*
I do a lot of punch list work onfinished basements and am getting tired of hauling a nail gun, hose, compressor, and extension chord down stairs or around the back of a house every time I have to hang a door, or run a room of base. Wondering how well the cordless, airless, trim (and framing guns)work before I invest.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Listeners write in about haunted pipes and building-science tomes, and they ask questions about roof venting and roof leaks.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
*
Jeff,
I own both impulse guns that you want and wouldn't sell them for twice what I paid for them...They were made for your kind of pick up work, not continuous fast production work...Next I will buy a stapler for cedar siding work and sheathing...
Near the stream,
J
*Do a quick search and you'll find a great deal of discussion about the Paslodes. They seem to work great.
*The Paslodes are awesome and I still don't understand why everyone doesn't have them. Cordless for 2 years now, and in that time the trimpulse was in for a $30 cleaning and the framer has worked perfectly. You would have to fight me to get them away from me. Pay no attention to the new PC trim nailer.
*
Color me a Happy Paslode Camper. I've been running a Paslode gas gun for several years now and am very pleased.
You can stoke it up and walk around with it. Look Ma! No compressor, no power pole, no air hose, no extension cord. You can also field strip and service it. Not a technical job.
Flip side - the cost per nail is higher than for a standard framing nailer. If you frame all day, get a Senco or whatever. If you have pickup work, the Paslode is just fine.
ToolBear
*Jeff from Colorado, if you are still in Colorado, check your elevation. Paslode is NOT a member of the mile high club......Joe
*
Joe's right about elevation...Try one and return it if it doesn't work at your location...And also they are not for cold weather either. That said I still think they are among the niftiest tools I own.
Near the stream at 320' to 1200' max.
J
*My vote is for the Paslode too. Couldn't stand the PC, A hammer was easier to use. For trim work I use a small SCUBA tank with a regulator to run the conventional air tools. A CO2 tank with regulator would be even better if you aren't a diver since it could be filled up at a welding shop.Jack, I would reccomend the PC MS200 stapler for cedar siding and sheathing. Just dont make any mistakes with the sheathing, darn staples hold TOO well.
*My first experience with air tools, aspenite, and staplers was way back in 1981 when I was put in charge of the Lazair ultralight factories shipping department and helped redesign the packaging of a million parts to fit in a crate we made with above items...Hadn't bought my first Estwing or Hart yet but soon after did when I realised that I couldn't live very well selling three planes a year in the Lake George area. Homes to me are just bigger kits, so I just picked up a hammer and saw...Now and again they say I'm outstanding in my field but not for long as I like to take to the air soon after. Being Lakeside I'm an amphibious bird and even enjoy my lakes frozen as well. Have a great two person iceboat in the family...Try 60mph six inches off ice sometime when you're ready for an eye opener.Near the stream,J
*
Thanks for all the feedback. I have been looking at the P.C. but sounds like paslode is the way to go. Think I'll check it out.
*
I thought the Paslodes used ther same nails as the Sencos. No?
*I've got both. Never had problems with either. Not sure if you're aware, but when using the PC you need to press the tool against the work and compress a piston, about 2". It can be good, as the pressure helps to hols the work in place, or can be a pain if you are toenailing and the lateral pressure can occasionally force the work to slide.The mechanicals in the PC are simpler. The only thing to remember is if the tool has sat for a bit in between firings, double-pump it for the next shot.If just purchasing one, Palsode would probably be your best bet. If cash is a factor you could go with PC at almost half-price.
*Jeff, If you are hoping to sink 16's or 2 1/2" finish nails with the paslode anywhere in CO. you will not be happy. The altitude even with the enhanced gas cartridges available will not allow it. However smaller nails will drive just fine, at least with the common nails. I don't own the finish gun. The only nails I use are 10d ringshanks and they drive fine even at 10,000'. Remember, don't trust anyone that lives at under 5000'!
*It's a shame there isn't an adjustable metering valve so you could reduce the driving force on small nails.
*Thats for me Jack!!Sounds great, (only seen snow in pictures )
*
RE: Running Senco nails in a Paslode gas gun.
Something to check out.
I run Paslode's fastners (which are carried by Home Depot along with gas and goodies). Can't remember the angle, but they are collated in paper strips. They offer D head, full head, ring shanks, etc.
ToolBear
*
31° But the galavanized are only electroplated, and now everyone here has me afraid of electroplated. McFeely's (and others) sell stainless, a SERIOUS investment (like 12¢ per nail).
*
As for the PC, seen it, used it, hate it. I have a Paslode and would say it's truly worth the investment, about $500 for the trimmer. Unless you want to carry a large shock absorber that drives nails about three fourths of the way home, no need to think about the PC.
*
Not one person here has said anything nice about the Bammers -- unnerving unanimity that swayed me to a more expensive Paslode. I wonder why PC dropped the ball? Going for the homeowner market?
*When a certain magazine we are all familiar with reviews something without revealing what a piece of *&#** it is, it makes me ponder business as usual.
*Well, ponder how many Bammer ads they run! I usually figure that a lukewarm review means it's cr*p -- especially from a big advertising company.
*I keep trying to use my bammer. Recently on oak window extensions. Rarely would it drive a 2-1/2" nail all the way home. I may use the case next time I go on vacation, it's big enough for a month long stay.
*I don't think I ever would have bought one of those mothers, but I suppose I might have if I didn't already have a Trimpulse. But if I had, that is the sort of thing I hold a grudge on for a long time. Shouldn't PC do the right thing and buy all of them back?
*Porter Cable used to be the premier saw in america. Then rockwell bought them out.The first thing that Rockwell did was to institute a "planned obsolescence" policy in the quality tools that porter cable made. That "cheaper is better" mentality has never changed.PC = Piles of Crap.Has anyone used tht new adjustable milwaukee?Blue
*That's funny lonecat! They don't want those junky Bammer things! It's obvious that they have never worked out in the field! I laughed at the salesman when he tried to get me to buy one of them. The sales guy actually told me I could try it for a week free! I still wouldn't take it!I wouldn't take one of them for free! My space in the barn is too precious! I have six broken compressors that I value more!Even the name is hoakie! Bammer! What a joke!Blue
*I've finally tried the paslode (impulse, framer). I don't like it. It will be useful for the small things that you don't want to pull out the hoses for, but it is too hard to shoot. The nose is not sensitive enough, and I would develop shoulder problems, pushong that hard all day long.Blue
*I think I dodged the bullet here. I asked my dealer to bring a Bammer in for me (the trim gun) and he couldn't get one, they were way backordered. Then I saw one in real life, picked it up. It was twice the size I thought it was from the pictures. They goofed on this one, but they aren't all bad. I have Dewalt, Makita, PC, Bosch (I luv Bosch) plus others in my shop and not one of them doesn't have a bummer or two in their line.
*Adrian, that's amuch kinder way of looking at it. i am definetly anti pc. I just find them so offensive because the original Porter Cables saws are still running....35 years later!Blue
*Remember when AMF bought Harley Davidson?
*They still have the 690 router. And the wood-hungry Tiger a lot of people seem to like. Every manufacturer seems to excel in at least one category ... fill in the blanks: __ jigsaw; __ recip (tie?); __ circular saw; __ drill; __ router; etc.None of this forgives the Bammer, if it is as I've heard here. PC may find itself forced to buy them back if enough people get mad and sue for false representation.And sometimes cheaper is better. Shoddy rarely is.
*Blue: Remember when Rockwell was sellin those drills back in the 70s with a 6 inch cord?
*Yeah, but did Amf throw out the dies for the harley?Blue
*Lonecat, I honestly brought one back to a regional service center for a switch, and bitched so bad about the cord, that the tech threw on a 12' rubber cord as he installed the new replacement switch. I think the line that I gave him embarassed him into it; "My wife's black and decker toaster is better than this drill's cord, no wonder the Jap's are taking over the market!"And it was Porter Cable's best 1/2" pistol grip stlye drill!I was hot!It was my second time in there with warranty work (the sealed grease fitting failed). I was just lucky that I didn't have to ship the tool to the repair center; it was on my route home!I also own a heavy duty, electronic impact concrete drill. The switch failed. I payed 80$ for a new switch, and drilled two holes! It burned up again.Porter Cable sucks!Blue
*
I have been using one for several months now-and must admit that,on balance, it works great. I used it ways that an ordinary hammer simply could not be used, such as sistering on larger joists to smaller and there is no room to swing. I have to point out that mine is a bit touchy-it has to be "aimed" just right or it won't fire. Also it has to be cleaned regularly, a 7 minute process. I am very glad to have it. I am speaking of the Paslode framer by the way.
*
I really like the the PC MS200 stapler. Thought their airless nailer would be good......WRONG.
Bought the Paslode.
*Compressing the nose fully can be tricky off-center.
*We just bought our third Impulse today- ready for the 21st century.
*Blue,When did Rockwell buy Porter Cable?I've always thought that their sanders were great, was excited to hear about the "bammers" but was amazed at how big a finish gun could be. What about the PC saws? Do they suck as well? I've been tempted by their sidewinder with the motor on the right side (finally).The first generation of Paslodes sucked, maybe the Bammer II will be better. Maybe not.I've got a Senco finish nailer and love it. The itty bitty compressor that I use with it is absolutely no hassle at all. And just yesterday I bought a reconditioned Impulse framer (300 bucks) and was so excited I had to get up at five this morning to visit it... I don't even have to meet GC till nine!Dan
*Dan, they bought them back in the 70's.I had a pc saw, out of the box with an out of square table! That had me looking crosseyed. i couldnt cut a square 2x4!Which first generation paslodes sucks? I've used smll compressors for years, but recently switched to a continuos run model/Blue
*Those dark grey impulse nailers prior to the orange ones...
*The Paslode "nail starters"
*
I do a lot of punch list work onfinished basements and am getting tired of hauling a nail gun, hose, compressor, and extension chord down stairs or around the back of a house every time I have to hang a door, or run a room of base. Wondering how well the cordless, airless, trim (and framing guns)work before I invest.