Replies

1. 
   briankeith | Sep 25, 2003 12:18am | #1

   I'm not a roofer so my info may be off slightly, but here it is;

   Go with the nailer. I'm pretty sure that there may be some warranty issues regarding the use of staples with some brands or types of shingles.

   In my area of Missouri there is a bad stigma about stapling shingles.

   As the the brand. All I ever see around here are Bostitch nailers.

   I'm sure that there are other good nailers, but there was a thread here regarding brands and it seemed to go Bostitch yellow, too.

   Too big a job to use the "Classic Estwing Cordless Nailer"???

   View Image
1. 
   Longhair | Sep 25, 2003 12:59am | #2

   lol i like that.used to be all i used, got sick of beating my fingers up.couple of bostich ridgerunners and an emglo seemed to be the way to go

1. 
   briankeith | Sep 25, 2003 01:09am | #3

   Yeah, I've bloodied my fingers a time or two, also.

   Anyway, that's another vote for the Ridgerunner.

   Has it been a good tool for you? Satisfied you?

   Was I right about the use of staples?View Image

1. 
   Longhair | Sep 25, 2003 03:35am | #10

   yes they have been real good,wish they were broken for good cause everyone knows that i USED to roof lol.seem to forget the used to part.other than rebuilds every now and then no problems at all even with generic nails

2. 
   bill_1010 | Sep 25, 2003 01:32am | #4

   Nailer.  Head makes a wide contact/hold down point.  The staples will remain as the wind blows off your shingle in a storm.   That means less call-backs and less chance you will have to deal with water damage from the HO if the shingles blow off. 

   If you ever re-roof a project and the previous person used staples you will curse them, as your re-roof will be a pain.

   Staples only benefit is the cost, they are cheaper.  Thats the only benefit if you can consider that.  You should be factoring in the costs of fasteners for your job and the customer pays that.  

   Some codes wont allow staples, as should most code on shingles.

   Max, Hitachi and Bostich roofers are very common.   Your Final choice is who your local pneumatic fastener repairperson is fast to fix and carries parts.  

   2hp 4 gallon will handle one to two roofing nailers.  

3. 
   SHazlett | Sep 25, 2003 01:32am | #5

   Dave-----

   currently I keep several bostich guns for employees to use. I have used bostich guns for years and they take a lot of beating and abuse and hold up well.they seem to survive employees dropping them off roofs better than other guns we have used.The newer ones seem much heavier than the older ones---but what the heck---it ain't my elbow---besides I am buying durability with those guns ---not weight savings.

   My personal gun is a MAX gun. in many ways really similar to older lighter bostich guns----but it also has a nice depth of drive adjustment. Handles generic nails well.

   I used to use a paslode gun for my personal gun, very light weight.---but it was always finicy---and only really liked Paslode brand nails. It was a little too light weight----it let me fire it in some bad positions which led to a bit of elbow trouble.

   the right weight gun will encourage good posture and save alot of wear and tear on your elbow.

1. 
   bill_1010 | Sep 25, 2003 06:58am | #12

   from what i understand MAX made the old bostich guns.   Bostich the went by way of walmart and shopped around for a factory that elt them drive the price down.

   They took the bostich design and improved it.

1. 
   SHazlett | Sep 25, 2003 05:05pm | #13

   WmP,

   your assesment seems reasonable to me.

   the loading mechanism on the newer bostich guns is actually simpler  than the MAX/old bostich----but it seems awkward to me. the Max gun was like a old friend straight out of the box-----plus the depth of drive adjustment is fantastic. It otta be illegal to sell a roofing gun without depth of drive adjustment.

   And I also like the swivel connection on the air inlet----makes the gun more manuverable.

4. 
   Piffin | Sep 25, 2003 02:07am | #6

   So where did these guys get the idea that fingers have got blood in them anyways?

   ;)

   I am a roofer -ex. I'll make this short. You won't need a stapler on my jobs.

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

5. 
   Phat | Sep 25, 2003 02:44am | #7

   I recall a while ago reading about a crew that liked staples, for tear-offs. They referred to it as "unzipping the roof."

   Liberal Arts Graduate

   Will Think for Food

1. 
   TLJ | Sep 25, 2003 06:40am | #11

   Yes, I used to look forward (after a fashion) to stripping a stapled roof. Just roll the shingles up like carpet. That's in plywood, now. Lumber decking? That's another thing.

6. 
   xMikeSmith | Sep 25, 2003 03:02am | #8

   nails... not to mention... the  roofing nailer can also be used for other things.. like felt paper..

     and fiber cement siding..

    Hitachi makes a nice roofing gun..

    the old bostich is good... their new one .... seems like a step up.. but it's not as reliable and actually slower to load..

   Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

7. 
   RW | Sep 25, 2003 03:09am | #9

   another vote for the Hitachi nailer. I know brand loyalties are localised. We love lime green around here.

   "The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb "      lyrics by Roger Waters

8. 
   dmw | Sep 25, 2003 05:37pm | #14

   Thanks everybody for the info., it's been a real help. Yea, it would suck if the wind blows the shingles off!! I'm in a real windy area too.

1. 
   ANDYSZ2 | Sep 27, 2003 01:33am | #15

   We just had the strait line wind storm from h..ll  and my shingles did quite well only had three blow up and none blew off the winds were clocked at over a hundred miles an hour and guess what fasteners STAPLES. Now I don't recommend staples but I sure was pleasantly suprised that the whole roof didn't disappear like 100's of homes in the area. And man it sure is weird to drive by and see a whole roof gone and no shingles on the ground anywhere.

       ANDYSZ2I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.

9. 
   JeffBuck | Sep 28, 2003 07:50am | #16

   here's the only time I'll use these two word in the same sentence...

   porter cable ...and nailing gun!

   The PC roofer is a "decent" roofer. Definitely not an every day gun ....

   but for the price..... a decent tool.

   I don't do more than one or two roofs a year .....

   my "used" PC gun hasn't let me down . ... but then again ....I haven't asked much from it. It spends most of it's life in a bucket labeled .... "roofing tools".

   Jeff

   Buck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

    Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite                  

1. 
   seeyou | Sep 28, 2003 07:34pm | #17

   I've had good luck with my PC. Bought it 'cause it was on sale when my Paslode died. Shoots generic nails well.