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knucklehead
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Framing nailers
07/24/03 02:50 PM
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I'm looking at framing nailers. I appreciate the tutorial I've gotten ghosting coversations on other air tools here on CBN, so I figured I'd start a thread here. I've posted this over on TBN, too.
I've got a couple projects to do - a shed and a garage rebuild. We have great sources of local green lumber at good prices, so I'll be using rough stuff, green or dry. Football and foolishness have resulted in knees and elbows that tire soon - even forcing a week off or so if I push too far. So I'm starting to look for help - that's why we finally bought the Ford last Summer.
There are as many brands as there are colors - but I am looking at Porter Cable, Bostitch, and Senco....the local lumber yard is holding up the Senco as best (as is dear old Dad) - they also sell the other two I mentioned. I gave them my needs - build two buildings and then just homeowner work - and they suggested the Senco FramePro 751XP.
Anyone have any opinions? Experience? This model is new, I think. Locally it is around $370.00; I've found it on line for $289.00 with free shipping. The second question is does anyone have experience with Nailzone? They the lowest prices so far. I'm searching Google now, looking for business opinions of them.
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Gatorboy
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I looked at the NailZone site, and what grabbed my attention was that the Copyright Statement at the bottom said the year 2000. It seems to me that they should have updated that date in at least 3 years -- are they still in business?
:: D A V E
:: g a t o r b o y
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GERARD
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: Gatorboy]
07/25/03 07:03 AM
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I just bought the porter cable fr350 stick framer. Saw it on line for around $200, Home Depot matched it and then took off 10% so I got it for a little under $200. Couldn't beat the price and I have no complaints with it so far. Don't know what the ones that cost twice as much will do that this one won't. Capacity is 3 1/2 inch max at 120psi. It also has a settable trigger for single fire or contact fire which is nice.
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tenebrous
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When my house was being built last year I used the contractors Porter Cable nailer for some quick work. The next time I was at HD I picked one up. I should have done it years ago.
I have fired five cases of nails with it and no problems. It sure does speed up the projects. Also picked up a finish nailer to help lay flooring. Just used that yesterday to build two trellises for the front of the barn. The right tool sure makes a difference.
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knucklehead
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: Gatorboy]
07/25/03 05:34 PM
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I saw that, too, Dave. Over on TBN there's a few more replies and all kinds of info if anyone is interested. One person is in Alabama, where Nailzone is from, and he may check on them. I may call BBB or something because these guys' prices are great. I wish I could find Senco in Home Depot and get a quote from Nailzone.....that would make watching the mailbox go away. Guess I could just call them, too, Duh!
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diamond
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I own a Bostich NR88,to me this is the best. Got it at Tool Crib of the North,forgot how much. Now I'm going to buy a Bostich finish nailer,I think. 
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wingnut
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: diamond]
08/01/03 10:36 AM
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I too got the Bostich ... I like the round magazine much better than the stick. I've had the N88 for about 7 years now ... got it when they were pretty new .. during one of the asnnual Hardware/Woodworking shows in Edmonton.
I've now built my shop, a shed addition to the garage, and 2 horse shelters here in Michigan and a huge deck, shed enclosure for the hot tub and several other projects back in Alberta.
While, at times, I envy the guys with the non-pnerumatic setups .... this one has been pretty good to me and I can attest I've certainly never babied it.
I also like my Porter-Cable roofing nailer a lot too ....
pete
it's a shame that common sense isn't
http://www.dahlhausminiatures.com
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MDSteve
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I didn't have a compressor so I picked up a paslode it is great. The only problem is my buddies like it better than having to run the compressor and drag a hose behind them. I still want a compressor for other stuff but I think for a framing gun I don't want the hassle. It has also done wonders putting up my fence. Too far for a hose to reach.
Steve
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herbenus
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I didn't see Craftsman mentioned. Anyone had problems with them. I mention it because they have theirs on sale now for $200. I'm in the market too, but this is an expensive tool for me.
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rlk
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: GERARD]
09/04/03 07:17 PM
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Guys, I also have a Porter Cable FR350. Have had it about a year, and have always been concerned because it will, at times, double fire. When I say double fire, it will shoot two nails in a fraction of a second. About 3 weeks ago it double fired again. The first nail was driven correctly. The second nail tried to go into the head of the first nail. Of course the second nail can not penetrate the first nail's head, so the nail gun was forced backwards. Unfortunately for me, I was working in a tight area, so when the nail gun was forced backwards, the back of the gun hit the index finger on my left hand. The last bone on the index finger, right under the finger nail was crushed. The gun cut my finger along the back of the fingernail, and along both sides. The end of my finger from the back of the finger nail forward was just hanging on.
Spent about 6 hours in the emergency room. The doctor took the nail off, put in 6 stitches under the nail, then put the nail back on. Used 3 stitches through the top of the nail into the finger to hold the nail and the keep the cuts closed.
Because of the bad cut, I had to have a tetnus shot, as well as an IV antibotic, followed by 7 days of antibotics. A week later, I had to see a hand surgeon for a follow-up. He told me I would lose the fingernail within 30 days, and it would take approximately 6 months for a new nail to grow back, assuming the nail bed was not damaged too bad. If the nail bed is damaged, a new nail will not grow back.
A week later, had to return for him to remove the stitches holding the nail - the ones under the nail will disolve. Since the accident, I have had very little use of my left hand.
Since this is a safety issue, I contacted the Consumer Product Safety Commission. I told them I think the nail gun is a hazard, and should be recalled. They have not decided if they will do anything with my claim or not. They claim they are getting so many complaints that they just don't have enough investigators to handle everything.
I'm posting this here to inform you of the problems I had with the Porter Cable FR 350, and to remind you to be very careful. If you have one, keep one hand in your pocket and one on the nail gun.
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GaryM
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: rlk]
09/04/03 08:03 PM
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Very sorry to hear of your injury. Hope you have as quick a recovery as possible. And thanks for posting the warning.
Have you contacted the manufacturer? Wonder what they'd have to say.
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
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egon
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: GaryM]
09/05/03 05:40 AM
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Get better soon. That's not a pleasant experience you went through.
Egon
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GERARD
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: GaryM]
09/05/03 09:52 AM
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Sorry about your injury but I have to be a little blunt here and point to operator error. That model has a settable trigger. You can set it for contact fire (depress trigger, then push against the wood and it will fire when the shroud gets depressed.) In this mode you have to have a little technique, kind of push in and then out quick. If you leave the trigger depressed or leave the contact shroud in contact with the wood you can get a double fire which is what happened to you. There's little red button on the trigger that pulls out and rotates. That turns it into a single fire only. In that mode you have only get a nail when the contact shroud is pressed up against the wood, THEN the trigger is depressed. For multiple nailing this mode is a little slower but you won't get double taps. If your unit doesn't have the settable trigger like I described porter cable will send you one free of charge. (That was all in the literature when I bought the gun.)
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rlk
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: GERARD]
09/05/03 02:29 PM
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Gerard, my Porter Cable does not have a trigger like you described. Mine must be older than yours.
In searching the Porter Cable web site, I did find out that you can order a different trigger where it
will not allow the rapid fire. I have ordered it, and will install it as soon as it comes. Porter Cable provides
the trigger at no cost to the owner. All I had to do was to give them the serial number.
Thanks to all for the best wishes. My main concern in posting what I did was to alert others to a
potential safety problem, and to try to keep anyone else from going through what I went through.
Bob
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GaryM
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: GERARD]
09/05/03 02:31 PM
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You might have hit on the problem! Now we need the poster to return and tell us how the gun was configured, or if his is not configurable.
Gary
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Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
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GERARD
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: rlk]
09/06/03 07:20 AM
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Sounds right, the older guns probably did not have it and now porter cable is willing to retrofit. Even without the single fire configuration, every gun I've ever used was capable of double tapping if you didn't pull the gun back quick enough after firing. You quickly learned the technique!! In the cited case though I understand how in tight quarters it's a little difficult to do it. Good reason for the retrofits!! (The purpose of my post was just to point out that I don't think the particular gun used is "defective")
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tenebrous
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: GERARD]
09/07/03 10:16 AM
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I first thing I did when I got my Porter Cable nailer last year was convert it to single fire. All the parts were included in the outfit I bought. I have been around enough construction sites and seen accidents that the rapid fire has caused. If you are using the nailers every day you may miss the speed but for me that is not a concern.
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knucklehead
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: rlk]
10/08/03 10:28 PM
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rlk - Yuck! Thanks for the heads up. I was considering the Porter Cable, since Woodworkers Warehouse was clearing them out (and I don't really think I need a SENCO), when my brother called me and told me not to buy a gun because he had gotten a $20.00 rebuild kit and now had 2 functional Bostitch framers. So I quit looking in August.
Hope you feel better. I sawed close to the thumb bone in '85 with one stroke of an 8 point handsaw and had a couple stitches through the nail, too. Ain't it lovely when you can feel your heartbeat in your finger at night? Take your medicine like a good boy & keep it clean - infections really bite.
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farmhouse
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K-Have you looked at Harbor Freight. Chinese products primarily but a friend that does a lot of framing and other projects using air nailers says that for the occasional user, this can't be beat. Prices would be about 1/2 of what you quoted. Good luck
Romans 8:28
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MikePA
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: MDSteve]
10/18/04 10:35 AM
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I didn't have a compressor so I picked up a Paslode it is great.
Old thread, I know.... 
I have 2 compressors, a wheeled horizontal one (110v) in the garage and a DeWalt 'portable'. The wheeled horizontal works great for working on the tractor and vehicles where I usually need cfm for tools like the impact wrench.
I thought the DeWalt portable would be great for use with my brad, finish and framing nailers. While it works well, it's anything but convenient because of its weight. My last four projects that required the use of a nailer were on our second floor and at the barn. Each required lugging the DeWalt compressor upstairs and out to the barn. These Paslodes are looking better and better! 
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hard_yakka
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: MikePA]
12/03/04 09:24 AM
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My Plaslode has worked great for the past 4 months of building a barn, pump house and out in the vineyard...
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Pat
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Regarding Harbor Freight and the China built nail guns. They aren't a bargain for a pro unless you drive by HF daily. For a couple projects and casual usage afterwords, they might be acceptable in the following instance.
HF offers extended warranties on their tools at a really reasonable rate. They are EXCHANGE waranties. If the tool has a problem take it in and get a new one. No down time for repairs. If you aren't a high volume user making a living relying on your tools who can't stand to have it break then pay 2-3 times as much for a Senco or Paslode.
Same story for big hammer drills, grinders, and such. Not all their tools are total "do do ca ca" but some are pretty close. Still with an exchange warranty and the low initial cost it can be worth the gamble on some items depending on you specific situation.
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
Edited by Pat (12/09/04 08:57 PM)
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twstanley
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: Pat]
12/10/04 10:02 AM
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I picked up my framing and finish nailers at a local pawn shop, paid around 100 each, they are both Sencos and have worked fine for occasional use for several years. I got a Hitachi coil roofing nailer at a different pawn shop for around $70, it works well.
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Pat
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TWSTANLEY, I thought of going the pawn shop route but need a knowledgeable guru to assist as I don't know enough to make a wise choice... A N D... the local shops seem to only have pretty beat up nailers... A N D... their warranty is try it and if it doesn't work bring it back same day.
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
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twstanley
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: Pat]
12/13/04 09:45 AM
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Ahh, well that makes a difference. The ones I buy from ( CashAmerica chain of pawnshops ) have a 30 day warranty and are really good about honoring it without any problems.
They also have scrap lumber and an air compressor so you can try the guns out. Mine were a bit beaten up but tested fine so I bought em. I haven't had any problems at all, if I do rebuild kits are cheap from the local Senco supply place. If I can't figure out how to put em back together I will just take them into the Senco place, haha.
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Pat
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Tim, you have it made wth the convenient testability and short drive. I'd be looking at used NAME brands instead of cheap Chinese units from harbor Freight with a set up like is available to you.
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
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Pat
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TWSTANLEY, I forgot to mention how I came by my LOW PRICED NIB SENCO nailer... A local hardware-building supply (chain, I think) Payless Cashways went out of business nearly two years ago and the stock on hand was sold off at ever increasing discounts. I bought a lot of materials and a few tools. One was a SENCO nailer for about 50-60% off of their usual discount price. I also bought a trailer load of rebar at 70% off 3 units of lumber at 60% off and so forth. Every day or two the discounts were raised untill stocks were depleted. I even bought a beautiful Buck lockback knife in a nice leater belt sheath and the Buck version of a Leatherman belt caried tool. It is hard to resist the temptation of quality stuff at deeply discounted prices.
There are getting to be a lot of used "JUNK" nailers floating around, Harbor Freight and the like. Cheap, but I wonder about the value of having one repaired so I don't buy any of the bargains. Thought it would be hard to go wrong with the new SENCO at such an attractive discount. The instruction manual goes to great length to explain the difference between the two trigger firing styles and to offer you a free replacement parts kit to change modes if you desire. If you can't rub your tummy and pat your head at the same time while reciting poetry (nursery rhymes are OK) I recommend you do not use the "bounce fire" trigger setup as you will "get nailed."
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
Edited by Pat (12/18/04 11:12 AM)
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twstanley
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Re: Framing nailers
[re: Pat]
12/20/04 03:24 PM
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Pat, that sounds like a great deal. We had a Payless Cashways around here as well, I finished my basement at the last house with products from that store. I was SO glad to see them go under, the folks working there were so rude and unhelpful it was all I could do not to just throw the stuff I was going to buy down and leave.
Home Depot moved in closer to my old house, I never went back to Payless Cashways. Home Depot has its faults as well, lack of help being one, but they never have been rude or arrogant to me.
Happy Holidays!
- Tim
Oh, and I forgot to say: Senco sent me the parts ( for free ) for my used framing and finish nailers to put "safety" triggers on them so they won't bump fire. I figured that was safer since I am not a pro and don't use them every day, less chance of hurting myself.
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Bird
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Tim, as usual, I guess it just depends on the individual employees and managers. I was sorry to see our Payless Cashways go under because that was where I got the best service.
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