COIL FRAMING GUNS – your favorite?
@@@
We are nailing a lot of sheets and stopping all the time to stuff another two strips in the nailer is getting old.
Perhaps it’s time for a coil nailer that can do framing, fences, shear panels, etc.
Do you have a favorite?
The ToolBear
“Never met a man who couldn’t teach me something.” Anon.
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Replies
I bought a Hitachi NV83A2 about a year ago. It's the best gun I own out of more than a dozen. I would never nail plywood with a stick gun again.
I read the manufacturer's description of that Hitachi gun you have. Does it really handle all those nail sizes well?
It holds a ####load of nails. Does the extra weight bother you?
Edited 2/15/2008 6:31 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter
The weight is not an issue. The only coils I use at this point are 2-3/8" x .113 rings for subfloor and roof, and 2-1/2" x .135 for shear. I know it will hold 16d shorts also.
I would never nail plywood with a stick gun again.@@@Amen to that. Taking some pix of the crew for the company website. Watching all the reloads that break the flow of work. Made better by our shlocky nails from Ganahl's. We looked to see just who made them. Looked all over the box. Still looking. Results - we can only load one strip per in a Hitachi 83, a 90 and my SuperMax. All these guns seem to have feed issues with these nails. They did not have feed issues with other ammo.Sounds like the H. has a lot of happy owners.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
While I am certainly not a pro I also have a HItachi NV83A2 - http://www.amazon.com/Hitachi-NV83A2-2-Inch-4-Inch-Framing/dp/B0000CCXUW and I think its amazing.
Jeff
I have used the hitachi and liked it very much, I have used the Stanley Bostich with much success.
I am a huge fan of Duo-fast. If I were to outfit a complete crew this is what I would use. In my unprofessional opinion
check em out at: http://www.duo-fast.com/
I also like Rol-air compressors:View Image
View ImageMax CN80F is my personal favorite.
The smaller version the CN55F is also a great gun, it only shoots up to a 2-1/4" nail.
Bostitch N-80 is another good gun, Paslode F-350 is another, but it needs alot of PSI. The Hitachis mentioned are also decent guns.
Woods favorite carpenter
Max CN80F is my personal favorite. @@@Have the Max framer. Nice gun. Has a feature set. Only thing they really forgot - rafter hook. Had to modify a Paris hook to fit.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
we use the hitachi. Probably own 25 of them. we have tried the others and keep going back. They handle aftermarket nails much better than other brands. This makes up for the higher price. It has a learning curve, slightly more maintenence than stick nailers.
You can read the review in JLC from a couple years back, but we picked the Makita and the Hitachi NV83A2.
We have 4 or 5 NV83A2 coil framers and they work flawlessly. We even use them for siding, but that is getting heavy.
What I'm seriously considering doing, is selling off the guns, and investing in the Max High Pressure system. The coil framer is the most powerful gun out there, you can bounce fire into LVL.
My reasoning is this: With two Max coil framers, I can frame and side with about the same weight or less than two siding guns. So I would replace two framers and two siders with two Max guns.
Add to that, the compressor that can run off an extension cord, is light and quiet. Plus I can then replace the PP guns with one coil PP gun and I can replace the Powder Actuated tool and expensive charges and nails with the Max concrete nailer
Plus the compressor can be used with regular guns.
But it is expensive as all get out.
Tim,
Can you give a link to the system you're referring to?
The compressor develops a higher pressure?
Thank you very much,
Walter
http://wis.max-ltd.co.jp/int/muc/plist.php?middle=powerlite
If you google the individual tools, you'll see the prices are quite high. I reviewed the coil framer for JLC about 4 years ago and still dream about it :-)
I'd think with your high use you could justify it. Kinda like going from a hammer to a gun system. Just a step up from a gun system to a Ferrari.
I remember reading your reviews.
Now looking at the price on that concrete nailer? owwwww.
For one reason or another.... I currently have the Max High Pressure system in my possession: compressor, hose, and side by side stick framer. My biggest beef is that with my 5 man crew and four guns running the majority of the time, I'm thinking I'd need to be running two of these mucho expensive compressors to supply the air demand. Service and parts with MAX tools also seems to be an issue in my area. Those two things are what have been holding me back from making "the switch" for a couple of years now.
To answer the original poster's question, the Hitachi coil framer is my favorite coil gun. I like the feel of a Hitachi stick framer much better, but when nailing off sheathing a stick framer drives me nuts with all the loading and piggy-backed nails. We've got four of them (the coil nailers) and they are true workhorses. A little more maintenance than a stick gun.....little more money too... but worth every penny.View Image
Brian,
I'm with you on that. The compressor will be running too much and they are too expensive. That is why I held off too. Now that it is just Matt and myself with probably a third guy in the summer, we'd be running two guns all the time. I don't think that would be too much.
But I'm still on the fence. The sticker for me is the compressor. You can't run it off or shouldn't I think off a generator. We always have temp power anyway.
Part of what I'm thinking, is that we wouldn't get any real $ for the tools we have. So basically they'd stay in the shop. If we ever got so busy again that we had a 4 man crew again, then we'd run the regular tools like we always have and the Max would be there too, so it'd be mix.
Still haven't hashed it out yet though.
I'd really have to go to work to use the hp stuff. Drool drool.
http://www.toolfetch.com/Category--Air_Tools--Air_Compressor--AKHL1050E.shtml
We have 4 or 5 NV83A2 coil framers and they work flawlessly. We even use them for siding, but that is getting heavy.@@@Think I saw a few on the job in your photo album or was it an article?I am always looking at what the author is using in gear and such.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
Probably both. We've been using them for about 2 or 3 years now. With the belt hook, they aren't too bad for framing, but too heavy for siding.
Add to that, the compressor that can run off an extension cord, is light and quiet. @@@Seriously? What does it draw? Saw the system at the JLC Expo. Nice guns; no budget for.I have a double hotdog that just sits in the garage because it wants a clean 20A circuit. Can do when it's new work with job power. On the remodels I use a PC pancake because it will run on less power. Out in these apartment complexes there is no power, so it's the gas Emglo. This week we lucked out and were able to run a 10g, 100' cord to the laundry, thence to the roof and that stack of 41 sheets of ply. Every other sheet on this job was cut with a Makita LiOn saw. Such a pleasure to get behind the Skill 77 and just shove it without wondering about the next battery.
The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
It is an inverter or something. Been awhile since I looked at the data.
Any thoughts on the Hitachi NV75AG? Ive been considering one but would appricate feedbact from you guys.
Looks like it would serve me well to only buy one gun for many applications
Thanks
I just got one a few months ago, I traded with another framer here. He took my Paslode and I got his NV75.
I really like the 75, its a great all around gun that fairly light weight. Even with a coil of 3" nails in it.
Woods favorite carpenter
Thanks Matt,
I guess I ask because the possible downside is having good enough power for the 3" nails, Ive never used one so I researched it and while the majoriy of people love it there is a few who think it lacks power.
Primary application framing and then plywood. The guy I work with has a bostich siding nailer that only goes up to 2-1/2", and a Hitachi stick nailer for framing so he has over 500.00 into both guns.
We really dont do much Fiber Cement siding around here but last summer we did a 4000 sf home and the bostich worked flawlessy.
Anyway Ive been looking something like the 75 so we dont have to share as much, hopefully more efficant?
Plus amazon I thought had a good price for it with free shipping
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007ISWV/ref=s9_asin_title_1_subs_76_13_11?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1ZKPDDJKRFWD966S9PW8&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=278240301&pf_rd_i=507846
I you only want or need one gun that Hitachi would be a good one.
I also suggest the Max CN80, its heavy and it comes with a mar free tip. It has driving force like a monster truck. Much more than the 75.
The Hitachi suprised me this week, it drove 3" nails all day into frozen Southern Yellow Pine 2x12's without issue.
Woods favorite carpenter
If the Hitachi can do that Ill probably go that way.
I think the max might cost a little too much for me. Plus I consider lightweight a big advantage over a long day ya know?
2 or 3 years ago when I asked for favorite framers, I was told Hitachi NV83A2. I bought one and love it. I've been using 2-3/8 rings and 3-1/4 .131's framing nails and it has performed flawlessly for around 15k nails so far.
View Image
jt8
"The unfortunate thing about this world is that good habits are so much easier to give up than bad ones."
-- Somerset Maugham
My first nail gun of any kind was the Bostich NC80, I'm guessing 25 years ago It has been rebuilt, and I still have it. Although I don't use it much anymore because of the type of work I now do, it has performed beautifully over the years shooting tens of thousands of nails.
The fellow I work with has the new Hitachi and that is a great gun, it's lighter and seems to be more user friendly, and he hasn't had any problems.
I prefer the stick nailer for straight ahead framing but of course when it comes to nailing off sheathing of any kind I use the coil gun.
Long as it's been mentioned here - Costco stores in the detroit area are clearing out the Hitachi 83 stick nailers for $169 or so.I think Livonia has at least 15 of them on hand.Good deal.JT
Ditto. Had it rebuilt once. It's worked tirelessly without fail. I have a Hitachi cordless as a stick framer...but not for production stuff. (NR90GR)"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a governmental program" -Ronald Reagan
wait a minute!
You've got a tool I don't have ??
Now I'm gonna have to get me a coil nailer just to keep up <G>
Hold on! I'll give you mine! That means I have an excuse to go out and buy a new one.