Porter-Cable FCN200 Pneumatic Flooring Cleat Nailer

by Porter-Cable

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Porter-Cable FCN200 Two-Inch Flooring Cleat Nailer drives 1-1/2 to 2-inch cleat nails quickly and efficiently. Durable and built to last, this nailer features a 100-cleat, rear-load, gravity-feed magazine with bypass pusher, and it has a well-balanced, stable design for dependable results in both traditional and engineered hardwoods.

The Porter-Cable FCN200 Two-Inch Flooring Cleat Nailer At a Glance: Drives L-shaped cleats from 1.5 inches to 2 inches Pneumatic driving action of 70-100 PSI Strong, lightweight aluminum housing Ergonomic design No assembly required

Durable, lightweight aluminum construction is heavy-duty without sacrificing comfort.

Balanced, Ergonomic, and Powerful
The FCN200 features a balanced, ergonomic design, and it stands upright for easy, stable use. It also has a low center of gravity that allows it to stand independently without falling over.

And because the FCN200 is made from durable, lightweight die-cast aluminum, it's heavy-duty enough to complete tough jobs, yet comfortable enough for extended use.

The FCN200 uses a compressor to provide air at approximately 70-100 PSI. It weighs just 13 pounds and arrives preassembled with an angled air hose nipple.

L-Shaped Cleat Extends Floor-Life
Whereas traditional flooring nailers use staple fasteners that don't allow for wood expansion and can shorten the life of a floor, the FCN200 utilizes an L-shaped cleat as its fastener. This cleat allows the floor to contract and expand naturally, even as it holds the floor in place.

And because standard 3/4-inch-thick solid hardwood flooring requires 2.0-inch cleats for secure installation, the FCN200 accepts cleats measuring from 1.5 to 2.0 inches. This means you can handle flooring materials of various thicknesses, including thinner engineered woods.

Additionally, the hammer head is short enough to allow the compressor to get close to the wall for installation of starting rows.

What's in the Box
FCN200; mallet; oil; wrenches; and 1/4-inch air fitting with dust cover.

From the Manufacturer

Porter-Cable FCN200 Pneumatic Flooring Cleat Nailer

Product Details

• Item Weight: 17 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 17.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005JRKG
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: FCN200
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,945 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, August 31, 2002

By 

Rombo (Naperville, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Porter-Cable FCN200 Pneumatic Flooring Cleat Nailer (Tools & Home Improvement)

This is a great must have tool for DIY wood floors. While every company that's in the tool business seems to make a nailer (Senco, Bostitch, etc.), what sets the Porter-Cable apart is it's balance and civilized look. The look doesn't matter, but if you don't want to mar the wood floors by having a tool keel over and damage the floor, then this is the tool to get.

The "last nail" comment is a very true. If you try to drive that single last nail, unpredictable results may occur. In my case, I had to throw the piece away (actually cut it for the closet), since the last nail went in almpst parallel to the surface of the wood and skimmed the finish off the top. If the wood hadn't been there, it probably would have shot across the room.

Finally, although the pneumatic nailers save you from backbreaking hammering, the nose takes more than just a light tap. A slightly sharp wack will drive the nails perfectly. Too soft and the nails don't get driven all the way. Too hard, and I'd be afraid that the tool would get damaged.

One more item to note is that depending on the hardness of the wood flooring, you will have to adjust the air pressure to prevent cracked tongues. This isn't a FCN200 issue, but just generally true overall.

Highly recommended.

Review Update:

After 4 years or so, the tool is still as good as the first day I bought it. My initial personal project was about 800-1000 sf. I'm now past 2500 sf (helped two friends install their floors in family/living rooms) installed and another 1500 sf or so more to go for my own house.

This is a professional tool and the quality shows. I haven't had to have it rebuilt or order parts. Clean it ocassionally and use oil and an air filter and forget about it.

Review Update 2:

Still going strong after 7 years now. In fact, I had some floor professionally installed (about 2,000 sf) and the Ramm (something or other) that the installers were using broke on them. They ended up using my nailer for the last 1,500 sf. The installers commented that they liked the FCN200 nailer better.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Last cleat symptom, February 26, 2003

By 

"donaldwismann" (Toms River, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Porter-Cable FCN200 Pneumatic Flooring Cleat Nailer (Tools & Home Improvement)

I read another review of the last cleat problem. I had several instances where the last cleat damaged the job before I realized what was happening, the tool also "dropped out" as many as four of the last cleats. One set of four got jammed in the mech. and was necessary to disassemble tool.I called the Porter Cable factory they said, "never heard of that problem, the tool should drive the last cleat".They did reccommend that I take it for warranty repair. I examined the pusher mechenism and could see the reason as the pusher does not go completely forward to push cleat against wall of dispenser. The pusher also hangs up at the last four or five cleats because of the latching arrangement causing the cleats to drop out. A visit to my local tool store showed the same conditions on the same model. I am using the tool to install brazilian cherry which is very hard, there is no problem in that respect it drives the cleats home every time and the tool is easy to use. I have been using Porter Cable products for 20 years and never had a problem before. If they re-design the pusher and refit the tool I will give it a 5 star rating.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Porter-Cable FCN200 2" Flooring Cleat Nailer, April 28, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Porter-Cable FCN200 Pneumatic Flooring Cleat Nailer (Tools & Home Improvement)

Excellent nailer. I have laid over 1,500 feet of flooring with 2 jambs. It takes about 45 seconds to clear a jamb using the provided tool. Also the last nail in a set from Porter Cable seems to eject about 20% of the time which is not a big deal to me. Tells me to fill up. I let someone who used a hammer nailer use this one and he could not believe how fast and how much more power he got from the floor nailer.
After using for a few days and since the 2 jambs I have not had any additional problems. Senco nails for me are better than the Porter Cable. Senco nails have a glue that keeps them together where as the Porter Cable break like staples in your pocket or pouch. Overall an excellent tool but for $400 plus what do you expect. If you are on the fence over various brands go with Porter Cable. The nails are available locally and the tool performs well.