Porter Cable Brad Gun Failure....and Rant.

[QRTRHRS]

I too have some Porter Cable brad nailers. One is around 18ga and the other a "pin" gauge. I know that mine are over ten years old. I have replaced the rubber nose piece on the larger one and some internal parts. I go to PC's website for parts/pricing info then shop around. My guns are on a sit/heavy use schedule so I expect issues on occasion. We just bought a smaller home with most of the windows finished with drywall only so I am going to be in the trim business as I make it our own. I oil mine every time I put nails in and overall, consider the guns average tools for the price. If I replace them I think I will go with Bostich.

I also have a PC roofing nailer and a narrow crown stapler. Both have been trouble free.

My oldest nail gun is a Duo-Fast framer that I bought back in 92'. Thing weighs a "ton". It leaks air so there are some bad o-rings to replace again. That can wait until I need to do something heavy duty. I may just take it to the flea market then buy a new one if and when some framing work comes along.

 

[PILOON]

I am in agreement with Hitachi for quality, all mine have been trouble free after many many cases of nails.
As to PC (now owned by B/D/Stanley) if the driver pin is busted they only sell a driver 'kit' assembly that is much to close to a new nail gun discount price.
In my book, Hitachi and Makita rules.

 

[N80]

I have a Makita circular saw that is fantastic.

 

[Citydude]

My welding grinders are Mikita. Well built because I'm hard on my power tools. I can't weld very good but I'm an excellent grinder

 

[PILOON]

Makita .me also, one with cutting discs and the other with abrasive pads.
Have used them for almost 10 years but I do air blow clean daily.
Best yet both were garage sale buys probably at no more than $20. each.
Sure speaks well for their quality,

 

[Deere Dude]

I have 3 or 4 finish nailers but the best one is a Crapsman bought about 35 years ago. It has never failed me. I did by a HF littler one and only used it a few times but I can't get that one to work even though it was oiled well and I can't see any problems after numerous teardowns. I tried working on it 2 or 3 times at an hour apiece so some year I will tackle it again. I would be way ahead just chucking it in the scrap bin.

 

[boggen]

there is not a whole lot of pieces to a air nailer. pull it apart, and run smallest wire you can find through air ports within the unit.

keep your 0-rings, and hit a couple local hardware stores, by a package of 0-rings, and then what ever does not come in package see if you can find the others in individually.

lube it all up while re-installing including o-rings.

there is a chancel a linkage is bent, so when you pull trigger, it is not fully releasing something throughout the driving of the nail/staple, and then letting all the mechanisms return to were they should be.

========
on one nailer it was linkage for me. were the linkage attached it broke. so i got most of the full trigger but not the full trigger pressing. no way to get parts including through manufacture.

a few times, i simply had bad nail strips that load up into the gun. and were causing things to jam up.

a few times, had to clear jams from bad nails themselves and bending / twisting up inside the gun.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have 3 or 4 finish nailers but the best one is a Crapsman bought about 35 years ago. It has never failed me. I did by a HF littler one and only used it a few times but I can't get that one to work even though it was oiled well and I can't see any problems after numerous teardowns. I tried working on it 2 or 3 times at an hour apiece so some year I will tackle it again. I would be way ahead just chucking it in the scrap bin.

I will throw a vote in for the Hitachi 15g finish nailer. And it's green if color matters! :laughing: Oops this is a PC thread.

 

[Oaktree]

Another vote for Hitachi. I do put in a couple drops of oil every time I use it, just like it says. No problems, had it probably 8 years.

 

[kenmac]

I have a bostitch brad nail gun I bought about 15 yrs ago. It has never missed a beat.
Most brands are made in china.
You can get quality products from china,but it comes at a price.
Most if not all inverter mini splits are made in china