Which round head frame nail gun?

Ches · Dec 17, 2003

Been looking to purchase a round head (stick) framing nail gun. Have narrowed my choices to either a Porter Cable or a Bostich. There is only twenty dollars difference. Is there much difference in their quality? Which would you buy? Will be only for ocassional use (building pole barns, sheds, lean-to's, etc). I had almost bought a Senco (clip head) that was on sale, but as I researched I learned that local codes are requiring full round head nails. So I decided to look at the full round head ones. Any suggestions? Thanks

Junkman · Dec 17, 2003

I have a Bostitch and it has been great ever since I bought it a number of years ago. I don't know what you are referring to when you refer to "clipped head", because the Bostitch uses a nail that has a small half moon clip taken out of the head where it lies next to the next nail in the clip. There are two models available. One is a continual nail pattern that puts a nail in every time that you trip the nose as long as your finger is on the trigger and the other one is the trigger needs to be pulled to reset before the next nail will be driven. I have the constant feed type.....

Hoosier_Daddy · Dec 17, 2003

I have Senco. Two of them. One a framer and one a finisher.

Can't believe there is a code that says the little half moon is a problem.

Do they realize that folks with nailers use more nails that the folks with a hammer?

Inspector507 · Dec 17, 2003

Clipped head is definately a no-no in some areas

Glenn9643 · Dec 17, 2003

"Have narrowed my choices to either a Porter Cable or a Bostich."

I have the Porter-Cable but it's a "D"head or clipped head nailer. I wouldn't think there would be a lot of difference between the two that you mentioned. Mine has really saved me from a lot of nights with sore shoulders! I would chalk it up as one of my best purchases. I bought it as a package with a pancake compressor and it's great also. I have a shop compressor, but the compressor that I got with the nail gun is light and can be carried where-ever you need it. They "get you" when you buy nails though. They're pretty expensive compared to buying common nails in 50# boxes.

wroughtn_harv · Dec 17, 2003

I have a Bostich stick nailer and a coil nailer. I also have one each Hitachi. There is no comparison, coil or stick. Hitachi is ten times the machine Bostich would like to be. Hitachi is lighter, more comfortable to use, and seems to be more durable.

I got the Hitachi coil nailer because of it's adjustable head feature for nailing Hardy Board and Hardy Plank. I was so impressed with it that I went down and bought the stick nailer on pure plain common sense principle. It was a good move.

BTW they both use Paslode or generic nails without a problem so far.

Dozernut · Dec 17, 2003

The only problem with the full head nails is they are not commonly available at all of the box stores and lumberyards (at least in my area). I had no trouble finding the clip head nails locally, I have to order the full head nails and wait for them to be shipped.

dmccarty · Dec 17, 2003

Ches,

Are you going to using metal connectors/plates/post caps/post
bases? Some nail guns are specifically designed for finding the
holes in the metal to get the nail in the right spot. There are a
couple of models out there that allows the nail gun to go from
a postitive placement nailer to just a plain old "hammer" nail
gunl

Later,
Dan McCarty

DIYGuy · Dec 17, 2003

I have put over 10,000 nails through the Porter Cable (FR350 I think) without a problem. It is a big gun and you have to respect the recoil.

Nails are easily found at Home Depot and Lowes.

FWIW,

DIYGuy (MarkS)