Best Nailgun

[Ztec]

Any carpenters post reviews of your favorite nailgun, Im getting back into the construction biz and Im deciding what to buy. Before I use to use paslode but I never really cared for them, the guns would jam alot, double shoot and all that bad stuff(yes I took care of it). Speed is a factor since Im mostly doing framing so I was leaning towards air but I dident know if anyone of the other new ones offered the same speed.

[jmhinescj]

In my opinion, you still can't beat a paslode. Their are guns that are lighter, some that are just as fast but I havn't been able to find a gun that stands up to the abuse like a paslode

[Aaronn]

Hitachi is the best that I've used..

[tennessee rockhumper]

a paslode f350.

it is one tough SOB. i have built whole houses with one, dropped it off the roof, used it for a hammer, shot through 100's of metal porch hangers with it, ect...

they have my repeat business if it ever dies.

i think the double firing is a matter of experience. i never double fire it because i grip it lightly and dont push it into the wood hard, others that firmly press into the wood fire several rounds because they push against the recoil the gun. the recoil forces the gun away from the target and sets the safety. those who are pushing against that motion re-trips the safety. since you still have your hand on the gun, it fires again.

[n8damack]

(digging into my brain way back to 1998, when I did performance testing on all of them...)

Paslodes are solid guns (pneumatic - don't mess with their cordless gas operated guns for framing), and powerful. The Stanley Bostich keeps up, but got end-user gripes because of weight (it's poorly balanced.) The Hitachi was a favorite amongst pro framers for "power," but it wasn't as powerful. It was much better ergonomically, leading to a perception of a better gun. The Senco's fell right into the middle of the pack. The DeWalt's were based off the design criteria of all of them, designed the perform better in all aspects - power, balance, ergo, cycle speed, jam clearing - and then "cost engineered" to where they are today. (DeWalt might have bought the lead engineers from Senco & Stanley for their nailer development program... just sayin')

So, does that give an answer? Uh, no. Things to look for are size from top to tip, magazine capacity, jam clearing, trigger/ depth adjustment, and type of nails (nobody makes money on the guns, but they DO make money on the nails. You want to be able to buy off-brand that'll still fit.)

If you're finger-fu*king a couple in a store, hook up an air hose, the balance and feel change considerably. Then buy the one you can get nails for.

(Disclaimer* I have a DeWalt. The price was definitely right.)

Fun trivia - the driver blade (thingy that whacks a nail through your finger) in a Stanley framer does 0-60-0mph TWICE in 13 milliseconds, iirc.

-Nate

[ChiScouter]

My stanley N88 jams quite a bit, the newest hitachis are very nice as are the sencos, but I think I would get a hitachi if I was to buy one today.

[ElPasoEric]

I use a paslode framer everday, woudn't use anything else. I did skimp on the roofing nailer I bought, got it for $99 at harbor freight. I have done about 10 roofs with it and have no serious complaints. I would use them more often if they didn't get such a bad rep around here.

[TLCObsession]

hitatchi nr83

[raybie]

HITACHI NR83A.....nuff said

[Ztec]

thanks everyone, btw I forgot to mention the paslode I was trashing was a cordless gas I have never used there air gun.

[cebby]

I've had good luck with the Porter Cable. Seems pretty light and has good power for what I've needed. You didn't specify full head or clipped head. The PC I use is for clipped head.

[RedFJ]

For framing, all have been senco with no problems. One even took a nose dive off of the garage truss's down to the slab, 12 feet and only a scratch. For trim, use both senco and dewalt, prefer the senco for air, but also just bought the new dewalt 18v and love that thing. I also beat the piss out of mine. One thing not mentioned so far is nail type, clipped or full head, I think this maybe an issue as some will want full head over clipped.

[RedFJ]

Also forgot to mention that there was a review awhile back in the Journal of Light construction, trade magazine. Another feature is a rafter hook, some come standard and some do not.

[jwbures]

I prefer the Duo-Fast.

[n8damack]

Good point to those who mentioned full vs clipped head. Some building codes do not allow, at all, anything built with clipped head nails (think hurricane, think Florida...)

Might not matter in your area, but worth checking.

-Nate

[noflyzone]

I have a PorterCable full head framer and Bostich finish gun. They work great everytime I pick them up. I have built fences in the rain using the PC.

[makya]

I always liked the Hitachi, but I also still use my old Halstead framer from the late '80s


And yes, until last august I did use it on a daily basis, but it was rebuilt once or twice...

[chad3]

Hitachi has been my choice for a while. While some think the paslode is great, you also have to add in fluid, battery, etc. all not cheap, they are great for a few nails here and there, but in the long term go air.

[Jeepnford]

I'm no professional but when I built my shop I bought a Porter-Cable clipped head. It was great untill I put up Hardy board siding and needed full head nails. I thought I was screwed but I was looking at Home Depot one day and they had a cross-reference nail list and some paslode full head nails will shoot through it. Worked great.

[thelbz]

Go with Senco for pneumatic have them at work and they get used for 18hrs. a day and rarely have any problems but only use senco brand nails others seem to jam the gun

[Ztec]

well all im doin is putting together those sheds they sell at home depot and lowes. So clipped or full head doesnt really matter, since Im buying the nails myself I guess whatever style is cheaper. I dont think I have ever bought a box of full heads nails so I dont know. Another thing is I would also like to be able to use the cheap nails. With my old paslode impulse that thing would never shoot the cheap ones, it would jam after 5-10 nails if I dident use pasolode or senco nails. Im assuming air guns arnt as sensative whenever I would use the cheap ones in my old bosses airguns it would shoot them all day with no problem.

[noahfecks]

For any large scale framing you gotta have hitachi air nailers. Have used them all and nothing holds up as long. Just the opinion of one asshole who has been at it for way too many years.

[hexal]

I'm partial to my Porter Cable I've never had an issue with a jam or mis-fire, and I've only shot myself once with it!

[cebby]

I'm no professional but when I built my shop I bought a Porter-Cable clipped head. It was great untill I put up Hardy board siding and needed full head nails. I thought I was screwed but I was looking at Home Depot one day and they had a cross-reference nail list and some paslode full head nails will shoot through it. Worked great.

That would be nice to have the option of full head. Guess I need to go find this cross reference you speak of... :D

[Ztec]

Im in the market for an air powered trim gun as well, is the only advantage of a angled gun over a straight one being able to get into tight spots? Straight guns are a little cheaper as well.

[RockRanger]

I have the ridgid model from Home depot. Before I bought it I looked at all the models at HD and lowes. What sold me on it was it had the widest margin of nail sizes (non cliped heads) that it would shoot. plus it was $150 cheaper then an hitachi. I dont frame everyday but for the probably 2 weeks worth of framing work I do a year it does the job. Most of my complants from it are because my compressor is just a bit small to keep up with it when nailing shear paneling. I also have the HF roofing nailer listed above, I like it just wished it had rapid fire like my framer has.

[RedFJ]

Ztec, if you are after a trim gun, i am really liking the new dewalt 18v series one. I have used air nailers, paslode gas, and nothing compares. I really like it, have to get used to the weight, but it more than makes up for that if you ask me. I just left MD, was working in Alexandria, who do you work for?
Jim

[anvil]

Hitachi