Air nailer?
- Thread starter Gizzy
- Start date
15 gauge angle nailer. Recognizable name brand. Depending, you may need an adapter for the air fitting. When buying nails, stick with the same brand, at least at first, (Hitachi=Hitachi nails, Paslode=Paslode nails). This will minimize jams.
Use about 90 psi, depending on material, experiment.
A little bottle of air tool oil and a needle nose pliers in case of a jam. Eye protection.
Use about 90 psi, depending on material, experiment.
A little bottle of air tool oil and a needle nose pliers in case of a jam. Eye protection.
neophyte
Well-known member
If you can find the older Hitachi nailers, that look like a piece of Industrial tooling rather than a Nike sneaker, those would be the ones to buy for a 15 or 16 gauge nailer.
15 gauge nailers are angled, so you can get into tighter spots.
16 gauge nailers have straight nails strips like smaller nailers with an oval or square head shape.
18 gauge nailers are more commonly used, and you can get nails up to 2-1/2”, but the longer nails in the thinner gauges are more likely to bend when going into the wood.
With 15 gauge nailers, there are at least two separate nail standards with different angles for the strips.
15 gauge nailers are angled, so you can get into tighter spots.
16 gauge nailers have straight nails strips like smaller nailers with an oval or square head shape.
18 gauge nailers are more commonly used, and you can get nails up to 2-1/2”, but the longer nails in the thinner gauges are more likely to bend when going into the wood.
With 15 gauge nailers, there are at least two separate nail standards with different angles for the strips.
Senco and Paslode have been around for years and stood up to commercial abuse. Jamming, cheap *** nail guns are total aggravation. The cordless revolution has pushed a lot of good pneumatics into the used market. If they look beat up, they likely are.
Notgrownup
Well-known member
If just casual use, pick up a cheap one like Porter cable or such. Hell I use a Harbor freight one and it hasn’t failed yet. I built my whole garage with a HF 21 degree framer nailer and still works fine.
Leaflessshadetree
Well-known member
A 60 gallon compressor won't be very portable. A 1 gallon is perfect for to run a nailer for trim. Slightly larger for framing and roofing.
These days you might look at cordless or gas fired nailers.
These days you might look at cordless or gas fired nailers.
I’ve got an old Porter Cable FN250 16ga nailer that has trimmed a dozen houses and completed numerous other projects over the last 20 or so years. I just replaced the rubber nose piece on it last year, otherwise it’s been great. I also picked up an 18ga for smaller projects (I forget the brand), and a HF narrow-crown stapler that I’ve run almost a box of staples thru in the last year without issue.
I also have a 6gallon pancake that is nice to take for projects around the house vs dragging a hose all over. Plus I dislike having to coil up 100-200’ of air hose when I’m done.
I also have a 6gallon pancake that is nice to take for projects around the house vs dragging a hose all over. Plus I dislike having to coil up 100-200’ of air hose when I’m done.
crewchief888
Well-known member
FWIW I was in lowes the other day, and saw (what looks like) they are clearing out hitachi air nailers.
most were marked on clearance at approx. 50% off
I bought one on clearance a couple months ago to replace the porter cable that died on me in the middle of replacing some oak flooring in my house.
most were marked on clearance at approx. 50% off
I bought one on clearance a couple months ago to replace the porter cable that died on me in the middle of replacing some oak flooring in my house.
Went thru this last year, I have a 30 gallon in the garage so by the time I bought a good 50ft air hose plus nailer for another $30 I bought this dewalt kit.https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...pressor-Combo-Kit-1-Tool-DW1KIT18PP/206577074
If I was to go back I'd probably shop for a kit that includes multiple sized nailers, really want a 15 gauge gun but they aren't cheap.
If I was to go back I'd probably shop for a kit that includes multiple sized nailers, really want a 15 gauge gun but they aren't cheap.
rlitman
Well-known member
I'd say that's way overkill for window casing, where I would suggest an 18 gauge brad nailer.
Hpozzuoli
Well-known member
Bostitich or Hitachi for air and Dewalt for battery. I haven’t touched an air nailer in years and I am a contractor. I use my battery Dewalt nailers for everything except house framing. I will do additions with a battery gun.
Cordless is great till you see the price and know it's going to be sitting around 99% of the time till you have a project to use it on.
Handyandy23
Well-known member
With air nailers it seems pretty hit or miss to me. A company like Bostitch will make some great guns, and some pretty terrible ones too. You really have to do your research on each model number and make sure you're getting the right one.
I have a Bostitch framing gun, model LPF33PT, and the thing is an absolute tank. Never jams and works great. But then I bought a cheap Bostitch branded 6 gallon compressor at Lowe's that was on sale and came with a Bostitch branded Brad nailer in the box. Didn't need the nailer so sold it cheap to a friend, and he said it's terrible. Jams all the time, he took it back and they replaced it once for him, and the second gun jams just as much.
Seems like it's a cheap gun that Bostitch just put their name on to give away with the compressor, but why do that? Just cheapens the brand.
I have a Ridgid brad nailer model R213BNF that I bought off recommendations and reviews, and it's awesome. Oil free model, never jams, doesn't leave big dents or out-dings in the trim. And it was cheaper than a lot of the bigger brands in air nailers.
On the other hand though, some Ridgid nailers aren't that great. So like I said, really hit or miss with specific products. So be weary of that.
I have a Bostitch framing gun, model LPF33PT, and the thing is an absolute tank. Never jams and works great. But then I bought a cheap Bostitch branded 6 gallon compressor at Lowe's that was on sale and came with a Bostitch branded Brad nailer in the box. Didn't need the nailer so sold it cheap to a friend, and he said it's terrible. Jams all the time, he took it back and they replaced it once for him, and the second gun jams just as much.
Seems like it's a cheap gun that Bostitch just put their name on to give away with the compressor, but why do that? Just cheapens the brand.
I have a Ridgid brad nailer model R213BNF that I bought off recommendations and reviews, and it's awesome. Oil free model, never jams, doesn't leave big dents or out-dings in the trim. And it was cheaper than a lot of the bigger brands in air nailers.
On the other hand though, some Ridgid nailers aren't that great. So like I said, really hit or miss with specific products. So be weary of that.
Jbullfrog
ALLIANCE MEMBER
get a 1/4" hard poly air hose as they are easier to keep clean and great for using in "finished" areas.