Pneumatic Nail Guns

[BruceWard]

Is a set like this any good?

Shop Campbell Hausfeld 5 Nailer Kit at Lowes.com

We are starting a new house (http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/193082-starting-new-house.html) and I need a (some?) nail guns for customisations that I would like to make along the way. I also am going to help with the framing but mainly as a laborer. We are building with a SIP panel exterior and traditional framing for the interior walls.

I have a Paslode Cordless Finish Nailer and am considering buying the cordless framing nailer. I have a couple of compressors that are capable of driving framing nailers so an air nailer would be a less expensive and perhaps better option.

I appreciate your advice.

 

[Sumpter]

They make good air compressors but not sure about their nail guns. I have always bought Senco myself.

 

[Bird]

I would expect those to be some pretty decent tools. The only one I've any personal experience with, though, is their little brad nailer.

 

[beeforty]

I too have an older Senco that never gave me any problems. Just had a chance to use a couple Paslode framers, great when it worked. One was having intermittent firing problems other one was consistent. Air type seem to be able to shoot faster, not have to wait to fire. But no air hose to step on or trip over is nice, especially when on the roof

 

[SandburRanch]

Moisture is always a concern to contend with when compressors are used but possibly not with cordless. And to me the freedom of movement always makes cordless look attractive.

Congratulations on the new house.

 

[RadarTech]

Check out www.toolking.com

I got a dewalt framing nailer for $ 129... Refurbished.. But it works great.. In on my 4th 5k box of nails..
Lots of stuff....

 

[smstonypoint]

I lurk over at the JLC forums, a pros-only site. Hitachi nailers receive high marks there for the most part.

I have Paslode air-less framing and finish nailers and have been satisfied with both. As you know, cleaning them per the instructions and using fresh fuel cells is a must.

I bought my finish nailer through Paslode's E-bay site. It was supposedly refurbished, but it looked unused to me. They also sell refurbished air nailers.
Paslode Factory Outlet Store items - Get great deals on CORDLESS FRAMING NLRS, PASLODE, GADGET-PAKS items on eBay Stores!

Steve

 

[CurlyDave]

I lurk over at the JLC forums, a pros-only site. Hitachi nailers receive high marks there for the most part...

Steve

I have worked with about 5 framing outfits, employing maybe 13 framers over the past 3-4 years. They have all used Hitachi framing guns.

Now I know there have to be pros out there who use something else, I just haven't run into them.

If you are going to be helping at all, ask you framer what kind of gun he uses, and get the same one.

When he drops his off a scaffold, or has some other mishap, he can pick up yours and finish the day. The savings in his time alone will pay for a pro-quality gun. A lot of them will have two or more guns on the job each loaded with different nails. gain, an extra one will save some time.

 

[smstonypoint]

Now I know there have to be pros out there who use something else, I just haven't run into them.

I don't remember seeing Tom Silva use one, but I don't think Home Depot sells them.

Steve

 

[dstig1]

Hitachi is big in framing guns. I picked up a decent Hitachi stick-fed full-head framing gun off CL a couple years back. C-H is not a great name in air tools - at least not anymore. I think they were at one point, but now it is just a name on Chiwanese tools. I could be wrong on that, but I have never been impressed with any of their stuff over the years and avoid it. Yes H-F and the Northern house brand are generally worse than CH. For light use/1 project/etc, any of those will work fine. If you want it to hold up, you need to hit the pro brands. Curly Dave also make s good point on getting the same type the crew uses.

 

[wsp617]

I agree with others on here. If you are building a house, stay away from the cheap Chinese made tools. I have Paslode and Bostitch units that work great but I can't speak to the Senco and Hitachi brands. I have used the Paslode cordless units. They work great for hanging trusses because you don't have to worry about getting the hose tangled up in the truss but they are not fast enough to nail OSB on the walls and roof shealthing.

Don't be affraid to spend more on good tools, especially with a house project. In the end you can sell the tools on Craigslist if you don't think you need them.

 

[ultrarunner]

I agree with others on here. If you are building a house, stay away from the cheap Chinese made tools. I have Paslode and Bostitch units that work great but I can't speak to the Senco and Hitachi brands. I have used the Paslode cordless units. They work great for hanging trusses because you don't have to worry about getting the hose tangled up in the truss but they are not fast enough to nail OSB on the walls and roof shealthing.

Don't be affraid to spend more on good tools, especially with a house project. In the end you can sell the tools on Craigslist if you don't think you need them.

I have several senco nailers... don't have a framing one.

Senco has been reliable me.

 

[Robb71]

If you're going to be working as a laborer on a professional crew you probably won't need a nail gun as the pros will have enough and unless you're very experienced you'll probably spend most of your time helping but not necessarily nailing.

If you're looking for a nail gun for odd projects around the farm the Passlode cordless is the way to go. I have both the finish and framing versions and I love the flexibility of being able to use them without dragging a compressor or extension cord to the spot I want to work.
Handy for so many tasks on the homestead, the only downside is cost of course and the fact that the fuel cells really don't work so good after the expiration date.

 

[RobertBrown]

I bought a set of three about 4 years ago just like that,a framming, finish and a brad nailer, all Cambell Hausfeld. I haven't had any problems or jams, and after owning those I wondered why I didn't buy some ealier. I don't use them a whole lot, several times a year, mostly with the framming gun. I have probably put 2500 nails through that one. I store the guns inside the house just as you would a regular gun and keep them oiled as the manufacturer recomends
If your going to use it to make a living I would suggest a higher end tool. I haven't had a big problem finding nails because they use hitachi nails, however you can't be real picky with the nails you use, you have to use what you can find. There are a myriad of different types of nails. Each manufacturer tries to make thier guns proprietary so you have to buy thier nails so the nals have different heads and are set at different angles.
I would make sure you can get the nails before you buy the gun. Your not going to save any money if you can't get the nails

 

[smstonypoint]

I haven't had a big problem finding nails because they use hitachi nails, however you can't be real picky with the nails you use, you have to use what you can find. There are a myriad of different types of nails. Each manufacturer tries to make thier guns proprietary so you have to buy thier nails so the nals have different heads and are set at different angles.
I would make sure you can get the nails before you buy the gun. Your not going to save any money if you can't get the nails

Good point about the nails. Coil versus stick, wire-weld stick, plastic stick, paper-tape stick, etc.

Steve

 

[HiTechTed]

We always used Bostitch and they were quite durable. I don't know how many times mine hit the ground from a roof top, and by the time I sold it all the paint was nearly worn off of it but it still worked like new. That was probably 15 years ago so I don't know how they are now. I currently own a few DeWalt nailers and staple guns and they seem to be decent, no problems with them at all. I would probably not buy the Campbell-Hausfeld guns for serious framing, based on some of their other tools I've owned (like an oil-less compressor that takes 30 minutes to recharge). Their stuff seems kind of gimpy to me. Spend a little extra and get a good quality framing nailer for your new house. You'll use it for other projects down the road, believe me.

 

[framer]

Have used all the major brands over 40 years Hitachi is most reliable and most
supply houses will repair them. Campbell and portercable,stanly don't know.

 

[Haoleguy]

Not sure about the CH nailers but there are several positive responses on the Lowes site for what thats worth. My guess is that there is another brand making these for CH. I looked into this many moons ago and it came down to the best nailer for the task. Reliability, weight, distribution of weight, size, nail delivery, air/nail depth control, nail size range, nail compatability. I can't speak about large framing nailers but I ended up with a Hitachi for finish nailer(used both indoors(large moulding, flooring) and outdoors(fencing projects)) and a Porter Cable brad nailer(small indoor moulding projects). In both cases you need to make sure you're getting the exact model number desired as there are usually a couple of flavors for that size of nailer......Gary

 

[tulenutn2o]

Hitachi is king of framers right now. I own Bostitch, campbell, and craftsmen. @ Bostitch framers, 1 campbell framer, craftsman staple, cample and bostitch brad nailers, bostitch finish nailer, and several others. My brother clued me in on the Hitachi stuff last year when building my deck. He is a Master deck builder and kept cussing my B nailer cause it wouldn't sink the nails. Gets out his Hitachi framer, and let me tell you that thing is a beast. No trouble sinking nails in the frozen green treat with that. Since I do more genearl construction/remodel, I find the others work for me, but when they die, I will probably spring for the Hitachi...........or what is proven to be the best at that time.

 

[bdeboer]

I am not sure if that framing nailer shoots the round headed nails vs. the clipped head or not. The inspectors here will question gun nails that do not have the full round head.