As Fine Homebuilding‘s tools and products editor, I see a lot of great stuff coming across my desk. When there’s something especially noteworthy, I often show my coworkers to get their thoughts. We all think Paslode’s new compact framer (model F325R) is pretty cool. It’s an otherwise normal-looking framing gun with a shortened magazine. As far as I know, it’s the shortest framing gun ever made that operates at normal air pressure (90 to 120 psi). At just over 12 in. long, Paslode’s new nailer accepts one strip of 30-deg. plastic-collated full-head nails from 2 in. up to 3-1/4 in. True, that’s not many nails, but this framer is designed for small spaces, where an ordinary nailer won’t fit. The shorter magazine also makes the nailer very light (5.9 lb.) and comfortable to manuever. Even though the magazine is short, the rest of the nailer is conventional. It has a standard-size housing and includes all the features you’d want, including a no-tools depth-of-drive adjustment, a selectable trigger, and a belt hook. It sells for $269.
Like me, many of my coworkers have carpentry backgrounds and still bang nails regularly, so I asked them if they could ever think of a time when this short nailer could have helped them out of a jam. None of us could think of an instance, but we all thought we’d want one when the time came. If you think you have a good opportunity to put this new nailer through its paces, leave a comment below describing the project. If it sounds like a good match, I’ll send you the nailer for testing.
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Designed for remodeling, Paslode's F325R sells for $269 and accepts 30-deg. full-head nails from 2 in. to 3-1/4 in. (0.113 to 0.131 shank diameter).
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Paslode's F325R compact framer is a little over 12 in. long and weighs 5.9 lb. It has a belt hook, a selectable trigger, and tool-free depth adjustment.
View Comments
Patrick, I am a volunteer for Habitat For Humanity and we do a lot of rehab home building. We are frequently using our gas powered Paslode framing nailer, with it's short magazine, to nail down rat-runs in narrow attic spaces and attaching floor joist bridging in concealed crawl spaces. In these confined areas the noise and odor from the gas gun are objectionable. A small pneumatic gun would work well in these situations.
Regards.
Ted
Another advantage to a smaller and lighter framing nailer comes to mind, again based on my experience with Habitat For Humanity: many of our volunteers have not experienced using today's more common power tools like sawzalls, impact drivers, pneumatic nailers, large miter saws, etc. After proper introduction to the tool and some supervision, some volunteers want the opportunity to experience using these powerful tools. Smaller, lighter, and more controllable tools make first-time users more comfortable, safer, and confident. Giving them an enjoyable experience.
Ted
Hi Patrick, I'm re-modeling my master bathroom. I've just finished building a pair of floating vanities similar to those built by Nancy Hiller for the Project House. I'll be adding a bunch of framing to support a new frameless shower and blocking, in some tight spots, to support the vanities. I'd be very happy to put the F325R to work and report back. Rgds, Tim Key
I am beginning a project to resurrect a turn of the century Queen Anne Vicky. I have some great customers who are enthusiastically committed to the gut job remodel we have ahead of us. We plan to totally restore the front facade by replicating the original balustrade and posts and installing new t&g fir floors and ceilings. We plan to rehabilitate the existing wood windows and make new wooden storm/screen panels in house. We are going to remove many of the interior bearing walls to open the interior of the house for a more modern layout. A short, light nailer would be just the ticket for nailing flush beams and supporting framing in tight places. I'm sure there is a broad gap between my Paslode stick framer and my palm nailer that are left to the tendon rattling latter that this gun could fill.
As a dedicated remodeling contractor, very few of our framing projects include stand up walls. Most are stick framed in place. A lighter gun than our stout but heavy Paslode F250 would be a welcome break for a tired, 40 year old arm. I am very curious how it would perform nailing multiple lams and
Lvls. If you send it to us, I promise we will put it through its paces in a real world job site environment with a crew that treats tools like they don't have a nickel in them because, sadly, they don't.
Patrick
I am a kitchen and bath remodeler. I am always fighting with my nail gun to work on framing between joist and small spaces in very small bath rooms. I am interested in this gun for that reason. I am in the beginnings of several projects that are in tight spaces and will need to be using my framing nailer. I would be interested in testing the Paslode gun to find out if shorter is better. It may run out of nails faster but if it is lighter and easier to use I don't mind sticking in another rack of nails
Thanks
Craig
NOVA Fine Home
Allsome gun...I bought one two days later bought another...great stronger than the f 350 s model ..I build decks for a living
Hello Patrick, as we know, every type of framing nailer is designed for specific types of job. They have their advantages and disadvantages as well. We need to figure out which one is the best framing nailer (http://framingnailersguide.com/) for our type of work.
Say, if we are professional, then we have to choose something that is capable of completing big and heavyweight projects. If we choose something with limitations, then it will be a trouble. If we need to perform small scale in-house jobs, then the heavyweight pneumatic framing nailers with compressors will be just wastage of money. What do you think?