I landed another job today, 50 sq of hardie siding. Time to buy some more guns.
I saw a Bostitch N66C-1 today and it looked like a nice gun. Also has the option to shoot wire or plastic coils.
Anyone own this gun? What kind of review would you give it?
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Replies
Hi Mike,
Don't you have the gun that he's referring to?
You haven't been posting much lately, where you been? Staying busy over there?
I've been slowly losing my mind over the past couple weeks dude. I'm slammed. Trying to find more qualified help but somehow ended up letting one of my guys go instead. So in the process of trying to make the crew larger, I made it smaller? How am I doing?
Got a new guy starting Friday with one years experience and what seems to be the right attitude. And I'm pretty sure I've got a lead-man starting in a week or so.
To stay on schedule, I need to frame and trim two additions and a 3800 sqft house in the next four weeks to make it to a big duplex/condo job in time that I really don't want to lose. I've got another house and two additions lined up after that. It's as 'booked' as I've ever been. Usually I'm only about two months out tops. I'm at the point now where it's not even about the money..... it's just about making deadlines and keeping everybody happy. If I can pull it off, I'll make some good bread.... but right now I honestly couldn't care less!
Don't get me wrong.... I'm not complaining. I've just had a really full plate lately and not a whole lot of spare time and in the spare time that I've had.... I've been too tired to type! :)
Yesterday morning at 7:15 am I ran over my cell phone with the forklift. That says it all right there.
Glad you asked? ;)View Image
Glad to hear you are busy, I hope you can find some good help. I let go two guys as well, and picked up some good ones. Good trade. I told my guys I just shut off the light at the end of the tunnel.
I am in the same boat as you, I am now telling people "I'll be there as soon as I can" when I sign a new contract. Most understand some don't.
I am just being honest with them and they don't call every day wondering where I am at.
Hopefully in the next week I can something over with my skytrak. I plan on buying it when I get paid off from a GC that owes me ALOT of money.
Keep on truckin dude. :)
stilletto... have you talked to Blue about his skytrack ? you're in Chicago , right ? ain't that only about an inch away from Detroit ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I live an hour or so from Blue. I live in Battle Creek, Michigan. The town that makes all your guys breakfast cereal.
I haven't talked with him about it (yet). If the deal I have going now falls through, I'll be calling him. The skytrak I am looking at now is only $4,000. New engine and tires.
let's see.... $4K .... $50K what's the diff ?
sounds like two new F150's to me Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Small difference in price, thats the only reason.
what is it with you and cell phones?
<G>
They should have me test them.View Image
Thank you for sharing.
stilletto... we have the N63, N64 & N66... great sidewall guns.. i'd buy another N66 in a New York minute
we do shakes, clapboards, trim, shingles ( white & red ) and fiber cement
we also use it for a lot of our sheathing
Thanks for the thumbs up Mike.
The fiber cement and composite trim trend is starting to catch on here. Slowly but surely I have been getting calls for it.
BTW what shears did you use in Adverse? I saw the pics and forgot the name.
we bought the Malco... they mount on any drill.... the guys liked it so much i bought a 2d one
the favorite mount is on the Bosch cordless 18vMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Once again thanks, with vinyl being king here I haven't got the tools for fiber cement yet. At least thats my excuse for buying these tools. :)
Mike,I just bought the Hitachi NV 65AH Siding Coil nailer last week and I will be using it tomorrow for clapboards. Any idea what the difference is between this one and yours?Joe Carola
You'll like that gun Joe. I do loads of exterior trim with mine. It's a durable hard-worker...... much like yourself. ;)View Image
no.. i've heard a lot of good things about that Hitachi
but the same things probably apply :
.. dial-a-depth.. ease of loading... easy jam clearing
rotatable air dicharge ( so it ain't blowing in your face )
with us it just makes sense not to switch... easy inventory of nails ( all our siding guns take the same nails )
no maintenance issues
consistent driving..
yada , yada, yada... the usual suspectsMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Does that Bostitch you have shoot plastic and wire coils?
I use the plastic coils for putting on Azek, I can get painted nail heads in the plastic coils.
i don't know....we use a lot of SS and those all seem to be wire collatedMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
not to hijack thread, Yes the Bostitch N66C-1 will shoot plastic and wire collated nails up to 2 1/2 ". Now if you really want to step it up a notch , get the N75C-1, that will shoot a 3" nail wire or plastic and it will also shoot a framing nail up to 3". Good luck..
http://www.bostitch.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=BOS_NEW_PRODUCTS&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=N75C-1&SDesc=Coil+Sheathing+Nailer
I already have big coil nailers for regular framing, a couple of Bostitch's and a Paslode.
Just wanted something a little lighter than those.
I used the N66C-1 this year installing red cedar shingles. Worked great. Good depth adjustment too.
Tom
Douglasville, GA
Has anyone ever tried the Makita? I like the feel of it and I hear they're pretty solid. Suprisingly my tool guy's pushing it over the Hitachi - and he's a Hitachi fan.
I have the Makita and it's a good gun. No misfires ever, and if you get the right feel going you can set nails very precisely. There's a depth-of-drive dial that goes from 1-8 (I think) but you cannot simply slam the gun against the wood and get a precise drive, you have to hold it with the same relaxed grip each time. It has worked fine for me.
What has not worked are the .092 nails that are prevalent for siding guns. I got a case of them in HDG and it's mostly gone, but I know the gun will shoot .099 and that's what I need to track down. With the .092 if you need to drive the nail home with your hammer you risk bending it. They're too lightweight for me. Hopefully the extra .07 will make a difference.
Another thumbs up, good deal. I handled one at a lumber yard the other day and it very light. Just at $300 I knew I could get it cheaper online.
I picked up the N66C-1 brand new off of ebay this spring for $200. I've been using it for a red cedar sidewall job. I love it. It's extremely light, even after 8 hours. Haven't had any any trouble with jamming or mis-firing. I used a hitachi before I bought this gun, and I prefer the Bostitch. Good luck!
I have seen the reconditioned ones for $189 on Ebay, no new ones under $250 I think.
Bostich N66, N65, N64
I have a fairly serious DYI job on my hands. I am doing my house and barn in Hardie Plank. I have a guy helping me and I only have one siding gun, a Bostich N66. Naturally I need another gun, I don't share well. I called my local used tool store and they have Bostich 63's, 64's & 65's. Naturally they are guaranteed, but are still old. Is the N66 any real improvement over those? Do they use the same nails?
Improvements
I suspect that there have been numerous improvements to the N66 in the last 9 years.