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RATE IT – Senco AF 25 air free nailer

toolbear | Posted in Tools for Home Building on October 23, 2004 08:05am

Folks,

I am considering the Senco AF 25 air free brad nailer for trim work. It uses a flywheel to drive the nail and you have to wait while it spools up.

Have used one, but not extensively. Would like your input, pro and con.

Don’t want to buy a Bammer <g>.

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  1. Shep | Oct 23, 2004 08:06pm | #1

      Bear-

          A friend has the Senco gun and I've used it, although not extensively either. I'm just not comfortable with that lag between pulling the trigger and the gun firing.

       I just bought the Paslode brad gun a few weeks ago and love it. It works just like any other nail gun, without any lag, and is fairly light and compact. I also have 2 other Paslodes, which might have (OK, did ) influence my decision.

       If you can, try the Paslode before buying anything. I got mine at HD for $300.

    1. toolbear | Oct 24, 2004 07:30am | #8

      I have a Paslode framer for pickup work.  Aside from cleaning it now and again, it works fine.  Costs a bit more per shot, but very handy.  Can't smell that well, so does the exhaust reek a bit?

      Saw the trim version being used.  Looked very handy.

      1. Shep | Oct 25, 2004 03:28am | #11

          I don't know about the smell, either . My nose is used basically to hold my glasses up. Others have complained a bit, tho.

        I've got the framer, the right angle trimmer, and now the brad gun.

         I do mostly small jobs, and I'd be lost without them.

      2. AndyW22 | Oct 25, 2004 05:26am | #13

        Is that what that smell is??? I'll have to get the boys to stop blaming me...

        Andy

    2. nikkiwood | Oct 24, 2004 08:50am | #9

      Don't have any experience with the Senco, but I have owned a Paslode for about 5-6 years, and I like it a lot. The batteries must be really high quality, since I am still using the two which came with the gun.

      As others have noted, the gas does have an odor, but it doesn't bother me.

      1. Shep | Oct 25, 2004 03:32am | #12

          My first Paslode ( the right angle finish gun) is at least 8 years old, and still on the original batteries.

          It sometimes drives me nuts how long they can take to charge, but I can live with that.

  2. darcey | Oct 23, 2004 08:32pm | #2

    I used one for warranty and punch.  It was nice not to have to roll out compressor and hoses through homes.  Worked fine for me.

    Interior and exterior trim crews would borrow it, if they had any pick-up work, but they would never dream of using in their production circumstance, though...

  3. DougU | Oct 23, 2004 09:23pm | #3

    Toolbear

    I would check out the Paslode first, I own them so I'm a bit biased.

    I have used the Senco and don't like it.  I have  trimmed entire houses out with the Paslode, I normally wouldn't but someone was using my trim guns/air compressor so I used it, no problems. The Paslode doesn't have that annoying lag time.

    Doug

  4. Pierre1 | Oct 23, 2004 10:00pm | #4

    Friend has one for punch work. Clearning jams is not easy: the nose has 3 allen screws in 2 sizes, the safety interlock parts are fiddly to reassemble.

  5. User avater
    Canabuild | Oct 23, 2004 10:26pm | #5

    We just picked up the new Dewalt airless, and I like it alot. It is a little on the heavy side, but big deal, so are the compressors. We also run a couple of pasload gas, which are workhorses, but the smell of the exhaust can be a little much if your gonna use it alot indoors. If you are already running Dewalt 18v tools, the new nailer is the best buy. Also, look for the straight nail clip version, they are much easier to find, and will fire just about any style. that said finding the angled clips at your local hardware store can be a pain in the ####

  6. Woodbutcher | Oct 23, 2004 11:58pm | #6

    My 2 cents worth...   My buddy has the the Senco, I've used it periodically. It's really nice for punch list, etc. but that trigger to fire lag really is annoying.  It's even harder to get used to when you are going back and forth from air guns to that one.

      I used to have access to some paslode guns and I tried them several times but the extra loud noise coupled with the nasty stink was just too much for me. They fired a lot nicer (faster) than the senco but the fact that you now have to keep track of fuel cells as well as batteries adds to the cost of use and to the  annoyance factor, and out weighs the annoyance of that 2 second delay. (imho)

     I've never used the new dewalt, but I do like the idea of interchangeable batteries.  I just don't know if that outweighs the general cheapieness of dewalt tools. I sure wish they still made real Black and Decker proffessional grade stuff.  Anyone of you guys still have a sawcat kicking around?  Best damm saw I've ever had!  but I digress. 

    1. toolbear | Oct 24, 2004 07:27am | #7

      RE:  SawCat

      Saw one on a job earlier this season.  Went and took a picture of it.

      First one I had seen in the flesh.  So that's a SawCat...

      Their stuff nowadays is pure DIY.  I have their $50 right angle laser that shots a perfect 90dgs (says so on the box).  It's really 89.29 dgs according to a 20' right triangle, so I add .25 in 9' on one leg. 

    2. reinvent | Oct 24, 2004 03:29pm | #10

      I have a saw cat. Was my first real tool purchase. Has an electric brake that kicks on right after you let go of the triger. Always freaks people out, they think they broke it.

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