Hello Forum
I’m considering buying this nailer form Amazon/$139.. This will be my first nailer. I consider Porter/Cable to be a decent tool company.
I appreciate any insights.
Thanks
Drake
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Replies
For occasional, medium-duty work, the Porter Cable nailers work great. I've had my 18g straight finish nailer for 7 years w/o a problem. On the job, for more demanding work, I'd choose a Paslode. We've got one at Habitat that even the volunteers can't break.
If you choose Porter Cable, there's some great deals right now on combo packs - 2-3 guns, compressor and hose. Look on Amazon.
Carl
Carl
Thanks for sharing your experience with PC. There are so many manufactures out there selling nail guns its difficult to make a decision.
Drake
I own one and would not recommend it. The gun works fine, although PC nailers are one of the least expensive guns. Their performance is at the low end. This gun shoots nails with rectangular heads. These nails need to be set in with the grain. This means turning the gun sideways on vertical applications. Otherwise, the heads will pull in chips and make a nasty hole. The magazine is straight and longer nails hang out the bottom. This makes getting the gun into many areas a chore. On something like crown molding, the magazine will hit the wall and often make a mark. You also have to change out a nail support that bolts into the magazine when you change nail lengths.The nails are too big in the smaller sizes so it's not very useful as a substitute for a brad nailer. It doesn't work well as a finish nailer because of the above. Basically, a gun that tries to fill two niches and fails at both. Get an angled finish nailer that shoots finish nails and you will be much happier.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
I also have this nailer and agree with the previous poster that the hole the nail leaves in the trim is excessive compared to other possibilities. Regardless of what you are nailing with, you still have to putty a hole, no?
Any suggestions out there on the best trim/finish nailer here would be appreciated; I'm in the buying mode!!
http://grungefm.com
I just went through this and wound up ordering the Hitachi NT65MA2. After reading far too many reviews and comments here and at JLC, I narrowed the field to the Hitachi, the Max NF550 and the Bostitch oil-free gun. While the last two had their applauders and detractors, no one said anything bad about the Hitachi.You can find the Bostitch and the Hitachi for not much more than the PC gun, particularly if you look through craigslist and ebay.
Thank you. I will look at the Hitachi although I usually buy at Amazon.
I just looked at the Hitachi on Amazon and it looks like it shoots a square headed nail, same as the nail on the Porter Cable that I current use. Is this true? If it does, does anyone know of a nice machine that shoots a non-square headed nail? The square head, as stated above, tends to leave a large hole to fill.
http://grungefm.com or
http://www.wolfmother.com
Edited 12/3/2006 12:18 am ET by RRooster
RRooster,My Hitachi just arrived, so I wasn't able to answer your question until now. It looks like it takes a half-rounded head nail, like a clipped head framing nail, rather than a squarish one. The Hitachi nails I just picked up have that half-rounded head, and I see that the Senco nails are supposed to fit the Hitachi as well.The Bostitch nails I saw at the store looked completely different, more rectangular, with nothing round on the top. I don't believe those fit the Hitachi.Hope that helps.Tua res agitur, paries cum proximus ardet ~ Horace
I've been happy with the Hitachis.
-- J.S.
I've got one - had it for maybe 6-7 years. Infrequent use only, but have built a fair number of cabinets and put up a modest amount of molding with it. Never ever had a problem with mine. The little rubber tip thingie has recently cracked and come off. No jambs or double-shots. Just put a drop of oil into the intake before you use it for the day.
Fasteners are easy to find - full range at any Big Box. Doesn't really matter whose name brand you use. They're available in bright, galvanized and even stainless if you look hard enough...
It was my first, too. (I now own 4 or 5) I originally thought it was a good compromise between the 15 ga and the 18 ga stuff. If I had it to do over again, I'd start with a 15 ga and add the 18 later. Probably an angled 15 ga (will fit into awkward inside-angle areas a little easier). I've got a little 18 ga Accuset (no longer made) that I really like. Senco seems to be the "go to" for many nailers, although everybody's got their personal preferences...
One pain about the FN250 is that, although it covers a decent range of fastener lengths (one of the main reasons I originally bought it), you must manually install or remove a little shim in the magazine whenever you drop below or above 1-1/2" fasteners, respectively. This can be inconvenient, trying to fumble with an allen wrench and a tiny lock screw whenever you change lengths. I first noticed this to be a pain when I was assembling 3/4" cab's with 1/4" or 3/8" backs and having to jump between shorties and longs during glue-up. If you encounter this often it's helpful to have 2 guns...
For DIY use, I think it's a cost-effective choice. You should do fairly well with it, and the range of fastener lengths is a plus provided you're not in a real hurry. It's a simple, straightforward design - easy to understand, hard to screw up...
Heavier use folks are probably wise to look elsewhere (and will probably spend a bit more for it as well)...
Hope this helps...
"One pain about the FN250 is that, although it covers a decent range of fastener lengths (one of the main reasons I originally bought it), you must manually install or remove a little shim in the magazine whenever you drop below or above 1-1/2" fasteners, respectively. "
Same reason why I bought mine. I don't need to install any kind of shim in mine to change nail size. I may have a newer version.
Has never misfired or double fired but is starting to leak air from the trigger.
http://grungefm.com or
http://www.wolfmother.com
took my pc in to get repaired. the cost was about 100 bucks. the same as a new one. so i talked to some folks and got the hitatchi for about 80 bucks at blowes. used it the other day it was the bomb
View Image Official Jeff Buck Memorial Tagline "
for about 80 bucks at blowes.
LOL blowes lol LOL
Anyway, the cost of repairing my PC because it leaks around the trigger will be around $60 (rebuild kit). I wonder if I should just buy a new one and trash the Porter Cable? Can't be that hard to rebuild, can it?
http://grungefm.com or
http://www.wolfmother.com
It was for me 40 bucks for the kit and about 50 for the labor. A new one cost about 100 bucks
I bought the pc because at the time they repair kits everywhere. Now I cant find them anywhere.
The new hitatchi was 79 bucks a blowes. so the math didnt work out
View Image Official Jeff Buck Memorial Tagline "
That fuzzy math, eh? I'm border line on what to do.
It still works, just leaks air and bugs me.
http://grungefm.com or
http://www.wolfmother.com
Hi Phix,
Gotta' agree with Willflysats in post #9. I bought mine two years ago and last year did all the trim in my daughters new home. It was all in hard maple and the gun never skipped a beat or double fired. The rectangular nail stock was not a problem for me once I paid attention. Dependable, well made, never jambed, comfortable. But I do not make my living with it.
A friend has the Hitachi,loves it. Another has a Senco, won't change. To each his own. If you have a bud that can loan you one of any brand, try it out. Rent different ones. Minimal cost to see what you may want/not want on the test drive.
What will you use it for most?
...The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it. -Mark Twain...
Be kind to your children....they will choose your nursing home.