Replies

1. 
   frammer52 | Apr 12, 2009 07:19pm | #1

   anyone have firsthand experience with these nailers, or any other that is capable of shooting siding nails that are at least 3" long<>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    

   Please tell me what you need 3" siding nails for.

1. 
   McDesign | Apr 12, 2009 07:29pm | #2

   Through 2" foam, I'd bet.

   Forrest

1. 
   frammer52 | Apr 12, 2009 07:33pm | #3

   I was thinking the same thing.  I think he had better go back and read the directions.

2. 
   lettusbee | Apr 12, 2009 08:05pm | #5

   Scenario #1:

   Full dimension 2x4 roughsawn cedar exterior trim details over 1/2" celotex, or worse, 1" blue foam board.  (Both conditions exist on same house)

   #2:

   Matching exisiting details on window replacement project.  Wall sheathing is 1/2" tarboard (what is the real name for that garbage?), siding is 3/4" channel rustic cedar run all the way to window frame.  Remove trim, cut back siding, remove existing window, frame and all, install new, use 5/4" miratec trim to fill space between new window frame and siding cut.  2-1/2" nails sorta work, but I back it up with a coupla screws. 

   #3:

   Window replacement, House has vinyl siding over 1" foam,  over existing original masonite lap siding, over 1/2" black tar board.  This has happened to me twice in the past year.  I handle it differently based on customer's needs, but usually end up needing to nail trim somewhere in the mix of tying all that back together. 

   #4

   And the biggest surprise to date, multi million dollar home, GC having trouble with leaking window that he has tried to fix for a year.  Finally calls me to replace window with new 9-0 6-0 with triangle top.  Never tells me that underneath all of the fancy house, lies the original house, with original lap siding, with tar paper, with foam over that, with tyvek over that?, with stucco over that!  My job was to cut back stucco, replace window, make sure new window never leaks, and use 2x4 cedar to fill in gap between window frame and stucco.

   #5

   Solve leaky window.  Remove, and reuse existing masonite siding.  Siding was butted into window frame.  HO did not want it trimmed back 3-1/2 and wrapped with 1x4.  Looks best if I can reuse original holes in siding.  using 2-1/2 coil nails in holes where 2-1/2 coil nails came out, doesn't work well.  Had to hand drive that one to get the siding to stay and look good.  If I had a coil nailer that could shoot longer nails, I could have been done quicker.  (Paid by the hour on that one, tho)

    

   Basically, usually in weird situations, where I am the 50th person to work on the house, usually to resolve ongoing leaky window problems.  Or to replace original windows, after HO Has already had siding added on top of original siding.

    

1. 
   frammer52 | Apr 12, 2009 08:24pm | #6

   Let me suggest hand nailing.

   You could use a framing nailor with control over preasure. 

1. 
   lettusbee | Apr 12, 2009 08:43pm | #8

   I have been hand nailing, it gets tiresome and slow, esp at the limits of my ext ladders.  or on FC trim.  Come to think of it, Miratec is no fun for hand nailing either.  My framing gun shoots clipped head nails, so no bueno for siding. 

   That is what I was wondering, are the coil guns that shoot 3" to 3 1/4" nails meant for framing? or siding? or Both?

   Senco used to make nail guns that I trust, but lately they've cheaped out to serve the big box market.  That is why I am looking for advice on that purchase. 

1. 
   frammer52 | Apr 12, 2009 08:55pm | #9

   Senco has not cheaped out, they are meating the competition.  The nail guns you buy today have all become commodities.  One is very close to the other.

   Until there are a big jump in tech, buy any brand you can get fixed and it will work.

   By the way, my clipped head framer takes round head nails.  I found this out by accidentally buying the wrong box!>G<

2. 
   KenHill3 | Apr 12, 2009 09:04pm | #10

   I may be wrong, here, but if I recall correctly, a 3" or so coil 'siding nailer' is in fact a coil nailer that you can use for siding, framing, shear nailing, sheathing, subfloor, etc.

   When I have done FC siding, if not hand nailing, I have always used a roofing coil nailer because of the head size of the nail. Most coil roofing guns can use a max size nail of 1 3/4". As far as I remember there was only one coil gun I have used that runs the 2" roofing nails, Bostitch I think.

2. 
   Marson | Apr 12, 2009 07:53pm | #4

   I have a Hitachi 3" coil siding nailer which I have been well satisfied with. I got mine when I sided my house with cedar siding over 1" of foam + firring strip. You should be aware that the nails (at least the ones I had) have a larger head than 2 3/8" siding nails and also have a larger shank diameter (.131 iirc).

1. 
   lettusbee | Apr 12, 2009 08:34pm | #7

   Cool,

   I called my supplier to ask if Hitachi made such a nailer, and after putting me on hold to check, he told me they didn't have one.  Now checking the website after your post, I see he was wrong. 

   OK, I may go with the hitachi, if you can advise me on the firing pin sticking.  Mine jambs up a couple of times a day.  The pin gets stuck in the nose, and won't retract.  Do you have that Problem? 

   I lubricate it, but maybe I am using the wrong oil?

   Thanks

1. 
   Marson | Apr 12, 2009 10:02pm | #13

   My 3" coil nailer has worked flawlessly. But then I've only run one or two boxes of nails through it so far. We also have several 2 1/2" siding nailers (Hitachi) that have a lot of miles on them and haven't had any real problems with those either. IMO a coil gun is more reliable than a stick framer.Have you had yours apart? I have seen guns get gunked up from too much oil and then have trouble pulling the plunger back. If you are so inclined, you might take it apart and clean it and lightly reoil it. I also had a flooring stapler that had bad machining so it wasn't able to get the plunger back either.

2. 
   dieselpig | Apr 12, 2009 10:11pm | #14

   OK, I may go with the hitachi, if you can advise me on the firing pin sticking.  Mine jambs up a couple of times a day.  The pin gets stuck in the nose, and won't retract.  Do you have that Problem? 

   I'm gonna take a stab in the dark and guess that you're using wire collated siding nails and most likely a brand other than Hitachi.  Try using the plastic collated nails instead... and if you must use a wire collated for some reason then buy Hitachi brand nails.  It's the only solution I've come up with that works for those NV65 nailers.

   The only siding nailer I know of that'll shoot a 3" nails is the afore mentioned Hitachi NV75.  I had one for a few years and it was a decent gun.   Little bigger than a coil siding nailer... and a lot smaller than a framing nailer.  Did a better job at siding than it ever did at framing.  Just not enough mustard for framing IMO.  Those other nailers you mentioned that shoot up to 3 1/4" nails are framing nailers.  That'll be a big heavy gun for siding and you'll be using a shank and head that's really a too big for siding with a minimum guage of .113 IIRC.  So the NV75 is really the only gun that I believe will do what you want it to do.  BUT... I can't recall ever seeing an actual siding coil in a 3" length.  Doesn't mean they don't exist, but I really don't think I've ever seen one.  So that means if you truly need to use a 3" nail to hang siding then you're probably going to be stuck with using a framing nail regardless of the gun driving it.View Image

3. 
   gfretwell | Apr 12, 2009 09:06pm | #11

   I have an Hitachi NV83 coil gun that shoots flawlessly using Senco nails of various sizes. I would suggest that if you have jamming problems you are either using a bad batch/wrong style of nails or your gun is broke.

1. 
   lettusbee | Apr 12, 2009 09:13pm | #12

   My Hitachi is almost two years old, and has jammed every day it has been used, including the first day.  At first I was blaming the help for not knowing to adjust the plastic plate to match the nail length.  Then I was blaming the generic nails I was using.  Now I buy only Hitachi brand nails, and it still jams.  BTW, it doesn't get used daily. 

   We've probably only run 60 coils thru it since new.  I wish I had taken it back and exchanged it when it first started acting up.  Now it would be too late.  For some reason, Hitachi nail guns hate me.  My 16ga finish nailer never worked well either.  The tool repair shop blamed it on my using generic nails.