It’s freaking fantastic!
there … review done.
finally got to work it out today … spend the day on an island … I love an island vacation in a middle of a big kitchen job.
the best test …. had to run some 3/4 black finished maple to make for a table skirt … cut down one FS3 to the required 2 inches … and she went wild and bent like hell.
decided I’d run a backer strip … took the scrap 1″ piece … also bent … and layed it so the bends opposed each other … glued and face pinned … then back screwed.
So … the pin nailer had to shoot 1″ pins … thru 2 layers of 3/4 maple.
That’s about as tough a material as I’ll ever shoot thru … and seeing as how the face was 3/4 thick … as think a material as I’ll ever attach too.
sunk them like a dream … didn’t even flinch.
I’m thinking the crown onto the maple face frames won’t be much of a problem.
great gun.
later … I toenailed turned posts/legs into the hardwood floor so I could plumb and mark them. Almost couldn’t pull them loose. 1″ toenailed thru maple again … into finished oak hardwood. After I pulled them loose … saw it went 1/2″ thru the leg and 1/2″ into the floor. Pretty impressive as I held the guy at a real steep angle. Thot at first it’s just glance off … but she shoot straight.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Replies
Another devotee...cool.
Hard to fault the little buggers. I look forward to using it...nothing like a the feeling of using a fine tool.
PJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
Where did you buy yours?
I was eyeing one up on http://www.toolbarn.com for about $225.
Are you down with OPP?
toolbarn is where I got mine.
I'll buy from them again ... no problems what so ever. They keep ya up to date with the shipping and such.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I've got the Senco pinner, but I've got to admit I'm not real impressed with it.
It doesn't always sink the nail.
I've been thinking about the Max or Grex.
Now I'm 1 step closer.
I've got the Senco too; I filed the tip down quite a bit and the pins sink most of the time now. I don't like not having a safety though. The other day I shot a coworker by mistake (in the leg).
Jeff, does the Max have a safety?
Mike Maines
Yup.
a "dual trigger" safety.
two "layers" of triggers ... little one stacked over top of a bigger one.
at first ... I thot it'd feel clumsy. I was wrong.
Just pull back the longer(bottom) one with your middle finger ... then pull the shorter(top) on with your index finger.
as long as U hold the safety trigger down ... U can keep firing the pins as fast as ya like. tap ... tap ... tap ... with the index finger.
After the first 5 minutes with the gun ... I didn't even notice I was doing it.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Ive got the grex. Its a lot better than the senco. Never tried the Max. The grex has a safety that you flip out of the way to pull the trigger. I took it off mine since I am the only one who uses it. Plenty of power. The long pins will curl on you though if you put too much angle on them. Almost two years with no complaints. I got some stainless pins for it for some exterior columns and they worked well too.
I have the PC and I love it. I thought about getting the Max or Senco, but the local woodworking store had them on sale and I needed it right away. It's a great tool.
My PC has had driver problems. I keep it well oiled, etc. I haven't tried grinding down the tip yet to improve the depth of drive. My driver is probably bad now (jambs frequently) so I might go with a longer driver as a replacement (before grinding the tip--since it probably needs to be replaced anyway).The latest troubles with my PC happened in the middle of a large job with lots of small moldings and returns, etc. and I needed a 23ga. working right away so I bought a Bostich (the PC will be the back up) and I am impressed so far. Sets pins well and takes longer pins (up to 1-3/16"). Half the price of a Max, but seems to work better than PC or Senco.
It's odd. I have had the PC 16 guage for about 8 years now and have used is constantly, it's my most used gun, and that thing is one of the most reliable tools I own. Because of that I bought the PC clipped head framer, really light magnesium, another great gun. So I bought the PC roof gun and it is a POS, and the 23 guage I just got about 6 months ago and am holding my breath. Sometimes a company has one or two models of a certain tool that are really great and the rest of it's line is so-so.
That's the way I feel about DeWalt and their miter saws. I love 'em
(and I've used all the big names), but the rest of their tools are.... just ok.
I really like my PC 18ga. gun--no problems in 10 years (also like their belt & RO sanders, laminate trimmer, etc.) Just like us, tool companies can't be the best at everything.I use a smorgasborg of tools of all colors:PC: 18ga. trim gun, sanders, router, drywall gun--all good, and...Bostich: framing gun, 23ga. pinner, narrow crown stapler and TrimPro Compressor (all good)Paslode: 16 ga.Hitachi: SCMS, coil rooferBosch: TS, Cordless line, power planer, rotary hammer, & routersMilwaukee: RA drill, routerFreud: jigsaw & saw bladesMakita: RA grinderDelta: jointer & bench grinderStrange enough--no DeWalt...but I do like their miter saws and that "portable" planer looks like an awesome tool.I don't mean to jinx your PC micropinner...I hope it keeps on working well for you!
I have this one -- I think it's made by Max. Does yours look the same? Beautiful tool, works great.
http://www.floydtool.com/cp2335.htm
Billy
Yep, same thing. Max, Grex, Cadex. All made by Max. The Max looks like it has a rear foot to keep it perpendicular to surface.
View ImageView ImageView Image
PJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
All made by Max
I think they are all made in the same place but not by Max. Thats the story I got from the "man" at Cadex.
Doug
The people at Floyd Tool told me that...figured they'd know.
Sounds like someone different makes them for all three companies?
In the end, I think I could fall for any of them, but the cadex is the sharpest looking ;)PJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
"but the cadex is the sharpest looking ;)"
Yer Nuts! the MAX is by far the most "mechanical" looking!
that was actually my first thot opening the box ... wow ... just looks like a piece of engineered something! Lotsa parts and pieces ... all bolted together.
handed it to my 4 year old son ... he proclaimed ...cool Power Ranger gun!
so it is ...
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Oh yeah!
The Cadex has aerodynamic paint and, and, and ergonomic air coupling, and, and dilithium impregnated o-rings....plus I got a Ginsu knife....
SO THERE!
Ya GearheadPJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
Peter
I bought a Cadex directly from the Cadex place in Canada and the guy that runs it was the one that told me that the guns were manufactured in the same place, like a lot of tools, but was manufactured to different standards, also like a lot of tool companies do.
I haven't ever seen the Max that Jeff has but I own a Max roofing gun and if its anything like that then I'm convinced its a quality tool. Everything I have ever read on the Max tools was good, I guess they have a brad nailer that's the Cadillac of all brad nailers, pricey compared to all the others but ya git what ya pay for!
I don't think you could go wrong with any of the three guns mentioned though. Being a bit impartial I'd have to agree with you regarding the Cadex and all its "flare"
Doug