We need to buy a hardwood floor nailer. First of all, do you have any recommendations on a good brand. Secondly, what about used tools? Do you know any good, reputable web sites that we could buy new or used tools from?
Thanks in advance for any help.
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My BIL bought one of these for oak T&G...$139....used it last Saturday, had to keep oil on the staples to keep them from jamming, but otherwise seemed same as the Bostitch I rented for one weekend for just about the same money.
http://da.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do
then type in "floor nailer"
Probably wouldn't stand up to professional all day everday use, but for one house full of wood floor...why not?
Edited 2/24/2006 2:18 pm ET by johnnyd
I bought the porta nailer and used it last weekend for 400 sf -- did it in a day with a helper -- I got the package deal off A.Com -- comes with a face nailer and the 45 degree nailer for 3/4" -- worked flawlessly -- about $350
ebay usually has some. First you need to decide if you will nail or staple. The Bostich MIIIFS stapler is highly rated. And if you nail, do you want manual or air powered? manual is much cheaper, but much harder on the arms. Pneumatic is more expensive, but very easy.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
My husband says we definately want a nailer and pneumatic. Question, what is the differnce between what a nailer accomplishes and a stapler?
The staples put two legs through the flooring and into the substrate per blow, the nail just one. Some slightly higher possibiltiy of splitting the tongue IMO, with the stapler...but a split tongue is not a big deal unless it is so badly deformed that it gets in the way of the next groove.
I find nails blow off the tounge more so than staples Those split pieces of tounge lay under the groove and make the next board impossible to get tight.
Staples Rock!Gord
Not much, really. Some of it depends on the sub-floor, some on the finish flooring. Generally speaking, nails are considered to be better fasteners. There are those who strongly disagree and say that staples hold better. Both do work well. For thinner flooring, staples work better. If you're doing 3/4" flooring, either works.
Check in at hardwoodinstaller.com and find the discussion forum.
I hjave a Porter Cable pneumatic nailer that is gathering dust. Used it for about 1500 sf of flooring. If you're interested we could probably reach an agreement on it.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Hi FastEddie,
Sent you an email . . .
Bill
I would recommend the Bostitch flooring stapler, they now have a 7 year warranty. FWIW I would buy it at a reputable Bostitch dealer preferable one that does service so if theres a problem with your tool you can always get genuine Bostitch parts. Attached is link to their stapler. Good luck.
http://www.bostitch.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=BOS_SPECIALTY_CONST_STAPLER&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=MIIIFS&SDesc=Industrial+Flooring+Stapler
We have radiant flooring... does that change the view that staples are better than nails? I've heard that nails allow better expansion and contraction... Nothing is easy, is it?
I would check with the floor manufacture on the type of fastner to use, and the radiant heat to see how much expansion you would expect. also just to play it safe I would use 1 1/2 in. staples for the flooring.
At the risk of pointing out the obvious, are the nails/staples gonna punch holes in whatever the radiant system is????
Bud
A floating engineered wood floor would be my choice. This way the entire floor moves as a unit as it expands and contracts. This style of floor would not need to be stapled. Engineered wood flooring is specifically designed for use over radiant heating.Gord
I bought the Harbor Freight Stapler (uses 2" Bostich Staples) and it has worked well in te installation of 1500 sq ft of 3/4 prefinished flooring. A few jams initially, but most were due to mistakes like not fully closing the nail loading cover.
I wqas quite apprehensive, but did not want to buy a $450 nailer or rent one, since this "project" had o be done in stages, moving furniture, and working when time was available etc. This tool is one of HF's diamonds in the rough.!