Replies

1. 
   framerboy | Apr 02, 2007 02:48am | #1

   Many nailer manufacturers sell nailers that will shoot up to a .162 x 3-1/2 nail or 16 common. Try looking at Hitachi, Bostich, Senco, Duo-Fast, Max etc. To get a quick overview go to amazon.com and check their selection. In addition, the Paslode 350-s nailer will shoot up to a .148 x 3-1/2 nail.

   
   

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   Edited 4/1/2007 8:05 pm ET by framerboy

1. 
   hfhcarp10 | Apr 02, 2007 03:41am | #2

   I will do that. Paslode tells me the 3" .131 nail is enough to attach 2X PT decking. Looking at the nail, I'm not so sure. Seems I would need a nail at least as big as a 16d galv spiral.I'm in the market for a pneumatic nailer - will give the Bostich a look.thanks, Carl

1. 
   mike585 | Apr 02, 2007 05:15am | #5

   Try ebay item number 260102534806. Reconditioned Bostitch.

2. 
   DDay | Apr 02, 2007 05:31am | #6

   Are you looking to use the 2x's as the decking or for the structure of the deck? If you using it as decking, I would advise against. It really does not do very well as decking, it drys, cups, splinters everywhere, etc.Whatever you are using these nails for, they will work very well. 3 1/4" is plenty for framing. You'll have joist hangers, lagged ledger board and maybe a beam for carrying the loads of the deck, you not using the nails to carry loads. Get a strip of 3 1/4" spirals and nails some 2x's and see how easy they come apart. They will not easily.Also, I believe gun nails are a little thinner than common nails but they are still fine to use.

1. 
   hfhcarp10 | Apr 03, 2007 02:02am | #7

   I am replacing 5/4 with 2X6 pt. The 5/4 in our area looks like crap: Hand picked the entire load from Menards - the flat of this lumber is tight-grained with little or no knots. Carl

2. 
   REA | Apr 03, 2007 07:55pm | #8

   I'm a homeowner looking at purchasing a framing nailer for building a new deck and shed.  I have been leaning toward the Hitatchi NR83A, but now not sure if it will meet nail size requirements for framing.  I'm new to the world of framing so I have started reading about framing.  A lot of the material I read mentions using 16d nails, which I believe is larger than the 3 1/4" 0.131 nails the Hitatchi shoots.  So now I'm wondering if I should be looking at a framing gun which can handle a larger 3 1/2" nail?  In the future as my skills grow I would like to build an addition on my attatched gargage so I have a workshop area.  It would be nice to purchase a framing gun which will handle my current and future needs.

1. 
   framerboy | Apr 04, 2007 03:30am | #9

   I frame in Southern California and the Hitachi NR83A is a very common nailer out here. In the residential market the most common nail size is the 16 short or .131 x 3-1/4. We use three nails into the ends of 2x4's and 4 nails into the ends of 2x6's. The 16d you refer to are usually 16 commons which are .162 x 3-1/2. These are not called for except for the occasional commercial building or public buildings such as schools. Hitachi does make a nailer that will accept this size. As an aside, we never install decking with a nailer, we always screw it down. For general framing, I feel a nailer that uses the .131. x 3-1/4 nail size will be fine. Others will be along to weigh in I am sure. We are real opinionated about what we do.

2. 
   DDay | Apr 07, 2007 03:24am | #10

   If your looking for a good all around framing nailer that will do everything except heavy framing, I would look at the hitachi coil nailer. I think it is the NV75 which can do a variety of tasks from decking to siding, to framing. Its a coil nailer so it hold a lot more nails at a time which is nice and hitachi guns are great. It only goes up to 3" nails though. Where are you, fill in your location. For a shed, etc. 3" should be fine depending on your codes.For decking, fences, etc. you can use SS ring nails. I would not use the NR83A for that. I have the original NR83A with no depth setting and its a great framer, indestructible. But it is a framer and is not good for tasks like decking, fences, siding. For those things, I would use a siding nailer or NV75 nailer with a consistent depth set.

2. 
   Piffin | Apr 02, 2007 04:07am | #3

   I get paslodes 3-1/4" long with no trouble

    

    

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1. 
   hfhcarp10 | Apr 02, 2007 04:30am | #4

   Yes, but even the 3 1/4 looks thin in comparison to common, sinker or box nails. The head on the Paslode nail, although now round, is small.I shot a couple into 2X decking and they looked more suitable for the balustrade.thanks, Carl