Replies

1. 
   xMikeSmith | Nov 23, 2003 02:19am | #1

   i bought the new Bostich..... it's ok... some good features.. but most we all still reach for the Hitachi

   Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

2. 
   seeyou | Nov 23, 2003 02:54am | #2

   I avoid Porter Cable tools, but I bought a PC roofing nailer 'cause I needed one on a Sunday and Lowes only had PC's in stock. It's been in use for 5+ years and is still kicking. I've lent it out several times and it still keeps working. Shoots generic nails with no problem. Maybe I just got lucky.

3. 
   ANDYSZ2 | Nov 23, 2003 03:50am | #3

   Max makes a very good roofing nailer with enough power to shoot cement board siding. Had the factory rep come to my worksite and replace the o rings totally out of the blue the fastener store guy called me that morning saying that they  were going around town replacing parts and seeing how the gun performed.

   ANDYSZ2 

   I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.

4. 
   joeh | Nov 23, 2003 04:10am | #4

   I have a Bostich RN45C (I think that's right) and while it's a great gun, those wire collated nails are hard to find.

   Hard as in nobody stocks them. Not the local contractor supplys, not the local lumber yard, not the Orange boxes either. Special order pay full price only.

   Joe H

1. 
   dieselpig | Nov 23, 2003 05:57am | #5

   Joe,

      Where the heck do you live?  I've got a Bostich RN45-C and it used the same nails as every other roofing nailer I've ever owned or own....plain old wire collated roofers.  Where I live, Boston area, the nails are pretty much everywhere, short of the autoparts store and the supermarket!

   Can't even imagine not being able to find wire collated roofers.

   EDIT:  Now you've really got me thinking....maybe I have a 45-B, but even still I've only ever seen one kind of wire collated roofer.  Is this something new?

   Edited 11/22/2003 10:00:59 PM ET by dieselpig

1. 
   xMikeSmith | Nov 23, 2003 06:01am | #6

   and we run the same nails on all three of our guns....  old Bostich, new bostich & the Hitachi...

    the best nails are Paslode... but we also run generic, hitachi, bostich  & if we want true hot-dipped, we get MazeMike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

1. 
   SHazlett | Nov 23, 2003 09:00pm | #14

    mike ---funny you should mention the Maze nails--- because yesterday  I was looking into stocking those hot dipped coil nails my self next year.

   $70 /box does seem a little pricey----thinking of using them really part of an overall marketing plan.

   do they run through your guns ok?

1. 
   SHazlett | Nov 23, 2003 09:03pm | #15

   BTW---I have been using a MAX gun as my personal gun for 2 seasons now---love the depth of drive adjustment.

   I keep some Bostich guns for employees or to loan occasionally to subs----the bostich guns are able to take a beating and are almost idiot proof.

2. 
   xMikeSmith | Nov 23, 2003 09:40pm | #16

   they seem to run ok... the Paslodes we were getting  a year or so ago were the best.. and a real galvanize.. probably $45/ box.. hard to get the supply houses to stock them.. so Paslode bows to pressure and goes with the so-called galvanized.. now  i might as well shoot generic..

    we got the Maze because i wanted to see what their galvanize looks like.. pretty good.. and their 1 3/4 is long enoug to hang fibercement  clapboards...

   for just plain roofing.. i don't know what i'm going to shoot .. probably the chinese Paslodes..

    i know what you mean about marketing... what's the sense of using a 50 year shingle if you have a 20 year nail....?Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

2. 
   joeh | Nov 23, 2003 06:27am | #7

   Maybe I've got the number wrong too. It's not here to look at, but RN45C sounds right. It's a siding nailer, not a roofer.

   Those wire nails are not to be had here and roofing nails won't go through it.

   Here is Orange County CA, and there are probably stores that carry them, but Ghanal Lumber doesn't Orco Supply & Whitecap don't. HD too.

   I have looked at the Web, but nobody is cheap enuff to make up the shipping costs.

   So, make sure the nails are available locally before buying.

   Nice gun though, double fires frequently & likes to jam too. Nails itself to the sheathing with one in & one stuck.

   Maybe it's not such a nice gun.........

   Joe H

1. 
   dieselpig | Nov 23, 2003 07:05am | #8

   That's a real bummer Joe.  I think all of Bostich nailers beginning with RN are roofing nailers.  Definitely can't run siding nails through those, or vice-versa for that matter.

   Buying nails on the web is pretty tough as well...like you said the shipping will kill you.  Can you run the plastic collated nails through that siding gun?  Are they available?  Sounds like maybe you were running whatever it is you could find for nails locally through your gun (generic)....that probably explains all the jamming and double firing.

   I've found that siding nailers in particular are especially finicky about using generic nails.

   I've had good luck with Hitachi's siding nailers.  Pretty much can't go wrong with Hitachi nailers in general.  But even they can be feisty with cheapo nails.

1. 
   joeh | Nov 23, 2003 07:20am | #9

   Maybe it's just N45C, it's been awhile since I've used it. You're right about generic, that's my favorite brand for that gun.

   It is a good gun, it's just a pain to get nails for, and a double pain with cheap nails in it.

   Joe H

2. 
   migraine | Nov 23, 2003 08:33am | #10

   Try "Profast" in Temecula, Ca.  I'm it's too far, maybe he can refer you to someone closer

5. 
   seeyou | Nov 23, 2003 01:11pm | #11

   Check this out:http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=37049.1

6. 
   ckeli | Nov 23, 2003 06:42pm | #12

    Hitachi...all the way

7. 
   SHazlett | Nov 23, 2003 08:56pm | #13

   Hasbeen----

   let me ask you something.

   Have you ever seen a serious ----fairly in depth review in FHB---that was basically a negative review?

   I can only recall positive ones.---I think ultimately it is a lot easier to sell ad space after a positive review.

   My limited experience?----several years ago FHB sent me a bostich " cordless" roofing nailer to test out and review. I was thrilled with the opportunity. I wrote the review---and pointed out that Bostich had a great concept( after all who wants to drag around air hoses?)----but that the bostich gun I tested had some real problems with weight( heavier than my framing gun if I recall),slow speed, awkward positioning, lack of power, a battery that refused to charge,a design vulnerable to damage, and a proprietary nail that eliminated using anyone elses nails gauranteeing a captive market.

   my review---I am sure for other possible reasons ---never saw the light of day----although a month or so later JLC printed a  positive review.

   BTW-----I don't know if the gun I reviewed is even still on the market----Ihave never seen ANY roofers using one other than my crew on those test runs. It's egotistical---I know---but I can't help think that my review was more honest and usefull than the jlc review.

8. 
   bayouboy9 | Nov 25, 2003 06:22pm | #17

   Go with the Hitachi nv45ab2 or the Max.I personally use the Hitachi and it is absolutely bulletproof.After a hundred square not one misfire or jam.I know the Max are excellent guns too.

      Regards,Bayouboy