Roofing nailgun adjustment help

[easygo]

I'm about to start my happy adventure of reshingleing my house. I bought a used roofing nailer that seems to function just fine except that it does not drive the nails into the wood far enough. They need to be driven about 1/16 to 1/8" deeper. The nail gun is a Bostitch RN-45-1 and it seems like it is in decent shape (but what do I know really). I heard somewhere that there is a way to adjust the depth the nail is driven down but I can't seem to find any owner's manual online. The guy I bought it from had no idea how to adjust it either.
THis is not the current model Bostitch roofer as they make the newer version called RN-46 these days. I tried it with pressure ranging from 80-120psi and it made no difference. I put a shingle on a piece of pine board and the nails aren't pounded in far enough.

Could someone give me a pointer on this or may be a manual?

Thank you

 

[EddieWalker]

First, you don't want to nails to damage the shingle. Snug is really what you want. Too far into the shingle is like not having a nail on it since the nail just destroyed that part of the shingle.

I don't know your brand or model. Of the brands that I've had, they all adjust right below the trigger. There is a knob or wheel that you turn for depth.

If you don't have such an adjustment, maybe a shot of oil into the nipple that the hose attaches to will help with the seals and give you more power.

This also might be why the prrevious owner sold it???

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[rswyan]

Dunno if this is the correct manual for your specific gun or not - it's for an RN-45B. Got it off Stanley's website.

Even if it's not, it may be close enough to allow you to figure how to adjust yours:

 

[easygo]

Rswyan,
Thank you for the link to the manual. Unfortunately it does not say anything about that adjustment. I'm beginning to wonder if it has that option as my nailer is an RN45B-1. I'm puzzled over this.

Eddie,
The tool has plenty of lubricant in it but unfortunately no little of big knob to adjust anything.

I'm attaching a couple of pictures.

 

[rjkobbeman]

Dunno if this is the correct manual for your specific gun or not - it's for an RN-45B. Got it off Stanley's website.

Even if it's not, it may be close enough to allow you to figure how to adjust yours:

I found the same thing. (Great minds think alike!)

Anyway, in that manual it refers to a depth control kit. Here is a link to it: Stanley Bostitch :  DC6  -  RN45 Roofing Nailer Dial-A-Depth Fastener Control Kit

Why on earth a nail gun would not have depth control already is beyond me! Argh!

Of course, I have some Paslode staple guns that do not have depth control either... and it really irks me.

At least this one has a option.

 

[easygo]

So. If they offer the kit that must mean that adjustment is possible somewhere inside the dark belly of the nailer. That is good news in itself. I might have to take it to a local shop Tuesday to see what it would take to adjust the thing. From the looks of that kit the nailer would have to be taken apart a good deal.

 

[jpm]

it may be the guns ram is worn down from lots of use.i think there's a rebuild kit for it

 

[Freds]

I was thinking the ram, too. I've used these guns, but the nails were already provided... but can you get a shorter nail for it? I know coil nails come in different lengths, but I don't know if you can use different sizes in the same gun. Maybe it's something simple like too long a nail for the gun.

 

[easygo]

I tried some 1 1/4" and 1 1/2" nails ans they both were not driven in far enough. The range of nail length it supposed to be able handle is from 3/4" to 1 3/4" that appears to be standard with roofing nailers. I was told I should use 1 1/2" nails because I will be putting up architectural shingles that are thicker. I put about a half a coil of nails through it and it never jammed or failed to fire it is the depth adjustment that seems to be a problem.

 

[SimS]

If it isn't a mechanical problem/limit driving that is driving the nail too shallow, have you tried raising the air pressure? I know that sometimes my old Paslodes like a little more air pressure to drive the nail completely.


SimS