Photo: Makita
What We Like
- Powerful and efficient motor
- Durable metallic construction
- Convenient tool-less adjustments
- Effective tool and work surface protection
- A compact and highly portable unit
- Reliable dust and exhaust air remover
- Comfortable handling and grip
What We Don’t Like
- Carry case has no space for nails
Bottom Line
An efficient finish nailer built for all-day professional nailing tasks with its powerful motor, convenient tool-less adjustments, superior maneuverability, and high operational versatility.
Introduction
If you’re looking for a finish nailer that supports consistent day-long nailing in busy worksites, the Makita AF635 is your best bet.
It is equipped with a high-efficiency motor that drives 15-gauge nails flawlessly. It supports professional-grade nailing by using an air duster to clean work surfaces, while operational convenience through simplified tool-less adjustments and angled magazine for enhanced reach in tight spots.
Makita AF635 Review
Photo: Makita
Performance: Powerful and Efficient Motor
Makita designed the AF635 to provide the consistent all-day operation that professional demand from finish nailers.
With this tool, you are guaranteed of day-long running without any dips in performance, thanks to the powerful and efficient motor it runs on.
It is built to drive 15-gauge nails of 1-1/4 inch to 2-1/2-inch lengths into a wide variety of workpiece, making it suitable for many basic and professional applications such as trim jobs, baseboard installation, crown molding installations, hanging doors, and many others.
When performing the nailing operations, this tool utilizes its built-in air duster to clear work surfaces of debris and dust through directed airflow, thus enhancing accuracy.
And when it comes to operational convenience, there’s a multi-directional exhaust port, which effectively directs exhaust air away from you to increase operator comfort.
Many of the adjustments you’ll be making on the tool have been simplified by eliminating the need for tools, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming to use.
Depth adjustment, which you normally make to achieve flush nailing, is tool-less and fast. And for simplified nail extraction, clearing the nailer’s nose also does not require any tools.
Your control over the nailing operation is significantly improved by the tool’s 2-mode selector switch, which is easy to operate.
Also, since the nailer’s rear-loading magazine is angled at 34 degrees, it is easy to maneuver the tool within tight space, thus ensuring reliability in all nailing tasks.
Finally, you can rest assured the tool and work surfaces are constantly protected by the nail lock-out mechanism, which helps prevent dry-fires through accidental triggers, for instance.
Design and Construction: Compact, Durable and Easy to Use
A simple glance at the tool confirms its compactness, which will prove advantageous in many of the nailing applications you will undertake.
Since the nailer’s magazine is angled, this design complements the tool’s compactness, even more, allowing you to squeeze it in even the tightest of spaces.
Another design feature that supports the use of this nailer in confined spaces is its narrow nose design. Since this is the section that comes into contact with workpieces, its narrowness helps enhance access.
And when it comes to handling, working with this nailer is a breeze, thanks to its integrated soft rubber grip that will provide constant operating comfort especially during intensive nailing.
The AF635 is one of the strongest nailers in its class, thanks to the heavy-duty materials used to construct the tool. It features a magnesium body, which enhances the tool’s dexterity.
Its magazine and cylinder are made using aluminum, which is not only durable but also demonstrates a high resistance to rust, extending the tool’s durability even more.
There are very few plastic components on this tool, and even the parts that feature this material have been strengthened. Overall, the tool will easily withstand the harshness of busy jobsites.
Finally, the housing comes with several bumpers strategically fitted on it to protect the tool from work surfaces from any contact and impact-related damage.
Portability: Easy to Transport, with Enhanced Worksite Mobility
Even though the nailer is largely metallic, it has a well-balanced weight of only 4 pounds, which is a significant boost to the tool’s portability.
If you’ll be heading out to the construction or other jobsites with your finish nailer, transporting it should be an easy task thanks to the low weight and hard plastic carry case combination.
The carry case does not just accommodate the tool only. It has some extra space to hold the nailer oil so that you can have the complete unit with you at all times.
When at the worksite, you can move around conveniently with the nailer, thanks to a reversible belt hook that ensures the tool is close to you wherever you go. Also, the hook helps keep it out of your way when doing other tasks.
Price: A Great Bargain
As if the superior performance of and operating convenience of the AF635 is not enough, its prices make the tool pretty much irresistible for all levels of users.
Professionals will especially find the price of this nailer irresistible given all the professional-grade value if offers for all-day usage.
Its powerful motor has been designed for enhanced efficiency in driving 15-gauge nails through different workpieces, for consistent performance across the most demanding nailing tasks.
We can also appreciate the fact that you’re likely won’t be upgrading from this nailer any time soon thanks to the AF635’s premium metallic construction that combines a magnesium body and aluminum body for extended durability.
But Makita also offers other models that compete well with this nailer. There’s the Makita AF601 that offers pretty much the same features and performance but is marginally lighter than the AF635.
The AF601 however, accepts 16-gauge nails, which is not the standard when it comes to finish nailers. Also, it slightly pricier.
Another rival of the AF635 is DeWalt DWFP72155. It is also a professional-grade 15-gauge nailer, which uses an angled magazine, tool-free adjustment, and pretty much all the features present in the AF635.
However, you’ll find that that the DWFP72155 is not only heavier but it also pricier than this AF635. Ultimately, the latter is the better deal in this category of finish nailers.
Verdict
A high-performance nail finisher purpose-built for powering through day-long operation in professional and demanding nailing applications.
The Makita AF635’s efficient motor, convenient handling, heavy-duty and durable build, and small profile make this finish nailer a versatile tool that excels in demanding tasks, thus meeting the operational demands of professional woodworkers.
Specs
- Product Name: Makita AF635
- Product Brand: Makita
- Tool Dimensions: 13.38 x 12.13 x 3.95 inches
- Power Source: Pneumatic (Air)
- Operating Air Pressure: 70 – 120 PSI
- Nail Diameter: 15 gauge
- Nail Length: 1-1/4 – 2-1/2 inches
- Fastening Category: Finish
- Magazine Capacity: 100
- Tool Hook Included: Yes
- Grip: Rubber
- Tool Weight: 4 pounds
- Warranty: 3 Years (Limited)
Key Features
- A high-performance motor that drives 15-gauge nails smoothly and efficiently
- Compact body and narrow nose design enhance access and nailing in confined spaces
- Heavy-duty magnesium body and aluminum magazine for enhanced durability
- Tool-less depth adjustment helps deliver precision countersink and flush nailing
- A multi-directional exhaust port channels exhaust air away from the operator
- Nail lock-out mechanism offers superior dry-fire protection for tool and work surfaces
- A built-in air duster clears work surfaces through a convenient airflow
- Convenient 2-mode selector switch allows easy nailing mode switching
- An integrated rubber soft grip enhances operator comfort during tool use