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Discussion Forum

Cordless finish nailers – which is best?

akjim | Posted in Tools for Home Building on April 12, 2005 07:45am

In the market for a “cordless” finish nailer. We already use DeWalt cordless tools, so the DeWalt nailer is attractive.

Anyone like or dislike the DeWalt cordless finish nailer?

Any recommendations?

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Replies

  1. FNbenthayer | Apr 12, 2005 12:44pm | #1

    JLC reviewed Senco, Paslode, and DeWalt this month. I just skimmed it, seemed to be a toss up between the lightweight with the cleaning hassle Paslode and the heavy weight of the DeWalt.

     

     

     

     

    The awful thing is that beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and the devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man.
    - Fyodor Dostoyevski

  2. DustynLefty | Apr 15, 2005 07:25pm | #2

    My cordless finish nailer is a 20 ounce Stanley with the shock absorbing handle and a cordless nail punch that goes with it.  It does ok.  (insert smiley face here somehow.)

    No, I'm wondering also what people's experiences have been.  My DeWalts are all 14.4 volt, and I just heard that DeWalt is making battery-powered 14.4 finish nailers too.  Haven't seen them yet.  Maybe some day when I have too much money. 

    For now I just drag the airhose around behind me and use Bostitch 18 and 16 gauges.

    Dusty and Lefty

    1. nikkiwood | Apr 16, 2005 07:22am | #5

      The Paslode nailers have been around for some years, and have therefore passed the test of time. Some complain about the gas smell (from the cartridge), but I have never found it objectionable. I've had one for maybe 8 years, and it just keeps on ticking. Have never even had to buy new batteries, which I think is pretty remarkable."I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
      -- Bertrand Russell

    2. mikerooney | Apr 17, 2005 06:03pm | #9

      Where do you find nails for that Stanley?

       People's dreams are made out of what they do all day. The same way a dog that runs rabbits will dream of rabbits. It's what you do that makes your soul, not the other way around.     

                                      - Barbara Kingsolver

       

                                                          

       

      1. DustynLefty | Apr 22, 2005 07:30pm | #30

        Hi Mike,

        I've been away working and just got back to your message - where do I find nails for my Stanley?  Well, I inherited an old Kennedy tool box that has a bunch of finishing nails in it; they seem to work as well as anything HD sells.  The 20 ounce Stanley just bounces off of 16 penny nails, so it is either the Estwing or a Bostitch coil nailer for framing.

        Hey the weekend's almost here, time to buy more tools!

        D&L

  3. FHB Editor
    JFink | Apr 15, 2005 08:24pm | #3

    Moody,

    I've used the Dewalt for a few months now and I really like it. Yeah it's a bit on the heavy side, but I will gladly take that extra heft if it means I don't have to smell that disgusting butane cartridge exhaust (if you can't tell, I'm not a big fan of that) - plus I don't have to buy replacement cartridges, another perk.

    The dewalt is also pretty easy to clear jams, although that's only happened to me once I think.

     

     

    Justin Fink - FHB Editorial

    1. User avater
      Gunner | Apr 16, 2005 04:00pm | #6

      You must have a pretty sensitive nose. Or your doing it all wrong. If you complain about that little bit of smell, and it a little bit, then you don't want to be in the same house with me after a visit to the chinese buffet. 

       

      "A problem cannot be solved by the same thinking that created it."  Albert Einstein     

      1. User avater
        BossHog | Apr 18, 2005 03:35pm | #13

        Hell, NOBODY wants to be in the same house with me after a visit to the chinese buffet.(-:
        How can "quite a lot" and "quite a few" mean the same thing?

  4. MSA1 | Apr 16, 2005 06:09am | #4

    I have the Paslode angled finish nailer. I've had it for about two years and have no complaints or regrets. I've tried the dewalt and it seems like a good tool, but it is big and heavy.

    Pros for the paslode, light and compact.

    Cons, gas cartridge(never really been an issue, doesnt bother me).

  5. User avater
    Gunner | Apr 16, 2005 04:01pm | #7

    I've got the Paslode and love it. I haven't tried the others, just weighing in and telling you the Paslode is a good deal.

     

     

    "A problem cannot be solved by the same thinking that created it."  Albert Einstein
         

    1. butch | Apr 17, 2005 01:21pm | #8

      what guuner said...

      1. DougU | Apr 17, 2005 11:04pm | #10

        what butch said...

        1. Shoeman | Apr 18, 2005 07:23am | #11

          What Doug@es said

        2. CAGIV | Apr 18, 2005 03:30pm | #12

          PC Bammer

           

          ;)

           

          1. DougU | Apr 19, 2005 12:22am | #14

            I think gunner can give you all the details on that machine!

             

          2. User avater
            Gunner | Apr 19, 2005 05:14am | #15

            Uggh.

             

             

             

             

            The bitterness of poor quality remains long after low pricing is forgotten.

             

             

          3. CAGIV | Apr 19, 2005 06:19am | #16

            did you actually own one of those?

             

          4. User avater
            Gunner | Apr 19, 2005 12:09pm | #17

            Ugh.

             

             

             

             

            The bitterness of poor quality remains long after low pricing is forgotten.

             

             

          5. DougU | Apr 20, 2005 03:46am | #21

            Takes a big man to admit his mistakes!

            You the man gunner.

          6. User avater
            Gunner | Apr 21, 2005 06:51am | #22

            I figure one day it will serva a purpose. Save a drowning child with it or something.

             

             

             

             

            The bitterness of poor quality remains long after low pricing is forgotten.

             

             

          7. User avater
            IMERC | Apr 21, 2005 08:08am | #24

            say what!!!!

            you upset with that child???

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

            WOW!!!   What a Ride!

            Forget the primal scream,  just ROAR!!!

          8. User avater
            Gunner | Apr 22, 2005 12:47am | #25

            Your right. I think I'll leave it tucked away under the bench.

             

             

             

             

            The bitterness of poor quality remains long after low pricing is forgotten.

             

             

          9. gregb | Apr 22, 2005 02:37am | #26

            Might make a nice addition to a museum someday. Think Ripley's might like it?

          10. User avater
            Gunner | Apr 22, 2005 04:09am | #27

            Ripleys would be the perfect candidate. LOL

             

             

             

             

            The bitterness of poor quality remains long after low pricing is forgotten.

             

             

          11. gregb | Apr 22, 2005 04:56am | #28

            Hey Gunner, if it's any consolation, I bought one of those things when they first came out.(Returned it the next day.)

          12. User avater
            IMERC | Apr 22, 2005 05:09am | #29

            seems everybody did...

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

            WOW!!!   What a Ride!

            Forget the primal scream,  just ROAR!!!

          13. User avater
            Gunner | Apr 23, 2005 12:47am | #31

            Everybody but me.

             

             

             

             

            The bitterness of poor quality remains long after low pricing is forgotten.

             

             

          14. User avater
            IMERC | Apr 23, 2005 02:38am | #32

            ROAR!!!

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

            WOW!!!   What a Ride!

            Forget the primal scream,  just ROAR!!!

          15. User avater
            Gunner | Apr 23, 2005 04:36am | #33

            View Image

             

             

             

             

            The bitterness of poor quality remains long after low pricing is forgotten.

             

             

          16. User avater
            IMERC | Apr 23, 2005 05:13am | #34

            BTW... I loaned out "Big Moe"....

            hopefully Ruffmike'll return it when he's done...

            http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=57207.50

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

            WOW!!!   What a Ride!

            Forget the primal scream,  just ROAR!!!

          17. User avater
            Gunner | Apr 23, 2005 01:26pm | #35

            Yea I'm gonna need that coming up in the next few weeks.

             

             

            Who Dares Wins!

          18. User avater
            G80104 | Apr 23, 2005 10:35pm | #36

            Guess your not the Lone Ranger.

          19. gregb | Apr 23, 2005 10:50pm | #37

            You didn't buy an Edsel too, did you?

          20. User avater
            G80104 | Apr 23, 2005 11:11pm | #40

            No, once had a Pinto Hatchback, does that count?

          21. User avater
            Gunner | Apr 23, 2005 10:53pm | #38

            I got the cloth bag with mine. I guess they figured you could fill it full of concrete and throw it all in the river when you had enough.

             

             

            Who Dares Wins!

          22. gregb | Apr 23, 2005 11:01pm | #39

            Yeah, but iirc the bammer case could do double duty as a steamer trunk.

          23. User avater
            IMERC | Apr 19, 2005 06:10pm | #18

            think he did...

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

            WOW!!!   What a Ride!

            Forget the primal scream,  just ROAR!!!

          24. CAGIV | Apr 20, 2005 02:02am | #20

            sucker born every minute.

    2. dustinf | Apr 19, 2005 11:35pm | #19

      vote for paslode, 6 years with framer and finish nailer, never a problem.  I had to replace a battery, it held a charge perfect till it hit the ground outside, after falling from the 3rd story window i was trimming.  chaulk it up to operater error.

    3. tyke | Apr 24, 2005 11:13pm | #41

      16 ga?tyke

      Just another day in paradise

      1. User avater
        Gunner | Apr 25, 2005 12:02am | #42

        Yes.

         

         

        Who Dares Wins!

        Edited 4/24/2005 5:04 pm ET by Gunner

  6. ckeli | Apr 21, 2005 07:26am | #23

    Paslode

    Paslode

    Paslode.

    "knowledge without experience is just information."  Mark Twain

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