I am moving up the ladder with my company and it is time to buy a finish nailer(s) and a compressor. All of my co-workers have different opinions and I don’t seem to get any good advice from retailers. What brands and models would you recommend, and what combinations of nailers/brad/staplers would you recommend? I will be using these tools for your basic finish work (doors, base, case, crown).
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Replies
SDconst,
All of the professional level nailers will probably work well for you. I am not a pro but a heavy duty diyer. I have a portercable da250 15 g. finish nailer, and it works fine for me. Pc has since redesigned the nailer. I have the older one. I like the looks of the new shiny yellow bostitch. I really liked the Senco sfn42 (i think), I have recently noticed new models from Senco which I am unfamiliar with. Hitachi has a nice model, the fit and finish of their nailers is impressive. Any one of these including a craftsman model would probably be fine, just don't run down to Harbour Frieght and pick up some junk.
You might or might not know that not all nails fit all nailers so you might look at the supply houses where you are located and see what is commonly carried. Nailers like pc, hitachi, I think dewalt, and senco use the same angle nail. Bostitch guns fire their own nails collated at a slightly different angle. In other words they aren't interchangeable.
If you plan to install heavy doors (prehung), and larger trim, and thicker materials, you would probably want a 15 gauge nailer, the nails are slightly bigger and stouter than a 16 gauge nailers nails which by the way are not angled but straight. 16G. nailers are handy for standard casing and trim. I dont have a 16g. I do have a bostitch 11/2" stapler 1/4" crown that I use occasionally. and a craftsman 18 gauge 2" brad nailer which is great for casing doors and thin moldings. I had bought a bostitch 18g. brad gun when I purchased the stapler but I couldn't get it to consistently fire 2" brads It seemed like the trigger leaked. If you pick up a copy of tool crib of the north. Airy has a brad nailer and stapler set for it seems like a little over a hundred dolars which is probably a good deal. More is always better especially if you do woodworking projects and have various fastener needs at the same time.
You also might look at the combo deals from all the manufacturers, compressor/nailer/hose etc. about $500?
Good luck,
Chris
Edited 9/4/2003 9:09:30 AM ET by CLWEBB
I too am looking at a 15 ga nailer for DIY use. Before you guys run me out of town based on my upcoming question, let me say that I usually shop around and end up getting top of the line tools if I can justify it. One such example is my Senco 18 ga "FN25-XP" which I got from Coastal Tool. I've only used it a few times, but it is light and shoots em right! I really like that nailer. Another tool I love is my Makita LS1013 SCMS, and my Bosch top handle jigsaw.
At any rate, one of the other posters in this thread said "Don't go and buy anything from Harbor Freight." Ever since I bought an air compressor from them (which I like), I've been getting enough of their catalogs to heat the house with! So I couldn't help but notice their house brand "Central Pneumatic" 15-ga angle finish nailer, on sale for $99.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47612
This is about 1/2 the price of Bostitch or Porter Cable, and about 40% the price of Senco. I know most of the nailers including Senco are made in Taiwan, who knows, maybe in the same factory? So aside from you having a sticker on the back of your truck with Calvin pissing on Harbor Freight, why should I avoid this nailer like the plague?
Remember, this is for DIY work. I really like the Senco nailers I have (Frame Pro, Palm Nailer, and the 18 ga), but I could use the extra $150 for other things. Will I really hate myself in the morning, and what in particular is so awful about the Harbor Freight house brand?
Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
AlecS
I wouldnt buy one of the generic air guns from Harbor Freight, not for any amount of money.
If you dont think you are going to use the tool that much maybe you dont need a Senco. There are other air tools out there that I would consider if money was the issue. I mean money is always the issue but I need it for work so I want Senco. You can get some Porter Cables for less or go to e-bay, man theres all kinds of tools there.
Good luck, but I wouldnt buy the Central Pneumatic, hell it may not even fire out of the box!
Doug
Listen pal, you're never going to see me on the back of a truck pissin on anything. You outta be ashamed of yourself.
ha ha ha.
I buy from a locally owned tool supply. Never been w/o an operable tool for longer than it took me to drive to this family run business. If they don't fix it on the spot, they give me one to get me through the day. Try that at amazon, HD or the Harbor. Course that's just the opinion of a dumb carpenter.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
OK, as recommended, I went on Ebay, and the top listing for finish nailer 15 is
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2344096799&category=42242
So now we have essentially the same as the Habah Freight tool for $80 instead of $100, called "Interchange Brand". It's even the same color green.
Let me guess, you all think it's junk?
Alec
YES
try Tool Crib for something reconditioned....
try a local repair/service shop for one recond/used....
see if you have a local used tool place....
any and all would be a better expenditure of money.
Buying a tool once makes the most financial sense.
I'd buy the cheapest "name brand" I could find before buying from them.
Holiday season is right around the corner.....wait till Sears has a craftsman on sale....
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Consider service for the gun and nails before purchasing. My senco dealer is about 15 minutes away, they are less expensive for the gun and nails then the local orange monster. To get a porter cable serviced in my area you have to send it away or mail order parts. Also senco doesn't require oiling.
Also depending on your needs paslode makes a great gun and you can save you back by not lugging around a compressor. But using it all day everyday gets expensive with nails and gas. Doing 2 story trim work it's nice not having the hose to deal with.
_______________________________________________________________
I have an Hitatchi and two Senco's. They all work really well. If you look around you should be able to find package deals with compressor/ gun/ hose. Like it was already said, make sure you can get parts, service, and nails locally.
Greg
I don't know if it has been mentioned, but go oil-less.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professionals built the Titanic.
Here is a question to go along with CAG's. In your collective oppinion is the pasload 18ga. finish nailer a good nailer? It shoots up to 2 in. and I'd be useing it for trim and a little cabinet work.
Gotta be Senco for the trim and finish nailers. They are good.
Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....
I got the bostick 2 inch 18 ga, its a nice gun oil less but I really do not like the 18 g nail, not thick enough to hold. If I had to do it again I think I would go 15g
I have Sencoes in 23, 18 and 15 ga. They have been very good to me for a lot of years.
Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....
Thanks guys I think I am going to go with the senco SFNII. That is 15ga. and it shoots longer nails than the pasload 18ga.
Talk to you all later.
AJHartman
The SFN40 is a workalcoholic.
Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....
I nail trim on all day, every day and I use the 18 guage for most trim and use the Pasode 16 for door jambs and heavier trim. Only compaint (could be fixed by now) is that they are factory set for bump firing (which I don't like or use) and I was told could not be altered. Other than that I have no complaints....
I went looking for a new 15ga nailer a few months ago and made my first of a few DeWalt purchases. I have fired only 2000 nails or so with it but have not had a jam yet. Even though it hasn't jammed yet, the jabs are simple to clear and the gun is super light. It also comes with both triggers. You might want to take a look at it.
Like someone else mentioned, you'll need at least two finish nailers- a 15 ga and an 18 ga. I have an older (about 10 yrs old) Senco SFN40 15 ga and have NEVER had a problem with it.
HD is clearing out the PC combo with 6 gal pancake and finish nailer for $220ish might be worth a look. Get a 15 or 16 and pick up an 18 gauge brad nailer too.
I have a Senco SFN40--it's a great gun, light, well-balanced, the only annoying thing is the no-mar tip tends to fall off. I also have a Paslode finish gun, which is great when I don't want to grab a compressor. Oh, and a little Senco brad gun, great for fine stuff.
Hitachi makes a nice finish gun, basically a clone of the Senco's, in case you like green better than gray....
Senco....
I love my snf40....
also love..possibly even more..the little 23 gauge pinner....
Get a 15 gauge first ...then grow from there
Before I bought my first one...I went to a HD and told the sales guy what I was gonna do ..I was gonna take two ..one Senco and forget what the runner up was.....then carried them in each hand and walked around the store for 45 min or so ....both were the exact same weight ...the Senco felt much lighter to hold and handle .....
Did the same thing before I bought my framing gun too....
Then ......I dropped them both off ..said I was gonna think about it...
Drove home and called Tool Crib to place my order.
See ...HD's is good for something.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Love my Senco Nailer also. My first finish gun was one of the crude craftsman nailers. Stiil have it, Still works. The only down side to the Senco is nail cost. Paslode nails run around $11 for 2500 in these parts. Senco nails Stay around $25 for $2500. I would pay for the nails. Not everyone is willing to spend the extra money day in day out.
it's all the cost of doing business....
the little cost of better nails overall is slight compared to the downtime of cheap stuff!
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Thats how we see it now. But when we first started out we probably both worried about those few extra bucks
Buy right the first time. Get Senco from a tool dealer, not the big box version. As good as or better than anything else from the git go, and will outlast the rest of them.
Formerly BEMW at The High Desert Group LLC
Like Tickyboy, I also use a finish nailer all day everyday. Passlode 18ga are a nice gun, so are the Makitas. The guns I grab for are the PC 18ga 16ga. I just love the smallness of the quick release. I bypass the safety by stuffing the removable rubber tip into the safety latch under the trigger and hold it in place with a piece of tape. ( I've only shot myself twice) I guess its what you get used to. Stay away from the Pancake deal, the compressor is noisy and takes forever to fill that 6 gal tank. Get yourself a quiet, quality, oil filled compressor.
If you stick at the business you will eventually be able to afford just about any nailer you want and like me you may wind up with a collection of them. If you are able, spend your money on a decent compressor. For just doors and trim I'd go with a little hotdog. Nice and light and it doesn't take up too much room in the truck. Make them run the thing for you at the store to make sure its QUIET!
Turtleneck
the only miracles I've ever produced are waiting for me at home
I have a Bostich and love it... but whatever you go with check out Ebay.you'll save a bundle!
Be nailin' hard : )
andy
You can "be" the universe, but you can't know it. You are the answer- but you can't know you know.
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
i have the new senco crdless nailer. What a dream! I was at the woodwork show earlier this year and looked at all the possibilites for cordless and decoded upon the Senco which didn't require feul cells.
It really beats having to haul a compressor and hoses around and getting it set up when there is a small job to do.
Most of the guys up in my neck of the woods have never seen it before and are very jealouys but hey it pays for me to have the best!. Your work only appears as good as the tools and the craftmanship u put into them
What I like about my older PC 18 gauge is that it fires nails from ¾" to 2½"--I think that's the widest range of any gun I've ever seen. (You do have to screw in a little insert for ¾" and 1"; takes about 2 minutes.)
I don't have any issues with the nails being too slender; it's a straight-collated nail and is glued from tip to toe. Once they're in, they don't wanna let go. Most of the time if I have to pull one, the head pulls through the work piece and then I've got to use a pair of dykes to lever the nail out of the stud or whatever a little at a time.
Never had a moment's trouble with it.
Dinosaur
'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?