I got a problem with my framing gun (Senco FramePro 600). Recently it started driving nails funny. It will shoot them into wood about 3/4 of the way then bends the rest over and sets it. I’ve had this gun and others for a long time and never had this problem. I took it apart and checked the driver which had a slightly worn face. I flattened the face and it still did the same. I drained the compressor…still does it. Tried another hose (same brand and age)…still does it. Upped the pressure on the compressor and it doesn’t bend the nails but over sets them about 1/4″ below the face. Slowly turn the pressure down…starts bending nails again. Now I’m baffled.
Do I need to replace the barrel? or is there another problem, maybe with the compressor or hose?
I’m more a remodeler/cabinetmaker, not a framer so the gun has had only mild use. Rings and piston look like new.
Thanks
GK
Replies
My guess is the nose guide is worn or loose, is there any thing that ya flip to clear jams? I'm not that familiar with that gun, but some need to be cleaned and clamped down good and tight, or maybe the ways that the driver ride in are beyond tolerance.
I doubt very much draining the comp, or a hose swap will have any effect. Its in the guide mechanism.
EDIT: OR, maybe bum/wrong nails?
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Edited 11/18/2008 2:47 pm ET by Sphere
The gun clears a jamb by removing the nail sleeve. Undo a thumbscrew near the grip and it pulls right out of the barrel.I took that off and cleaned and lubed the nail track and coil spring and everything very well. I inspected the barrel but couldn't see any signs of wear, no visible bends or obstructions. While doing this, I did notice that the spring for the safety tip wasn't in the correct position so I put that back where it belongs and double checked the depth gauge....still it won't fire correctly.Even if I hold my body weight up to the rear of the gun (so it absolutely cannot bounce) and shoot it will bend the last 1/4" of the nail and set it into the wood.GK...still baffled
Driver chipped?
"Driver chipped?"the driver face was just a little worn (more so on one edge) so I re-squared the face and it did the same thing.
Sounds like it could be an excessively small hose restricting the flow. Raising the pressure would overcome that problem. You shouldn't be using pressure to control the depth of drive, they have a bumper that attaches to the contact tip to prevent overdriving (as in plywood)
Rich
Try a differnt box of nails? You may have a batch that are soft just under the head?Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Could be bad nails.
OP said that the nail gets bent over and set. Which I would think would seem to indicate that the driver is willing to go all the way, but the nail for whatever reason isn't strong enough. Or the gun just doesn't have the muscle to sink the nail; Like a big ringshank or spiral shank.
Webby
Edited 11/18/2008 5:01 pm ET by webby
"Try a differnt box of nails?"I have been using the same nails throughout the project....not the best, simply HomeDepot GripRite 3-1/4" clipped head sinkers. I have been using them for awhile (I used to use ONLY Senco brand nails but stopped because of availability and cost). But now that you guys mention it and make me dwell on it more, this may have all started since I broke into a new box...which I think was actually an old box I've had laying around for a year or so. I will try some new nails tomorrow and see how it goes.Thanks all.
GK
Home depot grip rite are decent nails. It sounds like you either not getting enough air or you ground off to much of the driver.
Still haven't fully solved the issue with the gun. I got senco brand nails and rechecked the slide mechanism. The new nails would work fine for awhile then start hanging again. I looked into the barrel and noticed that the nails weren't feeding all the way, causing the nail at bat to sit a bit low in the barrel. I dismantled the feed and double checked alignment but couldn't find anything out of sorts. It looks as if the problem occurs when the second strip in line begins. I studied it, disassembled it, reassembled it, then decided I needed to get more work and less fiddling done so I just put it in the back of my mind for now and moved forward. I will take one more look at it before I put it away for the job, I might just have to limp along for awhile longer till I can afford to mess around with it any more, have it repaired professionally, or just buy a new gun.Thanks for the help and Ideals on this fellas.GK
We had the same problem once. In really cold weather say if it gets in the twenties and lower the wood freezes just like anything else. Makes it hard to fire a 3 1/4" nail into wood.
We went to 3" nails and 90 lbs of pressure and except for LVLs the problem for us stop. Hope this helps.
GaryS.
Most nails today are commodities. That means you can buy any and the should work. We have had some brands of private label not as good as others, but grip rite have always worked for us.
Of course, we use a Hitachi!
A week ago, I was on a material run and happened across a senco repair shop so I stopped in. This particular day, I left my framing nailer and construction stapler at home...I almost always load up my tools, the day I don't....sheeesh. Anyway, I ask the service tech what the problem is and of course he says he wouldn't know until he sees it but could be the slide, the driver, the barrel may be bent, or just bad nails. I tell him I was using grip-rite nails and he goes off. "those nails are junk, they will ruin the gun!!"I didn't argue with him, I just thanked him for his advice and left. I realize that I am the owner of a gun that isn't working properly after using grip-rite nails, but I still find it hard to believe that the nails used will "ruin" the gun. Maybe if the nails jammed often enough to deform the barrel or the driver, but I'm not having jam problems just drive alignment issues.gk
We haven't used brand name nails in a long time. I suspect most nails come from only a few factories, with different names on the boxes.
In fact, some off brand seem better than originals!
You sure the driver wasn't chipped off and after grinding isn't too short now?
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Are you nailing into an LVL or something hard? I think the 600 and 601 which is what I have are kind of light when it comes to harder laminated lumber like lvl's.
Sounds like the gun drives the nail as far as it can but wont sink it, as a result, the unsupported portion of the nail gets bent over and driven.
Webby
"Are you nailing into an LVL or something hard?"I began to notice it awhile back while nailing LVL's so I thought nothing of it...in fact when I was nailing the LVL's, it left about an inch sticking out but bent about 15˚. I remember that because they kept bending over when I went back to drive them home. Now it is bending them over 90˚ in SPF studs and setting them into the wood.
Do you hear any air leaking. Could it be possible that nailing a lot of lvl's with the pressure up caused a leak in a seal and the gun won't quite have full pressure to drive with.
All I remember about the FP 600 when it came out was that it was a good gun but not great for lvl's.
Could also explain the rounded driver /wear. Nailing the levl's was tough on it and caused wear on the driver tip. Just a guess.
Webby
Edited 11/18/2008 8:06 pm ET by webby
That's what I would guess is the problem.
Those are not very powerful guns. I could see a full size ring shank or spiral not getting driven in all the way.
Edited 12/14/2008 5:07 pm ET by BoJangles
You said your piston looks ok??? Usually you have a problem with the top end....bumper/piston assy.
Not familiar with that gun.... but usually when the nails only go 1/2 way and don't feed properly. The piston is not returning to the top. Then when you fire the gun, you only get a partial stroke.
Damage is apparent when you pull the head--- pieces come out where they shouldn't be.
An easy rebuild on most guns and no permanent damage. 2x check your bumper and let us know the outcome.
Good luck
Ray
Try replacing the driver, if its not dead square the end will slide and push the nail over. Like a dirty hammer face will bend nails.
Air pressure will not control drive depth as the wood density changes.
Did you ever solve the problem??
I had a PC with similar problems a few months ago ( Poor feed, irregular driving and bent nails)
Only a $5 fix, but the place jams me on nails to make it up.