Framing Nail Gun

Onthelake · Mar 9, 2004

I'm going to build a 12' X 16' storage shed and I am thinking it would be much easier with a Framing nail gun. I'm having a hard time justifying a new Senco, Max, Bostich, etc. so I've looked on ebay. Seems like they are still going for around $100 to $150 for one that looks like it has been well used. I went to Harbor Freight Web site and there are guns there for $99 on sale, reg. $199 and some for $129-$159 on sale. OK, now for the question.... has anyone used the HF nail guns made by Central Pneumatic? Will they hold up for home use? or am I better going for a used, well known, major brand?

shvl73 · Mar 9, 2004

The one Central Pneumatic framer I've seen had a problem with shooting 2 nails at a time. I couldn't find a nail brand or angle that it seemed to like. It looked to be made well, so it could be just a matter of using incorrect nails. Check their return policy, if it can't use locally available nails, it won't help you. I have one of their 18ga. brad guns & it works quite well.
The repair kits for Senco & Bostitch are can be fairly expensive, eliminating any cost savings on a used tool if it doesn't work up to par.

mathey · Mar 9, 2004

there was a pretty extensive thread about this a while back...

framing nailer thread

KubotaSteve · Mar 9, 2004

I built a 12X16 barn style shed last spring and using my dad's Bostitch nailers it went together pretty fast. We have used his framing nailer quite extensively and never had to make any repairs. The key is to keep a good filter on it to keep moisture out. His roofing nailer we had to replace the trigger assembly as the O rings wore out. Another option is to get a good screw gun. Screws generally hold better than nails anyway. I screwed the wooden floor down and on some parts of the siding as well as the trim boards.

Richard · Mar 9, 2004

Do what I did or something similar...

I bought a refurbished floor nailer to install a 3/4" oak floor. Though refurbished, it looked absolutely factory new.

None the less, it retails for roughly $480 at Home Depot, I bought it for $340, I then sold it on EBAY (along with 1/2 box of staples) for $500!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Point being... don't be afraid to buy a new one...use it, then sell it.

Wifey wanted me to rent a nailer and (forgetting that we MADE money) had I sold it for what I had, or even lost $200, I'd had a GREAT deal on the fact of buying it and having it to use for a time period (relative to having had rented it)

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

_RaT_ · Mar 9, 2004

On such a little building, the real advantage of an air nailer will be in any of the sheathing. For plywood or OSB, 8's are typically called for. The stud walls can be nailed together by hammer in less then a day so your time savings would be almost insignificant. If you have some physical issue, the framing nailers can be a huge bonus, especially for overhead nailing. I generally prefer to hand nail 2X's on small stuff as I've always got the hammer out anyway knocking wood around getting it aligned.

I was given 2 Central Machinery electric tools that my father-in-law had purchased and never used. An impact wrench and a drill press. I gave the impact wrench away and gave the drill press back to my mother-in-law to give to another son-in-law. They looked fine bbut in my opinion, performed very poorly.

newaukum · Mar 9, 2004

I would stay away from the Harbor Freight tools. They are not worth the added hassle that the come with. If you want to find a good deal, try a pawn shop. I my area we even have shops that specialize in tools. Most will let you try it out before you buy it so you know what you are getting.

jpr62902 · Mar 10, 2004

I bought a Porter Cable clipped head framer at Costco for, I believe, $199.00 four years ago. The things still goin' strong (and without a hitch) after quite a bit of use. Its also pretty easy to find nails since it will take Paslodes as well.

JDgreen227 · Mar 10, 2004

Welcome to TBN, most new members post tractor related questions but you came to the right place for answers. I can vouch the HF nail guns are a clear case of "you get what you pay for". For a building the size of what you propose, nailing the framing together by hand would be better unless you have trouble swinging a hammer. HF guns are not well made and resale value is poor, I would not buy one myself. Unless you are planning to do more framing work down the road, I suggest you rent or borrow a quality nail gun for this project.

If you will use a nail gun frequently, buy something decently made. My dad liked to say: "Buy the best you can afford, you will be glad you did".

CTyler · Mar 10, 2004

I got a couple good deals off of Ebay on framing nailers. Bought a Max and a Bostich last year that looked virtually new for $150 and $160.

One has the bang fire the other does not, its just a trigger setup/change. The bang(contact) fire is really nice for sheathing, flooring, siding etc...

Sometimes you have to look a little but there are a number of peeps that buy these nailers for a small job then sell them.

RamTruckMan · Mar 10, 2004

I bought 28 degree farming nailer from Harbor Freight and just finished up a job with it. I am very pleased with it. It never gave me a one bit of a problem. I was dubious about it myself. The day I started the project I went to Lowes and bought a Senco Nailer just in cases I got disqusted with the nailer. (never unwrapped the Senco). Lowes sure has a good return policy. I didn't want guys standing around if the nailer was a piece of junk. I was so impressed with the framing nailer I order a roofing nailer for $99.00. It seems very durable and was great for my project.

I

JDgreen227 · Mar 11, 2004

I don't know if HF has different suppliers but am pleased to know you are happy with your purchase. That was a smart move on your part, having a backup nailer just in case.

Onthelake · Mar 11, 2004

Thanks for all the info. I went to HF the other day and took a look at one of their guns. It was OK but not the quality of the major brands. I kind of thought that. Since then I have found several places to get refurbished units from factory with 90 day warranty and about 60% to 75% cost of new. At that price I can use it and then sell on ebay for what I paid for it since it will be in good condition and look and act new. I know it seems like overkill to use a gun on a small building but I will be working alone and I also will be using 8 inch lap Hardi-plank siding so that will be a lot of nailing. Also, in the next couple of years I will be adding on to my house and will be doing some of the work myself. I think it will pay for itself.
Rod

_RaT_ · Mar 11, 2004

Hardi planks will require a nailer capable of good if not very good depth adjsutment. This seems to be where the coil nailers shine. I would suggest you go to Tools of the Trade magazine and do a search there for reviews on nailers and which ones set the nails best. Fine Homebuilding does reviews now and then as well as Journal of Light Construction. For work like you mention where depth is important, it's going to vey important you get the better or best gun for that job. Coil nailers are very handy for that and depth adjustment typically works very well. I agree that nailing cement boards are very advantageous with a pneumatic nailer.

Henro · Mar 11, 2004

Nothing is worse than a tool that does not work very well. I would hate to have a nailer that jammed up every dozen nails, or even every 50.

I bought a Porter-cable round head framing nailer last summer and it was the best thing I ever did...besides buying the first tractor...and the second...and finding a good wife...and...and...

You don't have to buy top of the line to get a good product, but be careful saving a few buck and then getting frustration as your reward.

That being said, I would myself try a cheaper product if I was sure I could get my money back if it did not perform well. Getting the money back would be key in my decision though.

MikePA · Apr 20, 2004

I revived this old thread to ask a question /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif. I am in the market for a framing nailer as well and am leaning towards a coil nailer like the Porter-Cable COIL350 or the COIL250 . Why? The coil nailers look a lot easier to handle than the stick nailers. However, not having used either, I do not know if this is true. Is it? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

JimR · Apr 20, 2004

I have a Porter-Cable straight framing gun. I have had no problems with it so far.

OkeeDon · Apr 20, 2004

I have a Porter Cable stick framing gun and a used, battered Senco stick gun. They're pretty big, but you get adept at twisting around to get them in most tight places. One advantage over the coil gun is that they're narrower. I also have a used, battered coil roofing nail gun, can't remember the brand, it's yellow. One advantage is that the coils hold more nails, so you don't have to reload as often.

I like my Porter Cable framing gun more than my Senco, but the PC is a lot newer and has some features not on the old Senco. I haven't seen a new Senco. I bought the PC because the Senco was temporarily disabled, so I ran out to Home Depot and grabbed the Porter Cable off the shelf. They use different nails, but there are several suppliers of bulk nails in my area -- not unusual in an area where 6,000 homes were built last year.

MikePA · Apr 22, 2004

Where's a good place to buy the nails for these guns? Online? Box store?

I found a place online called DoItYourself.com . Are these prices any good? A box of 2 3/8 X .099 Coated Smooth Pack Of 3000 by National Nail is $42 with $21 for shipping. 3,000 nails will last me quite a while. I figured that 2 3/8" smooth shank would be a good all around nail, just the right length for connecting two 2 x boards. Thoughts?

BTW, I ended up buying the Porter Cable COIL250.

bebster · Apr 22, 2004

Why not go with a ring shank galvanized nail instead as your all-around nail? It will hold better, and can be used on pressure treated wood or outside projects. 2 3/8" x 0.113" diameter is the modern equivalent of a 8d box nail. 0.099" diameter seems like a thin diameter if you want some shear strenght in the nail. But it's not going to hold 2x4's together as well as a 3" nail.