Framing nail gun questions

[Fuddy1952]

I'm wanting to buy a framing nailer. I'm not a contractor so not looking to spend $300++ for a really good one. I'm helping a contractor at home here building a barn, he has a Porter Cable one and it's great.
Yesterday I was in Harbor Freight and I bought this Central Pneumatic one (I know...cheap)...but it was cheap, on clearance for $46, so I bought it and box of galvanized nails.
Problem is, nails bend as shown about 1" out. The HF "salesman" handed me a box of 21 deg., this nailer is 28*.
A friend gave me a big box of Paslode 30deg. nails, which work fine in this gun (I'm pointing to two I put in @ 120psi.).
After I called Home Depot, Lowes, etc., I'm confused and need advice.
1) that 21,28,30 deg. angle...is one "better"? I was told 30* is best as holds better.
2) ok to use these 30* nails in this 28* gun?
3) I was told nails are propriety to gun? Another said no. Another said plastic, wire tied and paper bound nails won't interchange?
4) should I keep this $46 one, or get a better one...it works great with Paslode nails.
5) keep gun, return 21* nails, get 28deg ones from HD or Lowes?
Thanks so much. It's very confusing.

 

[Diggin It]

That's the one I have but you need the 28 degree nails. I use item 36704 and they work fine. Keep it well oiled though, helps to keep the works smooth.

 

[kuschneider]

This is the one I got when I bought my farm. Built a small tractor shed, and then framed out my hunting cabin with it. Use any 21 degree nail with a full head and it plastic collated. Good balance of price and function as far I as I can tell.

https://www.amazon.com/NuMax-SFR2190-Ergonomic-Lightweight-Pneumatic/dp/B0032JTDPO/ref=sr_1_3?crid=OJU7F5Q2Q2ZQ&keywords=numax+sfr2190+21+degree+framing+nailer&qid=1563055701&s=gateway&sprefix=numax%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-3

 

[bullbreaker]

I dont use my frameing nailer too make a living , and I know Hitachi and Senco make top of the line ones. However I have owned the Rigid (HD) 21 degrees one for years and its never skipped a beat . Its been great !

 

[bullbreaker]

This is the one I got when I bought my farm. Built a small tractor shed, and then framed out my hunting cabin with it. Use any 21 degree nail with a full head and it plastic collated. Good balance of price and function as far I as I can tell.

https://www.amazon.com/NuMax-SFR2190-Ergonomic-Lightweight-Pneumatic/dp/B0032JTDPO/ref=sr_1_3?crid=OJU7F5Q2Q2ZQ&keywords=numax+sfr2190+21+degree+framing+nailer&qid=1563055701&s=gateway&sprefix=numax%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-3

I have seen first hand that model in action . One of my sons has the exact same one . Seems like its alot of bang for the buck !

 

[duffer]

Plastic, wire tied, and paper nails are NOT interchangeable. You need to get the right nails for the gun. The box on the nailer, or instruction manual should tell you what angle * you need. According to your pic, you need 28*. Take the 21* back, and get 28*. Just be sure to get the right binding for the nails.

 

[DMax82]

I dont use my frameing nailer too make a living , and I know Hitachi and Senco make top of the line ones. However I have owned the Rigid (HD) 21 degrees one for years and its never skipped a beat . Its been great !

I'm thinking to buy this nailer, and as the proud owner of 6 Ridgid finish nailers (18ga stapler, 15ga angled, 16ga straight - each owned twice due to theft) I shouldn't have to twist my own arm too hard. For me the difference between a great and crappy nail gun is immense. I also have Hitachi and Dewalt finish nailers that can't hold a candle to the Ridgid. I buy almost all of my corded/air tools refurbished from CPO outlets. They have this one for $115.

Factory Reconditioned Ridgid ZRR35RHF 3-1-2 in. Round-Head Framing Nailer

 

[Deere Dude]

I went through that a few weeks ago. I have a hardly used newer 28 deg HF nailer. Went to Georgia to build a garage and could not find 28 deg nails at HF, Lowes or Home Depot. My friends boy had a Hitachi 30 deg nailer so we used that for the most part. Just for the fun of it I loaded 30 deg nails in my 28 deg gun and if would jam I was going to throw it in the dumpster. But, 30 deg nails which are very plentiful worked great in my HF 28 deg nailer.

I was nailing overhead putting OSB on a ceiling and as I could stand on the ground and reach the ceiling I was elected to do the nailing. After half the ceiling was done using the Hitachi I decided to use my Harbor Freight. After about 20 nails I went back to the Hitachi. It was (seemed) a couple pounds lighted nad I could hold my arms overhead longer and easier with the lighter gun.

edit; I used paper collated nails on both nailers. HF and Lowes sell them.

 

[caver]

I have an oddball Milwaukee and it specifies 22* nails which are not really carried by local stores around here. In my research 21* works just fine as others who have bought this gun and suggested the same.

 

[bullbreaker]

I'm thinking to buy this nailer, and as the proud owner of 6 Ridgid finish nailers (18ga stapler, 15ga angled, 16ga straight - each owned twice due to theft) I shouldn't have to twist my own arm too hard. For me the difference between a great and crappy nail gun is immense. I also have Hitachi and Dewalt finish nailers that can't hold a candle to the Ridgid. I buy almost all of my corded/air tools refurbished from CPO outlets. They have this one for $115.

Factory Reconditioned Ridgid ZRR35RHF 3-1-2 in. Round-Head Framing Nailer

That looks like a great price . I bought mine(framer) maybe 7 years ago for like 200 bucks plus tax new if my memory serves me rite . Thanks for sharin your refurbished tool experience and the link .

 

[747driver]

I have a Bostich 28 degree wire welded framing nailer. Bought it 23 years ago and still works as advertised ! I like the wire weld as that little bit of wire left on the nail makes the nail hold better. Plus you get more nails per strip vs the plastic strips. Keep it well oiled ! A greater angled nail magazine lets the gun fit in tighter places. I buy alot of top brand power tools from CPO outlet. I get the reconditioned ones which are alot cheaper but work and look brand new and with a warranty !.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Just get the angle in degrees close and the nails usually work. The important part is the nail spacing. The silence they are spaced apart is set by the paper, wire, or plastic collated ones. Keep in mind the wire spaced ones occasionally spits out wire fragments. The plastic spaced ones spit out plastic fragments quite often sometimes. Good time to be wearing safety glasses

Also keep the paper tape ones in a dry dry dry location.......

 

[dieselscout80]

I went through that a few weeks ago. I have a hardly used newer 28 deg HF nailer. Went to Georgia to build a garage and could not find 28 deg nails at HF, Lowes or Home Depot. My friends boy had a Hitachi 30 deg nailer so we used that for the most part. Just for the fun of it I loaded 30 deg nails in my 28 deg gun and if would jam I was going to throw it in the dumpster. But, 30 deg nails which are very plentiful worked great in my HF 28 deg nailer.

I was nailing overhead putting OSB on a ceiling and as I could stand on the ground and reach the ceiling I was elected to do the nailing. After half the ceiling was done using the Hitachi I decided to use my Harbor Freight. After about 20 nails I went back to the Hitachi. It was (seemed) a couple pounds lighted nad I could hold my arms overhead longer and easier with the lighter gun.

edit; I used paper collated nails on both nailers. HF and Lowes sell them.

I like my Hitachi it uses plastic collated nails.

I do wish I could find 3.5 ring shank hot dipped galvanized nails for it.

 

[caver]

I bought a HF finish nailer and it sunk 2" 15ga into rough sawn oak. I was impressed.

 

[s219]

After I called Home Depot, Lowes, etc., I'm confused and need advice.
1) that 21,28,30 deg. angle...is one "better"? I was told 30* is best as holds better.

The angle only affects how the nail feeds into the gun, it has nothing to do with how the nail holds. All the nails fire in straight.

 

[searcyfarms]

i have spent a lot of time on the business end a few nail guns over the years from bostitch, milwaukee, hitachi, harbor freight, i cant say that ANY of them were any issues more than another, honestly non gave me any grief. I was skeptical regarding my buddy and his h/f 21 degree unit. We framed out and entire 2000 ft house, put up walls downstairs also, you name it and i was astonished at the reliability of the crazy thing. So much so i bought one myself, finished out a couple rooms in my barn 150 sq ft walls and ceilings as we did it in rough plywood, then 3 deere stands 4x8, then framed out my 600 sq foot shop last winter so yea they are worth every penny, never jams unless i load it wrong or let go of the spring lever too hard and smash the nail/clip and it hangs on it but thats rare - for a cheap sucker i can say that BOTH of them have been 100% great - i dont see them on their website anymore they have different models/brands now

 

[Fuddy1952]

I checked some expensive brands and read the fine print made in China on back of box.
Years ago I knew a guy who worked at a local bakery. He said they would have a run of, say, 1000 bags of Wonder Bread...change bags then run Sunbeam, etc. He said same bread but different bag and price!

 

[AWSubie]

I use a Freeman PFR2190 21-Degree Full-Head. $120 on Amazon.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've gone though several different brands of nail guns and currently have Hitachi. While they all give you about the same results, there is a HUGE difference in how they feel when using them, and how often you have issues of jamming up or falling apart. When I built my dads house, he went and bought a Harbor Freight nail gun to help out. I had my Hitachi 21 degree 3 1/2 inch gun. They are night and day different from each other in what it's like to use them. Dad would grab my gun when I wasn't using it because it was lighter and easier to handle.

Something else to keep in mind is that the pointy end of the nail does not have any holding power. It is the shaft of the nail that does all the work. For the strongest results, you want to use 3 1/4 or 3 1/2 inch nails. When I nail two boards together, I like to see that tip of the nail poking out!!!!

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hitachi-3-5-in-21-Degree-Framing-Nailer/3020227

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hitachi-3-1-4-in-21-Degree-Pneumatic-Framing-Nails-1000-Count/3339334

and while you are at it, be sure to get one of those soft, kink free air hoses. They will make life with a nail gun so much better!!!!

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Flexzilla-3-8-in-Kink-Free-50-ft-Poly-Hybrid-Air-Hose/1000746772

 

[texasranger556]

I use a Freeman PFR2190 21-Degree Full-Head. $120 on Amazon.

I have a Freeman 21 degree framer as well, but from their 4 tool combo kit. For my weekend warrior use it has been fine, but don't have another gun to compare against.