I’m thinking of buying a 23 gauge pin nailer. I’ve looked at a number of them and have a question about their safety. To fire my other nailers I have to push the nose against the wood and then pull the trigger. Some of the 23ga nailers don’t appear to have this feature.
I see some like the Grex have a secondary safety trigger, but this gun is expensive. At the other end of the spectrum is the Harbor Freight which doesn’t have a safety, but a very attractive price.
My question is, how dangerous are the guns without the secondary trigger? It seems that it would be easy to accidentally something or someone without the extra safety. I could probably 6 or 8 of the HF guns for the price of one Grex. Is the cost savings really worth it, or are they dangerous?
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I have a Bostich which is my only experience. It has the 'secondary trigger'. I consider this dangerous gun. I do not leave it for long with the hose still attached. You have to be very careful when picking it up, and when handling in general.
Shoot, ya big baby. Them lil skinny pins hurt less than a hornet sting..LOL Except them real long ones.
I got used to double triggers a long time ago, I lke it better, no force to move the soon to be pinned part needed, to engage the safety lock out. I even tape the second trigger always on..but like I said, I'm used to it.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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I have the Bostich pinner. It also has the 2nd trigger that acts as a safety. In my experience, because of where that safety is located, it is easy to automatically hold it down when you grip the handle. I find that this tends to happen when I want to continue holding the pinner while positioning a piece of trim. As a result I do accidentally fire the thing from time to time. And, I have shot a pin into my hand. Since it was from a foot or so away, it just stung a bit like a shot at the doctor's office, and I had to stop and pull out the pin.
From all that I have read, you have to be extra careful with pinners. They are great tools, but because of their small size (and my large hands), I don't see a away to get around this design problem. On the other hand, I would not want a pinner without a safety. It's just a bit of insurance that you have to learn to use. (And you DO NOT want to shoot one of those pins flush into your body, especially into bone. Finding it and removing it could be difficult.)
Went out to the shop because I had to see for myself. At 12" with my PC pinner at 100psi, a 3/4" pin bounced off my foream...pinched a little, but no big deal. Same at 11". At 10", the pin stuck. Didn't need to go further than that. I won't even try a flush shot.
Try it on yer earlobe, I hear it makes ya quit smoking.
Accupuncture technique.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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They kill Prophets, for Profits.
From what distance?
4x the pin length.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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They kill Prophets, for Profits.
ooops...just hit the jugular!
See? You'll still quit smoking now..it works.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
In cabinet shops I've heard of pin nailer shootouts. That's fine until someone looses an eye! ;^)
Pin nailer shootouts? This kind of puerile horseplay will bring my full wrath down upon you if it happens anywhere around me. Absolutely inappropriate and downright dangerous.I've taken a guy go to the emerg. room for 23ga pin removal from bone.
Edited 12/4/2008 12:06 am by kenhill3
I've heard of it. Haven't you? If they are blowing off steam and are a little ways apart I don't know. I've shot things with my framing gun and my finish gun. Just for kicks. Never at someone though.
I have the HF model. it has a trigger lockout that swings out of the way. I can see using it if you set the gun down for any length of time, but not between shots.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
How do you like your HF pinner? I've been seriously considering that one. It's only $25, and I have a HF store pretty close. Most other brands I've looked at are around $100. I don't use nailers in my occupation so this would stay at home with my other nailers. For my use I don't think the $75 difference in price would be worth it for the better gun. Any thoughts on this?
That's why I bought it. Just using it for diy projects now, no real volume, especially in that size brad. It is working very well. The longest pin available is 1" which might be a consideration for some, but I figure if I need something longer I will go to 18 ga. It seems well made, solid, very little plastic, but you can tell it;s not as "polished" as the higher priced tools."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I hate when I've mis-directed the pin or it follows the grain funny- pin showing on face of material. In most cases I've been able to pull out the offender leaving little if no trace.
I was really amazed when I was repairing a column base corner and had the bondo out..needed a form or a dam to make a square repair. I had some copper scrap, and I bent it to mate..looked around the van for someway to attach it. All I had that looked promising was the bostitch pinner and 1" pins..so..I gave it shot...darned if it didn't work sweet..no over drive, no bent pin..just enough to hold the copper in place and easily remove, wth out making more damage.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
I will agree on the Harbor Freight pinner. It has been on jobs with me. It wont sink the pins extremely deep, but for really fine molding returns, that is a good thing.
Pin nailer shoot-outs? You guys aint right!
I have a pc pinner. with two triggers.
As has already been mentioned-it shouldn't be called a safety as you invariable will hold it down and fire with the other when ready.......or not.
They are one of the most unsafe tools around. Might sting a finger but would definitely ruin an eye.
All the blow hard bull #### about safety, underwriters, osha etc and this thing is on the market.
Great tool, not for the clumsy.
Best of luck.
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I have a Senco pinner. No nose piece, no second trigger. If I wanted to, I could shoot pins across the room any time.
Unplanned pin shots, for me, are extremely uncommon, even though they are quite possible.
For me, the bigger safety factor for pinners is how to hold small parts together for pinning, while keeping fingers away from the danger zone.
(Pins are weak enough that they will bend while going through the wood -- just from following the grain in many cases. They can sometimes come out the side in a 90-degree (or worse) bend, and go into your finger -- it that's where your finger happens to be.)
My Omer is a double trigger as well, and I've stuck myself a couple of times. It took a little while to get used to it, and now its second nature. I use Collins clamps to hold some moldings together when pinning, because the pins will swim with the grain and could catch you.If I'm in my shop, I will unplug the gun (as I do with all my guns) as I set it down. My kids do come into the shop from time to time. On a job site, I'm not too worried since most guys I know don't fool around with another guys tools.--
James Kidd
http://www.carpenterconfidential.com