Replies

1. 
   BryanSayer | Jun 29, 2006 12:23am | #1

   There are (at least) two types of flooring nailers. One that nails into the tongue and a face nailer. These use the same type of barbed 'T' shaped nail which holds well. Some types of hardwood are put down with a staple.

   You might want to try renting, especially if you are not doing tons of flooring.

   If you have to patch in a couple of pieces or something like that, a finish nailer can be used. but if you are doing a whole floor, I'd get the Bostich floor nailer.

2. 
   JonE | Jun 29, 2006 12:53am | #2

   Depends on your flooring.  I have 1200 sf of unfinished 3" maple plank to install and I was told by the flooring mill to use staples.  I got a brand new Bostitch MIIIFS flooring stapler on eBay for $320, and a big box of staples at my local hardware store.

   Despite a prior question I asked here on BT, I decided to avoid generic flooring nailers.  If they die, they die.  At least the Bostitch has a repair network, I can drop it off locally and get it back totally fixed, in a week.

    

3. 
   m2akita | Jun 29, 2006 03:06am | #3

   Dont know much about the P.C. so cant help you there.

   As mentioned, there are basically two type of nailers; staple or T cleat/nails.  Which one is better?????........its kinda like asking which is better, Chevy or Ford.  I think the arguments are that the t-cleat/nails will hold the wood better, BUT the staples are less likely to split the tongue ( I believe the staples will hold just fine and how many splits will you actually get with the t-cleats/nails).

   You may want to look on ebay for a flooring nailer.  They have a good number of new or almost new ones.  Just be aware that if it looks used, it has probably really been used/ beat so expect some repair problems.

   I bought my bostitch staple flooring nailer off of ebay.  It was fairly well used/ beat, but I got a good price.  $60 bill from the repair shop and I was good to go.  Ive had no problmes so far, but I dont do a whole lot of flooring.

   -m2akita

   Live by the sword, die by the sword....choose your sword wisely.
1. 
   furnie | Jun 29, 2006 04:05am | #4

   Chevy, staples with decoratively plugged screws on tounge side (contrasting wood preferably) and a whole home environmental control station(to complement the plastic bubble outside).

1. 
   calvin | Jun 29, 2006 04:18am | #5

   furnie, you wouldn't mind expalaining that a bit more, would you?

   thanksA great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

   Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

   Quittin' Time

    

1. 
   furnie | Jun 30, 2006 02:42am | #9

   A question arose as to general pref to Chevy and Ford. I like Chevy but my '66 was stolen from my studio a year ago so i use my Explorer go keep on. As for the plugging, it's silliness- working in a heritage building where all the wide plank is screwed and plugged. when floor was  redone, contractor used sheet 't' nails and had to come back and fufill contract for screwed and plugged planks for heritage look.  It is still a strong look but silly of us here to bring it up. We have been advised to get central a/c for health of our floors.

4. 
   davidmeiland | Jun 29, 2006 05:01am | #6

   I just bought a Bostitch MIIIFN from an eBay seller, $400 new. There are quite a few folks who advocate the Powernail nailers, which are around $500, and I would have bought one instead if the price were lower.

   http://www.tools4flooring.com/powernail-445-ls-pneumatic-nailer-p-257.html

   There is also the Senco SHF50, which I don't know much about, but being a Senco it would be easy to get parts and repairs if needed. The local rental place here has those, but I haven't used them. I have used a Porta Nailer rental on one occasion and it worked fine.

   If you buy a new one, you can sell it on eBay after the job for a pretty good price.

5. 
   G80104 | Jun 29, 2006 07:00am | #7

     If your doing it Day in Day out, go Bostich! If your doing a few thousand feet or less this will work, should be able to get 3K-5k sq. ft out of this one. My Bostich was under the weather & rented one for a week , $180 for the rental.

    Harbor Frieght.com
   View more Central Pneumatic items

   TONGUE AND GROOVE FLOOR STAPLER KIT WITH HAMMER AND CASE

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   Faster, more productive than manual tools. Prevents hammer marks. Designed to precisely fasten hardwood or plank flooring. Comes with rubber head striking hammer, OSHA certified goggles, hex wrenches and tool oil.

   • Kit includes 400 staples: 1/2'' crown, 2'' long, 15 gauge
   • 100 magazine capacity, top loading
   • Uses fasteners from 3/4'' to 2'' long

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6. 
   paul42 | Jun 29, 2006 07:46pm | #8

   I bought the Bostitch stapler new off a dealer on Ebay.  I also found a dealer on Ebay that was selling the large foot for the Bostitch and that worked quite well for me.  I added a piece of thin cardboard to shim it to exactly match the flooring I put in, and it worked perfectly. 

7. 
   Subarucarpenter | Jun 30, 2006 05:46am | #10

   I have been extremely happy with my Bostitch flooring stapler.  I have never used anything else though, so I have nothing to compare it to.  I had to pull out about 250 square feet of maple flooring stapled with a bostitch, and let me tell you, those things can hold.  I would look at rental cost and potential future use before shelling out the dough though. 

8. 
   Pop | Jun 30, 2006 09:43am | #11

   If this is a one time shot, buy a Porta Nailer, as I did.  Somewhat hard to find, but did locate one in Mass, Home Depot for $128, and flooring nails for $12.99 for a box. I think they are getting rid of them. The nails, go around $20 a box. I have two more bedrooms, and a hall way to do, it will be there next winter.............Pop

9. 
   FastEddie | Jun 30, 2006 02:29pm | #12

   Actually, there are three fastener types.  Staples, T-nails, and L-nails.  I have the Porter Cable pneumatic nailer.  It uses L-nails which are carried by Home Depot and other places.  The Bostich uses the T-nails.  They are not interchangeable so be sure you have a source for the nails before you buy the nailer off the internet.

   I am very happy with the PC nailer.  It cost a lot more than the non-pneumatic nailer, but it was a lot easier to use.  That $400 price is about right.  You can buy a non-pneumatic for about half that much.

    

    

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

1. 
   srubin | Jun 30, 2006 03:28pm | #13

   Thanks for the help guys. I ended up buying the Bostich MFSIII stapler at Home Depot. I was somewhat indifferent on whether the L nailes or staples are "better" and in searching the archived chats on the issue, it seemed that there was no one "right" answer. Everyone had their owen opinion.If i had a few more days, I would have ordered the P&C to save the $100, but I am anxious to start the project over the 4th of July and Home Depot had the MFSIII in stock.Thanks again for your input.

1. 
   ar7499 | Jun 30, 2006 06:58pm | #14

   I hope you got to use this 10% off. If not take your receipt back and they should give you the difference.

    

   http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=Promotions&BV_SessionID=@@@@0516069675.1151683057@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdeaddiejildlmcgelceffdfgidgll.0&cm_ven=CJ&cm_cat=1066642&cm_ite=homedepot.com+Promotions&cm_pla=227502&aid=10368410&pid=227502&cj=1

    

   good luck,

    

    

   ar

2. 
   30ALL | Jun 30, 2006 07:01pm | #15

   I also got a 15ga finish nailer for tight spots where you can not use floor nailer. pre-drill face nailing will take you forever