I have been reading these posts for along time and with all the discussion over framing guns nobody ever mentions Duofast. I am a small remodeling contractor in Houston. Duofast is my favorite framing nailer,reliable and durable. Would like to get some opinions on what you guys think.
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I use a Duo-Fast RCN-60/225 siding coil nailer. Shoots 17/8" plastic-collated alum nails. Nice gun, does not jam, easy load. This model is discontinued, but I can still buy jobber nails for it.
Edited 8/13/2005 1:41 am ET by Pierre1
I have one. A cn350 ? Can't readily buy them around here.
Greg
Werner Building & Remodeling
Huntingdon PA
I worked with a framing crew in Colorado that switched from Hitachi to Duofast guns. They really liked them and said they worked better when temps reached teens or single digits...not that you need that feature in Houston.
I to have a RCN-60/225 use it mainly for Hardie and other siding. The framing gun I own is a old gold color full round head nailer. Any of you guys know what year that might be. I bought it used about 7 years ago. They are heavy guns but they have alot of power and I have never had mine double shoot. I put a hose clamp on the round nose of the coil gun and can adjust in or out for flush nailing. Since that gun was made before adjustable nose pieces. Nails are readily available in Houston. 95% of frame/cornice crews in Houston use Hitachi NR83a guns. The other 5% use Duofast.
The first one I used back in 1971 was a DuoFast. Somewhere along the line it disappeared. But I did find the DuoFast trim nailer again recently.
-- J.S.
It seems Duofast is only used and available in certain regions of the country, from some of the comments I have recieved. I have seen some old ones on Ebay.
Paddy, I have been using Duo Fast for about 27 years. I have several guns(12) of my own. I have used all the leading brands over the years but Duofast has been the most dependable.
Here in Montgomery, Alabama if you take good care of your guns and you do have a problem the local store will fix them for free. They recently started letting the local lumber yards carry their nails which has helped a lot.
NEXTLEVEL
Lowes and Home Depot also carry a small selection of Duofast guns in the Houston stores, and a decent selection of Duofast brand nails. Hopefully the quality of Duofast will not be changed since Paslode has taken over, shouldn't as Paslode is also very good. I met a framer a couple of months ago who is 66years old wow! and this is all he ever uses. He is like Houston's version of Larry Haun, but not that skinny!
They are building new houses in Montgomery? Where at? I just passed thru there on I-65 on my way back from Sylacauga today.
And if you don't mind me asking, what are you getting per SF? Here in Mobile we get 2.65-3.00/SF for a typical 1 story with a decent hip roof.Jason Pharez Construction
Framing & Exterior Remodeling
Jason, the sf ranges from 2.75 to 3.5 depending on the roof , special ceilings, dormers and such. We frane a lot of of custoim homes where the architect's pencil went crazy. We usually end up around 5 a sf.
Where? In the woods. Land owners are selling off large tracts to developers. People are moving out of the city. The local lumber yards have at least two guys full time who only do take offs on house plans.
I have lived here all my life and have never seen building like this.
NEXTLEVEL
I've never thought much of metro Montgomery--it just seems so nasty (like downtown B'ham)...but Greenville, Prattville, and Wetumpka seem like good potential for homebuilders.
I like to stop in the Russell Do It Best Center in Wetumpka on my way back from Sylacauga...always have Hart framers in stock.Jason Pharez Construction
Framing & Exterior Remodeling
Jason, Hart framers some of the best hammers out there. Kind of hard to find in Houston, but you can get them. I'm trying to find a place in Houston that sells Dalluge hammers, don't want to mail order one, and give wife ammo, about another hammer. I have 16oz. &21oz. Harts.
I grew up in Wetumpka and I now live out in the country where I used to deer hunt when I was a teenager. Several large landowners are selling their land to developers who are making large subdivisions. I have never seen so much building.
The Wetumpka Russell store is where I buy a lot of material. I bought my first Hart hammer there. My last name is Hart so I just had to have one. I ended up buying two more I liked them so much.
Lake Martin generates a lot of building. I went to one house last week where they want two sets of outside cedar stairs built going down to the pool from the back balcony. This house is being built for about 4 million dollars. Thought I would never see that in Alabama.
I constantly turn down work on a ratio of 5 to 1. There is just to much going on.
Do you live in Sylacauga? I'm going up to Alexander City Tuesday afternoon.
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Actually, I live in Mobile, but all of my wife's family lives in Sylacauga/Pell City/B'ham, so we make quite a few trips up that way. We got married in Sylacauga, actually.
Hehe, the only Hart framer I have sits above this computer on my hutch...office decorations. Next time I'm by Russell's I'll try and pick up one for work LOL.
BTW, I've never been down to Alex City (yet)...been to Talladega once to buy my wife's car from Jim Pruiett Ford--T'dega's not what everyone makes it out to be.Jason Pharez Construction
Framing & Exterior Remodeling
A buddy of mine had a whole set of Duofast guns and they were really terrific, especially the finisher. I moved to Pa about 8 years ago and I don't think I have seen one Duofast since that time. I have no idea why these great tools never quite caught on. As I recall though, he had a tough time finding suppliers for the nails, but in this day and age with the internet so strong, that shouldn't be a problem.
For whatever it's worth, I think Duofast was one of the origional nail guns. Back around '73 - 74 I was on a government job and that was what they had there for us to use. On another framing crew, a guy would come around in a Duofast truck and sell us the guns, nails and do repairs. I think Bostick (sp) was one of the other firsts. Might be wrong about this.
That got me to thinking... When did nail guns first come out? Anybody?
My Duofast framer shoots the same nails as Hitachi NR83's,Porter cable, and other major gun names. The other Duofast guns I have seen are basically interchangeable with other major brands (nailwise). I would think fasteners should be available at any big box, or lumber yard, etc. around the country.
Edited 8/19/2005 8:10 pm ET by Paddy
I think they've been around since the 50's but weren't really developed till a decade or so later.
http://www.itwconstruction.com/history/duofast.aspJust found this.
I have an older duofast 137 gun. The driver wears out to fast compared to the hitachi nr 83 i have, which shooots the same nail.
Is it Duofast or Spotnail that spits out the little pieces of plastic everytime you pull the trigger?Shorts & a lack of eye protection not a good combo when nailing off a floor if I recall.
Do have a Duofast coil sidding nailer that 20+ years old & has been one of the better air tool that we have.
The Duofast coil nailer I have shoots out a plastic collation rope out of the top by nose piece , I think it is a pretty standard deal with Duofast. Good because you don't get wire flagging, and plastic pieces everywhere. Last time I had this gun repaired, the guy said there is some part of cylinder that is wearing, and is not replacable.
This is a old gold colored model, Maybe I'll have to go with new blue gun.
AHHH doufast......I have the old gold framer. Its a friggin boat anchor that refuses to die, sinks nails as good as any of the guns that I have used, and has been incredibly reliable. Did I mention it was heavy???? and ugly. Keep waiting, and waiting, and waiting, for it to die so I can go buy one of the newer fancy framing guns.
-m2akita
My old gold framer is real ugly also, most of the paint is gone, power is serious. Sinks nails way deep, into almost everything. I think when it finally goes, I'm going to go with the Hitachi NR83A. Can you get the new model w/ adj. depth of drive and selective trigger or do you have to get one or the other. The Hitachi is definitely the most popular framer in Houston. I have used them several times the are great guns and nice and light.