Hitachi NT65MA4 15-Gauge Angled Finish Nailer Review

Disclaimer: Hitachi’s current name is Metabo HPT. It’s the same tool as before, but with a new name. We’ll review the Metabo HPT NT65MA4 Finish Nailer instead of the Hitachi NT65MA4 Finish Nailer for your convenience.

When we need to drive nails into crown moldings and other trim work, we typically use finish nailers. They are available in 15 and 16 gauge options. 16 gauge finish nailers are one of the most popular varieties among them.

When you need a little more gripping capacity, such as when fastening heavy molding, installing a window or door casing, or constructing furniture or cabinets, 15 gauge finish nails can be the key.

Among 15 gauge finish nailers on the market, Metabo 15 gauge finish nailers are unrivaled in terms of advanced technology and dedication to excellence. As a result, today we’re going to look at the Metabo HPT (formerly Hitachi Power Tools) NT65MA4 15-Gauge Angled Finish Nailer.

Metabo HPT NT65MA4 15-Gauge Angled Finish Nailer with Air Duster

A Brief Overview

The Metabo HPT NT65MA4 finishing nailer comes in handy when you need to mount crown and base moldings, installing window and door casings, chair rails, kitchen cabinets, exterior trim, staircases, and more. It’ll also actually be useful when you need more gripping strength but don’t want to use bigger nails like 3 inches or to avoid splitting the surfaces.

The Metabo NT65MA4 15-Gauge Angled Finish Nailer comes with a built-in integrated air duster, promising to be the best finish nailer on the market. You can keep your surroundings clean by using that. As a result, you’ll be able to start your nail day with a fresh look.

It’s a portable pneumatic finish nailer that only weighs 4.2 pounds. It will feel insignificant in your hand and will aid in better maneuverability, especially when working in tight spaces. It’s not only light, but it’s also tough. Aluminum was used to construct the body.

It also has several advanced features, such as tool-free depth adjustment and a selector switch for smoothly changing firing modes. Let’s look at some more features in the Hitachi NT65MA4 reviews below.

Key Features Of Metabo HPT NT65MA4

• Integrated air duster to clean dust and debris
• Tool-free selector switch to quickly change the firing mode
• Can drive a wide range of 15 gauge fastener from 1-¼ to 2-½ inches
• Tool-free depth adjustment system
• 360-degree swivel air exhaust port
• The magazine is angled for quick maneuverability in tight spaces.

Specification Of Metabo NT65MA4

• Power Source: Pneumatic
• Fastener Type: 15 gauge 34° DA style angled finish nails
• Fastener Range: 1-1/4″ to 2-1/2″
• Magazine Capacity: 100 nails
• Operating Pressure: 70 to 120 PSI
• Air Consumption: 0.045 ft3/cycle at 100 psi
• Air Inlet Size: 1/4 NPT inch
• Dimension (L x H x W): 13-1/2 x 12 x 3 inches
• Weight: 4.2 lbs. /1.9 kg
• Housing Material: Aluminum

Detailed Features Of Metabo HPT NT65MA4 Finish Nailer

Well-Built Aluminum Body

The name Hitachi itself explains its reliability, and there is no need for further clarification. Hitachi invests adequate quality time in the development of its NT65MA4 15 gauge finish nailer without any deviation. It uses an aluminum alloy to make the body lightweight, a mere 4.2 pounds, making it convenient in your hand for a full day of work. Also, it comes with an elastomer grip, which ensures a secure hold besides comfort. So, the way heavier models do, it won’t wear you out.

Capacity

The Metabo NT65MA4 is designed to fire 15 gauge finish nails, as you might have noted. You’ll be surprised to learn that its previous edition, the NT65M2S, was designed to fire 16-gauge finish nails.

Are you curious as to why they chose a 15 gauge finish nailer? The development of 15 gauge finish nailers was motivated by the fact that 16 gauge finish nails are subtle and thinner, with less holding ability than 15 gauge finish nails.

The 15 gauge finish nailer allows you to fasten a heavy molding like 1-1/4″-thick baseboard and trim easily and securely. Therefore, You can do more demanding woodworking tasks like nailing door jams or stairs, crown and base moldings, cabinets, and exterior trimming with it. 

To do so, Hitachi 15 gauge angled finish nailer allows you to actuate 1-1/4 inch 34-degree angled nails at 70 psi into any soft lumber like pine, and at 120 psi pressure, you can flush 2-1/2 inch pins into any hardwood like Oak with no issue. Plus, its angle magazine allows you to reach tight corners easily.

Depth Of Drive

You have to fasten various materials while doing woodworking jobs. So, there is nothing better than having a tool that supports the tool-less depth of drive adjustment. A renowned company like Hitachi knows it well and designs its Metabo NT65MA4 accordingly. You will find a dial knob located conveniently just below the non-slip elastomer grip trigger to adjust the flash drive. The elastomer trigger also gives you improved control and a professional finish.

Easy Nailing Operation

The nailing operation is quick and simple thanks to a simple switch, which is enabled by a flip of the nicely curved selective actuation trigger. It allows you to switch from single to contact firing by simply pressing a switch upward or downward, without the need for any additional parts or equipment.

Adjustable Exhaust

A fully customizable 360-degree air outlet/portal on the top of the Metabo finish nailer head can easily steer exhausted air, as well as dirt and oil, away from the user.

With the help of this 360-degree exhaust portal, typically, you can adjust the combustion air exhaust path to prevent chewing dust on drywall while assembling the baseboard over a dusty subfloor. You can also protect your hat from flying off while fastening the door or window casing or any other finishing job by adjusting its direction.

Air Duster For Clean Work Surface

A neat and tidy workspace will give you a sense of clarity, allowing you to think more deeply about your work. To address this issue, the Metabo NT65MA4 finish nailer comes with a unique feature that allows you to quickly eliminate dust and dirt from the work surface. Yes, absolutely! That’s the built-in air duster, which will make cleaning a lot easier for you, resulting in a cleaner working atmosphere every day. It will also help you to complete your work faster.

The air duster works by collecting air from the compressor and passing it through the nailer chamber. Then forcibly ejecting it through a hole in the machine’s front. You could easily run this device according to your needs by pressing a button.

Tool-Free Jam Clearing

Metabo finish nailer design with a clear nose with an easy to open latch that allows you to quickly extract nails if any jam occurs. The best part is you’ll no need to use any tools to clear it. To know more about jam clearing, you may visit our blog on how to unjam a nail gun.

Damage Protection No-mar tip

Finish nailers do mostly decorative and sensitive works, such as drive nails into soft boards or plywood, where you need a guard that protects your surface from denting by the sharp tips of the tools used. Keep this in mind, Hitachi includes the No-Mar tip to protect the valuable work surface from potential damage. If not needed, you can also remove it and stored it in the device for further use.

Comfortable To Use

In addition to its lightweight body, Metabo NT65MA4 cover its handle with a rubber grip that adds extra comfort and a secure hold to work with it for a long day.

It comes with a pre-assembled air fitting that is angled upwards to keep the hose out of the way of the user and workpiece while driving nails. Therefore, you can enjoy hassle-free nailing. 

If you find the above features are not satisfying, you could also pay a visit to our page on the best finish nailer, where you will get reviews on the 10 top quality finishing nailers along with buying tips.

What Includes In The Box?

• 1x NT65MA4 Finish Nailer
• 1x convenient carrying case
• 1x safety glasses
• 1x no-mar tip
• 1x 1/4″ NPT Male Plug
• 1x owner’s manual

Some Typical Applications Of NT65MA4 Finish Nailer

• Installing crown and base moldings
• Cabinet and furniture making
• Window and door casings
• Chair rails, cabinets, exterior trim and staircases
• Manufacture housing
• On-site and mobile home construction

Pros Of Metabo HPT NT65MA4

• Compact and lightweight aluminum body
• Angled magazine for quick access in tight corners
• Integrated air duster for faster and cleaner job completion
• Clear nose for precise nailing and natural jam clearing
• Easy-to-dial tool-free depth adjustment
• Easy rear-loading magazine
• Selective Actuation switch
• Adjustable exhaust portal

Cons Of Metabo HPT NT65MA4 With Solution

The overall performance of this 15 gauge finish nailer is excellent and difficult to find any flaw except dry-fire lockout system and lack of belt hook.

Problem 1: Lack of belt hook

A belt hook is needed when you drive nails in odd positions or when you need both hands free. So, it’s undoubtedly a backlog of this system. We hope Hitachi will understand this and bring a correction in their design soon. Nevertheless, you can fix a belt hook by visiting your closer workshop/hardware shop if you often need to use this facility.

Problem 2: No dry-fire lockout system

Absent dry-fire lockout can cause damage to the working surface as well as reduce the life of the unit. Although it doesn’t have a dry-fire lockout feature, you can use the magazine window to gauze the endpoint of the nail strip. Whenever you find low nails in the magazine, you need to quit nailing and reload a fresh strip to continue your work.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

What Capacity Compressor Does It Need To Run Efficiently?

The size of the compressor depends on the pressure, air consumption, and the number of equipment running at a time. Therefore, you can calculate your air compressor size by using the following formula.

Amount of Air Required = number of nailers x average nails driven each minute per nailer x air consumption at given air pressure x safety factor (1.2 always)

For Example: Let’s assume, you run two nailers at a time and drive 30 nails per minute with 100 psi air pressure. Then the required size of the air compressor will be

Amount of air required to run two nailer = 2 x 30 x 0.045 (1.29) x 1.2 = 3.24 CFM (ft3/min) or 92.88 liter/min

Therefore, you need an air compressor that can produce 3.24 CFM air to run two nailers simultaneously.

Does Hitachi Sell Its NT65MA4 Finish Nailer In A Hard Case?

​​​Yes. It comes with a beautiful and slim hard case to store or transport your device securely.

Is It An Oil-Free Device?

​Not really. You need to pour oil twice a day to keep it running. Visit page 10 of the operational manual of the Metabo HPT finish nailer for more details.

Does It Allow All Generic Nails Like Senco Or Grip-Rite?

Yes. You can use any generic nail length 1-1/4 to 2-1/2 inches in this NT65MA4 nailer, including Senco or Grip-Rite, with no issue. 

Final Thoughts On Hitachi 15 Gauge Angled Finish Nailer

​We have no doubt about the excellence of the Hitachi brand and, therefore, its product Metabo HPT NT65MA4 15 Gauge Angled Finish Nailer. It is, indeed, a beautiful device that ensures superior control, along with durability for efficient trimming and other woodworking jobs. It consists of all the essential high-end features to perform its job precisely and comfortably. In addition, this finish nailer allows you to drive any generic 15 gauge finish nails along with Hitachi nt65ma4 nails, which is a big relax that you can collect fasteners from your nearby hardware stores or online marketplaces without thinking much.

Besides the above features, we also liked its air duster to clean debris quickly and effectively before nailing. Its lightweight body with an angled magazine fits into tight corners and messy spaces with no issue.

Although we noticed two setbacks of this super finish nailer, they’re not substantial enough to pull anyone back from getting it.

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