Pneumatic Nail Guns

[EddieWalker]

I have bought two Hitachi tools. One was a small air compressor that was a total piece of junk. The other is a SDS Max rotary hammer that is amazing. I'd give Hitachi a try for framing guns because of the recomendations and good reviews.

I have DeWalt right now and wont recomend it to anybody. It works great, except for the times when it doesn't. I'm kind of down on DeWalt anyway, and think that my framing gun is about average for the brand. Decent price, decent results, but nothing great about anything they make.

My favorite brands are Makita and Bosch. Both are highly rated and very pricey. A good tool will make you money regardless of what it cost to buy it. A junky tool will cost you money no matter how cheap you get it.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[dieselscout80]

Is a set like this any good?

Shop Campbell Hausfeld 5 Nailer Kit at Lowes.com

We are starting a new house (http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/193082-starting-new-house.html) and I need a (some?) nail guns for customisations that I would like to make along the way. I also am going to help with the framing but mainly as a laborer. We are building with a SIP panel exterior and traditional framing for the interior walls.

I have a Paslode Cordless Finish Nailer and am considering buying the cordless framing nailer. I have a couple of compressors that are capable of driving framing nailers so an air nailer would be a less expensive and perhaps better option.

I appreciate your advice.

I bought the Red Campbell three nail gun set last fall and tried the finish nailer and the stapler and neither would drive the nail all the way in. I returned the kit and bought a Hitachi framing nailer and a Bostitch 16 guage finish nailer and both work great on the same compressor and settings.

I also used my Hitachi framing nailer with the Onboard Air (OBA) Compressor on my IHC Scout to nail fence rails for my pastures.

 

[smstonypoint]

I am not sure if that framing nailer shoots the round headed nails vs. the clipped head or not. The inspectors here will question gun nails that do not have the full round head.

I've heard/read about AHJ issues with 30 degree clipped head nails (paper collated). The Palsode literature indicates that their 30 degree RounDrive nails meet all building codes for a round head nail.

About Nails

Based on the input here, Hitachis seem to be favored. They have both round head (plastic collated) and clipped head (paper collated) nailers.

Steve

 

[vaskeet]

I have mainly have porter cable nailers (framing, finish, brad, roofing) dewalt crown stapler and bostich brad. I like the single fire per trigger per pull switch on the porter cable framing nailer. I dont make my living with them but I havent driven a nail with a hammer in along time. just always use oil Randy

 

[bearcreek paul]

I used a harbor freight framing nailer.It will shoot full and clipped head and 3 different angles 21 28 and 34.It has over 6,000 nails and only a hand full of jams.My roofing nailer has close to twice as many nails through it and works fine. I think I paid a little over 200.00 for both.They are not the best but a good deal for the price.

 

[bradm64]

I bought one of the CH 5 gun sets about a month ago to finish basement. I don't make a living with it, so I could not justify a commercial. Really wanted that Paslode....

So far, the framing gun has worked fine, but I could not use a small pancake compressor - it did not hold enough pressure to consistently sink the nails. It is an older one of my father in laws, so it might just be tired.

I started using my larger compressor, and it is doing fine with it. Been through about 2500 nails so far......

 

[skipmarcy]

I have one of the Porter Cable 350 framers - it's 21 degree full-head, plastic collated and I've got a little over 80K nails thru it and haven't had to replace any parts yet. Once in a great while a piece of that plastic can jam you and alot of guys don't like all that plastic litter from this type but it has really been a dependable gun. I always hit it with a few drops of oil every time I use it and clean the magazine and spray a little silicone spray on it every so often. The trigger is the dual type but I always use it on single fire and by design it can't be accidentally knocked to bump fire like some of the cheaper ones I've seen. I think I paid $179 for it 5 years ago. Got my money's worth if it quit tomorrow.

 

[ustmd]

I have one of the Porter Cable 350 framers - it's 21 degree full-head, plastic collated and I've got a little over 80K nails thru it and haven't had to replace any parts yet. Once in a great while a piece of that plastic can jam you and alot of guys don't like all that plastic litter from this type but it has really been a dependable gun. I always hit it with a few drops of oil every time I use it and clean the magazine and spray a little silicone spray on it every so often. The trigger is the dual type but I always use it on single fire and by design it can't be accidentally knocked to bump fire like some of the cheaper ones I've seen. I think I paid $179 for it 5 years ago. Got my money's worth if it quit tomorrow.

I have the same Poorter Cable and have used it for my workshop and a neighbor's shed. I have been very happy with it.

 

[vaskeet]

I have one of the Porter Cable 350 framers - it's 21 degree full-head, plastic collated and I've got a little over 80K nails thru it and haven't had to replace any parts yet. Once in a great while a piece of that plastic can jam you and alot of guys don't like all that plastic litter from this type but it has really been a dependable gun. I always hit it with a few drops of oil every time I use it and clean the magazine and spray a little silicone spray on it every so often. The trigger is the dual type but I always use it on single fire and by design it can't be accidentally knocked to bump fire like some of the cheaper ones I've seen. I think I paid $179 for it 5 years ago. Got my money's worth if it quit tomorrow.

same one I was talking about also like that it came with a hard case Randy

 

[PILOON]

I purchased my HITACHI used about 18 yrs ago.
By my estimate I have probably shot 40-50 cases of nails with it.
Not bad for a USED gun!
Other than frequant oiling, I have not spent one dime on maintainance yet.

BTW, INMHO, stick is better than coils as ever dropped coil is instant trash and you can carry enough sticks in your pouch to deck a roof
Try carrying coils.