Clipped head framing nail gun

[Jstreifel]

Hey everyone! I'm going to start the process of finishing my basement soon and I am looking for a good deal on a framing nail gun. I found one on Craigslist, a Bosch sn350-34c clipped head nail gun, listed for $100 and looks like it is in pretty good condition. I am concerned that a clipped head nail gun isn't the right tool for me and that I should strictly consider only full head nail guns. The guy selling the nail gun says it is possible to use full head nails in his clipped head nail gun. Is that true? Is a clipped head nail gun right for putting up walls in the basement? Is $100 a good value?

I asked my friends on Facebook about nail guns and quite a few of them recommended going to harbor freight. I know they have some great deals but also have heard they put out some crappy tools...

Thanks in advance!

 

[engineer2]

I've done basements with my clipped head nail gun and it works fine. For extra holding power I like the ring shank coated nails. Plain ones pull out pretty easy.

BTW, some codes prohibit clipped-head nails for some locations like shear wall and structural.

 

[Jstreifel]

Good to know! Thank you. Is it possible to use full head nails in a clipped head nail gun?

 

[petee_c]

On mine, it was. It was compatible with paslode brand nails. They made a round head that was slightly offset so it could fit in a clipped head nailer.

Sent from my LG-D852 using Tapatalk

 

[Shootinok]

Making an assumption from the model number 34c meaning 34deg clipped nails. I would be more concerned about getting the nails. 30deg or 21deg are very available and carried at most of the big retailers.
I have both of those and used both framing my barn. I have no personal concerns with the clipped nails.

It MIGHT work with 30deg nails but I'd make sure before spending the $.

 

[finn]

What difference does it make for a basement? None of the walls are load bearing and there is no wind load down there.

Bubble gum would probably work.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I am concerned that a clipped head nail gun isn't the right tool for me and that I should strictly consider only full head nail guns.

There are some local building code that do not allow clipped head nails for "structural" fastening.

 

[gungatim]

I see nothing in the manual that indicates it accepts anything other than the specified clipped head nails. the 34-c takes 30º Clipped head. the 20-f takes 20º full head nails. maybe you can swap the magazines?

whatever you do, make sure you can find the nails locally. my guns all take clipped, either paper or wire depending on which gun, and I can get nails at any box store.

my buddies takes those 30º and nobody stocks them but builders supply places.
it makes running down to the store on the weekend to get more nails for a project pretty much impossible, so he borrows mine all the time....

clipped heads are perfectly fine, but some bldg. codes con't allow them. my state is not one of them, and most weekend projects aren't bound by code anyway.

 

[gsmith22]

it has been shown through testing that clipped heads will have a substantially diminished withdraw capacity relative to full heads. this is fact. nearly every state has adopted the ICC family of codes (IBC, IRC, etc.) - clipped heads aren't permitted in them. so basically you are hoping the inspector doesn't force you to rip it all down. most inspectors don't understand the underlying loading vs how it was built so they just follow rules. While I agree that for a basement finishing project, it doesn't matter (miniscule loading) why even bother with it if it isn't a gun you already own? I have no idea if $100 for that gun is cheap or not, but if so, I would guess that it is some combination of can't get nails and recognizing future obsolesces given the way codes have gone.

 

[JRC3]

About 7 years ago I bought a 28 degree clipped framing nailer from HF for $60 and have run 10s/thousands of nails through it. I certainly would not buy one if I used it every day but for the two times a year I use it...I've even abused it by running thousands of 2" nails through it.

You can buy a brand new full-head framing nailer for $64. Plenty good for framing a basement. Their nails a good for the price too.

2cents

 

[BFHtime]

For one basement project, I really do not think it is worth it. I would nail it by hand. A ram set is probably what you should buy or borrow. Seriously borrow a framing gun, and give a few bucks back for its usage. You could buy a box of nails as payment, or 2. Definitely 2 if you are borrowing the compressor too.
Ramsets should be able to be rented as well, or borrowed. For one time use, not sure if I would buy it. I would probably use tapcons.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

About 7 years ago I bought a 28 degree clipped framing nailer from HF for $60 and have run 10s/thousands of nails through it. I certainly would not buy one if I used it every day but for the two times a year I use it...I've even abused it by running thousands of 2" nails through it.

You can buy a brand new full-head framing nailer for $64. Plenty good for framing a basement. Their nails a good for the price too.

2cents

+1

Redid a LOT of framing at my house... never let me down. Not the quality of the Bostitch, but it worked really well. Though the Bostitch coil nails were much cheaper from the local supply house than sticks from the big box store.