Hi all
Well, we have had a run of great weather and have spent the past few days framing and sheathing (trying to catch up after all the rain.)
Ok, in a side by side comparison of the new N88 to my partner’s N80 (I think, don’t have it in front of me) here’s the feedback.
First, the unit has more power. Didn’t see any advantages in the normal framing we do.
Unit is lighter, but is bulkier. So, it feels bigger and harder to manouver, but not really. I suppose I can live with that. Just takes getting used to and wouldn’t notice it if not having both together.
The old unit required adjusting the air pressure for different size nails. This new one doesn’t need that, just reset the nail depth adjustment. A real plus when your up on a roof and realize you forgot to turn down the pressure. I think a little playing with that and the air pressure will end up as a good feature.
The unit didn’t jam once with the generic nails (In the right size and angle.) No problems, no trouble. Every now and then it didn’t shoot a nail, but just hit it again or pull clip follower back and let it go. Fired fine, didn’t jam.
The catch is that you need to decide if you want the clipped nails or the full head nails. The RH uses the full heads. The strips are longer and the gun can only hold 2 strips of nails not the full 3 with the clipped heads. Also, you can’t stuff your pocket with strips as their too long and bulky. If you get the WW model this won’t be a problem.
I didn’t mind the wire coming out of the old style when the clip finished, the new one shoots little plastic scraps out. Took me a moment to realize what they were. On a construction site, no big deal.
Well that’s the scoop.
Over-all, the unit really is pretty good. Since all my other guns are Bostitch, I don’t really have any feedback on comparing it to other brands.
Hope that helps everyone.
Fell free to ask any questions if you have them.
Jeff
Replies
I have the coil framing nailer that I have had no problem with at all, I like the coil idea because I find it better balanced, and it hold a lot more nails. I dropped it off the roof of a house onto a concrete pad in December and it barely scratched the paint. I also have only ever used bostich nailers and never had a problem with any of them. I do have a narrow crown stapler for cabinetry by porter cable that also seems to be flawless.
Hi Gecko
I do have to admit, it takes alot of banging about on the job.
I have a old Bostitch brad nailer given to me by a friend who broke it.
I was planning to rebuild it, had it cleaned up and was waiting to order the rebuild kits when my local yard had a tool day with all the reps there.
I brought the unit in with me and the rep looked at it and said they still made it and it cost about $150 new. He then took the top off, put in a new O ring and tested the unit. Worked great, no charge. That was over a year ago.
I have other Bostitch nailers and never had a day of problems with them.
My partner's Bostitch framing nailer always works. Well beat up. Started jamming the hammer. I unjammed it twice, but it stopped retracting a few weeks ago.
A quick internal cleaning and a set of rings and gaskets cured that.
I guess over-all the products are good.
Jeff
Jeff
I'm in the market for a new framing gun and wondered what the diferences are with clipped headed nails vs round head.
Thanks
andy The way we regard death is critical to the way we experiance life.
When your fear of death changes, the way you live your life changes.
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Andy
The difference is pretty simple, clipped head nails are just that, they have a small part clipped out to allow the next nail to be right up against it.
Round head nails are a full head without the small area clipped out.
It seems that there is a small amount of extra holding power due to the full head then with the clipped head.
In actual use, it makes little difference.
When nailing sheathing, the round head can be a little better.
A big difference is in how many nails a gun can use without reloading. You get alot of nails per strip with the clipped heads. About 1/3 more per load.
Easier to carry a few strips in your belt or pocket with the clipped head.
Also, a full box of nails is smaller with the clipped head then the full.
The final point is with local building codes.
Some areas (California & Florida for example) require full head for all the holding power available. Check with your local inspector or building dept.
I prefer the clipped head if picking one only, mostly for the larger loads.
I bought the full head Bostitch when it first came out and would have bought the clipped head if it were available.
Hope that helps.
Jeff
Paslode now makes a nail with a full head that is offset to fit clip head nailers. Im not sure it would meet code in all areas that require full head but have heard that it does in at least some.
One other annoying difference, FRH only come with plastic collation, as far as I have found, and plastic collation sucks...IMOThe Count-Down begins, 96 days left
I just don't understand how changing the air pressure is going to control the depth of the driven nail when working with wood. Wood varies in density i.e. knots etc.
Nige
I was thinking exactly the same thing....Adjusting the power from the gun makes more sense if anything. The way we regard death is critical to the way we experiance life.
When your fear of death changes, the way you live your life changes.
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
yes andy
Piston travel is the only thing to effect depth drive. Its like cordless drills with the clutch setting, every piece of wood is different!
Hi all
Air pressure settings give an average depth in the wood set for.
Harder wood requires more pressure, soft wood less.
Hit a knot and you won't go as deep, pressure in the compressor low, also won't go as deep.
The new Bostitch N88 has a depth control that adjusts the piston travel, not the air pressure, so small adjustments in wood hardness don't make as much a difference.
Low pressure can make a difference.
None of this makes any difference with the clipped or full head, as the gun doesn't care.
On the other hand, inspectors can get real upset to find the nail set too deep in the sheathing, reducing holding power. So depth control becomes more important.
Jeff
I often see people talking/writing about dropping the pressure but what they should be saying is reduce the travel. (on most guns it means bigger spacer to the work)
Interesting
Never used a spacer or even seen one for the Bostitch.
Jeff
Spacer is really the wrong word. On my porter cable stapler you turn a wheel and this effectively moves the staple gun away from the work and that way controls the depth. My duofast framing nailer came with a clip on "spacer" to control the depth.
I got the Bostich convertable joist hanger/framing nailer (?N88MCN-RH?). Haven't used it for joist hanger just as a framer, which I'm very happy with. I even used to hang Hardi Plank Siding in a small area, 14'x8'. With adjusting the depth on the gun and the power of the compressor it would set the nails just below the surface of the planks.