Replies

1. 
   rasconc | Mar 18, 2003 02:37am | #1

   I have the Tradesman from Lowes about $80.  I am bidding on a Bostich currently.  Harbor Freight usually has some good deals, have seen as low a $30 I believe.  The Senco looks like a really good one.   You can not beat the palm nailer for joist hangers and I have used it to sister in tight places as well as toenailing.  Mine has paid for itself many times over.  It does not take hardly any air and won't shoot a nail where you do not want it.  Most everyone who sees it says wow why didn't I get one of those.  Only down side of mine has been nose piece has to be tightened periodically and the magnet fell out of the driver sleeve.  They sent me a new sleeve right away with no grief.

2. 
   Clay | Mar 18, 2003 05:58am | #2

   I have a Senco palm nailer and I really like it.  It works great wherever you can fit it in.  Joist hangers are its forte.  It doesn't seem to take a lot of air to run it.  I have a two tank 1 1/2 horse Senco compressor that runs it easily (110 volt, 15 amp).  I think you could even run one with a little pancake compressor.

1. 
   alecs | Mar 18, 2003 08:05am | #3

   I just sistered in a couple of new joists where some old original 1922 ones had cracked.  Not to be off the subject, but these old 2x8 joists were selected with giant knots right in the middle of the 12' span!!

   Anyway, I was using a senco palm nailer and a senco framing nailer.  I have to say the senco palm nailer is mighty convenient, but with one caveat.  When I tried to go through the new joists into the 80 year old stuff, the nails just crumpled up.  I was using 12d "coated sinker" nails.  So what I ended up doing was using the framing nailer to shoot nails, which I had to do on a slight angle because of the between-joist spacing, and then using the palm nailer to go in after the fact and sink the nails all the way.  worked reasonably well.

   I like the senco palm nailer, but it's the only one i've ever used, don't know what to compare to.  my only complaint was that it sometimes skipped off the nail head at the end and dimpled the wood nearby.  maybe that's technique on my part?

   Mighty convenient, anyway, and the senco is a pretty nice one.

1. 
   JohnSprung | Mar 18, 2003 09:48pm | #5

   >  When I tried to go through the new joists into the 80 year old stuff, the nails just crumpled up. 

   Thanks. One trick I find works for this with hand hammering, probably also OK with the palm nailer, is to grab the middle of the exposed part of the nail real tight with channel locks when you get to the hard part.  I always wait too long before letting go, and nail the channel locks to the joist.  ;-)

   I know what you mean about big knots in old lumber.  The trees they had back then had branches bigger than some of the trees they make into 2x4's today.   But I've also found in my place a 2x10 17 ft. long with absolutely no knots at all.

   -- J.S.

3. 
   EdJW | Mar 18, 2003 04:48pm | #4

   John, I just bought a Bostich PN100 from amazon.com, brand new, $59 no tax shipped to the door.  It wasn't the kit, just the nailer.  I looked at the Tradesman but the casing is made out of plastic.  Senco makes two models which look identical, the A20 and the A9, difference being the A20 is made over seas and is less expensive.  I was told by Senco that the A9 is a better choice if used often.  I don't plan on using mine all that much so I felt the Bostich was a good deal.  -Ed

1. 
   rasconc | Mar 19, 2003 12:38am | #6

   They must have changed the Tradesman, I looked at my 8400 and it is cast aluminum.  I went back and looked at the reviews on Amazon and the marks were not great for the Tradesman.  Don't think you can go wrong with the Bostich.  Same for Senco, I noticed that Porter Cable has one but I bet it is a repackage/rename. I guess which one to buy depends on the use, how much and by whom (owner or crew).

4. 
   MikeCallahan | Mar 19, 2003 05:35am | #7

   I used a Danair for about ten years till a laborer quit and the nailer disappeared at the same time. The Danair worked great. Sometimes the diaphragm stuck and a slap or rap on the back fixed it. Next I bought a Senco. It was bare bones for about 140 bucks. The gasket was very thin and leaked constantly unless I cranked the bejeezus out of the allen bolts and then it still leaked a little. I accidentally left the Senco out one night and it sprouted legs or something because I never saw it again. I recently bought a Porter Cable at the local lumber yard for 10 dollars under the price of the Senco. The PC came with a leather grip, spare tips for spikes and finish nails and wrenches and a plastic case. It works fine. I don't think a pancake compressor would give enough CFM to run it though. I have had the PC for about 8 months now and I use it a lot. I use it for nailing Redwood shakes, Hangers ,A35s, Straps, and drywall backing for the ceiling....I use it instead of my hammer often. It a good value compared to the Senco. I doesn't leak air either.

   We may be slow, But we're expensive.
1. 
   JohnSprung | Mar 20, 2003 02:24am | #8

   Thanks for the advice, I'll probably buy something this Friday.

   -- J.S.

5. 
   CAGIV | Mar 20, 2003 06:12am | #9

   Another vote for Senco

   View ImageGo Jayhawks
1. 
   JohnSprung | Mar 21, 2003 01:56am | #10

   I went out today to buy a Senco A9.  Anawalt True Value had no palm nailers at all.  Terry had Tradesman.  HD had the A20.  Looks like I'll have to order online....

   -- J.S.

1. 
   JohnSprung | Apr 08, 2003 01:33am | #11

   The Senco A9 finally arrived and --- WOW!  I shoulda bought this thing years ago.  I'm putting 16d nails in places I can barely reach, easier than pushing in a thumb tack.  And the recoil is practically nil.  This is a great tool.

   -- J.S.

1. 
   ahneedhelp | Apr 10, 2003 02:47am | #12

   John -

   Maybe I missed an earlier post, but would you mind telling us what you're using to power your new A9 ?

   Thanks,

   Alan

1. 
   JohnSprung | Apr 11, 2003 01:09am | #13

   For now I'm borrowing my BIL's compressor.  It's a Campbell Hausfeld WL650001AJ, 13 gallon tank, 15 amps at 120 volts (5 "peak" HP), 6.9 CFM @ 40 PSI and 5.5 CFM @ 90 PSI, 125 PSI max.  This isn't a heavy duty machine, but it seems to have no problem with the palm nailer.

   -- J.S.

2. 
   jonblakemore | Apr 11, 2003 07:30pm | #14

   I've run a Senco palm nailer off a 1.5hp emglo compressor with no problems.   

   Jon Blakemore

3. 
   bobl | Apr 28, 2003 02:31am | #15

   http://www.woodworkerswarehouse.com/shopSearchResults.asp?SID=&shopperid=FRUWBTC3APSR2NEQ00UG3QTANN4D311D

   does this look like the right price for a senco a9?bobl          Volo Non Voleo      Joe's BT Forum cheat sheet

4. 
   bobl | Apr 28, 2003 02:46am | #16

   http://www.woodworkerswarehouse.com/shopItemDetail.asp?SID=&txtQueryID=sna9&txtProductID=SNA9&selCategory=&txtKeyword=&selPrice=&abspage=1&shopperid=FRUWBTC3APSR2NEQ00UG3QTANN4D311D

   part numver sna9, price $39bobl          Volo Non Voleo      Joe's BT Forum cheat sheet

5. 
   m2akita | Apr 28, 2003 04:34am | #17

   I think they missed priced it by $100.  A look at toolcrib (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000225L0/qid=1051493096/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/104-4759594-3789526?v=glance&s=hi) and they have it for $150.

   Im gonna go and order one.  Good timing as the one I have ( a cheapo taiwan knockoff) has developed an air leak that I cant figure.

   -M2akita

6. 
   bobl | Apr 28, 2003 03:46pm | #18

   went to order it, no longer availablebobl          Volo Non Voleo      Joe's BT Forum cheat sheet

7. 
   m2akita | Apr 29, 2003 02:29am | #19

   Yeah, I tried to order and got the same message.  I think it may be their way of covering their mistake ( the price may not be a mistake but it sure is low).  I scanned through their website, also found a Jorgensen 12 pc clamp set for $3.99.  That was also no longer available.

   Oh well.  To good to be true.  Guess Ill try mess around a little more with my piece of crap palm nailer, will probably end up throwing it out though.

   -M2akita

8. 
   bobl | Apr 29, 2003 02:49am | #20

   they're closing out their MasterFastener and another brand (jermeko??) palm nailers for $69bobl          Volo Non Voleo      Joe's BT Forum cheat sheet