What to shop for in compressor/nailers

[ikymojoe]

Hello Friends:

I am shopping for a compressor and nailer. I do not know what to look for in all of the various models/sizes. Some of the projects I am considering are:

- replacing some wood paneling inside my house
- re-roof a well house
- general construction projects like bird houses
- wood fences
- general construction around the farm

Again, I do not know what features to look for...Can you give me some recommendations?

Sincerely,

Ikymojoe

 

[RobS]

Unless you're working it full time, it probably won't matter much. I'm in a similar sitation with many of my tool purchases so here's my philosophy: Avoid the lowest price stuff (Harbor Freight level) as it's usually pretty junky. I can also avoid the highest price stuff as I'm not working it that hard. That leaves that wonderful middle ground which is full of offerings. Find the size/features you want and you should be all set. FWIW, I have all Bostich nailers and have been perfectly happy with them. I power them with a Hitachi pancake compressor which is a bit loud, but works fine. If you have patience, all this stuff occasionally goes on sale at the big boxes. I remember barely fitting my coil roofing nailer into one of Menard's sale bags for that 15% off and another time I think I got Lowes to beat the Menards sale price.

Cordless (hoseless?) would be nice, but not something I need for what I do. At least with tools, I have always found price to be a pretty good indicator of quality and durability.

Now let the mid-price brand wars begin! No wait, I guess that's not really a good idea, is it?

 

[Slacker]

If it were me I'd jump on your local craigslist. Tons of used nailguns, compressors and trim guns. If you're buying all the items used you'll probably save enough to buy a few boxes of nails. Lots of folks buy the tools for a specific job then sell them when it's finished. I can't think of one power tool (except my tractor) that I bought new.

 

[ToadHill]

If you don't know already, if you are going to use a gun for roofing, you'll need a different gun than for regular nailing. Roofing nailers are specific to that job.

 

[RobS]

Hello Friends:

I am shopping for a compressor and nailer. I do not know what to look for in all of the various models/sizes. Some of the projects I am considering are:

- replacing some wood paneling inside my house
- re-roof a well house
- general construction projects like bird houses
- wood fences
- general construction around the farm

Again, I do not know what features to look for...Can you give me some recommendations?

Sincerely,

Ikymojoe

Just re-read your post and I have some additional input for you. The projects you mention would likely drive you to more than one nailer. re-roofing would be a roofing nailer or a stapler. If it's only a well house with no future projects, I'd either do it by hand or rent. Bird houses and wood panelling are the territory of either a brad nailer or a finish nailer. I have both and use each frequently. If only one, I'd take the finish nailer as it will handle bigger nails. For the general construction you'll probably want a framing nailer. I have what's called a "clip head" nailer, meaning the nails stack up next to each other and have a slight "clip" on the head so they don't catch when being shot. The alternative is a coil model where the nails have some space between them and have full heads. There is likely a price difference in either the nailer and/or the nails.

Whatever you do, get one that uses commonly available nails. Each brand is a bit different and you can buy the brand nails or generics, as long as your brand is supported. That's why I recommend a name brand.

Other than that, get what you are comfortable with. The differences are pretty minimal. Kind of like the whole Ford/Chevy thing.

 

[Bird]

As RobS said, to run a nail gun, almost anything will do. My two brothers built a house for one of them with a relatively cheap Craftsman (oiled, not oilless) aluminum compressor on a 20 gallon tank, using a Paslode nail gun and a Craftsman 18 gauge brad gun.

But for lots of use . . . use the search function here on Tractorbynet and search for "air compressor" and you'll find more than you want to read.

 

[flusher]

Hello Friends:

I am shopping for a compressor and nailer. I do not know what to look for in all of the various models/sizes. Some of the projects I am considering are:

- replacing some wood paneling inside my house
- re-roof a well house
- general construction projects like bird houses
- wood fences
- general construction around the farm

Again, I do not know what features to look for...Can you give me some recommendations?

Sincerely,




Ikymojoe

I use an 2 gal air compressor and a 6-in-1 framing nail gun both from Harbor Freight and both about $90 each. Around my 10-acre place so far I've built three 120 sf saltbox sheds using these tools with no problem.

Potting shed:

Sunshed (greenhouse):

Observatory:

Not the world's best framing job, but a lot of fun. Tools used for framing: hammer, nailer/compressor, 7-1/2" circular saw, Black & Decker Navigator reciprocating saw, steel tape, spirit level, C-clamps, step ladder.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

You will probably find combo's at Home Depot of the Porter Cable brand. Compared to the single price of each unit, the nail guns are almost free when purchased as a combo. If you ever think air tools / sprayers will be used look at the air flow requirements for anything you would even remotely consider for future use. Some air tools require significant flow (usually measured at 90 psi) to operate adequately.

My equipment is PC. I have a stacked compressor rated at 5.2 cfm 90 psi - a Clipped Head Framing Nailer and a 2.5" Finish Nailer. Performance of all three has been flawless - but hobby use only. Currently looking to find a PC FCN 200 Flooring Nailer.

 

[TwinWillows]

Below are my comments as to type of nailer that you might find useful for the intended tasks. I like to buy tools & hold onto them forever so I'd stick w/a brand name & avoid HF but that's just me. If you look on e-bay you'll find a huge list of nailers to pick from including new to well/over used. None of these nailers use that much air as compared to an impact wrench or air sander so your compressor choices can be sized accordingly - 120V pancake to 10 gal would probalby do you just fine.

I have a 16 ga straight, 18 ga brad & a full round head stick nailer. Bosch, Dewalt & Pasload. They do everything I need to do (I don't roof). I have a 5hp 220v compressor in the shop mainly to run impacts & a small 1.5hp 120V one to tote around to small jobs here & there on the farm.

Hello Friends:

I am shopping for a compressor and nailer. I do not know what to look for in all of the various models/sizes. Some of the projects I am considering are:

- replacing some wood paneling inside my house (15 ga angle or 16 ga straight finish nailer)
- re-roof a well house (coil roofing nailer)
- general construction projects like bird houses (15 ga angle or 16 ga straight finish nailer)
- wood fences (coil (not roofing) or stick nailer)
- general construction around the farm (coil (not roofing) or stick nailer)

Again, I do not know what features to look for...Can you give me some recommendations?

Sincerely,

Ikymojoe

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Lots of comment and not too much of a variation in reccomendations.

Like has been mentioned air guns don't take a large vol of air. I have both a small pancake model and a larger model that puts out about 7 cfm @ 90psi. Both get the job done without have to be running all/most of the time.

From the project listed I could see the need for a different gun for each task. Roofing definately calls for a roofing nailer. Various sized project could call for both an 18 & 16 ga brad nailer. Framing calls for another specific design. A couple nailers haven't been brought up and are useful. A stapler is useful in some situations where the staples are not visable or the visability isn't important. The last nailer is one I've made use of a lot, a palm nailer. These are more like a pnuematic hammer. With the collars they come with they can be used for almost any type nailing job from small brads to framing sized nails. Seem to remember I've even used mine on Spikes out at the barn. Have used a palm nailer on one roof job where a convientional roofing nailer or a hammer wouldn't get to. They are handy.

Among my various nailers, 5-6, I do have a couple low cost HF nailers and have not had any problem with them. Have one HF model that is a brad nailer and a stapler rolled into one model. On sale for $20 and it doesn't take too many projects where you can afford to buy and toss at the $20 price.