Is anyone out there using Paslodes newest cordless trim guns?? 16 or 18 ga.
I asked about ordering from my local supplier and he said “dont do it!” says they still have problems.
Any input greatly appreciated. Would really like to be “compressorless”.
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Replies
Can't imagine why you'd be told that. The technology in the cordless nailers is the same Hilti uses in their nailers--and drywall crews use them every day.
The Paslode angle nailers have a nice depth adjustment that the straight nailers don't. Against that, the angle nails are more expensive than straight.
Most of the problems with the cordless units are due to underuse. If you pull the paslode out once a month, and use it for an hour, you can get gumming from the propellant (this assumes that you actually have a charged battery & propellant). In gerlar use, they are very convenient. You are not dragging hoses, neither do you have to mind the compressor. The nailers are heavier than the same size pneumatic, but the palsodes are balanced once you are used to them.
You can find Porter Cable units for about half the price of paslode, but it is harder to find batteries & go juice for the PCs. An ok way to "test the water." That being said, my first was a Paslode 250 Impuls II straight 16 ga nailer. It still does what I ask it too, even if it is a tad cranky at times (like me, I suppose).
I have the new senco cordless (only uses batteries,no butane) and it works great. No continuous butane to purchase, only the 14.4 batteries.
Splinter
Wouldnt trade mine for the money I paid for them. I like them a lot. I have both the pinner and the angle 16g. Just maintain them as needed.
Doug
My buddy has the Passlode 16 ga. He likes it.
I got the Senco 15 ga because it costs less to pull the trigger, and I like the 15 gauge nails better. The down side is you pull the trigger, it makes a wurring sound, then fires. It's kinda like hurry up and wait...
The passlode fires imediately, then makes the charging noise. This way you can be setting up for your next "shot" while the gun gets ready too.
Either is OK, just so that you are not in a hurry. Really though, when I do trim I usually get out a coupla size guns and maybe a narrow crown stapler, so the compressor is out of the truck anyway.
One of my bosses has both the newer Paslode Impulse framing gun and the IM250A? the Angled 16g. finish. It has made that job much more bearable. Still bad, but better. I love both the guns. I use the 16g all the time, for just about every thing. Haven't had any problems with it. I've heard the Senco's have had numerous problems, so I haven't bought one. The framing nailer is very powerful, and has some kick. I was having some problems with the tip, but it is a used gun. I jerry-rigged it and it works fine now.
I say get them and you'll be glad you did. I have the Framer, 16 guage angled, and the 18 guage. Happy with all three. I also have a compressor and pnumatic guns, but only seem to use them for new construction framing and sheeting. As most of my work is remodeling - the Paslode Impulse are my guns of choice.
Looked at the new Senco's a while back but there was no way I could put up with the bulk of them after being spoiled with the Paslodes for the last few years.
As for the PC that someone mentioned - only cordless PC I have heard of where the Bammers, and from everything I heard about them - they should be avoided, period.
Get the Impulse and be happy.
Splinter,
I have been a millwork installer for over a decade for some of the wealthiest, and discriminating customers in the world. My company installs 200,000 lineal feet of trim every year. I use the paslodes, every model for all kinds of applications. I also use pneumatic guns. I buy every one of my guys one of each so will they treat it as their own. So I can say after using every model myself for hundreds of hours every year, and my guys using them that they are durable but not without problems either. You simply have to weigh the difference.
Paslode guns require monthly cleaning, and "gum up" even when used every day, because as the fan runs it sucks in normal jobsite air, and although it has a filter on the back sheetrock dust and the such are evil enemies of this gun. This dust also though wrecks havoc on the spring mechanisms found on all guns, pneumatic and cordless. The gun also doe slike to have a clean gas entry point-- the little yellow triangular piece the gas cartridge shoots into as the gun is depressed against the trim. If the gun is depressed too many times the gas concentration is too high and the gun won't fire. This holds true for all of the Paslode cordless guns.
Paslode is cordless. Mobile. Free of cumbersome hose. Does not like cold air, especially the gas cartridges. The paslode will sink nails into steel studs through sheetrock also! The nails especially off brand (master fastener though hold better than most 15 gauge due to the ridges found down the length. Paslode nails have these ridges also, but are twice to triple the price. I prefer the straight gun to the angled finish for several reasons. Even though the angled gun is lighter.
There is a depth adjustment on the straight gun, just not as user friendly, this is where the gun will fail, if it does after many long dependable hours of use, the metal adjustment breaks. The gas is cheaper, and the nails are cheaper and more readily accessible, the same nail is used in the porter cable straight pneumatic finish gun. Although the gun is not as fast as any pneumatic sequentially, it is almost as fast.
Take into consideration though it's true advantage is portability/mobility. It takes time-which is money to set up and tear down compressors,hoses, find electricity, and then run hoses in and out of rooms all day, never mind the damage "some" crews cause to trim dragging hose couplings in and out of rooms and through doors. I save 1-2 hours a day in labor and time spent using paslodes or cordless guns, as opposed to pneumatics.
The angled paslode trim gun WILL leave larger or offset holes. The nails are also more expensive. Along with the gas cartridge.
For Brad nailing requiring air I have a portable Makita air take which can be run inline from a compressor or just hooked up and has a one way valve so that I also have portable regulated air for brad nailing capabilities! Short recoiling air hose, tank, and gun. Trim guns use too much air from the tank to be useful.
If you are working all by yourself, get paslode and pneumatic so if your gun goes down, you don't...........
Porter Cable has a new cordless nail gun that is actually pretty neat, it uses the 12volt batteries instead of a fuel cell or anything, it isn't the Bammer(they discontinued that). The other neat thing about it is that it can run off of a air compressor as well.
I do a ton of commercial work and I'm real curious about the statement that a paslode can shoot a nail into steel studs? What kind of nails were being used? What gauge of studs? I have to redo a bunch of baseboard that was cut too long and secured with glue only(maybe 1 or two angled nails into sheetrock), now it is bowed out big time with a 1/4 inch of more gap between it and the wall for most of it.
-Ray
Ray,
I am by no means recommending go shoot it directly into a steelstud, nor would paslode vouch for this either. For three years we were on two similar jobs that used two sheets of sheet rock with a metal u-shaped flange in between the two sheets for sound proofing. When applying chairrail and baseboard, we would glue behind it, angle the opposing nails in opposite directions and also shoot into this channel. The nail would occasionally bend, I admit but no more than any other time you hit a nail in a wood stud. I install at least 200,000 of trim a year and have never had a problem with trim blowing out or not staying secured to the wall -- even chairrail I installed 8-10 years ago. I bevel and glue all my joints and cope all my inside corners including all my crown. I know that shouldn't have to be said but I have seen a lot of crazy things. Master Fastner nails are cheaper and have multiple ridges, which seem to hold better also. Good Luck
I shoot senco 15 guage into 20 guage metal studs in commercial work. Mostly I cross nail and glue but it will go directly into studs with my sfn40. 16 guage will not go directly into them in my experience, but still hold well enough if you cross and glue.
When there working they are the greatest tool around.
When there not working you want to throw them as far as you can.
I've got the orange framing and trim gun. One of the best tool investments made.
But I've also got back up with a compressor and nail guns.
id wait until the Hitachi cordless nailers come out, they will use the same fuel cells as paslode.
They have been working on them for about two years fine-tuning them.
They are great for remolders, plumbers, HVAC and trimm carpenters, however they really cant handle the speed as hose nailers.
Like the others have said, use them often or figure cleaning them.