Air nailer question

Tdog · May 15, 2008

I've resisted buying one of these for a while. I built a barn 15 years ago using hammer & nails, screws, and lagbolts. I'm starting a small storage shed to hold garden tools. It will be 8' x 16'. I'm toying with the idea of buying framing nailer. Norther tool advertises one for $129, on sale. I don't need to spend the money a professional would, but I do want a tool that will work.

Anyone have experience with the Northern Tool Framing Nailer?

Thanks,

Jack

vic4news · May 15, 2008

I bought a cheap framing nailer from Harbor Freight when I built my shed and it did the job. I have used it for a few small projects since. I imagine the one from Northern Tool would work as well.

Vic

Charlesaf3 · May 15, 2008

buy the Hitachi NR83a, used should be fine.

Really, you won't regret it. Yes its a pro tool, but there is a reason its the most common framing gun at construction sites. Its the gold standard.

The HF air tools have been surprisingly good in my experience - its one of their better tools.

Oh, and I'd as soon build something without a nailgun as without a hammer or tape measure. Its not just easier, it lets you do a lot of things better. Including of course nailing your hand if you don't pay attention....

WVBill · May 15, 2008

Get the nailer - It's well worth it. Last Summer I build a 24' x 24' 1 1/2 story building for my wife's quilting studio. Did all the nailing with a Bostitch N80 Coil nailer.

I looked at the Northern Tool and HF framing nailers but couldn't tell for sure if the nail sticks I could get at my local Home Depot/Lowes/etc. would fit. The info in the catalogs sometimes lists the angle of the stick (like - 31 degrees) and looking at the local box stores it seemed like the standard sticks for their brands were something else. I didn't want to get stuck having to buy my nails from Northern Tool of Harbor Freight so I just used the Bostitch I had.

It only drives up to 12d nails but there's a table in the building code that gives equivalent numbers of nails between sizes (like 3 x 12d nails = 2 x 16d nails).

I could never have finished the building myself if I'd had to swing a hammer that much.....

WVBill

Erik_in_Hoyt · May 15, 2008

I have a red 21 degree campbell hausfeld nailer from Lowes and a blue 28 degree HF special. it's easier to find nails for the CH, but if I was still in the market, I'd be looking at the HF "6-in-one" nailer for less than $100, because it adjusts to take several different sizes and angles, so it would be a piece of cake to buy nails at Lowes or Home Despot. as an alternative if I had a spare $300 laying around, I'd look at "professional" nailers like the 31 degree Paslode at grainger or another professional supply store. (model # is very similar to the one sold at Lowes & HD, but piston is bigger and more robust)

the other nice thing about the CH set I got - it was $199 and had the framing nailer, a brad nailer and a finish nailer - so now that I'm done framing, I'm using the finish nailer to build cabinets.

mikim · May 15, 2008

I have a porter cable 350 (love it) but I'm thinking now about getting a cheap one from HF ... cause everytime I want to use my nailer ...it's at the other place!

(3 hours away) Course it would just be my luck that I'd end up with both of 'em at the other place.

hazmat · May 15, 2008

The money spent on the nailer pales in comparison to the cost of the nails - especially galv or stainless. Spend the money & get something that you know will work. Find out what brands are popular locally so you'll have good supply of nails. I've got 2 framers, a sider, 15ga finish, brad, pinner, stapler, and flooring nailer. Perhaps $1,200 worth of tools (the smaller ones cost less - flooring was bought used) - I'd bet I've spend more than $2K on nails over the last 5 years and thats just on renovation work around my house & my rental property. A box of SS nails is $100.

EddieWalker · May 15, 2008

When my Hilti nail gun finally died on me, I debated having it rebuilt or buying a new one. Once I picked up a new gun and realized it was half the weight of my Hilti, it was a done deal. I shoped around, compared statistics and even thought about hoseless.

In the end, I went with DeWalt. One of the things that really caught my attention was the hook that it has for hanging it on the framing. It's such a simple thing, but nobody else has it. I really like that hook, and the gun works real nice too. I've run about 6 cases of nails through it in the last year, so I'm not a big time user of it, but I use it more then the average homeowner.

Eddie

Charlesaf3 · May 16, 2008

I'm getting more than a little burnt on dewalt, but no doubt the hook is nice. There are people who make a hook for the hitachi - just saw it in Journal of Light Construction and it reminded me I have to get one. Of course, I don't have any real framing to do in the near future, just did a lot... time to get one was a year ago... typical me.

Tdog · May 16, 2008

Thanks for the replies. Now I'm ready to really show my ignorance. What is the difference between 'round head' & other nailers? And what are the different angles 21 degrees, etc. What should I be looking for?
Duh!

Jack