I’m looking to buy a framing nailer. There are so many on the market and no one seems to be able to help. I see expensive nailers at 28 degrees and less expensive at 34 degrees. I want to be sure that I will always be able to get nails for the one that I buy. I do want on that will take 2 inch to 3 1/2 in nails.
Does anyone have any experience with them?
Choosing the right heating and cooling system means finding the best fit for your home's size, layout, and climate—and balancing trade-offs in efficiency, comfort, and cost.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial NowGet instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
I believe it's going to be easier for you to find nails if you choose a 28 degree (wire-weld), 21 degree (plastic collation), or 30 degree (paper tape) gun.
Steve M.
PS. I have a Paslode 30 degree nailer and it can handle 2" to 3 1/4" nails. I think you may have to go to a round head nailer (21 degree) if you want to get up to 3 1/2" nails.
Edited 9/22/2008 2:26 pm ET by smllr
Worm-
There is a lot of wiggle room in the term framing nailer. If you are looking for a stick collations, getting a nailer in the 21-23 degree range will ensure that you will find a wide availability of nails.
Depending on what part of the country you are in, a full round head nailer may be required to meet code. Most nailers will have a capacity of 2"-3.25" or 3.5".
Some nailers with a capacity of 2"-3.5" that are reasonably priced include the Milwaukee, Senco, and Porter-Cable. They typically will range around $200. Hitachi and Max nailers may run closer to $300-400.
Hope this helps.
http://cgi.ebay.com/BOSTITCH-ROUND-HEAD-Framing-Nailer-F21PL-was-N88RH_W0QQitemZ350100016857QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item350100016857&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
21degree full round head strip nailer with a switch-out metal connector (joist hanger) tip.
Whether you buy it here on ebay or from a local outfit, a very simple, powerful gun you won't be sorry with. Simple to fix, parts/nails available anywhere.
Pat
That's two votes for the Bostitch. A powerful gun that makes small compressors beg for momma. Mine doesn't bounce fire. I'm haven't been able to find the bounce trigger, and I hate to replace it just for that.
I got the bounce fire trigger (black) from one of the local air tool/nail outfits for about 5$
The tool comes with the sequential trigger (grey) as you know.
The triggers are so easy to switch out that I will often just go back to the seq trigger when it's time to nail off hangers or whatnot. It's held in there with only skinny little phillips bolt and a nut. They say you don't even need the spring, but I like it in there.
I found the black trigger works great too if you know how to handle the gun. It's certainly more dangerous and not recomended.. but you can just grab the trigger and push the tip in the hole in the hanger and pow!
I just finished a place that had about 20 HTT22's with the 48 .148 16's (or whatever it was...) I found a box of 21degree .148 by 3" and 'blanged' em in with the bostich nailer and mcn tip. What a time saver!
The palm nailer with loose nails makes everybody nuts anyway...
The Bostitch for the $ is a great deal. You get a framing nailer and teco nailer in 1. The only thing is it's a full size framing gun and doesn't fit in tight places like a dedicated teco nailer. (Bostitch MCM 150).
Also, don't know the codes where you are but you also have the choice of clipped (33 degree or so paper tape) or full round head (21 degree plastic collated) nailers. You should easily be able to get nails for either at Home Depot, Lowes, or your lumber yard. Clipped head nailers tend to hold more nails per strip.
I you want an inexpensive framing nailer look at the Porter Cable FR350 (full round head) or FC350 (clipped). We have a few of the the PC FR350 and PC FR350 Mag. A couple of them are 4 years old and still going strong. Easy to rebuild too. I have seen them for less than $100 on eBay. If you are going to shoot a lot of engineered lumber (LVLs, etc) the PC Mag works great!
From reading about nail guns over the years everybody is going to give you a different opinion of brand like ice cream flavors. West Coast guys seem to love Hitachi and East Coast Guys all over the place but Bostitch come up a lot. If you have a lot of $ to burn look at Max.
Thanks to those who responded to me. I had almost decided on the Porter Cable FC350A but I just saw in the latest Home Depot flyer that the Ridgid R350CHA is on sale reduced by $60 so I think I just changed my mind....
I've been eyeing that ridgid too. I saw a framing crew at my job with one and it is a haus. The lead guy said that he liked it alot. I still haven't found a bounce trigger for my bostitch, and I've been working for some reno-carpenters on the weekends and that bounce trigger is just what I need to keep up with them. I've thought about the Porter Cable and the Dewalt, but I don't want to give up my bostitch if I don't have to. You can't beat ridgids warranty, by the way.
My problem with all those nailers mentioned is the bulkiness of them. We just got a dewalt which is real nice and seems compact. I personally cant stand the PC, bostich, or the rigid because of the huge head on them, unless your talking about a different rigid than Ive seen because that thing is a boatload of extra bulk and weight.
Not only the weight but think about the spaces you might not be able to get in. Hitachai, dewalt, or mabe the air pasloade, seem most comfortable and more compact to use all day everyday.
Also any clipped head nailer can use the pasloade offset full round head nails, if your area requires full round head. I say this because I like the paper taped nails cant stand the plastic full head nails (anoyinging and not as easy to come by as paper tape) your biggest selection of nailers and nails come in clipped head or offset full round for clipped nailers, did that make any sense?
I have the PC stick clipped head paper side. Magnesium. Very light & very sound. PC is not all that famous for their framers, but I have found this thing to be a really great gun, very dependable, & easy to get nails for. It only goes up to 31/4" though.
I also have the Bostich NC80 coil frame nailer. That's great for nailing off roofs, floors, & siding. Quite a few nails in one coil. It's old & heavy but it bounces right along when you get the rhythm.
i saw hitachi clearanced at lowes tonight for 155. seemed like a great price.but i have over bought and undersold so i had to leave empty. larry
if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?
I run clipped head nailers; I've got both Paslode and Senco. Both work well; both use the same nails. But the Senco definitely has more punch--it will drive 2½" concrete nails to pin plates to a slab while the Paslode simply will not set them no matter how high I turn up the pressure.
OTOH, the Paslode is lighter; at the end of a long day of working over your head, that is a nice bonus.
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
foolish men call Justice....