framing nail guns

[farmerpsv]

hey all,
just bought a porter cable framing nail gun on my way into work this morning. this rounds out my collection of nail guns. have two bostich finish nailers and a hitachi roofing nailer. any opinions on framing nailers? porter cable seems decent and they were cheapest. don't use these things professionally, just around the house. but would be interested in opinions, like "that's a piece of junk, trade it before you use it..."
thanks
paul

 

[hazmat]

PC makes nice tools - I'd keep it so long as you can get nails for it easily. In the North East, Bostich is very popular - no problems getting nails.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

29-1/2 years as a carpenter----- Bostich is the most common around here. Senco is the best (IMHO) but definately not the cheapest. PorterCable makes a good gun. (GREAT for general "consumer use")

I've got 2 finish nailers, 3 brad guns, 3 5/16th" staplers, 2 frame guns, a roof nailer, a roof stapler,and a flooring nailer. I don't know how to hold a hammer anymore! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

One thing we found 25 years ago, when air nailers first started getting "common" on job sites, is that people tend to nail the daylights out of things with air guns, where they were just barely nailing things enough to hold them together before. Down side is when you have to take something apart that was air nailed.

 

[farmerpsv]

thanks,
yeah, i really enjoy my nail guns. having restored several victorian houses i use the heck out of my brad gun doing finish work. i'm hammer...er, challenged and find things are much straighter when i'm not banging on it.
paul

 

[EddieWalker]

I have a Porter Cable brad nailer that I like allot. I first bought a Senco, but it was for smaller brads, so I upgraded to the PC. I like it allot better too.

My framing nail gun is a Hilti and it weights quite a bit. It's a workout just holding it, and if it's hot out, you need gloves because of how slippery my hands get when sweating.

I'd put Porter Cable at the top of my list when looking for a replacement. Sometimes I wish that Hilti would die so I could justify buying a lighter one. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Eddie

 

[RacingD98]

Bought me a Porter-Cable 350A for my basement remodeling project. I'm sure my shoulder would be minch meat by now if I were using a hammer. The old body ain't what it use to be. Best investment I've made except maybe for the Porter-Cable twin laser miter saw.

 

[rtimgray]

I've got a Porter Cable framing nailer and a PC roofing nailer and have had nothing but good luck with them.

As an aside, since we've got some folks in the know chiming in here, what's a good finish nailer? I'm looking for one to assemble cabinets with (I'll be using 3/4 oak plywood and 3/4 solid oak). I've looked at some the guns online and I see finish nailers and brad nailers, etc. What's the difference? What size or gauge of nail should I be looking to use (length too - I'm assuming a 1-1/2" to 2" long nail). Can this type gun also be using for installing molding in a house?

Thanks for any help - sorry in advance if I've hijacked the thread too far off course.

 

[fishman]

Yep, I got a PC round-head framing nailer last year and used it to build my small tractor barn. Great tool! WAYY better than a hammer.

 

[stevenf]

farmerpsv, I'm curious I own a Hitachi frame nailer but with Home Depots line of Rigid power tools that are lifetime guaranteed now why is it that anyone would buy anything else are Rigid tools so crumby that they'd spend all their time in the shop or ergonomics or? I'm not trying to be smart but trying to get that way and I have another 30 years to worry about these type of decisions. I'm tempted to go buy an entire set of the Rigid nailers just because I can't imagine they'll offer this forever unless the other manufacturers jump on board to compete. I'd love to hear other peoples answers to why not Rigid maybe they are great tools and maybe Rigid or Home Depot will go out of business tommorrow and leave me holding the bag. The warranty is amazing it includes everything except saw blades and drill bits, it even includes battery's in their rechargeables. You do have to register with them by mail or over the net but I've already bought their 14" cutoff saw and the experience was pretty painless, the standard warranty was something like 3 years you fill out the paper work and send it in and they send you your lifetime warranty certificate, it is serviced nationwide at their service centers so if you live near a major city there are likely numerous in town, In San Antonio there are 3 I think.
Steve

 

[Jarrett]

We use Senco finish nailers (SFN-1, IIRC) in my Dad's cabinet shop. They'll shoot nails from 1" up to 2". We've used same gun to do trim work in houses too, using 2" nails.