Replies

1. 
   seres | Sep 28, 2005 12:52am | #1

   PC is probably the cheapest, and will work OK.  But for the past few years I've been using the OMER PR.28.  Check the ads in the back of FHB or FWW.  It's more expensive, but worth every penny.

2. 
   nikkiwood | Sep 28, 2005 01:23am | #2

   We're talking about the 23 ga models, right?

   I bought the PC and took it back because it would not countersink the nail enough to putty. This is not a problem if you're using it with dark stained wood, but it is a real pain when it comes to something like natural finished maple, birch, etc.

   I exchanged the PC for the Senco model, which is a little better, but not much. I would say it countersinks about 3 out of 10 nails.

   There was a thread on all this sometime in the last year, and I would see if you can dig around with Prospero's crappy search function to find it.

   I wish I had spent the extra money for the Cadex (I think Omer is a close cousin), which seems to be the best gun for 23 ga nails. Unless you don't care about countersinking, I would not waste money on anything but one of these two.

   ********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

1. 
   dustinf | Sep 28, 2005 04:02am | #4

   Put a grinder to the nose piece.  Just take off a little bit, maybe a 1/16 at most.  It will counter sink every time.

1. 
   nikkiwood | Sep 28, 2005 07:16am | #9

   That's a great idea; the gun is virtually junk right now, so I've nothing to lose.********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

3. 
   DougU | Sep 28, 2005 02:21am | #3

   I have the Cadex, but the Omar and the Max are both very good and all three of these can shot a nail longer then 1"

   Doug

4. 
   IdahoDon | Sep 28, 2005 05:16am | #5

   I've been using the Bostitch and am very happy with it.  The machined as well as stamped parts seem to be of a higher quality than the other high-end Bostich brad nailers.  The design and function of the gun are so different that it wouldn't be a surprise that Bostitch simply bought the design and/or production from someone else.

   The hardest material I use is oak and this gun countersinks the 1" pins without problem.  As far as reliablility goes, I don't use it a lot so it's hard to sound credible, but I have yet to have a malfunction or missed pin (blank).

   If you order this gun from Amazon don't hold your breath--mine was backordered for almost 6 weeks.

   View Image

1. 
   gregb | Sep 28, 2005 06:05am | #6

   Don, I second that gun. I've had mine almost a year now, & it's been flawless. Definitely a step up from the P.C. I was using before. IIRC, a Bostitch rep I talked to said that the gun is based on an industrial design Bostitch uses for a number of other guns, most of which we as commercial users don't see.

1. 
   IdahoDon | Sep 28, 2005 07:06am | #8

   Greg,  I'm surprised that Bostitch is pricing the gun such that Amazon is only charging $105 (including shipping).

5. 
   joeh | Sep 28, 2005 06:38am | #7

   I have an Accuset, it's great but I think they're discontinued.

   Joe H

6. 
   reinvent | Sep 28, 2005 04:52pm | #10

   I love my Grex the only 23g pinner out there that will shoot 1 3/8"
   http://grexusa.com/index.htm

1. 
   DougU | Sep 29, 2005 04:17am | #13

   reinvent

   NO its not! My Cadex shots 1 3/8" so does the Omar and about 3 or 4 other 23g guns. One out there shots 1 9/16"

   Doug

1. 
   reinvent | Sep 29, 2005 02:52pm | #14

   OK you are right abought the Cadex shooting 1 3/8" pins. But it is the exact same gun as the Grex . The gun is made by a Taiwanese sub of Max. As for Omer, their 23g pinner only goes to 1 3/16". Also you have to adjust the gun every time you change pin lengths. As for a gun that goes to 1 9/16" it is a 21g pinner NOT 23g.
   I know of no other gun besides the Cadex and the Grex that have a 1 3/8" capacity at 23g. Although I am sure that will change. Prove me wrong.

1. 
   DougU | Sep 29, 2005 06:36pm | #15

   re

   I didn't know that the Grex and the Cadex were the same gun, I do know that the newer Cadex is made by Max, I thought they were a Japanese company, not sure.

   There is an advertisement in one of the trade mag's  that advertises a 23g nailer that shots a 1 9/16 nail. They used to be called Tsunami tools, but after the real Tsunami the advertisements changed to a different name, don't know if that was a coincidence or not.

   Here is a pic of a gun that claims to shot 1 9/16" don't know if its the one in the advertisement though, just did a Google on 23g pinners and this is what I came up with.

   It's my understanding that Omer is coming out with a new gun that will eliminate the slide for the change in nail size and will increase the length of nail to 1 3/8".

   I also heard that the Bostich gun which is made by somebody else shots a 1 3/8" nail. I think they make two size of guns though and dont know which is more common.

   Spotnails 23 Ga. Headless Pin Nailer, 1/2" to 1-9/16"

   View Image

   http://www.nailgundepot.com/shop/catalog/Nailers_FinishBradPin_Nailers_23_Gauge_Pin_Nailers-p-1-c-590.html

   theres the link to the site.

   It's a fairly cheap gun, in price, so I assume its no Grex or Cadex or Omer or ........

   If the Grex and the Cadex are the same gun then I agree with you that you have the best gun out there! I also do but mines a different color and name!

   The reason that I bought the Cadex was because it lacks the slide for the nail size change. That's one of the big downfalls of the 23g pinners, not changing that slide when changing the nail length, ruins the plunger.

   I think were on the same page for quality of guns though. 

   Doug

    

    

    

    

1. 
   PeterJ | Sep 29, 2005 07:19pm | #16

   Oh gees guys, it's pinner wars again!  I've been ready to jump a few times but don't want to get something I'm dissapointed with.

   There seems to be a big deal about pin length capacity. What do you guys use those long pins for? I'd be primarily using it for cabinet trim. I've got an 18 ga. Senco and only use 1 1/2" occassionally....mostly 5/8' to 1". The proposed pinner would be in addition to the SLP 20.

   Aaarrrggghhhh, I think I gotta have one, but which. I think I can eliminate Senco and PC. I can get an Omer locally, but the $. Now there seems to be a new player in Bostitch.

   FHB, it's time to do a test on these things! And if you don't mind, could your do it in the next week or so? I've got a likely job coming up.....PJ

   Everything will be okay in the end.  If it's not okay, it's not the end. 

2. 
   JeffBuck | Sep 29, 2005 07:46pm | #17

   do U use the longer pins that much?

   I think the 1" I currently use would be all I'd even need.

   anything more just seems like an invitation to a longer pin thicking thru my thumb when the grain deflects it and shoots it back at me.

   Jeff    Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

3. 
   YesMaam27577 | Sep 29, 2005 09:21pm | #18

   I think the 1" I currently use would be all I'd even need.

   anything more just seems like an invitation to a longer pin thicking thru my thumb when the grain deflects it and shoots it back at me.

   I've got the (crummy) Senco, with the 1" maximum length. I agree with you. Further, I think that anything that needs a pin longer than 1" probably needs something thicker thatn 23ga.

    

    Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.

4. 
   reinvent | Sep 30, 2005 06:31am | #21

   The longer length is great for large stain grade mouldings. Using the 23g pinner on prefinished oak, cherry, maple etc is great. You can hardly see the holes before you fill them let alone after. And I have found the size to be plenty strong, certainly for most interior apps.

5. 
   DougU | Sep 29, 2005 09:57pm | #19

   Jeff

   I'd say that 2/3 of all the nails I use are under 1", but when I need the extra length I have it.

   I was at a shop that I used to work at while back in Iowa a few weeks ago, they had gotten some new equipment and one of the guys was using a 23g pinner, I made a comment on the gun and the shop foreman said, "yea, its nice but there are times that I wish it would shoot a longer nail",  I went out and got my gun and showed it to them, they weren't aware that you could get something like it, other wise they would have. Mind you this is a shop that does a lot of millwork, mouldings on everything.

   There are a lot of times that the 1 3/8" are handy, some mouldings are a little thicker and a 1" nail is not enough to hold it until the glue is set. I could probably get buy with a 18g nail, hell I had to for many years before.

   I think Biteme(didn't that used to be snort?) said something about getting a 21g gun and having the best of both worlds, that's probably a good idea and less chance of the deflected nails and I'd imagine the 21g would still be a relatively small hole to fill.

   I've had the nails curl back even on soft wood so the chance of a nail deflecting is always there! I've also shot 1 3/8 into hard maple and the nail went strait in, counter sunk and all.

   I paid $230 I think for my gun and I know that you can get a Senco or a PC for almost half that but the extra length and some of the other features of the gun are worth it to me, they may not be to everybody.

   I think it just depends on your needs, and who knows, maybe its the Tim Taylor mentality!

   Doug

    

   Edited 9/29/2005 3:03 pm ET by DougU

6. 
   foobytor | Sep 29, 2005 10:33pm | #20

   The Omer I have cost a lot less than the three Sencos and one PC with all their combined flakinesses and self destructive inclinations.

7. FHB Editor
   JFink | Sep 28, 2005 04:55pm | #11

   I second (and third) the opinions about the Bostitch. I haven't tried it out myself, but I have been on the phone with Gary Striegler recently and he was telling me how much he liked their 23 gauge pinner. He was very impressed with how far the category of pinners has come in general, saying that you can buy a model for $100 buck that's just as good as the really expensive models that he bought years back. He also mentioned another brand of pinner as well, but I don't recall which one - the bostitch stuck in my mind though - it's on my list of tools to buy right now.

   Justin Fink - FHB Editorial

8. 
   cynwyd | Sep 28, 2005 05:39pm | #12

   I have the  PC and the countersinking is disappointing which is to say the nailer is disappointing.

   Before the next use I'll take the above tips on shortening the nose piece.

9. 
   IdahoDon | Sep 30, 2005 08:39am | #22

   Since, at least the Bostitch, does not have a safety at the nose and fires whenever the trigger is depressed, I've been graphically reminded of a bad habit.  I'll hold the trigger down in anticipation of the shot, which seems natural since my framer, stapler, 18g, 15g, and 1/4" stapler are usually shot bump fire.  More than once I've inadvertantly shot a pin--luckily with no bodily injury or other damage.  It's the only gun I'm scared of!   :-)