Framing Nailer Advice

[Iplayfarmer]

I need some real world advice on a framing nailer. Right now I'm remodeling a basement. When I'm done with that, I have permission from SWMBO to add a small workshop to my garage. I really know nothing about framing nailers, so any advice would be appreciated.

Here are my options.

I own a Hilti that needs a complete rebuild. (If I don't rebuild it, I'll list it on E-bay for parts or repair.)
I can buy a used Paslode off Craig's List for about 1 1/2 the price of the Hilti rebuild.
I can buy a brand new Porter Cable or Bostich for about $25 more. (For another $10 I can get the Bostich with changeable heads for metal connectors.)

Here are the Parameters...

Top priority is to get a good finished product. I need something that will drive nails. I've decided to go with 3 1/2" round head nails.
I will probably only be using it on nights and weekends. No day-in day-out use.
I'm not going to be making a living with it, so there's no payback. In other words, cost is an issue.
I'm buying the tool vs. renting so that I will have it for later use when I need it. I want something that will last more than one job.

What are your thoughts? Are any of these brands that much better than the others? Is there any real advantage or disadvantage to plastic collated nails vs. paper collated nails?

I tend to lean toward the Porter Cable just because I know their name from their routers and woodworking tools. I have no experience with their nailers. I know some framers, and they seem to all use Paslode.

 

[/pine]

I would look for a gun that accepts more than one size nail..you should be able to find a framing gun that wil shoot from 6 or 8 to 16 penny nails 2" to 3-1/4"

use 12's or 16's for framing and 8's for decking/sheething

Also a must have is a palm nailer...

 

[pharmon]

I'm a DIY guy and have had good luck with my Porter Cable full round head nailer. I used to think that nail guns were for lazy carpenters, but it sure is handy when your holding stock with one hand and can just pull the trigger and secure it in place. I have no experience with other brands.

Paul

 

[Pops15]

Have you looked at Senco nailers? Check ebay for used SN325+ or if you're feeling strong an SN4. I have two of each. The SN4 nailers date from the mid 1970's. They are heavy at 11# but they are reliable and powerful. The 325+ are from the late 1990's. They are lighter, I think around 7-8#, more compact, not quite as powerful, but still a great nailer. Both take a wide range of nail lengths and gauges. Both were designed for clipped head stick nails, but will shoot the new style full round head nails.
My SN4's are semi-retired after working hard for over 30 years. I can't say enough about the quality of those old Sencos. I don't know if they'll shoot 3 1/2" nails but They'll shoot 3 1/4".

I can't speak to the Paslode guns as I've never used one.
I have several Bostitch finish nailers and trim staplers. I don't know about their framing nailers but their top of the line finish stuff is ok, and their cheap stuff is probably ok for a DIYer but doesn't hold up real well.

I have something like 19-20 pneumatic nailers and staplers. I have two for most applications and some Senco and some Bostitch. For the most part I prefer Senco over Bostitch. I also prefer stick over coil nailers. I've looked at other brands and the magazines seem bulky and clumsy.

Shop for nails as prices vary allot. My framing nailers like Senco, Paslode, or the brand of American made nails Menards recently started selling, but jam if I use National nails. The USA made nails Menards sells are the best value I've found recently. They're in an orange and white box.

One more thing. Get a belt hook for whatever gun you decide to buy.

 

[herd]

I need some real world advice on a framing nailer. Right now I'm remodeling a basement. When I'm done with that, I have permission from SWMBO to add a small workshop to my garage. I really know nothing about framing nailers, so any advice would be appreciated.

Here are my options.

I own a Hilti that needs a complete rebuild. (If I don't rebuild it, I'll list it on E-bay for parts or repair.)
I can buy a used Paslode off Craig's List for about 1 1/2 the price of the Hilti rebuild.
I can buy a brand new Porter Cable or Bostich for about $25 more. (For another $10 I can get the Bostich with changeable heads for metal connectors.)

Here are the Parameters...

Top priority is to get a good finished product. I need something that will drive nails. I've decided to go with 3 1/2" round head nails.
I will probably only be using it on nights and weekends. No day-in day-out use.
I'm not going to be making a living with it, so there's no payback. In other words, cost is an issue.
I'm buying the tool vs. renting so that I will have it for later use when I need it. I want something that will last more than one job.

What are your thoughts? Are any of these brands that much better than the others? Is there any real advantage or disadvantage to plastic collated nails vs. paper collated nails?

I tend to lean toward the Porter Cable just because I know their name from their routers and woodworking tools. I have no experience with their nailers. I know some framers, and they seem to all use Paslode.

I've used several different brands and finally settled on the Paslode "Frame Pro Plus." Great gun, easy to use and adjust, comes with a belt/ladder hook, and is reasonably priced of about $275 new. I only use roundhead nails and primarily ring shank, hot dipped galavanized. Sure, cost more but try to pull one out.

Senco is a good gun also but I've found Paslode to be tops. I have several Bostick finish guns and they are ok but my son has the Paslode 18 gauge and 16 gauge finish nailers and they are better. The other thing is, Paslode nails are easy to find, commonly stocked at most places whereas some of the others may not be availiable at your local hardware store.

I use to handnail everything, until I started having some health issues so now I shoot everything. Can't say it's a lazy way tho, that **** framing gun is very heavy and works on the shoulder after a few hours.

 

[forgeblast]

Paslode....great great nailer. I bought one off ebay and have used it a lot. easy, very easy to load and see how many nails are in there, uses a varity of sizes and fits between 16'' framing. the power it has is pretty amazing too. i think it was the 350s,
F350S PowerMaster Plus? 30° Framing Nailer - Paslode

i am going to use it a lot when i build our chicken coop this spring, on top of framing out our attic, and a couple of other little projects. wonderful tool.

 

[clemsonfor]

Go to harborfreight and pick up one of their 30 deg. ( i think, they have all diff angles) gun it shoots 10 gauge and can be had on sale for $59.99. I do not own one cause i borrow a coworkers he built his whole deck and i redid a rough in on a porch where i reframed it and put in a new header. I also borrowed it to build my wood shed, it has held up and will shoot 3.5's. A box of galvanize coated nails from HF is only $34. I would buy one if i did not have th e option to borrow his whenever i need it. I have 3 HF nailers 18, 16, 15 gauge nailers and think they all are worth the money and are decent quality.

Oh it has the roundheads with the flat side on one side of the heads.

 

[PA hayseed]

I'd suggest to buy any framing nailer, they all do the job. I've owned stanleys, have used paslodes and sencos, and I currently own a grizzly version of a framing nailer. The grizzly was dirt cheap and second hand.

I would think you might want to consider what your code says. Some codes requires different things clipped vs round head. The second thing I would do is price the nails for each gun. Some guns use paper, welded wire, etc types of fasteners and will not work in other guns. If your gonna have help, see what guns they use and maybe it will save a couple of dollars and some time.

The last thing I would think of is am I gonna have access to paslode/senco/stanley stuff in a pinch, like on a sat or sunday. In rural areas like mine, the local hardware only stocks one kind, and I have to make a trip to get supplies. Trips add up, take time, and can't be made on certain days.

Good luck, and I am of the same mindset. I personally like stanley bostich, and when the factory reps come around if you buy a box of nails they will rebuild your orings. Not a big expense, but not a bad perk either. I have put more nails through the stanley than the paslode, it is nice not having a cord to lug, but I hate that propane smell. Personally, I like welded wire nails vs. paper. To each his own, and I am sure that there is more than one viewpoint on this.

 

[two_bit_score]

For some reason a lot of framing nailers seem to wind up in pawn shops.

I bought a Senco a few years ago. Even if you don't use nailers every day - when you do they are nice to have.

You could probably get a 'combo' kit at Lowes or HD with a framer, trim nailer, stapler and compressor pretty cheap.

I love the crown stapler and trim nailer as much as the framer. Shoulda bought 'em as a package but I pieced 'em together over time.

Check amazon for some deals on Bosch. I hear they are great.

 

[westbrooklawn]

Hands down, the best framing nailer you can get is a Hitachi NR90AC_. You can buy a reconditioned one in your price range... google will help you find sources. If you look at the professional framing crews, you will find this is the gun they use.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I haven't looked for new ones lately but we have a couple Bostich framing nailers that have put in a lot of nails and never gave us a problem. They are very reliable as long as you use common sense and don't abuse them.

 

[MarkV]

Like Pops15, I own a lot of pneumatic nailers and staplers because of my business. Given your criteria, I would look at three things. First the local availability of nails, both brand name, generic and price. Second, weight of the gun, becomes more important the older I get. Third, availability of repair service, less important for a weekend user like yourself.

I'll apologize in advance for the next part, I just can't help myself. I've had surgery due to a framing gun and they do require respect.

MarkV

 

[Pops15]

Oh it has the roundheads with the flat side on one side of the heads.

Those are called clipped heads and are not legal in many areas. You can probably get full round head nails for it. The round heads are just offset.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I buy a lot from these guys...

CPO OUTLETS

 

[GPintheMitten]

I never regretted getting a framing gun. Mine is a Paslode air gun. It'll shoot framing nails as well as the shorter nails for sub-flooring or other sheathing.

We (my son and son-in-law) have used it for a number of projects.

I'm sure other brands are great as well. Just be careful when using it.

 

[Pops15]

Like Pops15, I own a lot of pneumatic nailers and staplers because of my business. Given your criteria, I would look at three things. First the local availability of nails, both brand name, generic and price. Second, weight of the gun, becomes more important the older I get. Third, availability of repair service, less important for a weekend user like yourself.

I'll apologize in advance for the next part, I just can't help myself. I've had surgery due to a framing gun and they do require respect.

MarkV

All good points.
You need to watch the angle of the generics. Some are ok, some are made to work in a variety of brands with different angles. That can cause jams.

The only reason I retired my SN4's was the weight. It can take its toll over 30+ years. No one wanted to arm wrestle me back when I used those heavy guns!

Service can be a consideration but theres really nothing in a nailer a guy couldn't easily fix if he had the parts. Parts availability is another story though.

Oh yes, they do require respect! I hope you didn't get hurt too bad. A guy that worked for me shot himself through his index finger. Thankfully it just went through the skin but when I first saw it, it looked like it had gone right through his knuckle.

 

[CurlyDave]

All of the pros I have seen, both in CA and OR use Hitachi. There is a reason for this.

 

[MarkV]

All of the pros I have seen, both in CA and OR use Hitachi. There is a reason for this.

Dave like so many things they have a regional following. I've owned one Hitachi gun and didn't have much luck with it. It seems to be favorite on the West coast from what I hear though. You don't see too many of them here in the Atlanta area.

MarkV

 

[Pops15]

All of the pros I have seen, both in CA and OR use Hitachi. There is a reason for this.

Don't see Hitachi much here in the midwest. Nearly everyone uses Senco or Paslode around here.

 

[2manyrocks]

Paslode in middle TN.

If you can still gets the parts kit, rebuildling is not hard.

The suggestion of a palm nailer shouldn't be overlooked. They use common nails, and you can nail in really tight spots. Getting the nail started without pinching your finger is the hard part. Cheap, too.