Hitachi

Hitachi nailers and staplers are for builders fastening framing, metal connectors and finish trim. A dedicated framing gun handles walls and roof decking, while a connector nailer lets you use the nail as a guide into pre-punched hardware. Choose by the fastening job.

Hitachi Koki started in 1948 making coal-mining machinery and equipment and electric power tools. Hitachi Power Tools became Metabo HPT in North America in 2018. Based in Braselton, Georgia, Metabo HPT is part of Koki Holdings America Ltd., the North American subsidiary of Tokyo-based Koki Holdings Co., Ltd. Its fastening range covers framing, roofing, siding, finish work and specialty applications, including dedicated framing and metal-connector nailers.

Framing walls, floors and decking

The Metabo HPT pneumatic framing nailer below is intended for wall and floor framing, subfloors and roof decking. Its hardened claw tip helps grip wood when you’re driving at an angle. The version with tool-less depth adjustment lets you adjust nail depth as the material changes. Set the depth on a scrap of the same material before fastening the work.

An air setup suits a framing crew already working with a compressor and hoses. For scattered punch-out work, Metabo HPT’s 18V paper-strip framing nailer saves handling by working without a tank, hose or gas cartridges as you move between small tasks.

Fastening straps and connectors

Use the dedicated metal-connector nailer for pre-punched hardware. Its safety mechanism lets you use the nail as a guide into the hole, and it has dry-fire lockout. Placement matters here. Start with the nail specified for the connector, then match it to the tool’s accepted fasteners.

Choosing nails by length alone is the mistake to avoid. The pneumatic framing model takes 21-degree plastic-strip, full-round-head nails; the connector model takes 36-degree paper-strip Strap-Tite fasteners. Match the collation, head style and length range to the exact tool.

The Hitachi lineup also includes brad nailers, angled finish nailers and finish staplers for trim work.

Pneumatic nailer specifications

These specifications describe the two Metabo HPT models named below. Both have open noses for clearing jammed nails. Disconnect the air supply before clearing a jam.

Specification	Pneumatic framing nailer	Pneumatic metal-connector nailer
Model	NR83A5	NR65AK2
Intended work	Floor and wall framing, subfloors and roof decking	Pre-punched metal connectors fastened to wood
Fasteners	Plastic-strip, full-round-head nails	Paper-strip Strap-Tite fasteners
Magazine angle	21 degrees	36 degrees
Fastener length	2–3-1/4 inches	1-1/2 or 2-1/2 inches
Operating pressure	70–120 psi	80–120 psi
Weight	8.8 lb without hook; 9.1 lb with hook	6.4 lb

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Metabo and Hitachi the same?

Hitachi Power Tools became Metabo HPT in North America in 2018. Metabo is a separate sister brand. If you’re matching an older tool with batteries, chargers or parts, compatibility needs to be confirmed for that specific tool.

Should you use an air-powered or cordless Hitachi framing nailer?

An air-powered gun makes sense when you’ve already got a compressor and hose set up. For punch-out work, the 18V paper-strip cordless version runs without a compressor, hose or gas cartridges. It weighs 9.9 pounds with its battery, so you’re trading hose handling for weight in your hand.

What kinds of power tools does Hitachi make?

The range continues under the Metabo HPT name and includes drills, nailers and saws. The saw lineup includes miter, reciprocating and circular saws, and cordless jobsite accessories include lights and radios. You can also get fastening tools for framing, roofing, siding, finish work and specialty applications.

Does the Hitachi NR83A share parts with the newer framing nailer?

The Metabo HPT successor shares all its motor parts with the original framing nailer. Its revised trigger uses fewer parts and eliminates composite parts. If you’re repairing the older gun, that confirms a motor-parts match, but it doesn’t establish interchangeability for the whole tool.