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Discussion Forum

Cold nailers?

mguizzo | Posted in Tools for Home Building on March 1, 2009 06:30am

Have been building my house and now that the framing is more or less finished, it dawns on me to ask something that I should have asked months ago.

My nailers (both Bostich, one spiker, one for sheathing) have been jamming up.  The weather has been clear and cold (about minus 10 deg. cel).  I bring the guns home, let them warm up and the next day they are good for a couple of hours and then, it’s back to the jamming. 

Any suggestions for keeping them running all day in the cold?

 

 

 

What we gain in grip, we lose in touch.  R. Kipling

 

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Replies

  1. robert | Mar 01, 2009 07:08am | #1

    Are you draining your compressor to make sure it's as dry as can be?

    Drain or blow out the houses to.

    I know some gun oils have an anti-freeze in them too, but I'm not sure which ones.

    Some guns?

    -10 C ?

    They might freeze up no matter what.

    Maybe when you're not using them you could put them somewhere warmer? The truck? Next to the generator?

  2. danno7x | Mar 01, 2009 07:24am | #2

    Whats that about 0 F?  Anyways it sounds like its water in your compressor warm that up and drain it out real good.  They sell an antifreeze thats like an oil just for that.  put it in your tanks and guns itll work into the hoses i guess but it really works good. Its those little droplets of condesation in the tanks and lines and compressed air is cold to start with I think, anyways that stuff fixed it for me.  You dont need much and itll last a long time and is harmless to everything.

    Ive opened up the drain on a tank before in the cold and got hit with a compressed gel like ice substance ive never seen anything like it before it hit me and the ground and got rock hard instantly.  That should be your problem

    1. mguizzo | Mar 01, 2009 08:02am | #4

      -10C is "dam cold" in the Farenheit system.

      I do drain the tanks but it probably is the ambiant droplets condensing.  I'll try to ask the sales guys about the anti-freeze. 

      Thanks. 

       

       

       What we gain in grip, we lose in touch.  R. Kipling

       

      1. User avater
        dieselpig | Mar 01, 2009 07:13pm | #7

        -10C is "dam cold" in the Farenheit system.

        -10C is +14 fahrenheit.  Cold.  But not so cold that your tools shouldn't work.  We work down to about 0F without any real noticeable tool performance changes if your lines stay open.  View Image

        1. robert | Mar 01, 2009 07:36pm | #8

          What kind of guns do you use?

          my Bostich used to freeze up around +5F.

          None of my Sencos ever did.

          Also wonder, Gas or Electric, does one generate more condensation than the other?

           

          1. User avater
            dieselpig | Mar 01, 2009 08:47pm | #9

            Mostly Hitachi framing nailers... both stick and coil.  But I also have (had) a paslode, two Bostitch, a Max, and a Makita in the mix as well.  I personally have never noticed much of a difference (in regards to cold weather performance) from one brand to another.  Not saying there couldn't be... just that I've never noticed it.

            Also wonder, Gas or Electric, does one generate more condensation than the other?

            I don't know the answer to that either, but it's an interesting question.  I really don't think it matters though.... air is generated by the compressor head and that's also where the moisture is gained.  All the motor does, be it gas or electric, is run that compressor head.  They're only linked mechanically.  You should be able to power that compressor head with a gas engine, electric motor, or wheel full of gerbils without it having any effect on moisture in the tanks/lines. 

              I really believe it just comes down to how much water vabor is in the air that the compressor is sucking in to compress..... when that air is compressed the vapor simply condenses into liquid water.  Shouldn't really matter what's powering that operation.  At least that's my best guess.View Image

          2. JeffinPA | Mar 01, 2009 08:57pm | #10

            Diesel

            You are right about the condensation and the compressors.

            The humidity of the air is the factor, not the  method of generation(electric or gas)

            Regardless of the humidity, you will get condensation of some level so gotta use antifreeze in winter (or dont work in it if you can)

          3. User avater
            dieselpig | Mar 01, 2009 09:05pm | #11

            See..... sometimes I'm smart too.  :)View Image

          4. robert | Mar 02, 2009 12:27am | #14

            I asked that because,

            I had (have still) a gas and an electric compressor and it always seems that my Gas compressor drained more in the winter. Both tanks are the same size.

            Never really sure why.

            In Florida we used to run a seperator off of the Compressor and before the guns.

            Something I don't see very often any more.

          5. User avater
            dieselpig | Mar 02, 2009 12:38am | #15

            I've got a Rol-Air seperator, but never actually used it to be honest.  It's mounted in it's own seperate roll cage.  I bought it one winter when we were having problems... but while I was waiting for it to come in on order I heard about the airbrake anti-freeze trick and really haven't had to look back since. 

            I might use it as preventative medicine this summer though.  Seems the hoses get a decent water build up over the summer with the humidity... come first freeze in the fall the sheet usually hits the fan for a day or two until I can get the antifreeze worked into the system.

            Regarding your own gas vs electric situation:  Just a WAG, but perhaps you use your gas compressor when you know you need more volume or know you're going to have a higher demand day?  That could possibly account for the increased water you see as maybe you're just running more air those days?  You'd know better than me of course... but just a guess anyway.

            View Image

            Edited 3/1/2009 6:11 pm ET by dieselpig

          6. robert | Mar 02, 2009 02:02am | #17

            Right now both are just taking up space in the garage.

            Should get rid of the gas one.

            The electric I can keep to run air ratchets ect.................

            These days if I need air I have an Ingersol trim compressor

          7. frammer52 | Mar 02, 2009 11:38pm | #19

            Brian, Did you ever have trouble with the Makita in the winter?  We tried one and if below about 20 degrees it wouldn't fire properly?  No problem ever with Hitachi guns.  We always use a seperator with auto oiler.  The outo oiler is filled with gun oil for winter.  Never had a problem when we went to this set up. 

            It is great at giving moving partes a good oil coating!

          8. User avater
            dieselpig | Mar 03, 2009 12:49am | #20

            I can't recall ever having problems with that Makita.  Those are pretty nice nailers though.  I only had mine for about a year or so and it mainly served as a back up for when another gun went down.  But last summer I really started taking a liking to it... it had good ergonomics and agressive toenailing and was particularly nice about not jambing (but that was summertime).  I think I only paid $200 for it reconditioned from Tool King.  I'd buy more if I ever see them at that price again.

            I've heard mixed reviews on the in line oilers.  Never really gave getting one much thought though.  You say it prevented frozen lines though, huh?  I always like the idea of killing two birds with one stone.View Image

          9. frammer52 | Mar 03, 2009 01:00am | #21

            We use the seperator and the oiler in line.  Best part, they are or were cheep at Harbor freight!

            We got thrown a Makita by one of the local lumber yards.  We go through about 5-8/yr and he wanted the budiness.  I liked it, but even after Makita rebuilt it, we had problems in the cold.  In my opinion it was up there with the Cadilac or Hitachi!>G<

          10. silvertip | Mar 01, 2009 09:06pm | #13

            Framing crew on my job mix 50/50 solution of gun oil and methyl hydrate.  Let put some in the hoses and some in the gun.  We were -4 last week and no problems.

  3. User avater
    dieselpig | Mar 01, 2009 07:59am | #3

    We frame all winter and I've never had a gun freeze up.  Hoses yes, but not a nailer.  We do used the anti-freeze blend of oil in the morning though... CoilHose makes it.  I don't know how much it really helps though... the truth is I use it because it's thicker and easier to control in the summer ... I use it year round.  I hate grabbing a nailer where the grip is covered in oil first thing in the morning.  But I digress.   Usually I find that stick nailers jamb more in the winter because the sticks of plastic collated nails get brittle and break in the wrong spot(s) when the magazine feeds.  Not a whole lot you can do about that.  And coil nailers tend to jamb more in the winter because the sludge in the guns thickens and the feeder starts moving slower than the driver.  You'll know because the hammer will fall on a 1/2 fed nail, bust it in half, and shoot one half of it out the side of the nailer.  Best bet for that is taking the nailer apart and cleaning it.

    While we're talking about it though... I dump about a quart of airbrake antifreeze into the tanks of my compressors in the winter... and then don't drain.  It keeps the lines from freezing for a month or two.  When they start freezing up again I drain the tank and add another quart.  Works really well and doesn't cause any harm.  You do have to make sure to oil your nailers in the mornings though... the antifreeze can dry out the rings in your nailer over time if you don't keep 'em lubed.

    View Image
  4. dovetail97128 | Mar 01, 2009 10:29am | #5

    I wear gloves. "nailers" don't freeze up too bad that way.

    ;-)

    They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
  5. User avater
    JeffBuck | Mar 01, 2009 10:51am | #6

    had a couple days this winter where we had to break out the torpedo heater.

    not for us humans, was too cold, too windy and too open an area for the heat to get anywhere near us. We turned it on low and set any guns that weren't in use in front of the heat. Also moved the compressor in front of it too.

    made a world of difference. Earlier that morning my helper had a gun "jam". I took it inside to see what was wrong ... couldn't find anything obvious. After doing a basic clean up, I ran the air hose into the basement ... and it spit out a little chunk of dirty ice.

    rest of that day and the coupla days after, set everything in front of the heat and had no more problems.

    Jeff

        Buck Construction

     Artistry In Carpentry

         Pittsburgh Pa

  6. User avater
    CaptainMayhem | Mar 01, 2009 09:06pm | #12

    I roll with Bostich and Dewalt nailers here in Alaska, where we very well could be working at -30 F. Freeze ups do occur frequently, but less so if the compressor is put somewhere warmish.. If you dont have a warm area try getting the smallest car battery heater/oil pan heater, glue it on the underside of the tank and plug it in with a tarp over the top of the new heated air compressor. It only slows the process down. The shorter hose run the better... We also install one of those heaters in a cooler to keep batterypacks and chargers warm..

    All I ever wanted in life was an unfair advantage...

  7. Sasquatch | Mar 02, 2009 01:37am | #16

    There are additives for your compressor.  I forget what the one we used was called, since I am semi-retired. (Alzheimers moment!)  The name will come back to me in three minutes or three weeks or whenever in the middle of the night.

     

    How can you understand God if you can't understand people?  How can you understand people if you can't understand yourself?
  8. hfhcarp10 | Mar 02, 2009 08:33pm | #18

    I don't use a pneumatic framing nailer, I use a Paslode cordless.  Surprisingly, it works fine in very low temps.

    But in terms of freezing lines and jamming guns in the winter, it seems it would be better to keep your pneumatic equipment at the same temperature as to avoid condensation i.e. keep guns and lines stored in the truck over night if you're working outside the next day.  I would think a big part of the problem is taking a warm gun, compressor or air hose from 70 degrees to 10, vise versa.

    Carl

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