Just bought a used porter cable bammer cordless nailer. It physically appears good. However, it dosen’t work well. Even at maximum setting the nails will not always set, even in pine. Just wondering if there is a problem with this nailer or if they are all just crap. Anyone have any experience?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story

Listeners write in about fostering trade work and proposed changes to Canadian code and ask questions about roof and wall insulation for an old house.
Featured Video
How to Install Cable Rail Around Wood-Post CornersHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
- Home Group
- Antique Trader
- Arts & Crafts Homes
- Bank Note Reporter
- Cabin Life
- Cuisine at Home
- Fine Gardening
- Fine Woodworking
- Green Building Advisor
- Garden Gate
- Horticulture
- Keep Craft Alive
- Log Home Living
- Military Trader/Vehicles
- Numismatic News
- Numismaster
- Old Cars Weekly
- Old House Journal
- Period Homes
- Popular Woodworking
- Script
- ShopNotes
- Sports Collectors Digest
- Threads
- Timber Home Living
- Traditional Building
- Woodsmith
- World Coin News
- Writer's Digest
Replies
Should have done a search here before you bought it. You are going to get a few "I am sorry for you responses". I personally have no experience but have read many thumbs down comments. Likewise the early Paslode black version.
Thanks that is what I was afraid of.
Sounds like the gas canister. I'd get a fresh one and not something that's been sitting on a shelf gathering dust.
The Bammer can be used, kind of. It's almost like an art form to get a rhythm going where you can shoot several nails in a row before a miscue.
I'm thinking the original design was intended for a fast paced machine where you could fire off nails similar to a standard compressor air nailer.
That's unlike the Paslode Impulse series which demands a slower rhythm between shots or just single nail placement.
If I ever find my Bammer I'm going to get it out and try to see if I can get the thing working as designed.
be open to a challenge or be a glutton for punishment
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
Sell it to Gunner here..then his and yours can die togther before breeding and stop that nonsense.
I got one years ago as a gift, right when they first came out.
I ran several thousand nails through that thing, it worked great...right up until it blew apart and pieces flew everywhere.
I still have the pieces in a box. I come across it every once in a while when shuffling boxes around and have a nice chuckle when recalling the day the Bammer died.
Did you laugh when you saw this title - kind of like the inside joke, "Radio"?or the really good one - "Elephant"?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
No soap!Gotta find that old t-shirt.
It never worked well
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
It's like Rez said. It takes some getting used to. I'd rather pack around a compressor then deal with it.
It's a good tool if you want to walk in shoot a few nails and leave. But that's about it. Try pumping it twice. Just a thought. Personaly mine has always worked fine. the little I used it.
http://www.hay98.com/
did you guys use porter cable nails only. I think i was using hitachi. They did list porter cable on the box. Just a thought.
I always use the manufacturer's nails in my guns. I don't use them as often as a full time builder so the increased costs are negligible.
Old threads buried in the archives somewhere dealt with imperfection sizing of the generic nails that might/could possibly cause premature wear and failure of components in the guns is the summary I gathered from the posts.
Cheers
be thinking do I smell a nailwar coming?
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
I don't have that problem with mine.
Fully pump it twice, then depress it fully and pull the trigger. If that doesn't work and you are sure the gas canister is full, then there is a problem with the gun.
It has it's problems, but it works great for my limited needs.
Edit: Don't leave the canister in the gun when it is not in use. Gas will leak out.
I have never used Porter-Cable nails. I forget what brand I use.
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
Edited 1/5/2006 8:50 pm ET by RichBeckman
Rich, You still have one?Remind me when the next fest comes around, I have several boxes of nails and fuel cannisters still in their original wrapping.Mongo
I cant believe that you found one of those thing still floating around out there!
Boy their must be one happy guy out there, he probably thought he'd never be able to unload that thing.
Doug