This review was created as part of a paid affiliate program with the Home Depot.

My first order of business with this and every product review is a disclaimer: I am not a professional contractor. I am a farmer and a fine furniture maker. When it comes to construction and renovation projects, I’m a DIYer and weekend warrior. That said, I doubt many professional contractors will be reading my tool reviews. My goal in reviewing tools and products is to provide honest feedback based on my own use and experience with these tools to other regular folks like me- wanting to get their hands dirty, try new things, and get the best value for their hard earned dollars.

Let’s talk about the Ryobi ONE+ 18-Volt Cordless 23 Gauge Pin Nailer

Another win for battery power, Ryobi just released a tool on their ONE+ 18V platform that drives up to 3500 1/2”-1-3/8” 23 gauge pin nails per charge on a 4.0ah battery. The tool features a double-action trigger design for sequential driving, an LED light feature which illuminates the workpiece, and an ergonomic design. The main use for pin nailers in my shop is creating simple jigs and fixtures. When building a new Dutch Toolchest recently, and needed to create french fittings for all the handtools it would soon hold, this was just the tool for the job! Very quiet, the battery power eliminates the need for dragging around air hoses or compressor noise.

This bare tool costs $129. Is it worth it?

While this is still the most affordable pin nailer I’ve found, the price difference between it and some of it’s competitors is pretty negligible. If you are already on the Ryobi ONE+ battery platform, this is obviously a great value, because it can share batteries with your other ONE+ tools. If you’ve got to invest in a new platform just for this tool, my advice here would be the same as with any other- Pick a platform and stick with it. Look at the other tool offerings from that company and pick the one that will offer the most tools you need on one single platform. I will also mention that Ryobi tools are designed for hobbiests, DIY enthusiasts, and weekend warriors, and are offered on the low-end of the price scale as such. They are not industrial tools built to withstand the rigors of daily use (and, misuse that often occurs on a jobsite). While you can get away with overusing and abusing some Ryobi tools, at the end of the day, you get what you pay for. With the light use my Ryobi tools get, they last forever and work just as well or even better than I’d expect. When I’m tossing tools in job boxes and lugging them around the farm and to job sites, I’m reaching for an entirely different tool in an entirely different price range.

That little disclaimer aside, this is a fantastic nailer. Due to the backward battery compatibility Ryobi offers (my single favorite thing about this company), ergonomics can be a challenge on some of their tools. This is not one of them. While it is larger and heavier than its pneumatic predecessors, It’s comfortable to use, feels well balanced in the hand.

If you’ve got any baseboard or moulding projects coming up, this is a great tool for the job. It leaves very little marring on the surface, so holes are easy to conceal. It also works great for edge banding, jig and fixture making.