Bought a Paslode positive placement nailer today. It seems every set of plans I open up these days shows entire floors flush framed to LVL’s and tons of cathedral ceilings with Simpson H2’s speced.
I took her for a quick dance on 6 double 2×10 joist hangers and wasn’t all that impressed. It didn’t jamb but instead wouldn’t fire as if it were jambed. Felt as if the contact tip wasn’t making contact even though it clearly was. This happened maybe 5 times out of, oh let’s see, maybe 100 nails.
Anyone regularly use one of these guns? Is this common? The gun was close to $400 and will be dedicated soley to hangers. For that money it needs to perform relatively flawlessly. Should I just trade her back in tomorrow for another Hitatchi framer?
Replies
Diesel,
My crew has the same nailer and I have experienced the same problem: About once in every magazine of nails, the probe will be depressed in the hole and the gun will act like it's jammed--won't fire. I've resorted to dragging the probe aorund the strap til it hits a hole and then "stabbing" the probe to ensure it's fully depressed. Also, make sure the probe is fully released before depressing it again (like a "sequential trigger" on a regular nailer); I have found this helps a lot. Even with its weight and glitches, the PP nailer is still much better than hand driving all those straps and clips. BTW, I've shot as fast as 1 shot every 2 seconds for 10-15 shots before.
-Captain Strap
I'd take it back! I bought a Senco palm nailer for hangers and it's the real deal. Never jams. Knocks a hanger nail down in about 1.5 seconds. Costs about a hundred bucks. Comes in handy on some other projects once in a while.
Clay, I've actually gone through two Senco palm nailers in as many years. The seals go on em after about six months. Now I have a pair of cheap HD $30 job palm nailers that have made it about four months so far.
Gotta agree with you though, palm nailers can be darn handy. It's one of those tools you may not use every day, but occasionally it's the ONLY tool to get a job done with out tearing apart some work. I find em great for that double hanger I forgot to nail off that's in the most awkward place imaginable. Did you know that the Senco's will work underwater!
I never knew that! You apparently do more framing than I (I'm mostly a high-end finish guy). As much as you use them the Paslodes won't last forever either. But it's your call, just thought that you might not have been to Palm nailer heaven yet. (:-)
I've had mixed feelings about the pasload. I've had several over the years and especially in commercial they are a time saver...that said, the first one i ever had wouldn;t rarely completely sink the 2&1/2" nails and also have constantly had troubles with the mags, nails sticking, not jamming, just not slidding real well, have to use my other hand to put pressure on the feed, and the tip busting, not to mention they weigh a ton. I now prefer the hitachi, thou it doesn't seem as bomb proof, and i have had some problems with the sturdiness of the mags, It has seemes less problematic over all and it is feather lite compared compared to the pasload...
Geez man get the Hitachi... they make a positive placement gun too.
Check out the new issue of "Fine Homebuilding". There's a great article on positive placement nailers!