 PSI. This allows you to adjust the power of the nailer for the type of material you’re working with or the job you’re doing. You won’t need an expensive air compressor — a standard one will do just fine to get you started.
The magazine capacity allows you to keep 60 nails ready-to-go, which isn’t the largest magazine available on a pneumatic nailer, but still ample enough to keep you from having to refill your nails as often. We like the versatility of the magazine, which doesn’t require you to fill it completely before using the nailer.
You can use any amount of nails you want without being concerned about dry-fire. The Porter Cable FR350B Framing Nailer has the capability of doing both bump mode firing and trigger press or sequential firing.
We also like that it’s one of the most affordable basic nailers available, and although it does lack some versatile features, it’s easy to recommend the Porter Cable FR350B Framing Nailer to anyone with a lower budget.
What We Don’t Like
While the Porter Cable FR350B Framing Nailer has many benefits, you should be aware of the potential drawbacks of this pneumatic nailer model before deciding to buy.
Depending on the project you need a nailer for, some of the caveats of this model may put it out of the running. For example, it only uses plastic collated nails and is not compatible with wire-collated nails.
Plastic collated nails are well-known for jamming more frequently than wire-collated ones. It also only uses full round-head nails.It’s not the most versatile pneumatic nailer on the market, and although it is one of the lightest, individuals with large hands may feel like this model doesn’t have enough “weight” to it to wield effectively.
We think this model could be improved by offering more than one nail type — if your building code mandates that you use clipped-head nails, you’ll need to select a different nailer model. However, most states and local ordinances allow or require full round-head nails.
See The Bottom Line
Essentially, the Porter Cable FR350B Framing Nailer is a great pneumatic nailer for beginners that holds a relatively large number of nails in its magazine. At just 7.3 lbs, it’s one of the lightest weight nailers on the market today, which is perfect for individuals with smaller hands.
While it performs well for engineered wood, it also does an excellent job of driving nails through hardwood, making it more versatile than some of the other similar pneumatic nailer models available.
Is the Porter-Cable FR350B Framing Nailer Right for You?
The Porter Cable FR350B Framing Nailer has a reputation for being a decent, all-around pneumatic nailer designed to get the job done. Being as competitively priced as it is, it’s one of the best values for the money. It may not have every feature available, but you’re definitely getting more than what you pay for with the Porter Cable FR350B Framing Nailer.
With its durable, high-quality craftsmanship, it’s built to last for years. It easily reaches tight spots by being shorter than other framing nailers and is just a great tool to have overall in your toolbox. A good pneumatic nailer is essential, and you don’t have to blow your budget when getting one.
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Design & Specifications
- Works With 2-3 1/2″ Plastic collated nails & Full round nails
- 60-nail Capacity
- Depth Adjustment Drive
- Trigger Lock Mechanism
- Rubber-Coated Handle
- 7.3 lbs of weight
- 15 Inches Tall
Works With 2-3 1/2″ Plastic collated, Full Round Head Nails
The Porter Cable FR350B Full Round Framing Nailer allows you to switch between lengths of nails depending on the task at hand and the type of material you’re working with.
60-nail Capacity
The Porter Cable FR350B Framing Nailer has the ability to hold 60 nails in its magazine before requiring a reload. Not the smallest magazine on the market nor the largest, it’s a meet-in-the-middle solution that keeps you from having to reload your magazine every few minutes.
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Adjustable Depth of Drive
You can adjust the depth of the Porter-Cable FR350B Framing Nailer’s drive quite easily without the need for additional tools.
Trigger Lock Mechanism
The Porter Cable FR350B Full Round Framing Nailer offers a top-of-the-line safety feature in the form of a trigger lock mechanism. This prevents the nailer from being triggered accidentally, and the user must manually reset the nailer before they can begin working again. Not only does this safety feature protect the user, but also the work from irreversible mistakes.
Rubber-Coated Handle
The rubber-coated handle of the Porter-Cable FR350B Framing Nailer is one of its best features. The soft, ergonomic design makes this nailer easier and more comfortable to hold and maneuver in tight spaces than nearly every other model out there.
7.3 lbs of weight
An extremely lightweight pneumatic nailer that can easily be used by individuals with small hands or for jobs that need to be done one-handed.
15 Inches Tall
Even though it’s smaller in size than other nailers, it still packs a powerful punch.
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Additional Features
Other features of the Porter Cable Framing Nailer Review include:
- The large, slanted 22-degree magazine allows for a wider angle view of the work area
- The ergonomic design keeps hands and arms from tiring too quickly during a project
- Offers both sequential and bump-mode firing
- Reengineered firing mechanism makes the use of plastic collated nails easier and less likely to jam inside the nailer
- Light enough to be used with one hand, within small areas, and at awkward angles
- Adjustable rafter hook allows for your nailer to be hung safely when not in use
- Offers the most features in a pneumatic nailer at its price point
Average Price of a Porter-Cable FR350B Framing Nailer
The Porter-Cable FR350B Framing Nailer will set you back roughly $199 to $250 depending on where you make your purchase. This is about what you would expect from similar nailers, however, with the lack of truly versatile features, we would be wary of purchasing a Porter-Cable FR350B Framing Nailer on the higher end of that price spectrum.
A used model may be available online or a local thrift store for a cheaper price, however, it’s important to note that buying used means you don’t get warranties, guarantees, or customer service if you happen to run into a problem. Buying new protects you and your equipment from the what-ifs.
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Porter-Cable FR350B Framing Nailer Review The Final Verdict
Our final verdict is that the Porter-Cable FR350B Framing Nailer is a good option for individuals looking for a lightweight, easy-to-use pneumatic nailer with a mid-sized magazine capacity. It’s also great for beginners and can be used with any standard air compressor for consistent results.
