It never bothered me much to oil a nail gun every morning. The process became habitual, like putting on my tool belt or sharpening my pencil. So I was confused when manufacturers began pushing oil-free technology in their finish nailers some years ago. I saw the value in eliminating potential oil spray on quality, stain-grade trim, but being a skeptic, I wondered what this small bit of convenience—not having to oil a gun daily—really cost. In truth, it doesn’t cost much.

In defense of oil

To get a fresh perspective on the benefits of oil, I got in touch with Bosch, which recently released a line of pneumatic nail guns, none of which are oil-free. Bosch’s testing showed that the silicone O-rings, which are typically used in oil-free guns because of their inherent lubricity, don’t stand up as well or as long as traditional O-rings lubricated with petroleum oil. Also, Bosch says that if oil is accidentally added to an oil-free gun, the petroleum can damage silicone O-rings and require that they be replaced.

The lesson: If the convenience of an oil-free nailer appeals to you, investigate the O-ring material. Silicone may not be the best and may lead to shorter tool life or higher maintenance costs.

Praise for oil-free

Several companies, including Porter-Cable, Senco, Bostitch, and Milwaukee, offer oil-free finish nailers. Some take a roundabout approach when explaining how the parts in their guns are lubricated. For example, Senco simply says it gives its guns a one-time lubrication during assembly, while Porter-Cable says it relies on “Maintenance-Free Long Life Technology,” which allegedly increases the wear life of the O-rings and resists the damaging effects of petroleum oil if it’s added to a gun. While this all sounds like marketing hype, manufacturers stand behind their testing, which shows that the performance of oil-free guns is on par with traditional oiled models.

The lesson: Oil-free technology may bump up gun prices slightly, but it has resulted in a tool that’s easier and cleaner to use—with comparable longevity.

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