My MAX round-head SuperFramer was the best framing nailer I ever used. I pretty much got to use all brands while working for others. I bought the MAX when I went into business for myself in 2003. I used it on about thirty houses and eventually it started to jam, and finally, the bolt that shoots in the nail broke. I had a couple of Hitachis and used them for a while. I dropped the business and just worked on my own projects.
Now I am getting ready to do some more framing. I found out that it would probably cost me at least half the cost of the MAX to overhaul it and repair the shooting mechanism.
So I found a new SuperFramer at Amazon for about $340 with tax and shipping. I have used it for a few days and I love the solid feel. I will keep the old one for parts, if I should ever need them.
There is nothing like a great tool. I sold one of my Hitachis at a garage sale and recovered the cost of the new framer. I figured out that if I had done the repair and overhaul, another $100 would have paid for the new MAX. The Hitachi paid for that and the buyer was very happy to get it. Lots of framers really like the Hitachi. It is dependable and packs a punch, but the MAX is solid.
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I agree.. the Superframer is a really nice nailer. Something else I really liked about it (mine was stolen) was that it never seemed to care what kind of nails I fed it. It was very good about not jambing regardless of brand, weather, size, etc. My only complaint was that it always somehow felt 'slower' than the Hitachi nailers. When those Hitachis get worn in a little they fire so easily and quickly.
Hey Brian - check your email, I'm not sure if my messages to you these days are getting snagged in your filter. Thx.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
You managed to sell a used framer at a garage sale for $340? wow!
No, if I had paid for the overhaul and repair on my Max, it would have cost me at least $200 plus two 80 mile round trips. I figure I saved that money and sold a Hitachi for about a hundred. That leaves me with a new MAX paid for, an old MAX for parts and minus one Hitachi.
I started out with an old repairable MAX and a working Hitachi.
I ended up with an old repairable MAX and a new MAX.
Although I didn't put out the money to repair the MAX, it went toward a brand new one. This math is no more complicated than derivatives and hedge funds. :)
Don't get me wrong. I like the Hitachi for its power, speed, weight, and for the fact that it can take lots of drops from the second floor. It is also easy to get service. I just think the MAX is engineered better. At my age, I want to work with the tools that I want to work with, if you know what I mean.How can you understand God if you can't understand people? How can you understand people if you can't understand yourself?
Don't get me wrong. I like the Hitachi for its power, speed, weight, and for the fact that it can take lots of drops from the second floor. It is also easy to get service. I just think the MAX is engineered better
The facts don't seem to back that statement up. You said you Max lasted only 30 houses. Why would you be impressed with the engineering on a throwaway like that?
I figure the problem could have happened to any nailer. Having the shooting pin break is not a reason to go to a different brand. If your Chevy or Ford throws a drive shaft, would you consider that a reason to quit driving Chevies or Fords?
I didn't say the gun was a total loss. Economically, it made sense for me to just get a new one.
But you knew all that from reading my post and you certainly could have come up with other examples just as good as my Ford-Chevy example.
I like the MAX so much that I want to stick with the brand in spite of the problem I had. The overhaul is just something that makes sense to have done when you take a broken gun to the dealer for repair.
I will only build a couple more houses, so I know that even my Hitachi would last much longer than my need for a nail gun.
My first framing hammer, an Estwing, still hangs in my garage, like the Hitachi, and gets occasional use; but I always use my Hart Woody for any planned jobs. People all have their own opinions about hammers, but I personally love working with the Hart. I accept the fact that the Hart is not a nail-puller. I went through two handles before I started to use my Estwing for deconstruction.
So for me, driving nails is the most fun with a Hart or a MAX. Both of them have the feel of a fine tool engineered into them, but I guess you have a contrary opinion. But that's what this site is all about, isn't it?How can you understand God if you can't understand people? How can you understand people if you can't understand yourself?
I actually don't have any opinion about the max other than I know someone (you) who owned one that had a pin break after a few houses.
I recommend that you try one. I paid about $440.00 for my first one. They used to sell only through authorized dealers, such as Carlson Systems, where I bought it. With the economy being what it is, I was able to get a new one for $318 through Amazon. A repair kit used to cost $90. You can see why the MAX is a pretty good deal right now.How can you understand God if you can't understand people? How can you understand people if you can't understand yourself?
I guess the term "good deal" is all relative. I don't remember paying anywhere near $318 for a nail gun and I've bought dozens of them. I used to get most of mine for $100 and ten boxes of nails, which was a good deal because I was always ordering ten boxes at a time anyways.
I just bought a Paslode for $100 (used) and I think that is the last nailgun that I'll ever buy.
That Paslode is a good gun. When I first worked as a framer, the crew I was on used mostly Paslodes. The boss used to get one free a couple of times a year from the lumber yard.How can you understand God if you can't understand people? How can you understand people if you can't understand yourself?
I ran a Paslode for about 4 years. They were okay if the air was cranked high enough. I found the hitachi to be superior when I switched but I couldn't beat the $100 price tag and I needed to get to the job that morning. I'll be okay with it till my Hitachi shows back up her in TX.
30 Houses is relative.......
When I lived in Florida that would have been 5 weeks.
When I framed for someone else in New Jersey........that would have been 5 years.
full round head hitachi? still have one left you want to sell? how much?
I'll give up for $100 and you pay the shipping. It is in very good condition.How can you understand God if you can't understand people? How can you understand people if you can't understand yourself?
sent you an email