Framing gun nailer- good options for 2022

[tarbellb]

Barrowed a gun to frame a bunch of stuff at my rental home, want to grab something for future (limited but lifetime) use.

Anything new or worth mentioning?


Or...... is it still grab a old beat up Hitachi NR83 for $300+ or a Harbor Freight and hope for the best?


Any current framers know something I dont, I would prefer rebuildable and lightweight, AIR ONLY.

 

[The Cobbler]

rebuild able means you need to stay with recognized name brands , but even then, they tend to discontinue parts . I love the old style made in Taiwan Hitachi guns, ( the new ones are **** by comparison) but there is less & less parts available as time goes on .

 

[Renegade1LI]

I have a bostitch stick & coiler nailer both good guns with parts available, senco is another solid gun & still made here.

 

[Rinspeed]

I have two Bostitch as well and have been very happy with them.

 

[dnschmidt]

Hitachi. Go to any commercial jobsite and that's what you'll see. If they can take the abuse those animals throw at them they must be good.

 

[tarbellb]

Does new Hitachi (HTP) apply?

 

[Jeff C]

Every job site I’ve been to they’re using some iteration of a NR83. I’m sure most are buying the most recent A5 version.

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

...Any current framers know something I dont, I would prefer rebuildable and lightweight, AIR ONLY....

I know that you want air only. I felt the same way until I used a Milwaukee M18 Fuel.

 

[dnschmidt]

Every two months I get my copy of Engine Professional and in this months issue they're up in arms about electric vehicles. That's understandable since this magazine is specifically for IC engine rebuilders and electric vehicles don't need them. Air power is the IC engine in this discussion and battery nailers, whether you like it or not, are the future. You can fight it but you can't beat it.

 

[JimH74]

I was in Home Depot yesterday, and saw a Makita framing nailer for 149. If I didn't already have an older PC (when they were still good), I'd go with the Makita.

 

[nmk_61802]

Every two months I get my copy of Engine Professional and in this months issue they're up in arms about electric vehicles. That's understandable since this magazine is specifically for IC engine rebuilders and electric vehicles don't need them. Air power is the IC engine in this discussion and battery nailers, whether you like it or not, are the future. You can fight it but you can't beat it.

This... I have a pneumatic framer, brad nailer, finish nailer and battery powered versions of each. Unless I am setting up to be framing all day, multiple days, out come the battery nailers. For the occasional use battery can't be beat. It became even more obvious when I was able to get rid of my Paslode style nailers and switch to Milwaukee that did not require gas cartridges and ran on the same battery platform as all my other tools.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I prefer Senco, but own and have used nailer/staplers from Bostich, Hitachi (Metabo HPT), Max, Paslode. I'd would go with one of these brandsand pick the one you like the best after you hold them.

 

[demarpaint]

I grabbed this for under $150 on Amazon.

Makita AN924​

 

[Rinspeed]

Air power is the IC engine in this discussion and battery nailers, whether you like it or not, are the future. You can fight it but you can't beat it.

Battery powered is a great choice if you're looking for a disposable tool.

 

[tarbellb]

I like all my (M18) battery tools, sawzall, circ saw, bandsaw, blower.... etc and go to bat for battery for many applications.

BUT my usage right now is going to be a big job at my house every couple years at most.


Thats why I want air, by the time I use it for a couple of jobs the batteries will be dead, obsolete, or ill be on a different system.

----


Anybody have experience with the Paslode F325R / 513000 compact nailer? Looks like a tight little package.

 

[carmantl]

My 30* Milwaukee framing nailer has relegated my Hitachi air (which I have loved and blasted thousands of nails thru) to backup gun status. Sure it's a little heavier but I'm not having to roll out the compressor and lines. REALLY handy for those one-off jobs.

 

[WWheeler]

My brother apparently dropped my old friend Hitachi NR90 and cracked it like an egg on the concrete so when he showed up to break the news to me he showed up with this Metabo NR90AES1 brand new in the box. That was about 3 years and many many thousands of nails ago. I was a bit upset at the time mostly because I didn't realize then that Hitachi had changed their name to Metabo and he was replacing it with the only new equivalent he could find. Ever since there's been no noticeable difference between them that I can tell. Luv it. Would not trade it for another of any brand model.

 

[Rinspeed]

I like all my (M18) battery tools, sawzall, circ saw, bandsaw, blower.... etc and go to bat for battery for many applications.

BUT my usage right now is going to be a big job at my house every couple years at most.


Thats why I want air, by the time I use it for a couple of jobs the batteries will be dead, obsolete, or ill be on a different system.

----


Anybody have experience with the Paslode F325R / 513000 compact nailer? Looks like a tight little package.

We have Paslode coil nailers at the shop and they are a little pricey but very high quality. Think we had to have one rebuilt after five years but they are used a lot building pallets.

 

[dnschmidt]

Battery powered is a great choice if you're looking for a disposable tool.

All tools are disposable eventually.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Anybody have experience with the Paslode F325R / 513000 compact nailer? Looks like a tight little package.

Yep. It's a pretty small and light weight framer. It does have good power though. It's a similar design to my Senco I've had for 20 years. Mine is the model before the below.

FramePro®701XP - SENCO

2H0133N

www.senco.com

With any of the shorter inline magazine nailers, you will need to reload more often. For me I'll take that trade of for being able to get into tighter spots.

 

[tarbellb]

I just want a gun I can pull out every 5 years, frame for a few days and put back in the drawer

Not a great case for the rapidly changing battery tool market

 

[tarbellb]

Funny how things work

I am helping neighbor frame his remodel right now, using his gun..... Japan made Hitachi N83.

Its a nice gun for sure, no frills, just works. Beat to hell, still shoots like a champ.


Maybe I can persuade him to letting go of his "old crappy gun"

If not, im looking at that compact Paslode or Senco

 

[Rinspeed]

All tools are disposable eventually.

Very true but not all have a planned obsolescence built into the design.

 

[Rinspeed]

I just want a gun I can pull out every 5 years, frame for a few days and put back in the drawer

Not a great case for the rapidly changing battery tool market

I try to use all my pneumatic tools one a month even if briefly, let any of them sit around for five years and they might not even work.

 

[tarbellb]

I try to use all my pneumatic tools one a month even if briefly, let any of them sit around for five years and they might not even work.

Total overkill, I have air tools that I break out every 5yrs, run just fine.

Minor leak..., squirt of oil all good.

 

[dr_clyde]

I’m happy with my HPT that I bought from Menards a few years back. I don’t frame every day, but we occasionally do a job that requires a box or two of nails. Works fine, never had any issues.

 

[JSGAuto]

I have one. I went with it because it was significantly lighter than the others. It's awsome.

The down side is it only holds one strip of nails, so the pro's I talked to didn't really like them. For a weekender, its perfect.

----


Anybody have experience with the Paslode F325R / 513000 compact nailer? Looks like a tight little package.

 

[jonathco]

My brother apparently dropped my old friend Hitachi NR90 and cracked it like an egg on the concrete so when he showed up to break the news to me he showed up with this Metabo NR90AES1 brand new in the box. That was about 3 years and many many thousands of nails ago. I was a bit upset at the time mostly because I didn't realize then that Hitachi had changed their name to Metabo and he was replacing it with the only new equivalent he could find. Ever since there's been no noticeable difference between them that I can tell. Luv it. Would not trade it for another of any brand model.

I have this same Metabo and it's held up great. No complaints whatsoever with it.

 

[shoot summ]

Just found this thread while I was searching for NR83. I have a Hitachi nailer I picked up used around 2000, NR83 variant, not sure which model. I bought it used at the local air tool repair store, they would sell rebuilt NR83's for around $200 at the time. I used it a lot over the years, built a deck, fence, miscellaneous projects. It has sat for about 5-6 years now, just got it out to check it out for a project at my Son's farm, gun wouldn't work. Decided to pull it apart, doing a complete rebuild of the internals, o-rings, gaskets, piston bumper(cracked), head cap(disintegrated). I've spent about $100 in parts, no issues with finding any of them, all readily available on Amazon. So it will be good for another 20 years or so.

I like the cordless idea, I don't use a framer enough to justify it, but I use a finish gun enough to really appreciate one. At the time my only choice was Paslode. The gun works good, but I hate the fuel cells, and the odd ball battery.

 

[dr_clyde]

Revived thread, I know. Thought I would share my update with whoever cares.

I just picked up a Paslode F350S from the lumberyard last week. No issues with my Metabo HPT nailer, except I bought the 21° gun and all the nails I could get at the lumberyard were 30° nails.

It was worth the $350 or whatever to have a nice gun that's compatible with the common nail angle.

I've only run a few strips of nails through it so far, but my friend at the lumberyard says the framers he sells to love the gun. I went with this over a Senco or another HPT, as a guy framing houses all day tends to get the gun that works best for them.

I like it, the new bump fire trigger takes a bit of getting used to if you're accustomed to the old style, but once you start to use it a little it makes sense and really works slick.

I felt a bit stupid, the Hitachi guns you slide the nails in the back of the magazine, the Paslode you put them into the top. I spent too much time trying to figure out how to load the nails in the back.

I doubt I'll ever wear it out.

 

[tarbellb]

clyde thanks for the info

Looks like the 350 is the full size rail version of the 325 short rail (and 1.6lbs lighter) version I am looking at.
Glad its working out for you

 

[pbon]

Hopefully the attic bedroom in the rental is done now and the OP has found some very short people to move in.

 

[tarbellb]

Hopefully the attic bedroom in the rental is done now and the OP has found some very short people to move in.

Its done, looks good, and the short people love it

I actually lived in that room for years, im 6'1". Not too bad. The rest of the house, both main floor and basement have 10' ceilings