Well here I go again posting another question on a tool that I can get for 50% off. This time it’s Makita’s 3-1/2″ framing nailer #AN923. I can get it for $250. I’ve heard or even read something here sometime back about Makita being a good choice for a framing nailer.
Have any of you guys ever used a Makita framer, espicially the one I mentioned above? If so, what do you think of it?
Paul
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Replies
Tim Uhler did a review on framers for either JLC or FHB within the last two years and liked the makita along with the max and hitachi. I think that makita is the clipped head and the AN 922 the full head, if your codes allow it, its a good nailer. I have the siding nailer and its a great gun. Tim posts over on JLC a lot, check the framing folder.
One thing to check is amazon. They have had the two makita framing nailers for sale for ridiculous prices several times this year. If I remember correctly they had it as low as $150 a month ago.
I did find a review over on JLC from 2000 where the testers all preferred the Makitas.
Paul
I'll look around and see if I find the framing nailer review. It was very recent (within the last year or two), not seven years ago. I have the old standard, hitachi NR83A. There is nothing fancy with it, its just a bull that gets it done day after day. The one complaint is that the nail guide has trouble sometimes with 8d's. The makita's are suppose to have a very good guide and I really like the selector switch for no nail firing, single fire and bump fire. My siding nailer has the same and it a very simple but appreciated feature.
This is from the Feb/march 2002 FHBCHOOSING A FRAMING NAILER
by Rick Arnold and Mike Guertin
Whether you prefer coil nailers or stick nailers, it's a buyer's market. Two seasoned builders sort through 30 models and find new favorites.This review was from 2002 in tools of the trade, which is a sister pub to JLC.http://www.toolsofthetrade.net/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1491&articleID=501037&artnum=1
Paul,
If you have not bought a framer, amazon is doing a deal on the Makita again. It was $179 earlier and is now $229 as I'm posting this link. They do the yo yo with the pricing all the time, so it could very well go back down to the original again at any time. They have one of their clipped head for $177
http://www.amazon.com/Makita-AN942-Clipped-2-Inch-Framing/dp/B00004YOK3/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1198938900&sr=1-4
http://www.amazon.com/Makita-AN922-2-Inch-Framing-Nailer/dp/B00004YOJY/ref=br_lf_m_548166_2_24_ttl?ie=UTF8&s=hi&pf_rd_p=344702301&pf_rd_s=center-5&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=548166&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1PG1345KN9VV7JNMBPRJ
DDay, I live in Canada and Amazon.ca doesn't sell tools. No I never bought that Makita nailer as I lost the hard drive in my computer and had to wait two weeks to get a new one. By then the online company had their "year-end clearance flyer" took off their website.
paul
I've heard that, ditto with toolking.com You guys up north miss out on some really good deals that amazon has from time to time. Oh well, I saw that and thought I would pass it along.
I still haven't bought my nailer yet as Christmas was busy plus I lost the hard drive on my computer so I've been busy. Anyways, I was looking at some framing nailers on Makita.com and I was surprised that the nailers DO NOT come in a carrying case. It amazes me how a cheap little palm sander can come with it's own carrying case but a several hundred dollar nailer doesn't. I've heard good things about Makita nailers but the fact that the few I saw this morning do not come with their own case absolutely deters me from actually buying a Makita. I'd like to know from those of you who have framing nailers, do they come with their own case?
paul
Why would you need one?
Do you have a case for your hammer?
smart answer. Actually I like to take care of my tools. I believe looking after your tools will prolong their lives.
paul
My makita siding nailer has a case but the only framer I know that has a case is the porter cable. For the smaller nailers the cases are not very large but the framer is so large the case is huge. I think most people would not use the case, so they just skip it. If you want something for protection, I would just use something similar to the tool bags they sell some of the cordless drill in.