I’m getting ready to install Hardiplank on an addition — and that seems like as good an excuse as any to get a new tool! Any suggestions for a siding nailer (I’m thinkiing of the PC Coil 250) and where I can get 2″ stainless steel siding nails for said nailer?
Thanks!
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
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Replies
Here ya go. The Max CN565S. Accept no substitutes, because none can compare.
As for coil nails, Maze has everything you need, including color matched heads in the James Hardie Color-Plus colors. We use their hot dipped roofers for blind nailing FC.
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Edited 6/21/2006 3:19 pm ET by Gene_Davis
Gene, I used my Hitachi with 1.5 inch roofers and all I did was ruin a bunch of siding. Wound up hand nailing the last 20 pieces! We tried everything. Changed pressure, depth.... on and on. Roofing nails are significantly larger in diameter than Hardie recomends! I am gonna buy a dedicated siding nailer!
I should not have said roofers. Here is what we use from Maze, and the heads make them look sort of like roofers to me.
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What kind of prices do you get the maze for? I called around for some 8d ss plastic collated for some trim and the maze were very expensive, close to $200/bx if I remember right. The ones I used were 316 ss etc and were $98/bx.
I use a Hitachi NV65AH Coil siding nailer to do Hardi with Maze nails. The only way to go!
"The reason women fart less than men is that they never stop talking long enough to build up any pressure."
"Roofing nails are significantly larger in diameter than Hardie recomends!"
Hmmm. Actually, the Hardi site recommends roofing nails for blind nailing. How did they ruin the siding?
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
Mike, you were right. I did not read far enough into the sight. The roofing nails wer taking U shaped chunks from the board tops. I am gonna build up a mock wall and try it again.
"We use their hot dipped roofers for blind nailing FC."
I'm confused. You recommend a siding nailer than said that you use HD roofing nails. Your going to drive the poor guy nuts, lol.
the Hoitachi is good bet...
Bostich is all too terriable...
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I have a makita An 611 siding nailer, like it a lot. Max are suppose to be good but I've heard some areas of the country parts are tough to get, ditto service.
What size FC? If you can blind nail, using the siding nailers is easier since the heads are smaller, roofers you need to be a little more careful to make sure the head will be covered. Either works well though. In my area HD galv roofers are not easy to find, everyone has the siding nails.
I use a hitachi nv75 which is a little more versatile gun if you want to use it for framing too. We use hitachi nails approved by hardi.
mike... we use 1 3/4" hot dipped ROOFING nails for blind nailing.. we get them from Maize thru our jobber
our favorite roofing gun is the Bostich RN47.. but it doesn't like 1 3/4 but it does fine on 1 1/2
so we use our Max roofing gun for blind nailing
for exposed nails we use SS ring shank Bostich nails and our CN66 Bositch.. it does a great job, nice soft nose, good depth control
Get the MAX...awesome gun.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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Thanks for all the responses. Nobody said a thing about the PC I had been considering -- sometimes silence tells you more than a thousand words! I've decided to go with the Max, mainly due to the reviews that say that the depth adjustment is great. (My understanding is that this is the single most important aspect of hanging Hardiplank with an air nailer.) It's a hundred bucks more than the PC, but that's a small difference if it does the job better. Thanks also for the pointer to the maze nail site. The only onther SS nails I could find came in cartons of 6K -- more than I need and almost as much $$ as the gun! I was thinking of going with roofing nails, but I have 6" exposure on this one and my personal opinion is that this is too much for blind nailing.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
I forgot about the PC gun. I think its ok from what I hear but very few use them. I think they take a different coil than the hitachi, makita, max and bostitch, so getting nails might be a PITA.
I think hardie says blind nailing 6" ex is fine, check. I've blind nailed for 5" exposure and seeing how that holds tight I would not hesitate going to 6". Maybe try out a few rows and see how tight it holds, I think you'll be surprised.
You could still use siding nails for blind nailing, just save money and use galv's.
Edited 6/23/2006 1:58 pm ET by DDay
I would NOT encourage anyone else to buy the PC coil gun for Hardie. I bought one a few months ago to roof and Hardie my new shop (about 6 sq. siding). The drive depth was VERY inconsistant, regardless of any combination of depth setting and pressure. Some would overdrive 1/2 way through the plank, while the next nail could be as much as 1/4" high. I was ready to throw it in the dumpster by the time I was finished.
"I think hardie says blind nailing 6" ex is fine, check"
Yeah, I know they say it's OK, but my gut just don't buy it! Maybe I'm too used to wood siding that can curl up on ya.
As for gavanized, I'm keeping that option open.
Thanks.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA