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Nail Gun recommendations for siding?

Powpowhound | Posted in Tools for Home Building on June 15, 2006 12:41pm

I don’t want to hijack Friar95’s thread under general discussions, so I’ll post my question here.

I’m re-siding my house and using sweat to pay for tools. But I don’t want to spend foolishly.

I’m interested in hearing the merits of using my Hitachi NR83AA (stick) framing nailer loaded with the closest appropriate nails vs. buying a coil siding nailer. Owing to local availability and price (and the green color of my other air tools ;-)), I’m leaning toward the Hitachi coil siding nailer. I don’t recall the model number. I think I’ll probably need 2-1/4″ 316 SS nails, preferably ring shank and with cross-hatched heads to reduce glare.

Is the difference in diameter of the heads of nails for the sider noticeably different than the diameter of nailheads compatible with my framer? I bought really premium cedar siding and don’t want to detract from it with the wrong nails. That is a higher priority than the cost of the tool.

How about tool weight with and without a full magazine?

I do have a “tip protector” (or whatever it’s called) for my framing nailer so scarring from the nailer tip is not an issue, although the 2″+ diameter of the accessory would limit my ability to get close to trim.

I’ll also be applying cedar shingles or shakes (I haven’t decided which) to the second floor walls. Is there any difference in nailer/nail compatiblity with that?

Is there anything else I should be concerned about in comparing the two?

Thanks in advance for your time and expertise.


Edited 6/14/2006 8:46 pm ET by Powpowhound

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  1. harrisdog43 | Jun 15, 2006 03:20am | #1

    I think the model number is NV75AG...but I do not think you could use your NR83AA for siding. If you have the model number correct, it shoots clipped head nails.

     

    1. Powpowhound | Jun 15, 2006 03:45am | #2

      I think the NR83AA is supposed to shoot both clipped head and round head nails. I've only used round head. I checked and the length range is 2" to 3.5". So the 2-1/4 length I need (is that what I said earlier?) is within its range.

      1. harrisdog43 | Jun 15, 2006 03:50am | #3

        I only looked it up on Amazon...not always a good idea. What the hey, give it a shot. Let us know how it comes out. I hang Hardie but no cedar down here.

        john

  2. Danusan11 | Jun 15, 2006 04:05am | #4

    I have the Hitachi sider and love it shoots a maze nail, light weight great gun

  3. Waters | Jun 15, 2006 04:35am | #5

    The thing with the siding nailers is that they have a very fine capability to adjust the depth at which the fastener is set. 

    I bought the Bostich N66 or whatever the model is on Amazon for about 250$ with some promotional deal and the thing is great.

    And yes, very light.

    Pat

  4. User avater
    DDay | Jun 15, 2006 05:18am | #6

    A framer is too heavy and too powerful for siding, especially cedar.  Not to mention, price the stainless steel nails for a framer.  Check this website, 2 3/8 316 stainless are $140/box of 1000, most places have 3600 count boxes of stainless siding coils for $100 to $130.

    The NV75 isn't hitachi's sider, that their siding/framer nailer.  The siding nailer is something like NH65AH.  Check amazon under siders, it will be there.

  5. raymond128 | Jun 15, 2006 07:17pm | #7

    I Have the Hitachi NV75AG Nailer and love it.

    I just got finished with about 4000 lin. ft of cedar clapboard siding and it worked great. I turned the pressure down to about 85-90 psi and adjusted the depth a bit to get a consistant nail depth.

    The good thing about this nailer is i also use it for sheathing walls and roofs with .131 2 3/8 inch ring shank nails (same as my framer).
    it is a bit heavier than the dedicated NV65AG siding nailer but it has a bit more versatility.

    PS to answer your question about using a framer for siding.simple...

    Too heavy to be holding that thing all day like that.

    Hope this helps. and good luck.
    Ray.

    1. Powpowhound | Jul 03, 2006 04:58pm | #8

      Thanks for your thoughts.I sprung for the Hitachi NV65AH.I bought pressure treated joists and decking for my entry porch and was convinced to go with stainless fasteners by the Simpson legal disclaimers on their galvanized hanger bins. So rather than end up with a bunch of stainless nails for my NR83AA that I'll never use, I went ahead and got the siding gun and some SS ring shanks that will work for both decking and siding-- that way I can use up the rest of the box.It's a really nice little gun -- I really like the feel of it. And since I aleady have the NR83AA stick framer, it's a better fit for me than the NV75.Thanks again for the advice!

      1. User avater
        DDay | Jul 14, 2006 04:24am | #9

        Use the plastic collated coils.  If you have not opened the box and you have the wire coils, I would switch them.  The problem with the wire is the tiny little barbs some times (really often) will embed under the nail head and stick up like little needles.  The plastic ones shoot the nail in and the plastic stick just keeps feeding out.  This way there is only the SS nail and the plastic strip, so when nailed it is a regular nail.

        I think they are about $5 to $10 more per box but definitely worth it.

        Good luck with the gun.

        1. RedfordHenry | Jul 14, 2006 05:13am | #10

          The little wires from the coils aren't much of a problem on siding, but they sure suck on a deck, eh?

          1. User avater
            DDay | Jul 16, 2006 03:53am | #11

            I hate those things.  Any nails that I over drive, they drive me nuts filling the hole.  For blind nailing hardie or something like that, the wire is fine but for Trim, decking or anything exposed I would opt for the plastic just to keep me calm later on.

      2. davidmeiland | Jul 16, 2006 07:14am | #12

        We've got the Makita coil sider and have been using it a lot lately. Almost no problems at all with the wire sticking under the nail heads (one every several hundred nails, it that), very precise control of the depth, zero nail jams, lightweight and it runs a long way on one coil.

        The nails we're using are from Amazon... B&C Eagle 2-1/2 x .090 HDG ring shank. I wish they were a little beefier. Apparently the tool can run up to .099 shank but I can't find anything like that for sale anywhere. It looks like the Hitachi runs .092, which isn't much thicker.

        The siding we're running is 1x10 board plus 1x3 batt. The 1x10s go on with the gun but we're using 12d HDG commons for the batts, which are doing the real work.

        1. Powpowhound | Jul 16, 2006 08:30pm | #13

          ToolsOnline had a very positive review of the Makita siding nailer.Because of local availability (gotta keep those full-service local lumber yards in business), I bought the Hitachi NV65AH. I found that it double-fired quite easily. So now I'll need to buy a single-fire accessory for an extra $40 or so.For a DIYer looking at a siding nailer, I'd strongly recommend you factor in and purchase the Hitachi single (sequential) fire accessory if you go that route. I haven't yet found out if the accessory will allow me to select bump firing -- hopefully I can switch between modes so I can still use bump fire for decking (underlayment) and shingles.I believe Makita includes selectable sequential fire in the base model, yes?

          1. User avater
            MarkH | Jul 17, 2006 12:33am | #14

            You get used to bump fire.  If you put the nose to the wood and pull the trigger, it's hard not to double fire.  Just hold the trigger down then just tap the nose against the wood ,like you are taking a light hammer tap.

          2. Powpowhound | Jul 17, 2006 09:10am | #21

            It seems that a lot of pros like bump fire.I made my recommendation for DIYers because we don't get the practice you guys do. I'm back staining some very expensive siding right now and I don't want to ruin it on my way up the bump fire learning curve.If the accessory is like my Hitachi 15 Ga. finish nailer (or the Makita siding nailer), it will have selectable bump/sequential fire. Hopefully that's what it is.

          3. Powpowhound | Jul 17, 2006 09:16am | #22

            Does anybody know if Grip Rite SS ring shank siding nails are 304 SS or 316 SS? I can't find any specification on the package.I want to use 316 on the front (water side) of my house because of exposure to salt water spray.Any suggestions of a brand that you know is 316 SS?

          4. davidmeiland | Jul 17, 2006 04:46pm | #23

            Bump-firing is generally for shooting off plywood. With siding you are going to be more careful.

            You can get 304 and 316 from Manasquan Fasteners, your choice.

            Edited 7/17/2006 9:47 am by davidmeiland

          5. User avater
            DDay | Jul 17, 2006 04:56pm | #25

            The single pull trigger will almost definitely be a replacement trigger.  The hitachi finish nailer is like the makita, both have the switch on the side.  That set up is built into the gun, the trigger will just be the trigger.  If you wanted use bump fire, you would need to switch triggers again.

          6. User avater
            DDay | Jul 17, 2006 03:41am | #15

            I have the makita sider too.  Yes it has a switch right by the trigger for single, bump or a lock out no fire.  That's a great feature on the makita's, and the gun is very nice.

            The nailer never jams except on a box of hitachi brand 8d ring galv's I'm using now to blind nail hardie plank.  The nail doesn't jam but the little copper or whatever wire gets stuck in between the driver blade and the nose piece and keeps the driver blade from recoiling back up in.  It's just something screwy with those nails though, it only happens once every coil.  I'm not going to use those nails again after this.

          7. davidmeiland | Jul 17, 2006 04:03am | #16

            Are those the .092 nails? I see there are Hitachi nails for their coil sider/framer that are .099, which should fit the Makita, but they are either electro-galv or bright, I forget which, neither of which I can use. Makita does not appear to market any nails at all. If I'm wrong someone please let me know, because I'd like a source for .099 HDG siding nails. Manasquan sells SS coils, but the diameter isn't given on their site.

          8. User avater
            DDay | Jul 17, 2006 05:05am | #17

            I went out and checked, they are .092 hot dipped ring galv's.  A funny thing, they are made in the UAE (united arab emirates), the country that is home to the ports operations company that was involved in that hub bub this past spring.

            The problem seems to be that the wire is not attached to the nails well enough.  Some times, the nail is fired and the wire just pops right off, so on the next nail the wire is fairly long and get wedged in the nose by the driver blade.  It's easy enough to fix but its just annoying at times of stress.

          9. davidmeiland | Jul 17, 2006 05:30am | #18

            What sources of nails are you aware of? I've usually gotten them online due to where I live... Amazon, Nailzone, Manasquan, etc. The gun says diameters up to .099 will work, but is there such a thing?

          10. User avater
            MarkH | Jul 17, 2006 05:42am | #19

            Bostitch makes them, C8P99DG.  They are "thick coat" galvanized, which they say is better than hd.  Look on amazon.com also.

            Edited 7/16/2006 11:00 pm ET by MarkH

          11. User avater
            DDay | Jul 17, 2006 04:51pm | #24

            I get nails from local places, the best is one that dieselpig mentioned last year (http://www.nhtooloutlet.com).  New hampshire has no sales tax which helps and that supply house has the best prices by far on nails around here.  They are a great source.  I know they get some nails from the west coast, since you are already getting nails shipped in, maybe they would sell to you and just get the nails shipped from their west coast sources directly to you.  The rep diesel deals with is Tony.

          12. arrowpov | Jul 17, 2006 05:11pm | #26

            I had the same problem with the wires jamming between the driver pin and nose piece. I switched to plastic collated nails. No more jams after switching.

        2. ccal | Jul 17, 2006 05:57am | #20

          My tool crib catalog shows 2 3/8 by .099 coil nails in plain and hot dipped. Says they fit the nv75ag hitachi but dont list the makita.

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