question on nail gun or nailer

[rnln]

I never have one, and no one I know who has one. Years ago, when I see people use the batery operated drill to shoot screws, I love it. Now, I found that hurt my hand a lot with 3" screws. Is nail gun better? Easy on my hands, I think so. With a little search on used stuff, I found most of them in classified are Senco. Is Senco good enough for home use, such as building a shed, or some garage rough cabinets?

[Burnin' oil]

Senco was a good brand - I had a Senco finish gun that I liked, but it was stolen.

You will need different sized guns for different jobs - framing, finish, etc.

Are you looking at pneumatic or battery powered?

[HardDrive]

Senco is a professional brand. I have 2 guns, a framing nailer, and an 18 gauge finishing gun.

I used to use screws as well, now I use a Dewalt framing nailer. Much faster, much easier. However, you need to think before you pull the trigger on a framing nailer. Always make sure your hand is clear of the area, even off to the side, as the nail can deflect off a hidden flaw in the wood. It is also more difficult (or impossible) to remove a nail. In some cases, I still go with a screw.

If you are still using screws, don't use phillips heads, they are worthless. Get a solid corded drill/driver and use star head screws. They almost never strip. 100% better than phillips heads.

[rnln]

I do have finish, tiny nail, gun. I am looking for the framing, something to shoot bigger nail to build frame with 2x4, for example shed.
Has anyone have those Harbor freight nailer? Are they ok?

[look 171]

I had two Senco framing nailers. The second one was replaced by them free of charge. I would not buy another Senco framing nailer. Their finish guns are great. Some of mine are 20 years old. they make a industrial products but the ones that are sold through home centers are not. For garage cabinets, screws are a much better then nails. Just remember, glue and screw. I have a couple of Hitachi framing nailers. they are great and can take a lot of abuse. Do you need this gun for only a couple of projects? if you run into a jam, call me. You are welcome to use my stuff.

[RWebb]

I have a Senco finish nailer for trim - great and can be had in a pkg with a small comp. for cheap on sale.

I also built a wall with a hammer only a few years ago - it was a mess as the impact kept causing other nails to come loose -- a nail gun would have been much faster and better.

Always wear eye protection!

BTW - nails are better than screws in some applications, not just faster - I think I read that nails are required for structural plywood panels for earthquake retrofits, etc. & screws will break, whereas nails will bend.

[rnln]

"Always make sure your hand it clear of the area, even off to the side, as the nail can deflect off a hidden flaw in the wood"

sounds scary.
My first reason is it's getting hurt screwing too much of those 3" screw. Second is that where I have copper pipe, or electrical next to the spot, it can get nasty when the drill jumps off the screw. I imagine with nail gun, all it is a pull of a trigger. Am I correct?

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Senco is a professional brand. I have 2 guns, a framing nailer, and an 18 gauge finishing gun.

I used to use screws as well, now I use a Dewalt framing nailer. Much faster, much easier. However, you need to think before you pull the trigger on a framing nailer. Always make sure your hand it clear of the area, even off to the side, as the nail can deflect off a hidden flaw in the wood. It is also more difficult (or impossible) to remove a nail. In some cases, I still go with a screw.

If you are still using screws, don't use phillips heads, they are worthless. Get a solid corded drill/driver and use star head screws. They almost never strip. 100% better than phillips heads.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by rnln

I do have finish, tiny nail, gun. I am looking for the framing, something to shoot bigger nail to build frame with 2x4, for example shed.
Has anyone have those Harbor freight nailer? Are they ok?

My experience with Harbor Freight tools are that they only last for a short period of time. I did buy a roofing nailer on sale, for $40 because my dumb men forgotten to put it in the truck that morning. it was needed for about 1/2 hour of use. We beat the hell out of this thing and it held up to the abuse. It still works today. My hardwood floor guy swears by their flooring staplers. They buy them 5 a time.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by RWebb

I have a Senco finish nailer for trim - great and can be had in a pkg with a small comp. for cheap on sale.

I also built a wall with a hammer only a few years ago - it was a mess as the impact kept causing other nails to come loose -- a nail gun would have been much faster and better.

Always wear eye protection!

BTW - nails are better than screws in some applications, not just faster - I think I read that nails are required for structural plywood panels for earthquake retrofits, etc. & screws will break, whereas nails will bend.

Nails are rated. I laugh at Mike Holmes when he make noise about using screw on their framing jobs. Maybe OK in CAnada, who knows. All my building experiences are in Socal.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by rnln

"Always make sure your hand it clear of the area, even off to the side, as the nail can deflect off a hidden flaw in the wood"

sounds scary.
My first reason is it's getting hurt screwing too much of those 3" screw. Second is that where I have copper pipe, or electrical next to the spot, it can get nasty when the drill jumps off the screw. I imagine with nail gun, all it is a pull of a trigger. Am I correct?

On a framing gun, you hold the trigger and bounce the gun. With the impact, the nails drives the parts together. Pretty much like whacking it with a hammer. there is nothing like using a hammer to beat things together. I can't hammer with a damn.

[Rusty Heap]

Paslode is another brand to consider, (which is have in air) so Senco isn't the only "good" brand out there, and also, each brand takes a different type of nail depending on the angle of the nail clip feed rate.

electric, pneumatic, or butane.

Paslode Framing Nailers | Construction & Renovation Framing Nailers | Paslode

[billybek]

I have a cheap no name brand brad nailer that has shot so many nails that it has made its $19.99 price very well worth while. Usually the cheap junk doesn't last that long.
Hitachi also makes some very good framing nailers down to brads. I borrow the bigger Hitachi stuff from a friend of mine.
Word of caution, sometimes the product from the big box stores looks like the same product in the tool stores. Check the country of origin. The good Hitachi guns are from Japan. The others aren't....

[rnln]

Look171, thanks for your offer, but whatever I do, I do a little bit a day. Some proj. takes me 6 months to be in shape. You won't have time for that . Base on what you are saying, I think I'll get a second hand Senco. How about nails. Is there a specific type of nail for it that I sould consider, or I can get them from home depot for any framing senco?

edit:
so you guys are saying harfreight framing gun would be ok? Cool.

Originally Posted by look 171

I had two Senco framing nailers. The second one was replaced by them free of charge. I would not buy another Senco framing nailer. Their finish guns are great. Some of mine are 20 years old. they make a industrial products but the ones that are sold through home centers are not. For garage cabinets, screws are a much better then nails. Just remember, glue and screw. I have a couple of Hitachi framing nailers. they are great and can take a lot of abuse. Do you need this gun for only a couple of projects? if you run into a jam, call me. You are welcome to use my stuff.

[GWN7]

I have a Bostitch framing nailer and a Bostitch Brad nailer. Both have worked flawlessly for over 20 years. Not that I'm using them every day but I use them more than the average guy. I bought a HF roofing nailer about 3 years ago and have had no problems with it other than the occasional nail jam and it has done 2 garages and 3 shed roofs in that time.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by rnln

Look171, thanks for your offer, but whatever I do, I do a little bit a day. Some proj. takes me 6 months to be in shape. You won't have time for that . Base on what you are saying, I think I'll get a second hand Senco. How about nails. Is there a specific type of nail for it that I sould consider, or I can get them from home depot for any framing senco?

Yes, you can get nails from HD. I like to see you get a used Hitachi nailer. Go to swap meets and find a slightly used one. This way, you can see the quality of the use products . Normally, they have more then one. I would not buy another Senco framer. Hitachi nails can be purchase anywhere. Many nail mfg. make their nails to fit the Hitachi guns. Industry standard out here. Bostitch is good too.

[GWN7]

Also when looking for a used gun find out who repairs them in your area. Sometimes you can get a great deal on one that was left for repair and not picked up.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

For a stand alone I highly suggest Paslode. We have put in I do not know how many miles of fencing with our Paslode stapler. We have built one complete barn and did framing work on our home in Indiana with our Paslode framing nailer. The Paslode finishing nailer has been most helpful in the finishing of our home in Texas as well as all the work requirements for the rebuilding of the home in Indiana.

No tank to carry around, no cables, cords, etc. And the battery lasts for a very long time between charges as does the gas cylinder. If you are not using it full time (making your living with it) then they do not suggest getting the lithium batteries. I have the regular units and have never needed a lithium. When I break for lunch/dinner/whatever I just put it on the portable charger and it is fully ready when I am back.

[rnln]

Another question just comes up. As far as I know, there are finish nail gun, and framing nail gun which shoot nail length between 2" up to 3.5". What is the roofing nail gun? What is the diff? Isn't the roofing nail length around 2" or so?
Thanks.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by GWN7

Also when looking for a used gun find out who repairs them in your area. Sometimes you can get a great deal on one that was left for repair and not picked up.

And, also, make sure your new used nail gun uses round head nails, not clipped heads.

[intakexhaust]

Have all types and gauge of pneumatic nailers from Paslode, Senco and Hitachi. Some are tiny 23 ga. pin, trimmers / framer nailers, lightweight roofer coiler's to specialty joist hanger positive placement shooters and cement siding nailers. I used to run with Stanley's and now less from the Senco. Stanley's seemed a little clunky and heavier weight. I tend to gravitate toward the Paslode's. The earlier series you could change the trigger out for sequental and rapid bump hits. (BTW regarding bump shooters - I don't believe these are legal to use anymore with Union crew's.)

If you're in a cold climate environment, most guns require a frost preventive / oil lube. I usually follow per manufacturer spec's but seem to have issues with the Senco framer's with frost jams. The Paslode's take the abuse. All the new stuff is lightweight and great to handle. Suggest using name brand nail's / and of course exact angle per the gun maker spec's. Also, some zoning codes will not permit clipped heads and other requirements should be considered, like galvanized or not.

Something else to consider are the gas charged cordless Paslode's. More pricey to run as you buy gas cylinders and usually spare batteries to keep charged. But they pay off in convenience and some cases, time. For example, if up in a finished attic or house that you don't want to drag an air line throughout. Also, if you don't want to drag a compressor around or off to the weekend cabin to do a few chore's, the cordless are great. Like above and for the cordless, I prefer the Paslode's.

Good luck and use with respect.