So, I decided I needed a round head stick framing nail gun, and went shopping, the local Max dealer was closed, so I ended up at the despot, staring at the new rigid gun. The gun has some spiffy features such as
lifetime warranty on o-rings, pistons and other stuff
built in air filter
swivel connector
selectable trigger
built in rafter hook
it lacks
quick release nose piece to deal with jams..
So I decided to give it a whirl… (oh the folks at home depot havent got a clue about it, but the local manager said try it for 30 days and return it if you dont like it… well, ok..)
So, my impressions after 45 nails (I am using a Thomas Ultra Pac compressor, and 100ft of flexeel hose)
1) its surprisingly quiet (my hitachi finish nailer is louder)
2) It sometimes takes multiple tries to get it to toenail
3) It consistently shoots plastic from the strips into my face.
4) It does not sink toenails all the way into the wood, it leaves the head of the nail slightly proud.
I am thinking about turning the compressor up, but it is already set at 125 psi, it does cycle on after about 8 shots, but it is a small compressor, and Thomas says it can handle a framing gun (for short uses)
I thought when toenailing the nail should be pretty much flush to the stud, and I am wondering how other guns eject the material that binds the strips together?!
Replies
You might try lowering the pressue a bit and setting the depth control to take up the slack. A carpenter once told me his gun had gun better perfomance when the pressure was lower. He claimed that guns are designed for a narrow pressure range and going over it actually could lower performance. His seemed to work best at around 90 psi.
You might want to check the manual. We won't tell anyone you did.
4LORN is right about the pressure; 125 is way higher than I ever run a framing gun. Run it between 90 and 100 psi unless the O.M. specifies otherwise. If you run it too low, it will not reset completely after a shot and you'll risk having nails driven halfway into the nosepiece hit by a following one. This is a good way to make you regret not having a quick-release nose-piece. It's also a good way to get a nail back in your face...which hurts a lot more than those little bits of plastic....
The little bits of plastic hitting you in the face is normal with FRH strip guns. I use clipped-head framers for that reason. I hate that sh!t....
Toenails staying slightly proud--as in ¼" or less--is normal with all framing guns. That's why you carry a framing hammer too, LOL. You can improve the situation somewhat by adjusting the safety tip on the nosepiece so that the nose will be as close to the wood as possible when the safety is fully compressed. But don't expect toenails to get sunk ¼" into the wood the way they are when you are face nailing.
If you are having trouble getting it to fire on toenailing, it's probably because the nosepiece's safety tip isn't completely compressed before you pull the trigger. There are a few different types of safety tips; for framing the preferred one has aggressive teeth on it so it grips the wood when you toenail. This prevents the nose from sliding out of position and/or not fully compressing.
Since Home Despot is so accomodating as to offer you 30-day try it deals, take the thing back and try out a few different brands with different features. Then you'll get a better feel for what you want for the long term....
And buy a face shield....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
I will turn the compressor down this morning and see how it goes!
I have a Senco framer. It shoots a nail about 19 out of 20 times. It toenails with no problem and sets the nail almost flush. It shoots plastic chaff all over the floor but not at me. The magazine comes off in a second to clear jams. The nails are sold everywhere. I put a few drops of oil in it every time I get it out. 60 PSI will set 8d nails in sheathing and dry studs, go to about 90 PSI if shooting thru 2x into 2x.
My Senco medium crown stapler is incredibly sensitive to the air pressure level. Too low... less than about 100 PSI... and it dry fires EVERY TIME.
probably needs a new "bumper"
The pad that the piston bumps against when it bottoms out.
it is not letting the piston recoil all the way back to firing position.
hence the next nail will not advance
>>>dry fire.
We always get it right!!!
the third time....
<!----><!---->
"Almost certain death, small chance of success.... What are we waiting for???"
I am anal about tool maintence, and oil the nailer (4 drops) before I get started...
I am also pretty certain that its going back to the despot, and I am going to get the Max, its just a nicer gun.... I can retrofit the rafter hook, but the easy jam clearance is just a better feature (at this point I have shot about 200 nails, no jams yet)
I am going to put a swivel on my hitachi MA65 15 guage finish gun though... I like that...
Careful if you buy the Hitachi brand swivel fittings. I bought three of them at JLC-Live in March. Two of them lasted less than two weeks. One is still working fine. Maybe I just had bad luck, but I wouldn't buy them again.
I have learned the hard way to only get Milton or another good quality Air hose connectors/ends.
some of the quick-connect couplers have a low tolerance for cheap ends.
ACTUALLY, IT'S QUITE GOOD ON TOAST!
have you tried any of the coilhose swivel connectors?
http://www.coilhose.com/uploads/products/Page%2031.pdf
they say that they are very good, but then again they make them!
I have a Senco framer. It shoots a nail about 19 out of 20 times.
David, I had the same problem with my Senco's. That's why I gave them away!
blue
Ditto the advice already offered by others.
The fellow who runs the local nail and tool company ( that's right, all they sell is nails, air tools and support equipment, also does repairs on all of the above) once told me to run any gun at the lowest possible pressure needed to get the job done BUT not below 90 psi. He suggested starting any gun at any task at 90 psi and then making tool adjustments. It was good advice, gun problems = 0 since I started following it.
I know you have only fired 45 nails but, did you oil that gun before using it? You should.
Toe nailing performance can be enhanced by filing the teeth on the nosepiece until they are sharp and dig into the wood for full compression of the nosepiece, of course I'm not sure about how the Despot would feel about that if you decide to return the gun.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil and good light,
I will say I'm heartbroken you didn't get the Max. I bought one as a gift for a friend that had his framer ripped off. I used it one day, and I have been purely envious since then. That is one awesome framing gun.
On the other posts, my Senco stapler is also kind of finicky. Actually, the smaller one is worse than the sheeting stapler is. That bugger jams all the time. Really frustrating. I've never found a Senco I disliked before that little guy.
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain
my Senco stapler is also kind of finicky. Actually, the smaller one is worse than the sheeting stapler is. That bugger jams all the time.
It's obvious that Seneco knows their tools jam a lot: that's why they have that ez entry system to clear jamups.
I don't have any jamming problems with my Hitachis. If I get one jam a month, that's a lot...and no one abuses their guns more than me.
blue
Ill tuck that in my brain bucket. Admittedly, once I like a brand for something, it's kind of hard to veer off course. A framer was the first Senco I got. And I don't think it's ever jammed. I loved that gun. Finish nailers and brad guns followed. The sheeting stapler after that, and I thought it was just a quirk. But the finish stapler has me scratching my head. I really don't like that gun. And its practically brand new. "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain