Hello all
I’m looking for a versatile pneumatic nailer to be used first as a siding nailer for Hardie Plank 5 1/4 siding. I’ve researched specific siding nailers and I’ve seen a roofing coil nailer recommended for the installation (in another Breaktime discussion). I’d rather have a gun that will double as an occasional framer. I’ve got finish and brad nailers already, but nothing larger. Thoughts?
I was introduced to the wonders of an impact driver through Breaktime, so I thought I’d try again. Thanks.
Joel
Replies
Yeah, I've got thought on this. I agree with you, I want a versatile tool, multi use. I don't do roofing, so owning a coil nailer will not work for me. In the past I've used my helpers coil nailer for hardi, and it's old and jams up and stuff.
Why can't I nail the Hardi up with my framing nailer, so long as I adjust the depth to not penetrate the surface?
Feedback?
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joelk,
Hitachi makes some great coil nailers, made just for fc siding. They are also good for exterior trim, wood siding, sheathing, etc.
One of the best guns I own.
Brudoggie
Second hitachi
Hitachi makes very good nailers. This nailer http://www.hitachi-koki.com/powertools/products/air/nv75ag/nv75ag.html is their siding/framing coil nailer. One of the frequent posters here, Dieselpig is a framing by trade and has the gun. He really likes it but has said not to use it for full time framing or nailing Lvls, it just doesn't handle that type of framing well. But for a part time framer and sider its a nice gun. Its about $350 to $375, so its not cheap. It runs nails 1 3/4 to 3".
Make sure you can get the coil nails in your area, some areas are tougher than others. For fiber cement, the siding nails work better than roofing nails to me, the head is so much smaller so you don't have to be as careful about placement in the blind nailing. A 3600 count box of siding nails is about $35, roofing nails are about $25 for 7200. Worth the extra money though.
thanks for the reply, everyone. Very helpful info. I had decided on the Hitachi then I saw Menards had a Bostitch for $300. Tempting... still debating. I like the thought of light framing (really what I'd need later) with the Hitachi...I'm getting ready to reside my current house. I'm taking down the aluminum siding (salvaging it for the big bucks!), installing 1/2" blueboard over the black fiber board that's underneath the old aluminum, covering with #15 felt and then siding with Hardi. Old, real rough wood siding underneath that black board. Two questions here 1) It's okay to blueboard over that black board stuff, right? 2) I'd like to NOT redo soffits and gutters now (waiting for new planned addition and rest of house to be finished). Does anyone see any big problems with flashing that wall/ roof junction later, when I put the new soffits in and re-gutter? Never used Miratec before, so I don't know much about the trimming. I do have manufacturers instructions and all the other stuff on this forum. Thanks
Joel
joel... this is my opinion.. so take it for what it's worth
one gun won't do two tasks
a coil siding gun will not do framing.. a coil framing gun will not do siding
a coil roofing gun is only going to do roofing ( or shoot roofing nails )
the closest thing to a multi-task gun is the Bostich N88 framer
it can shoot framing nails and you can switch the nose in 30 secondes and turn it into a positive placement gun for metal connectors
so .. considering the above..
you need a roofing gun
a coil SIDING gun
a framing gun
and a finish gun.. if you sub out the roofing you can skip the roofing gun, BUT
the best gun for Hardi is to blind nail with a roofing gun... so , you're back to all 4
as for the soffit /fascia thing.. the fascia doesn't come into play unless you have flush rake boards on your gable ends
with the soffits , you need a game plan about how your last course of Hardi is going to terminate at the soffit.. will you use a freize board ?
we usually terminate with a 7/8 J-mould
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 5/14/2006 5:23 pm ET by MikeSmith
Thanks for the reply MikeI'd like to own all four types of guns! I've got a nice finish gun, and I'm subbing the roof out (and most other things to one degree or another). Siding's one of the trades I'm going to take on "myself." I'm a teacher and a summer painter, so I'm pretty comfortable with that idea. I figure I'll get the siding nailer to make my life easier in the short term. I've thought of just hand nailing it, too.I am planning on using frieze boards, so I guess that should make the soffits easier. The siding'll be 51/4" with 4" reveal so the extra inches in my frieze boards should give me plenty of room, right? What's working with Miratec or an equivalent like? In what way is it different than the siding other than the dimensions? I'm going to take a look at a couple of houses that have similar siding schemes (4 "hardi reveals, bulky trim, freize boards) so that'll help me visualize it more.Thanks again. Joel
I'm interested in Mike's reply on Miratec too. I've done some work with it, and I see it as an exterior grade MDF. It cuts well, works well -- but the down side is all cut edges need to be primed before installation. Also, you need to attach it with a siding gun (or nails); using finish nails will void the warranty. On the finish nails, I asked the mfgr. if I could spot prime the nails, then use a filler. They said no.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
"I've thought of just hand nailing it, too."
I know you cannot hand nail hardie with stainless nails and I doubt you would do much better with galv's. Don't even try, just use a gun.
Point taken... thanks for the heads up
You have not mentioned cutting the hardie but I'll suggest using the shears. Mike mentioned in another thread he had the malco's that fit a cordless drill, I have the snappers. If your just doing one house, you can just get a cheap masonary blade for rips and around windows, etc. Hilti ones at HD are $2, you can get similar elsewhere. One cheapo might last 1 house, if not, two will.
If your not that familar with cutting hardie, you'll understand why people recommend the shears the first time you cut hardie with a circ or a miter saw. The dust is rough. Do a search for threads on the shears. Snappers are about $220 new, about $150 on ebay, although they are not there all the time.
http://www.pactool.us/snappershear/
At least not without (wince!) pre-drilling every hole.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." Voltaire