Well looks like i’m going to go ahead and get me a 16 ga. finish nailer. Which brand do you guys recommend? What should I look for?
Thanks
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I have a Rigid. Don't tell people, I also have a harbor freight, bought for $20. For a purchase that won't have a lot of work it is fine.
Why not a 15 ga?
Don't know really. How much difference between them? It seems I see more 15 than 16 gauge at the big box stores. Can you fill me in on the difference?Thanks
Well if you click on the magazine on the FHB website there is a video review of the 16 gauge nailer test. The Stanley won du to the ease of switching out fasteners.
Oops it looks like that video is gone.
Webby
Edited 1/30/2009 8:36 pm ET by webby
Do you have an 18 ga brad nailer? If so then getiing a 15 ga instead of a 16 ga would kind of have the bases covered. I don't use them for real work just DIY home fix up stuff. I have PCs and never had any problems. I'm sure the more expensive ones are better but for the $ PC has been fine.
No Jim I don't have any other finish nailers. I went ahead and bought a Bostich 16 ga. it seems like a nice gun. I'm a DIYr so it is probably more than enough for what i'm going to use it for. Are the smaller guns for the small trim pieces?
Yes,
18 ga does brads. 23 ga does pins.
I have the Bostitch 16 guage, I think about 9 years old, has been ultra reliable. I'm not sure I can ever remember it jamming. If I remember correctly, the newer model won in the last FH test and they are reasonably priced.
As far as between a 16 & 15 guage, there are probably lots of opinions, but the 16 seems to me to be as big as I ever need for any interior trim. For exterior, I might prefer the 15. In the 15 there are 2 types of nails used, I can't think of what they are called but one type doesn't seem much bigger than a 16 and like a 16 is square in section,the other one is actually round in section with a slightly bigger head.
The angled nailers are a little easier to get into tight spots.
Hitachi.
I have had the Paslode 16 gauge angled impulse nailer for several years. I really like it - feels good in the hand, and the angled magazine helps it get into tight spots.
Note: This is the impulse (gas fired) nailer - not the pneumatic.
16 gauge good for baseboard, window trim, crown, etc. 15 gauge larger diameter, good for all those applications plus hanging doors.
This my 16 gauge, that I have had for about 15 years.
http://www.ptscoshop.com/haubold_skn64a16_finish_nailer.htm
"Shawdow boxing the appoclipse and wandering the land"
Wier/Barlow
Edited 1/30/2009 9:35 pm ET by dedhed6b
I've been surprisingly pleased with my Rigid.
The whole 15 gauge hold power vs. 16. . . I very rarely do any trimming at work, and my DIY use is sporadic. I back up my finish air nails with hand-driven nails or screws if I think it's necessary.
Thanks Guys for all the info. My local Lowes carries a Hitachi 15 ga. but no 16 ga. The H.D. store carries a Paslode and Rigid 16 ga.. I want to be able to do both exterior and interior trim work with this gun. Can I use a 15 ga. for interior work?
Yes to the 15 for interior, but may be overkill
i like the 15 ga hitachi and an 18 ga bostich which i can run up to 2" in but i guess it is personal preference also the hitachi has a cool blower built in
noah
Looks like a sneaker to!
I've been happy with the 15g Hitachi so far.
It does leave a big hole to fill.
Hitachi is the brand virtually all of the pros that I know use..
It's rugged reliable and easily repaired should anything ever happen to it.. (it hasn't in the 6 years I've used mine)
I bought a Stanley framming nailer because it hits harder than any other nailer which you need for gluelams or hardwoods (which I have a lot of) and it really doesn't matter which pin nailer you use so I bought another Stanley because it's cheap..
but most of the rest of my nailers are Hitachi based on what thousands of contractors use.
The one brand to stay the heck away from is Portor Cable. Known as nail starters! I can't tell you how many times I see those with Portor Cable nailers pull their hammer out to flush nails.. I've even seen compressors cranked up to 150PSI in a vain attempt to constantly flush the nails..
Frenchy, a little knowledge is stretched on your part. I have had PC ait tools for finish projects for years with no problems. I would not use their framing gun, which is what I think you are referring to. But I have a friend with a framing crew that swears by them not at them.
16 guage finish nailor by most any brand in my opinion is fine. Just have to get the one that feals right n your hands. Also that can be serviced locally!
I'm sorry but not only do I have hands on experiance with Porter Cable's weaknesses but I've watched thousands of trim carpenters reach for the nail set and their hammer when using them..
I don't bad mouth anybody who I haven't seen and heard extremely negative reports on.. You should know that. I'm not loyal to any brand, I pointed out owning both Stanley and Hitachi and why for each. I do own Porter Cable routers so It's not that I hate one brand.. simply that not everybody does everything well.
MY advantage over most people is the thousands of contractors I've dealt with over the years. I didn't come into this with prejudices based on my purchases. I watched and listened to thousands of people and they influanced my decision.. Not price nor a "deal" but the solid recommendations based on thousands of people who make their living in the trade..
I'm sorry but not only do I have hands on experiance with Porter Cable's weaknesses but I've watched thousands of trim carpenters reach for the nail set and their hammer when using them..
I am sorry frenchy, don't believe you.
Hundreds?
Dozens?
OK now I understand. Had to go back and reread the posting.
Little exaggeration?
OK, two.
Henley,
Don't try to make a living selling equipment to contractors..
You'd starve to death.. IF you're not out in the field where they are working how are you going to find people?
It's not a job where you can sit in an office and expect them to come to you..
I guess Comic is out too ?
Is the comedy store hiring?
I'm sorry I missed the little smiley face indicating it was humor.. It's hard to know when someone is trying to be funny and someone is trying to be spiteful without such indicators in their posts.. I know I've been guilty of it in the past so lately I been taking to putting the word <grin> in so nobody is confused with my intent..
I spent 17 1/2 years selling equipment to the building trades.. you don't do that successfully if you sit in some office and wait for calls..
You go out to the job sites where the contractors are and talk to them..
I considered it a lousy day If I only spoke to a dozen crews.. do the math.
a dozen crews a day times 3 or 4 guys. times 5 days a week times 52 weeks of the year times 17.5= that's somewhere north of 150,000 people over that past 17 1/2 years.. Now granted some of the poeple I spoke with were dupilcates or had already purchased from me etc. Some might have had more or less than 3 etc.. but that number is probably pretty good..
I used my PC 18 ga. pinner heavily for a decade, as a trim carpenter, it was a fine tool and is still in service (sold it to another trim carpenter I work with). I now use a Hitachi, but it is no better at setting nails, just lighter and more ergonomic (and shoots longer pins--the reason switched). I would not consider PC finish guns to be less reliable than Hitachi. Hitachi is a step up, but mostly in feel, not function. One trade off is that the lower mass of the new Hitachi guns is that they are louder and you may have to hold them more firmly against the work piece, or they may not set nails as well as a heavier PC gun.I do hate the noisy PC pancake compressors though.
I think most of the difference is feal, not performance anymore!
We're talking about finish nailers not pin nailers.. I addressed that subject earlier..
The same story with 16 ga. guns.I would not hesitate to buy a PC gun. If I were starting out, I would buy a PC combo set of guns. Good tools for the money. Perfect for entry level worker or homeowner.http://www.amazon.com/Factory-Reconditioned-Porter-Cable-CFNBNSR-Nailer-Compressor/dp/B001285KNG/ref=dp_cp_ob_hi_title_3The Tools of the Trade review said of the PC 16 ga. gun and all the of the other brands tested, "all of them successfully and regularly set the nails."http://www.toolsofthetrade.net/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1491&articleID=501424There may be some truth to your story, since the PC combos are cheap, more beginners on job sites are likely to have them. Beginners often have poor technique and may have trouble getting nails set for a variety of reasons.
Edited 1/31/2009 4:30 pm ET by basswood
Frenchy I have a Hitachi framer that I bought and really like it. I'm a DIYr so i'm not too familiar with the other brands but I really like my Hitachi.I just bought a Bostich 16ga. which will probably be more than good enough for what I need. I just wish I had a breakdown of what size guns or nails for what size trim and such. When to use a pin or staple or brad etc. and what size.
Just ask, someone will tell you!
How is the addition coming?
It's coming. My dad had a stroke in October of last year and I took a long break being with him and taking my mom to visit him in the hospital and such. I have the roof on minus the shingles. I'll be hanging the fascia on with some trim on it next then shingles andthen I'll get to the wall sheathing and siding. I'm ready to get this thing closed in!!! On top of everything else we are working 3 days at my job and getting some unemployment to help cover the other two days so money is tight right now.I'm not happy with my progress on the addition but I guess it will have too do. I can't afford to pay someone to finish it any faster for me.
My dad had a stroke in October of last year
Sorry to hear, my mom had one 2 years ago thanksgiving, still not 100%
Nothing wrong with Bostich, I have three of them.. It's simply that the Hitachi is prefered by pros in the 15 guage size..It's useful for exterior trim work hanging doors etc. and in general used when working with bigger pieces of trim.
If you are splitting the wood with that 16 gauge then you need to step down to the 18 guage.
Your next gun will be a pin nailer 18 gauge.. That is a size you will use a lot when you are doing furniture and small detail/finish work.. They all use Porter Cable nails (?) so it really doesn't matter there either.. I bought a Stanley because it had a decent reputation and was on sale..
You mentioned that you don't have the shingles on the roof yet.. Hands down the Stanley roofing nailer is the leader there.. unless you are going to put wood shakes or shingles on.. then you'll want to go with the Hitachi 5008AC and remember to buy stainless steel staples..
I tried to rent a roofing nailer the first roof I did.. however I too had to work evenings and weekends when I did it and it took me a month to do.. in the end the rent I paid would have bought me the gun... at retail! I used my nephews Portor Cable nailer the last time I did a aspault roof and that lived up to it's reputation as a nail starter.. every 3rd or 4th nail I had to pull my hammer out.. (still massively faster than hand nailing)
for exterior trim this might sound crazy but i use a bostich siding nailer (2 1/4 inch). for the outside corners a 15 gauge senco nailer.
for interior trim i use a bostich 16 gauge nailer, ouside corners an 18 gauge bostich and for small returns any pin nailer i can get my hands on
I have the paslode that was previously mentioned, it is well worth the expense of the fuel cells and the initial price. The beauty of it is not having a dirty hose running through someone's clean house marking up the trim, floors, carpet, etc. Also, no compressors to listen to a d carry around. I use galvi hand finish nails here and there on doors and things that the 16 guage can't handle. I will never use my porter cable gun again, and I think it is a solid gun, never had an issueonce you syncronize it with the compressor.
Stanley Bostitch has an angled 16 gauge nailer. I would avoid it because the angle on the strips is proprietary, meaning that it will be a pain in the #### to find them.Like others have said, the best/most popular 2-gun combo seems to be having a 15ga and an 18ga . That's what I have for my trim work, augmented with a 23ga pinner and a 1/4" stapler. All that I will ever need.
Thanks for all the info. it really helps.
No one has mentioned the 18 volt Dewalt cordless angle 16 gauge.
I have this along with a bunch of other 18 volt DW tools.
The gun is a great way to avoid hoses and gas cartridges it will shoot up to 2.5" nails that you can buy at the box stores.I have had it for 4 years now and have been very happy with it.I use it for alot of temporary holding projects as well as trim work.
Such as holding the end boards on a fence job to pull strings from, you can pull the board off to fit the last in properly without damage yet strong enough to hold until then.I use it to locate and temporarily hold fascia and siding until I can put screws or larger nails.I use it for glueing projects to clamp until the glue is dry.
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST