Get out your wallets boyzzzzzz! Hitachi just launched a revamped framing gun. I’m going to admit….I’ve never looked at a tool and felt “Wow!” I’m not really a tool junkie…I’m just an old skeptical curmudgeon when it comes to tools. When Greg (he’s our nail supplier) whipped this nail gun out I was IMPRESSED with it’s style! It’s the first gun that I ever really wanted!
I resisted….we’ve got enough guns to outfit three crews and we’re down to one crew….but…..
Anyways, it’s a wicked flashy green color. It comes with a very easy adjustable nosepiece (spin a dial). The bump fire, single shot switch is actually a nice easy switch. The most important feature is that it’s shorter in the firing chamber. It’s now short enough to get in between 16″ oc studs.
If you don’t have the $275….don’t look at one. It’ll blow you away.
blue
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information…don’t listen to me..just ask Gabe!
Replies
See, now I've been looking at the revamped "new look" Hitachi tools and thinking they look like something the Incredible Hulk would pull out of his purple shorts. You don't think they look a bit like toys, huh?
EDIT: uhhhhhh I just re-read this and don't like the sound of it. I left an awful lot to interpretation with that Hulk and his shorts statement. Just wanted to clarify that I was talking about the color and flashyness of the tools. Not necessarily refering to anything else the Incredible Hulk may have stashed in his shorts. Aw, forget it.
Edited 12/4/2004 8:32 pm ET by dieselpig
Ahem!
BTDTGTTS
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=48860.1
Mr T
I can't afford to be affordable anymore
Put your paws on a Max yet?
"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
Yeah. the tool guy had a max in his pile needing repairs. It was a stapler, so I grabbed it and tried it out. It sounded like something I used to own, but couldn't remember what.
The stapler had a very fast pop to it....now I remember...like the duofast. I liked the duofast stapler.
I have bostich wide crown staplers. I think their junk. Hitachi framers. I like them. Hitachi medium crown staplers. They work good but i don't like them. I cant aim them...I'm too used to Paslode staplers...which I like, but they don't work that good in winter. I have a hitachi joist hanger nailer...it sucks...but the tool guy said it will work better if we clean the magazine with brake fluid.
Maybe I'll just hand pound!
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
Yes the new hitachi framer.. Another interesing thing about it is that it's like 7.5 lbs! soooo light! We need RH nails here otherwise I'd get one. -->
measure once
scribble several lines
spend some time figuring out wich scribble
cut the wrong line
get mad
Yes...I forgot to mention that it is lighter. I was just struck by the designer color. I think our trade needs some style....
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
Interesting, your comments about the Hitachi hangernailer.
We just got the Bostich one.
we hate it. unless you use pristine racks of nails it will jamb so often you can nail faster by hand.
even if the racks are perfect, the last nail will usually get jambed am fold over and you got no easy way to get it out.
I dont think I have yet used a Bostich nailer that I like.
why for dont you like the hibachi?
Mr T
I can't afford to be affordable anymore
I don't like the hitachi because it also gets paper jams, but not as many as you seem to have. Also, becasue the nails are so little, they seem to rotate when it's down to the last few, causeing dryfires.
Getting stuck little ones out is frustrating.
Basically, I'm looking for a better model...I won't even try the Bostich. As of now, I use my framing gun for most situations because it's faster.
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
I like that Max clipped head. Just bought one for a friend (Merry Christmas). That thing is a cadillac compared to my Senco - which I still love.
I haven't run into too much Bostitch that I've liked or that's held up. Invariably, the purchase has involved low need and low funds, the small stapler is the only thing that keeps running. The brad gun was garbage from the get go. I borrowed a roofing coil gun - bad too. Hitachi makes a great coil nailer, roofing or siding. Havent used their stick framers.
My Teco gun is a Paslode. That kind of made me not want any more Paslode products, but I came to hear just what you're saying - there's not a lot of them that are really at a refined stage of production. Thats now compounded by availability of compatible fasteners - like strips of Zmax (you wont find them here anyway) to fit it.
The ones I really like are the Sencos that are older than me. They weigh as much as a VW, but they're still running and dont recoil. "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
Rw, we have one of the hitachi coil nailers. It does work good...we use it for galvanized box nails, but I prefer my stapler.
I used Sencos for a long, long time...the old ones. I remember the big one...it used a ton of air but would sink a spike into anything!
Senco framers just seem to jam more...that's why they have that easy clearing system. Hitachis just don't jam. I might get one jam every three months....and thats usually my fault. Clearing them isn't too bad...you just have to pound the driver back and it's easily accessible.
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
Blue,
I happen to love both Hitachi and Max. I got to test about 10 guns for JLC and the newer Hitachi NR83A2 (same as old gun, but with dial depth adjustment) and the Max SN890RH were my favorites. I've since bought the Max.
Now, for the coolest setup on earth for framers check out http://wis.max-ltd.co.jp/int/muc/plist.php?middle=powerlite
We tested the compressor, hose and the coil nailer and that system is the finest framing system period. It was unreal how light that coil nailer was and had more power than any other gun we tested (had both the regular guns and hi pressure at the same time for a bit). It was unreal.
The kit is about $3000 right now, but the price will come down before I'm 40 (I hope, as I'm 27 now :-))
Tim, I hate coils. Thats why I don't like our hitachi coil nailer. I had a bostich coil roofing nailer. Someone stole it. I was glad.
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
Coil has slowly won me over. I just get tired of reloading so much. And the stick magazines seem bulky and in the way a lot. We have both available but I usually grab the coil nailers.Lignum est bonum.
Sly, I realize that the coiler holds more ammo, which to me isn't that great of an idea, given the extra weight.
The long magazine of the stick framers obviously is a disadvantage in tight spots, but that still wouldn't overcome my objections. I just hate babying those coils. How do you carry reloads when your clamboring through the trusses and framing stepped down 18/12 roof trusses?
I've got my little stick system down pat and I don't mind it at all.
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
My guys are in the habit of carrying a spare coil in the back pocket of their pouches. We all got good deal on the same Kunys cordura setup. That centre rear bag is huge enough to easily carry a coil. Provided you don't go rolling around on your back, coils keep quite nicely in there. Guess we got our own system going.
That Max 400 psi system looks interesting. I've only just seen their products around here in the last few months - small town I guess. They appear to be a premium product at a premium price. The rep was telling me that company has been making pneumatics for decades - incluidng the first generation Stanley and Senco nailers. So how come it took Hitachi to make the first nailer I've see that actually fits in a stud space? I've asked the company tool purchaser to try one but the Bostitch rep has such hot deals for him its unlikely we'll see it.
WallyLignum est bonum.
Sly, i could not possibly carry a full coil in my nail bag. I normally load two clips into my Hitachi and put one clip in my pouch in case I am bent over nailing something and run out. That one clip is my spare. In my younger days, I carried four clips for reloading but I find that to be way, way, way too heavy.
Its funny you brought up the Hitachi question. Ironically, I don't think it ever was a problem...in fact, I never knew that the Hitachi didn't fit into a stud bay until the tool guy told me! Obvioulsy, it's never been an issue with me.....and when he firstmentioned it, I immediatly felt my spider sensors going off. I don't like to fire nails when the back of the gun is enclosed. I've had enough double shots to know that I don't like that situation.
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
I know I'm getting older when I resist the kids' exhortations to get suspenders on my belt "so you can hold more stuff". These Kunys pouches are crazy big, they're like the Chevy suburban of tool pouches. You could easily put 5 lb of hand spikes in one of the large pockets. I've never had a pocket that would take a full coil before. Funny thing is, I'm carrying less weight than them but I still seem to have a handful of each of the most commonly used fasteners when they have nothing.
WallyLignum est bonum.
Sly, I' carrying less and less.
Yesterday I wondered why my pouch felt so heavy and I found a utility knife in the bottom behind the tape.
I'm not looking for a pouch that will hold three spikes and the tape. I have a separate leather holder that fits the clip of gun nails perfectly.
Oh yeah, that superduper small pouch needs to hold a pencil and black marker too.
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
Blue,
I gotta tell you that if you tried this Max system, you would die. It is unreal how cool that system was. I really really really wanted to "lose" it in the mail when I sent it back :-)
You know we have a Max CN890II (or something) framing coiler and it is great. I've thought about adding a newer Hitachi coiler w/depth (NV83 or something) because production just goes up with a coil nailer.
Tim, please descrige this "system". Youve peaked my interest using some very good sales skills!
How does production go up with a coiler?
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
Blue,
This is just my opinion, but I find that I can get more done (framing or sheathing) when I have to stop and reload less. A coiler greatly improves nailing off a floor compared to a stick nailer. When I'm framing walls, I can often times nail together more than one wall before realoading.
As far as the Max system goes, it's so light and holds more nails than a stick nailer that there is less fatigue. What I like to do is have one or two guys (depends on how many guys there are) just nail. We'll layout and make sure they have everything they need. When the guy who is just nailing can go longer without standing up and reloading and the gun is light (5lbs unloaded. Feels like a finish gun in weight), then he can move faster and longer without tiring out.
That's just been my experience. Plus when that Max compressor starts up, sounds like a turbine, but quiet. Actually it is a turbine engine :-)
blue, have to agree that new Hitach is a great gun. I dont need a frame gun and Im getting one. The Hitach finish nailer also has some features... smaller tongue mark on wood and the new one has an air valve on the gun so that you can use it to blow particles out of the way.
Check out their new 2 1/2 hp router or fixed and plunge kit at Amazon.com, I think youll like that as well, just stay away from their tablesaw I hear its junk.
Blue, on the rare occasion that my hitachi jams, 9 times out of 10 i can just point it in a safe direction, pull the nails back from the driver in the rack, hold the safety back and pull the trigger. jam gone. I use a full head nailer. RZ
That technique works with my staplers. It doesn't usually work with the clipped head although I always try it. Usually the nail has hit something hard and curled backwars alongside the driver. I just have to move that driver about 1/2" inward and the curled nail drops out.
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
Hey Blue, is that a full head nailer? I looked at the web sight and only saw a clip head that looked new. Do you use clip head nailers? Just curious. RZ
Yes, we are allowed to use clipped heads here.'
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!