Specifically, ones that fire 18-gauge brads up to 2 inches.

The Campbell Hausfeld one that came with my compressor was fine, until the retaining spring on the cartridge broke in mid shot and the bit that flew out the back almost took my head off. The Ridgid that I replaced it with looks and feels fine but it's a piece of crap. It dry-fires with annoying regularity (like every three shots) and I'm sick of having to un-jam it.

Any suggestions as to a brad nailer that (a) works and (b) carries little risk of blinding myself?

Talk to someone who uses one for a living.

Difficult in QC at the moment. The entire construction sector is on strike.

Thought they had been legislated back to work?

That may be the case but there is precious little evidence of it around here. There are numerous residential construction sites near me. They as quiet as the grave.

I have a Bostitch nailer, had it for years and never had a problem.
I also have a Porter-Cable stapler that has worked flawlessly for many years too.

Ta. I'll bear those names in mind.

My framing nailer is a Campbell Hausfield $100 cheapy but it works fine, my roofing nailer is a Bostich and I paid $235 used for that ages ago, also fine, my big 16 ga stapler is a Bostich, must be 40 yrs old and still drives the big ones in, and my brad nailer is a Chinese Powerfist from Princess Auto that was $20 on sale and it works great. All those tools, (and 2 compressors) were in a major flood in 2010 and still work fine.

Paslode or Bostich

'Porter Cable' I have been using for the past 8 years, both the brad nailer and the stapler. Both so far have been trouble free. My framing nailer I picked up 2nd hand, its a 'Craftsman' (Sears) and has been trouble free also. Neither of the above I would suggest are 'Contractor' grade but for me as a DIY -er, they have been a good investment...and they have been used regularly.

I use an Eswing and a tricep and shoulder combination

Oh please no, not a Souvy nail gun combo, very worrisome.

I was given a DeWalt one as a gift few years ago. Way more expensive than I would have bought for myself, but it's the mutt's nuts in terms of performance and reliability. I have a finish nailer/stapler that came with my compressor (a Husky) which is a pile of cack by comparison, but despite more frequent jams and misfires is perfectly acceptable for the (small) number of jobs I use it for.

if you can get Paslode over here, that's what i'd go for...quite spendy though i imagine, they weren't exactly cheap in the UK

http://www.paslode.ca/

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/18-g...-nailer/944463

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/powe...r-promo/984399