This has probably been posted before, but here’s a question:
My immediate needs are to put up door casing and 1/4 round. Next would be stick framing interior partition walls. After that would be furniture making. And maybe more woodwork, like baseboards, door trim, etc. I already have a Senco palm nailer at my disposal, but my question is:
18 guage brad nailer, 16 gauge straight finish nailer, or 15 gauge angled finish nailer–which is the most useful, given what I want to do? Which has the greatest versatility?
I was thinking since it’s not much wall that I plan to build, I could handle the tight spaces on the framing job with the palm nailer, and use a hammer for the rest. So a framing nailer is not really needed right now. Finish nailer comes first.
Secondly, which brand? I don’t have any fierce loyalties here. I have been happy with P-C corded tools, but not their cordless. Never used their pneumatic. And I like the senco palm nailer that I have. Bostitch seems to be lower priced than P-C and Senco – get what you pay for? If you have any insight about product features or design that make one better than another – for example: handles more variety or size of nails, weighs less, more durable, shoots more consistently, etc. I would appreciate that info.
Thanks as usual for everyone’s help.
Replies
i use pc 18 guage for every thing except door frames, 15 ga pc for that
no problems ever with them in 5 years everyday use other than re build about every two years(not to be unexpected)
always lubricate as required(everyday if used a lot)
I have the Bostitch N60 and N62 finish nailers. Both have been reliable and did their jobs. The oil-free N62 has worked great especially on hardwood trim (light weight & lots of power). Only one bad nail jam on 2 years. Have to us the FN style nails.
Have used Senco and Paslode. I liked both. Service on these brands much easier to get aound here.
Have heard good things about Max nailers. I wish we had a Max distributor in the area.
If you are doing this for yourself I'd go with the 18ga finish nailer for trim, cabinet boxes etc. I'd do everything else with a hammer.
The 18ga leaves a nice small hole for trimwork.
Turtleneck
Its not a smile- its a cramp
I have a Bostich N60 finish nailer (need an angled magazine for trim work such as crown) and a Bostich BT35B brad nailer. Use both often, no problems. Use the N60 more than the brad nailer, though. Use both for trim work and occaisionally on the furniture I make. The nails are available most everywhere for both guns. Only jam I experienced was when I tried to use up several short sections of nails in a row; the spring pressure caused them to bunch up.
The other posts hit the nail on the head so to speak. DW and I put up almost a mile of 3/4 six in. pine beaded ceiling using an old Paslode 16g and a newer Craftsman 16g. I trimmed the 1724 sqft addition with them also. The hole is a little large and ends up rectangular which makes them a little more noticable and harder to fill quickly.
Since then I bought an 18g Campbell Hausfeld that shoots up to 1 1/4 nails. Great for some smaller stuf but a little short for bed mold through drywall. Picked up a DeVillbis kit in Sam's that had a comparable brad nailer and 1/4 crown stapler for about $80. This has been very handy for many things too. Some offer a combination stapler/brad nailer but have not used one.
I just bought a 2" Campbell Hausfeld 18g brad gun from Harbor Freight with case for $30. All of these 18g tools have served me well for light use including home and light remodeling that DW and I do for customers. Would not use for all day use or with employees unless they were real particular with the bosse's toys. Good stuff but not really production grade IMHO.
Have a look at the 18 G Accuset which are made by Senco to compete with PC and the offshore brands.
i asked this same question a few weeks ago at the jlc forum.
here's a link to that discussion...
http://www.jlconline.com/cgi-bin/jlconline.storefront/3ea1bbf700340e32271a401e1d29060f/Catalog/1029?read=13278
I was looking at a Senco combo pack that offers the Framepro framing nailer and an FP15 finish pro brad nailer. Can't find any specs on the FP15, but was impressed by the reviews on amazon for the FP25XP and the FP18.
I had worked out a deal with my father-in-law to buy the whole kit and then sell him the framing nailer. When I got to the store, I found out that the kit was the Framepro 602, which is full head nails. I was anticipating that it was the 601, clipped head nail version, since that's what my father-in-law wanted.
The guy at the store said something about clipped head nails not being up to code. Anyone know the details on this (for Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut specifically). Do codes now require full head nails?
Also, anyone have any experience with the Senco FP15 brad nailer? Is it as good as the others in that line?
Thanks
Alec
EDIT:
I did a little research on Senco.com and found out that the FP15 only shoots up to 1.25" brads. It looks like the one I want is the FP25XP - looks versatile and gets great reviews. The only problem I see is that it is $$$$. So I guess the combo pack is out, but I am still curious about the code. Will repost that question in Gen'l Discussion.
Edited 4/22/2003 11:34:54 AM ET by alecs
The clip head is absolutely not illegal in California or anywhere else. My building Dept in Placer Co. Ca. said they had not heard anything about clipheads being banned. The local lumber yard that supplies nails and nailers says that the rumor is BS. I challenge anyone to come up with real documentation and not hearsay that proves me wrong. I like the clip head because the clips are more compact and they don't spit plastic shards in your face when you use the nailer like the round head nailers do. They are also more compact and can fit in tighter spots. I have 2 cliphead nailers , a Senco Framepro 601 and an old Senco 3.25+. I love them both. We may be slow, But we're expensive.
update:
I ended up getting the Senco FP25XP from Coastal Tool (see other thread ranting about International Tool.com), and I like it. It's light, ergonomically designed, and seems to shoot without a problem. The no-tools directable exhaust is nice.
Have used it so far to install baseboard 1/4 round, and it works like a charm. Got it into some pretty tight spaces under a steam radiator (see my other post about repainting same).
Probably have to get something else for heavy duty trim work, but for molding, etc., this thing is pretty neat. Worth the extra bucks? Who knows, but I'm happy and like it a lot.
Congrats on your purchase. I havn't bought a new tool in a few months and am staring to get a little shaky. Is your nailer of the "never lube" variety? I have a Senco narrow crown stapler (SLS20 I think) that is oiless. It's worked great. Had a couple people tell me to stay away from the pneumatics that you don't have to oil. Don't remember why? Maybe there are some opionions on this out there.
yeah, it's the oilless variety. thought it would be nice for cabinet-making if you didn't have oily exhaust. plus it's one less thing to remember to do.
Go out and satisfy your jones for a new tool purchase! The Prez would be proud of you for spending your hard-earned cash and contributing to our stagnant economy.