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Recommended HW Flooring Nailer

grandchat27 | Posted in General Discussion on November 22, 2007 04:05am

Hello,

In about 1 month I’m looking at putting down approx. 1,500 ft2 of 3/4″ x 5″ maple hardwood floors.  I was looking at renting a nailer (I’m a DIY’er),  but I think I should just buy one by the time I add up all the cost to rent the thing.  Does anyone have any recommendations on which nailer to get.  Keep in mind that I will probably use it after this project maybe once every year or so, so I don’t need a super-duty nailer.  Just one that will do a good job on my own house (the 1,500 ft2 job above) and still be reliable if I chose to do other jobs down the road.  Thanks in advance for your help.

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  1. Shoeman | Nov 22, 2007 04:13pm | #1

    I have used the Bostich MIIIFS pneumatic flooring stapler and would recommend.  

    1. paulc127 | Nov 22, 2007 06:43pm | #2

      I purchased a Porter Cable about 4 years ago for about 2,500 sqft job. I wanted to take my time and avoid rental fees. I've used both Senco and Bostitch. I found the Bostitch to be a little finicky.I bought the PC because it was significantly less than Senco or Bostitch. Senco is certainly a more "professional grade" tool but not worth the additional cost for a small jobThe PC was was largely trouble free, but the last nail in the magazine tends to jam. Refilling the nails before it runs out alleviates this problem.I bought it from Northwest Power Toolshttp://www.northwestpowertools.com/nail/floor/floor.htm

      1. FastEddie | Nov 23, 2007 12:00am | #4

        I have the pneumatic Porter Cable and it has always worked very well.  The last nail does not jam in mine, it just fall out.  So I put in half a stick of nails frequently.  I did manage to jam it once pretty badly, I think I hit the nail without air power, then hit it again with the air on ... whatever ... sure jammed it good."Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

        "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

  2. frenchy | Nov 22, 2007 08:15pm | #3

    grandchat27

      I'd look at buying it used.. there are several store chains that sell second hand tools and their price is a little more than 1/2 price of new typically.. you might check E Bay and Craigs list as well.

      That way if you use it for your project and resell it later you'll have very little real cost involved.

  3. northeastvt | Nov 23, 2007 01:34am | #5

    Grandchat27,

      I have the Porter Cable, works great for me. Like Fast Eddie said, the last nail just falls out.  I rent mine out if I am not using it. One thing that would be nice to have, is a case for it . The box it came in is getting kind of tattered.

    Northeastvt

  4. BilWil | Nov 23, 2007 01:53am | #6

    I think it depends on whether you like nails or staples.  If you like nails, or cleats actually, then the PowerNailer is my favorite.  This is where I got mine: http://www.tools4flooring.com/powernail-445-ls-pneumatic-nailer-p-257.html

    If you like staples, then my favorite is: the Bostitch 15-1/2-Gauge Flooring Stapler.  I got mine here: http://www.cpobostitch.com/staplers/flooring_staplers/miiifs.html

    Whether you go with staples or nail is a matter of personal preference, at least to me.  I have both because there have been times when a particular flooring manufacturer would only warrent there floor if it was attached with what they specified.  I figure my customers deserve the warentee.



    Edited 11/22/2007 5:54 pm ET by BilWil

  5. curley | Nov 23, 2007 01:56am | #7

    Maybe I'm the odd ball. I bought the manuel Bostich. It cost half as much and you don't have to worry about tripping over air hoses. I checked the archives on the subject of manuel nailers and one guy calls it a "Bam Bam F%^& gun" because if you don't hit the plunnger as hard as you need to then the nail does't set.  So you have o pull the nail.

    I take a taekwondo class with my boys so I'm in good shape, swinging the 5 lb hammer didn't bother me. I found you let the hammer do the work. I'd raise the hammer over my head and let the falling hammer do the work. I noticed its how you hit the plunger and not how hard you hit the plunger.

    Futhermore it helps to have help. My wife would lay the next piece to be nailed and I could keep my hands on the hammer and nailer. Just tap it in place and Bang! I'm limber enoungh to nail bending over rather than get on my knees- that helps

    Good luck

    1. FastEddie | Nov 23, 2007 03:28pm | #8

      rather than get on my knees

      I cannot imagine trying to nail flooring while kneeling.  Especially with a manual nailer, how do you get a good swing?"Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

      "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

  6. Hackinatit | Nov 23, 2007 04:56pm | #9

    Manual Powernailer, 2" cleats. I prefer the lighter hammer designed for air nailers because of the urethane mallet vs the rubber mallet on the heavier manual hammer.

    You have to hit the snot outta the thing resulting in the t&g being TIGHT.

    You can hit it 3-4 times in locations that you can't get a good swing. (close to walls, windows... even left-handed)

    You don't have to step on, trip over, twist, pull a "f*&#^ng" air hose that will ALWAYS be in the way.

    You'll develope Popeye arm, unless, of course, you're already married more than 2 years. ;-)

     

     

    Liberty = Freedom from unjust or undue governmental control.

    American Heritage Dictionary

  7. User avater
    dedhed | Nov 23, 2007 10:41pm | #10

    I know somebody who bought one for personal use and was quite satisfied.

    http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=flooring+nailer&Submit=Go

    1. User avater
      G80104 | Nov 24, 2007 12:46am | #11

      Just had a sub contractor install 2k sq.ft. of Tiger Wood with the same nailer. Young kid with limited resources. Said he changes the O-rings about 3 times a year on the CP nailer.

        Still cheaper then renting a gun for a week. Think I might look in to one as we have about 1300 sq to do in a few months.

      1. FastEddie | Nov 24, 2007 03:24am | #12

        I thought Tiger Wood played golf.  Now he does wood floors?"Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

        "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

  8. MikeSmith | Nov 24, 2007 04:17am | #13

    grand.... i had two  PortaNailer  hand nailers  ( cleat nails )

    bought the Bostich MIIIFS pneumatic flooring stapler ,  i can get SS staples for it if we're doing exterior fir T&G

     a lot of my contractor friends borrow my stapler...

    it really works great, i've never had a jam... going on 4 years.....

    it works better than hand nailing or the PortaNailer... snugs the boards up nice & tite with no effort

    we've found that the staples hold as good or better than the cleat nails

    Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
    1. Piffin | Nov 25, 2007 01:34am | #16

      I've ome to the opinion that they are all pretty darn good.For years I rented or borrowed portanailers or the Bostich pneumatic nailer. I've used a Bostich stapler that one of my subs has. When I got reaady to buy I inquired about the new ( at that time) PC cleat nailer but heaard a lot of negative about so many of the other PC pneumatics and shyed away from it. I eneded up buying a Grip-Rite pneumatic ( it comes set up for either power-nails or for staples and with a cchangeable shim plate for thicker flooring) and have used it for three houses now.Other than the PC that I haven't used, I can't tell the difference between any of them except that I raise my arm higher to drive the hand operated Power-nailer 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  9. EricGunnerson | Nov 24, 2007 11:23pm | #14

    I also used the Bostich flooring stapler. I considered buying it, but my HD had brand new ones for rent and I didn't think I'd use it enough to buy it.

  10. Oak River Mike | Nov 25, 2007 01:07am | #15

    I bought a new Portanailer (manual) and have done two homes with it (2895 and 2300 sq ft) and have been very pleased.  Sure the mallet gets heavy by the end of the job and you look like a lobster with one arm being bigger than the other but the manual is cheaper and I always need the exercise.

    Whatever you buy makes sure they have different thickness shoes in case you use differing thickness flooring along the way.

  11. McKenzie | Nov 25, 2007 07:05am | #17

    I do one, maybe two, hardwood floors a year. About 7 or 8 years ago, when I did my first one, I bought the PortaNailer manual nailer. I bought it mainly because of the price but found that it suits my needs well. I have used pneumatic nailers and, yes, they are easier to use but, for occaisional use, the manual nailers are much more cost effective. Also, being a DIYer, do you have an air compressor? If not, that would really add to the cost of a pneumatic model. One good thing, though, is that there are many other labor saving tools available that you could power should you have to buy a compressor.

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