21 degree framing nail gun

[free07110]

Looking at 2 different framing nail guns for framing up a barndo in a shop of mine. This is a DIY project so don’t need to spend a lot for a gun I will use for one job. Looking for input between freeman 21 degree vs Metabo 21 degree framing nail gun. Which one would you buy??

I was told a lot of these guns use their own brand nails, how can I find that info out?

In Oklahoma and seems like the stores stock more 21 degree so that’s why I went with 21 vs 30 degrees. Pic of the guns are attached.

 

[mike93lx]

For one project, either is likely fine but I would expect the metabo to last longer.

Any plastic collated, full head 21 degree nail should run in either.

I have a harbor freight and a Ridgid. Both work well but the Ridgid is a little nicer.

Get a nice, lightweight hose. I used to run 3/8 hybrid but switched to a 1/4" polyurethane and the decrease in weight is really nice, especially up on a ladder or roof

 

[Dakotadadv8]

Portercable is not bad from Home Depot.

 

[Hakeem]

i have the metabo in 30deg and like it. Lack of rafter hook is my only real complaint.

Double check to see if your AHJ allows for clipped head nails. If yes, you may wish to consider 30deg nailer. Any home center ought to stock both 21deg and 30deg nails. More accessibility, more nails per stick, no plastic clippings that hit you in the face and have to be swept up.

 

[acer66]

I would also go with the Metabo HPT and get a lightweight hose like mike93lx said.

Not sure about the claim that some guns use only their own nails.

 

[liliysdad]

I will echo other's statements....if buying new, Metabo HPT. I. personally, would try to find a nice, used Hitachi. Same machine, but for some reason I feel like they were made better. There is likely no basis to this other than psychological.

I, also, prefer 30 degree nailers. I prefer the steeper angle of the magazine for closer quarters, and they seem to balance better for me. I prefer paper collated offset head nails because they make less of a mess, and they are easier to cut apart in a pinch.

 

[RTM]

I would go with the Metabo also. I agree on the hose, I usually use a 3/8” stiff one to get around, then run a Flexzilla to the guns

 

[acer66]

I will echo other's statements....if buying new, Metabo HPT. I. personally, would try to find a nice, used Hitachi. Same machine, but for some reason I feel like they were made better. There is likely no basis to this other than psychological.

I, also, prefer 30 degree nailers. I prefer the steeper angle of the magazine for closer quarters, and they seem to balance better for me. I prefer paper collated offset head nails because they make less of a mess, and they are easier to cut apart in a pinch.

I think it is really a mind thing.
I have a Hitachi and a Metabo HPT and they seem to be the same quality.

Good point with paper vs plastic and like it was said plastic can and will fly in your face.

Had that just happen with wire pieces with a coil nailer.

 

[liliysdad]

I think it is really a mind thing.
I have a Hitachi and a Metabo HPT and they seem to be the same quality.

I agree. I have a Metabo 15ga finish nailer, and its great. Something in my my head just says that Hitachi is better.

Things in my head are often wrong.

 

[mike93lx]

Metabo = Hitachi

 

[mike93lx]

I think it is really a mind thing.
I have a Hitachi and a Metabo HPT and they seem to be the same quality.

Good point with paper vs plastic and like it was said plastic can and will fly in your face.

Had that just happen with wire pieces with a coil nailer.

I had a project a couple years ago that ran through something like 6k nails, all shot in my garage. I swear I have cleaned every inch of it multiple times and I still find the damn pieces of plastic.

They really **** to kneel on, too

I just can't find comfort in clipped head nails, so I've stuck with full head 21's. I should get over that

 

[liliysdad]

Metabo = Hitachi

Oh, I'm aware...it's psychological.

 

[cgrutt]

Another vote for Metabo but I haven't used a Freeman so don't really know. I have a Metabo coil framer and it's awesome. My preference for nail guns is Bostitich or Senco but Metabo (Hitachi) is fine. Echo preference for 1/4" hose.

 

[JSutter]

Things I would look for in a nailer:

Read reviews to see if there are jamming issues. How easy is it to clear?

Tool free selectable trigger; contact and continuous fire.

Weight.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

This is a DIY project so don’t need to spend a lot for a gun I will use for one job.

In 1995 I thought I would buy a framing gun for one project. I bought a very nice Porter Cable pneumatic nailer. Glad I did. Turns out there is never such a thing as a "one job" . I keep finding more and more projects and it is still going strong.

 

[tak1313]

If you're doing lightweight framing, I also recommend you get a palm nailer along with the full framing nailer.

Sometimes there are going to spaces that you just can't get a nailer in (21 or 30 degree), and unless you're going to do a lot of metal connectors, it's not worth getting a specialized nailer for which you can't use a typical 21 or 30 degree for.

As much as everyone (including me) like the Metabo/Hitachi unit, I would say the Freeman or even Harbor Frieght. Harbor Freight having the advantage of having stores everywhere if there's a problem during the warranty period. I have an older PC (FR350) but use a Milwaukee now. I got the 21 degree because I already had nails in 21 degree - otherwise I probably would have gone 30 for reasons stated above. I'm DIY - not pro, so the FOR ME AND MY USE, the degree difference is negligible.

The important thing is going to your local store(s) and seeing which nails are more readily available (21 or 30 degree), because in some markets, one or the other isn't stocked as much because of the prevalence of preferences in the area.

 

[PDGCT]

+1 for the Rigid. I was able to find a refurb online for less than new from HF

 

[Sal Bandini]

For one job I'm going with Estwing, but that's antithetical to the GJ way.

 

[free07110]

Does anybody know a reason why I would need to be using galvanized nails for interior framing? Just saw the two options of nails that they offer at Lowe’s.

 

[mike93lx]

Does anybody know a reason why I would need to be using galvanized nails for interior framing? Just saw the two options of nails that they offer at Lowe’s.

No. Brites are fine in regular KD lumber

I only run galv in KD when I want to use ring shanks for some reason

 

[liliysdad]

The important thing is going to your local store(s) and seeing which nails are more readily available (21 or 30 degree), because in some markets, one or the other isn't stocked as much because of the prevalence of preferences in the area.

Hell, I can get 21s or 30s at Harbor Freight. Any of the lumber yards carry lots of both.

 

[Hakeem]

Does anybody know a reason why I would need to be using galvanized nails for interior framing? Just saw the two options of nails that they offer at Lowe’s.

If you’re framing on concrete (garage, unfinished basement) the bottom plate needs to be pressure treated lumber and you need galvanized nails for that

 

[rd65]

I bought a Freeman fencing nailer, I thought it worked great but I'm definitely not a construction guy. FIL borrowed it, he spent his life in construction trades, and he liked it well enough to by their roofing nailer. I also picked up their palm nailer after borrowing his. That thing is a life saver.

 

[WWheeler]

I had a Hitachi NR90 for 15 or so years and loved it - one of my favorite most dependable tools I'd ever touched - until about 5 years ago my brother dropped it ~20' while setting some trusses and it cracked like an egg and spilled its yolk. He replaced it for me with the same thing under it's new branding, a Metabo NR90AES1, and it's been exactly the same in every way. It's a beast. Many many thousands of nails later and I haven't had a single issue with it yet. I wouldn't trade it for ANY other brand new framing nailer of any brand +$100.

 

[tak1313]

If you’re framing on concrete (garage, unfinished basement) the bottom plate needs to be pressure treated lumber and you need galvanized nails for that

Agree. For the homebuddy, pneumatic nails come in boxes that way exceed single use need, so you might as well get the galvanized and use it all around. Aside from the advantage that the nails won't rust (or at least be more resistant) in areas not really needed, you won't end up with a bunch of unused nails and won't have to keep switching out the nails every time you change what you're nailing.

TO ME, for most DIY purposes, the extra cost of galvanized is better than having a bunch of boxes of unused nails just because you want to use brights for one thing and galvanized for the other.

 

[MovingAlong]

I just can't find comfort in clipped head nails, so I've stuck with full head 21's. I should get over that

My Metabo HPT 30 deg framing nailer shoots the offset head (full head) Paslode nails just fine.

 

[MovingAlong]

Looking at 2 different framing nail guns for framing up a barndo in a shop of mine. This is a DIY project so don’t need to spend a lot for a gun I will use for one job. Looking for input between freeman 21 degree vs Metabo 21 degree framing nail gun. Which one would you buy??

I was told a lot of these guns use their own brand nails, how can I find that info out?

In Oklahoma and seems like the stores stock more 21 degree so that’s why I went with 21 vs 30 degrees. Pic of the guns are attached.

After much research for a smaller project than yours, just purchased the Metabo HPT 30 deg, using the Paslode offset head (full head) nails (both 3" and 2 3/8") and have been successful so far. Haven't started the main project yet...

 

[tak1313]

FYI. I don't know what price(s) you were seeing, but I just got an email from CPO Outlets.

The Freeman PFR2190 21 degree nailer (with case) is priced at $159.00 and you can get 15% off $175 with code FREEDOM15. You would have to add a little more to the cart, but it brings the price of the nailer alone to $135.

Free shipping on orders $149+, so I don't know if it's based on pre discount price or not. If it's based on post discount total, exactly $175 would net $148.75 after 15% off, so would need a little more than $175 to net free shipping after discount.

I've bought quite a few stuff from them in the past and have never PERSONALLY been disappointed.

 

[liliysdad]

In Oklahoma and seems like the stores stock more 21 degree so that’s why I went with 21 vs 30 degrees..

I am about an hour fifteen south of you, and its the opposite here. I just checked the local McCoys, and they have, in stock, 16 varieties of 30 degree nails and 8 choices in 21 degree. Harbor Freight carries and stocks both 21 and 30.

 

[dscheidt]

Hell, I can get 21s or 30s at Harbor Freight. Any of the lumber yards carry lots of both.

there's regional variation in this. Some places don't allow the use of clipped head nails because full head nails are easier to inspect for proper pattern and installation depth. while there are 30 degree nails with full head, not all guns can shoot them. In those places, you'll find lots more 21 degree nails.

 

[tak1313]

there's regional variation in this. Some places don't allow the use of clipped head nails because full head nails are easier to inspect for proper pattern and installation depth. while there are 30 degree nails with full head, not all guns can shoot them. In those places, you'll find lots more 21 degree nails.

Yes - that's why I originally got the PC. Before that, I had a Bostitch that used clipped heads (28 degree I think), and the town was looking to disallow clipped head nails, but I THINK these days because so many munis are disallowing clipped heads, if you live in an area heavy in 30 degree nailers, I would think it would be pretty easy to find the full head 30 degree nails (paper collated). Difference being 30 degree FH nails are offset - the heads are to one side of the shank, versus 21 degree FH nails where the shank is centered in the head.

There's some controversy about how that affects holding power between offset and centered heads, but I don't think one could tell if all you saw was the head anyway.

FOR ME, the reason why I would have gone 30 degree (full head) if I didn't already have boxes of unused 21 degree nails is density. Paper collated, 30 degree, full head nails, are packaged denser because of the offset head - the nailer can hold a little more nails per load.

 

[free07110]

I am about an hour fifteen south of you, and its the opposite here. I just checked the local McCoys, and they have, in stock, 16 varieties of 30 degree nails and 8 choices in 21 degree. Harbor Freight carries and stocks both 21 and 30.

Have you used harbor freight nails? They good compared to the name brand stuff?

 

[liliysdad]

Have you used harbor freight nails? They good compared to the name brand stuff?

I haven’t had any issues with them. We just recently got a HF here, so I typically used the GripRite or Paslode nails the local lumber yard has. I’d buy HF nails when I went to a town with a HF.

I’m not a home builder but for my uses they have been fine.