Hi All,
Sorry to be flooding the forum soliciting advice but I’m not finding specific answers in the search.
I need some sort of finish nailer. I’m 50/50 between a Paslode Impulse and a compressor/guns solution. I’ve narrowed my search on compressors to DeWalt Emglo (probably the single tank D55155) but am not getting clear advice on guns or brands.
I’d have to say just about every production shop I worked for used Senco but that was about 10 years ago. They ALWAYS worked, rarely jammed and were easily fixed when they did.
I have several pending trim jobs so will be buying specifically for those. I need something that will shoot say 1″ to 2 1/2″ max. No lighter than 16ga. I’ll probably get some sort of framing nailer next. Something just to pin hard to hammer blocking etc…So manueverability will be the key there.
Thanks,
N
Replies
I haven't heard much good about Paslode's and I've steered clear of 'em because of the waste( spent cartridges). I've got a PC 15ga 2 1/2 angle, PC crown stapler, and a Bostich brad nailer. I had a bostich 16 ga. nailer but it broke very shortly after I realized that it sucked. My advice would be to buy a good compressor, maybe even a combo (not the bostich), and build your collection from there. I'd stay away from the Paslode, especially if you 're already thinking of a framing gun. I don't know about the Dewalt comps personally, but I've read good things about them. Its been 4-5 years since I've used Senco guns but they were very reliable when I was using them.
Since varity is the spice of life I have a mixed bag.
Senco, Bostich, Hitachi, Paslode, Thor and IR.
Every brand has their performers and their duds. 4 maybe closer to 5 years ago this company I worked for set themselves up with a trim department. At the time they were running 8 crews of 3 [2 installers and 1 laborer] and threw in production bounuses. Trim [case, base, crown, chair and hand rail every where] went in at over 100k lf a month.
At first they bought paslode. Within 2/3 weeks they started giving up the ghost. Paslode after many, many warrenities told them that thier guns weren't designed for that level of production and quit warrentying them. The company forced the issue and made Paslode take them back. Paslode was on the job 3 or 4 months.
Then they went and bought PC. That never got off the ground. What a joke.
Off to the Bostich and Senco stores. Show time. Pallets of nails a month. Over all Senco and Bostich preformed well and the customer service never let them down. Same for the Bostich staplers, though the staplers didn't see anywheres near the production the nailers did.
The guns were color coded and assigned to each crew. Each crew became anal about "this is my gun". Random checks were conducted to ensure the tools were getting their required mait and TLC. You didn't take care of your assinged stuff or abused it the company let you go find another job.
Other tools that came and left.
DeWalt table saws were changed out to Bosch.
Bosch and Hilti drill motors of every size and description.
Makiti that came in and left, never to be seen again.
Everything imaginable in miters. Bosch and Millwaukee were the champions.
Miles, or so it seemed, of flex eel air hose.
Sullaire and Rollaire compressors took the honors.
Senco and Bostich sent in their own people to do full PMs on their own products. There never seemed to be any real hassels. Loners were always avaible. 60 hour prodution weeks were the norm.
DW, PC and the Japs just couldn't cut mustard. This included most all of their product line. DW and PC proved to be mostly mid grade so so stuff.
Notrix, if you like a couple different tools, rent them and lovingly drive hell out of them. Rentals seem to be past their prime from the start. It won't take long for youto get a handle on what is good for you. At this point it is more of an issue as to what you can or can't do with something and how it fits the job, work and how comfortable it is for you to use. Every thing has it's own quirks. Can you live with them, won't mind or will they drive you up the wall. Are you left, right or ambidextrious? Most companies also offer a 30 day "don't like it' give it back" policey. Use it. Talk to the Tool Crib. They have one on most of there products.
IMERC
IMERC pretty well nailed it. (Pun unintended...)
I have a mixed bag myself, and there have been improvements since I last bought my main guns (Senco), but I have a few PC,s and with the exception of my PC flooring nailer, I'm not too impressed in general.
My Senco 16 ga has shot boxes and boxes of nails of the full range of lengths in the 5 or so years I've had it, and I can't recall specifically any problems or jams. My framers have really taken abuse and just keep on ticking.
I also think you get what you pay for with pneumatic tools...most of my PC's I bought because of price and they were guns I didn't plan to use a lot. I do very little roofing so I bought the PC coil nailer and it's been a real dissapointment and it jams frequently, and I found I use it more than I'd thought I would.
Spend the extra cash and get good ones.
i would go with the senco sfn40 ive had mine for 5 years and have never had any problems with it .dont waste your money on anything else especially if you plan to make a living with it.
As a foot note to http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=31470.3 My Sencos are the work horses. My SFN40 seems to be a glutton for punishment. How ever, I have the Senco 750 Pro FRH framer and I am less than a happy camper with it. Much less. Jamb City shoud be it's name or model number. My 18ga Senco is winner. The SN4 I have will punch 20d's and has needed a drive piston O ring for a very long time. [leaks] All of the Sencos have been very dependable. Except for the 750. I rather not use it. too much of a pain.
My next major tool purchase just may be a finish nailer.
here are my thoughts...
Senco, Paslode, Duofast and Hitachi have been doing it the longest and Have got the reliability/functionality thing down.
All others are pretenders to the throne.
Stanley bostitch has been around a while but they have the oddball colation angle and just dont seem to be as problem free as the leaders.
PC, Default and all other "knockoff" guns are made in taiwan and are exactly what you pay for, a substitute.
Use a name brand fastener and you will have less problems.
I wish paslode would make an air powered version of thier angled 16 ga. trimmer. Sometimes a 16 ga. is a nice compromise between a 15 and an 18.Mr T
Do not try this at home!
I am an Experienced Professional!
Senco, Senco, Senco. I have a Hitachi framing gun, works pretty well but alot of double nailing, Iv'e had to repair it a few times. Hitachi roofing stapler, just don't like it because I just don't. Ready to sell it to buy a coil nailer. I have a pin nailer(slight head), 1/4" stapler, 1 1/2" finish nailer, 2 1/2" finich nailer. In over 14 years, I have only replace one spring for the "magazine tensioner?", one set of seals, and one driver head. Thats it. Plus most lumber yards and hardware stores in Calif sell the parts kits. Never had to send them in to be fixed. I did send the Hatachi framing gun in twice and of course it was when I really needed it.
It's not the just the origional cost but the longevity and the repair/parts support that is the most important in the long run.
Another thing, buy Senco nails. Generic nails just don't cut it. IMOHO
Thanks,
I'm seriously lookin' at the Senco sfn40. Seems like the best bet. I almost got a Stanley/Bostich but luckily held out. It was a less that $100 nailer and it really appears you get what you pay for in nailers and expect to pay over $200.
Best price I'm finding so far is $239 on the SFN40 and that seems universal. Have I missed anywhere? I like to be loyal to certain stores but....I'll make some calls tomorrow.
Also what's the opinion on the SFN30? Besides smaller nails (1'-2") is it as rugged? As useful? It's abut $50 less most everywhere.
Thanks,
N
Edited 6/8/2003 12:09:56 PM ET by notrix
Let me throw you for a loop with this. Craftsman has a very nice 15 gauge gun. It is made by Florida Pnuematic which also make the Hitachi guns. It's a magnesium body gun so it's lite. Price is comparable with similar guns. Craftsman has a few diamonds in the rough, and this is one of them. I also use it alot with my big IR compressor at 120 lbs. It's taken that air for almost 2 years now without a hitch. I had a couple of pc guns that where blown away by this amount of air.
I agree with the dependability and reliability of Bostich guns. They don't seem to be what they use to be. Although.....about a month ago I did pick up an 18 ga. bostich gun. It was the only 18 ga. gun in stock at the HD where I got it, and where I got it was out of town for me, so I wasn't going to go looking when I wasn't sure of where to go. Anyway, it's worked fine for a month anyway.
Don
lots of rave reviews from the MAX nailer camp. Both framing and finish nailers. The JLC tool forum has many MAX converts. Many used to be die hard senco fans. Over there Hitachi seems to be another prefered nailer.
If memory serves me correctly, MAX is the company that used to make Bostich;s nailers back when bostich nailers were good. Max upgraded and improved the design.
I own 2 Hitachi NT65 15 gauge nailers and 2 NT50 18 gauge nailers and love both designs. Price wise, they are right in line with all the other quality guns out there. They have a nice feel to them and have also worked flawlessly for the entire time that I have had them.
A company that I worked for had all Hitachi guns except for coil nailers (Max) for all their trim and framing crews (about 500 carpenters) and they also purchased the guns with the service plan which took care of all breakages. It was a neat set up because Hitachi would send out a rep and he would repair the guns on site or provide loaners if it couldn't be fixed on site. These guns took a beating because most of the carpenters didn't treat them like THEY had bought them, so they would be dropped all the time(sometimes from the roof), oil was always lacking, they would get full of mud during the spring and fall and then would freeze during the winter. All in all, the guns were generally reliable and also comfortable to use.
I got the PC 15 ga finish and 18 ga brad and 18 ga staple. For what I use them fopr they do every thing I need. I use a Emglo (blue hehehehe) 4 gal 1 1/2 hp compressor. man that thing is a work horse. Its like a timex takes a lickin and keeps on tickin...
Darkworks: No Guns No Butter squilla and the bling bling.
I got a Hitachi NT50 18 ga. bradder for x-mas. I love it so far.
My only gripe is that it has no protective nose piece.Mr T
Do not try this at home!
I am an Experienced Professional!
Stay away from the impulse nailers, they are expensive to buy, more expensive to fix, more complicated (read break more often), slower and LOUDER!
I read the thread with evryone saying don't buy Paslode, but I think they mean the Paslode Impulse, the regualr air Paslodes seem pretty good.
Oddly..
I saw some Paslode Impulse nailers at a rental yard and they said they have zero trouble with them. I decided against them but if they can with stand rental yard use they have to be somewhat rugged.
N
Edited 6/9/2003 10:22:43 AM ET by notrix
I am not a 'professional' but I bought the SFN40 for trimming my own house and really like it. What I liked most about it was the feel of it. If you just want a compressor for trim work, I'd get the smallest, lightest one I could find that would be reliable, and I'd get the smallest lightest hose I could find for it. A trim nailer will need very little air, and pressure loss is not a problem at all, so even a tiny hose would work fine. My point is, a light well-balanced nailer becomes cumbersome if you attach it to a heavy, stiff hose.
You will be very, very happy with the SFN40.
I have the Senco SFN40 finish gun, also the Senco narrow crown staple gun both are great.
I recently bought a small lightweight Delta compressor from Lowes for $99.00
This is a great little unit. it is very light weight and runs very quitely. The compressor has a single holding tank and develops 100 PSI and will operate a single framing nailer with 3/1/2 nails about as fast as I need it to.
It comes with a coil hose and some attachments for blowing up your balls etc.
The handle is attached with plastic knobs which broke off but was easily fixed, other than that it is good for light duty work. (I run it off a small generator in the woods with no problem.)
Try one, if you don't like it you can take it back, several of my friends got one after seeing mine.
I have a PC 15 ga. finish gun and a PC 18 ga. brad nailer. They are only all right. No real problems, but the fit and finish is a little lacking compared to the Senco. One of my co-workers has a Senco and I steal it whenever I can....
As far as framing nailers I have had and used almost daily a Hitachi NR83 for at least five years. I wouldn't trade it for any other gun others have brought on the job. Paslode sucks. Bostich is all right but just feels to big and obnoxious. Senco should stick to finish guns. Porter Cable is in the same boat as Paslode. I guess once you get used to how a gun feels and shoots, its hard to break the habit.
By the way, has anyone used the battery powered Senco finish guns?
I know you asked about finishing nailers but there have been other responses about framing nailers and brands. Here is my 2 cents worth.
I have had a Stanley Bostitch N80SB stick framing nailer for 3 years. I am a hobbiest and bought it to build my workshop and help out on friends framing jobs, so it has not seen a lot of use. Anyhow, it has never jammed and works flawlessly. I have used friends PC and do not care for it. Maybe I just need to get used to it so that it would not double fire.
Now the main thing that impressed me about Stanley Bostitch. It dropped from 12' (working on ceiling joists) onto concrete floor, after owning it for 5 months. Fired once and quit working. I figured, this is it. Took it to the SB repair shop in town. Just an overhaul, do not think it needed any new parts. Still works fine 2.5 years later.