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Plam nailers

Douglas | Posted in Tools for Home Building on September 2, 2002 03:23am

I’ve got a Senco and it works great.  In fact, I was showing it to a friend and couldn’t find any nails so I tried hammering in a 3 inch deck screw.  It pushed it in like it was a nail.  Great tool!  Consider wearing a padded glove if you use it for extended periods.

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  1. maneyj | Sep 02, 2002 04:20am | #1

    I also have a Senco. Greatest thing since sliced bread. I use it for Sinpson ties {hurricane Hangers), and any time I can't get my framing gun into a tight spot. For an old man with arthritis it's a necessaty

    1. FramerJay | Sep 03, 2002 06:57am | #12

      I've also contemplated buying a palm nailer for hurricane straps and brick ties (both require 8d sinkers, BTW) as well as occasional drywall backing in tight spots, so I've got two questions:

      1. Exactly how does the thing work? It looks to me like you put the nail in it and push the nose against the work and it fires. Am I more or less correct?

      2. It sounds from you guys like these things have a good bit of recoil, so is it better than hammering a lot of nails or about the same? I'm talking about 400-500 nails in a day, and hand-driving all those nails overhead with a 28-oz. Estwing gets exhausting.

      1. maneyj | Sep 03, 2002 03:17pm | #14

        You are partialy correct. You place the nail in and press the nose against your work, but it doesn't fire. It is more like a mini jack hammer. You just quickly and gently push the nail in. Some vibration, but no recoil.

        It is slower then your clip loaded nail gun, but 10 times faster and easier then your 28-oz Estwing hammer.

        As far as problems with the gun, I have had none. I keep it protected from dirt and the weather and keep it well oiled.

  2. awschmidt | Sep 02, 2002 05:30am | #2

         I'll send in another endorsement for the senco.  I do r&r (remodeling & repair) and find it works wonders in tight spots.  I do use alot of oil it, like all air hammers and socket drivers it performs best well lubed.

    1. luvmuskoka | Sep 02, 2002 03:29pm | #3

      I've used my Pony only a few times to scab nailers in tight areas. Without it I don't know what I would have done. Best $99.00 ever spent!

      Ditch

    2. grantlogan | Sep 02, 2002 07:41pm | #5

      I've had to replace the diaphragm in my Senco twice. I only used it occasionaly. If I had to do it over, I would purchase a cheaper brand. I'm up to about $200 and the thing is broken now. I could have gotten two $99 models and had a spare.

      Good luck.

      gl

      If a mute swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap?

      1. awschmidt | Sep 03, 2002 04:56am | #10

             out of curiosity, are your nailers failing due to rubber decomposition, tearing, or dry rot?

  3. r_ignacki | Sep 02, 2002 03:40pm | #4

    guys get it out even if there's plenty of room and an xtra hose plugged in...

    p.s...... sounds like a loud fart when it drives a nail

    no turn left unstoned  

  4. User avater
    Timuhler | Sep 03, 2002 01:40am | #6

    We have a rather crappy Danair that works well enough.  We also have a Bostich.  It works really well.  The local repair shop said to use a ton of oil.  Both of our palm nailers seem to work better when we load it up with oil. 

    One of the guys I work with thinks it's really funny to put as much oil as the thing will hold and then give it to us for nailing Hardi under overhangs.  The oil just drips down your arm.  It's funny if I get him, but when I have oil on my hand....

    1. MarkH128 | Sep 03, 2002 03:05am | #7

      It's hard to wring someones neck when you have oily palms.

      1. User avater
        Timuhler | Sep 03, 2002 04:19am | #8

        If you can time it right and have your partner leaning over when you use it, that palm nailer shoots a pretty big oil cloud.  It's nice when their dirty, cuz the oil sticks real good.

        1. MarkH128 | Sep 03, 2002 04:51am | #9

          He He he! Do they all run away from you now when you fire up that fart knocker?

          1. Piffin | Sep 03, 2002 06:38am | #11

            Call the Doctor! We got oilly farts over here...Excellence is its own reward!

  5. caldwellbob | Sep 03, 2002 07:08am | #13

    I have two Senco palm nailers and as everyone else has said, they do like their oil. Mine have problems wearing the gaskets out that hold the two halves together. I have never tried any other brand, so I don't know whether the Senco is better or not, but they do run about $25.00 more than the others I've seen.

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