Framing nail gun?

[Sevenhills1952]

I'm wanting to buy a framing nailer. I'm not a contractor so not looking to spend $300++ for a really good one. I'm helping a contractor at home here building a barn, he has a Porter Cable one and it's great.
Yesterday I was in Harbor Freight and I bought this Central Pneumatic one (I know...cheap[emoji16])...but it was cheap, on clearance for $46, so I bought it and box of galvanized nails.
Problem is, nails bend as shown about 1" out. The HF "salesman" handed me a box of 21 deg., this nailer is 28*.
A friend gave me a big box of Paslode 30deg. nails, which work fine in this gun (I'm pointing to two I put in @ 120psi.).
After I called Home Depot, Lowes, etc., I'm confused and need advice.
1) that 21,28,30 deg. angle...is one "better"? I was told 30* is best as holds better.
2) ok to use these 30* nails in this 28* gun?
3) I was told nails are propriety to gun? Another said no. Another said plastic, wire tied and paper bound nails won't interchange?
4) should I keep this $46 one, or get a better one...it works great with Paslode nails.
Thanks so much. It's very confusing.

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

 

[Sevenhills1952]

I'm wanting to buy a framing nailer. I'm not a contractor so not looking to spend $300++ for a really good one. I'm helping a contractor at home here building a barn, he has a Porter Cable one and it's great.
Yesterday I was in Harbor Freight and I bought this Central Pneumatic one (I know...cheap[emoji16])...but it was cheap, on clearance for $46, so I bought it and box of galvanized nails.
Problem is, nails bend as shown about 1" out. The HF "salesman" handed me a box of 21 deg., this nailer is 28*.
A friend gave me a big box of Paslode 30deg. nails, which work fine in this gun (I'm pointing to two I put in @ 120psi.).
After I called Home Depot, Lowes, etc., I'm confused and need advice.
1) that 21,28,30 deg. angle...is one "better"? I was told 30* is best as holds better.
2) ok to use these 30* nails in this 28* gun?
3) I was told nails are propriety to gun? Another said no. Another said plastic, wire tied and paper bound nails won't interchange?
4) should I keep this $46 one, or get a better one...it works great with Paslode nails.
Thanks so much. It's very confusing.

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

Sorry I forgot pictures. One shows scrap 1" I nailed to 2x6 scrap, all nails bent, but 21deg nails in 28deg gun. One picture I'm pointing to two 30deg nails went in fine, same 28deg gun.

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

 

[dusterdude]

The degree is the angle of the nail pack that goes in the gun,in your case 28 degree.I bought an hf gun a couple of years ago,works real good but I think mine is 21 degree,I think.I buy nails for it at lowes

Sent from my LG-US601 using Tapatalk

 

[dusterdude]

Mine might be 28 degree,looks an awful lot like yours.

Sent from my LG-US601 using Tapatalk

 

[Dadillac]

I bought the Central Pneumatic gun also. I also bought the nails HF sells. After shooting a few nails I knew I made a mistake. I went to Home Depot and picked up a box of Bostitch nails. Built a covered deck/porch with it. The nails are more important than the gun. And having the correct degree nails in the gun is very important. Not sure 2 degrees will make a difference but if they are working for you than just roll with it

Don

 

[ncboat]

As stated your gun feeds nails to the head at 28° thus you need nails collated at 28° to feed correctly. Note your gun also states it is designed for clipped head nails not round head nails. Lowe's , Home Depot, Menards all carry 28° clipped head nails in various lengths, coatings etc.

 

[Chris705]

Make sure to follow the oil instructions!!

 

[dnschmidt]

Air nailers it's Hitachi. Nothing else even close. But you're not going to find that for $45.

 

[Handyandy23]

Air nailers it's Hitachi. Nothing else even close. But you're not going to find that for $45.

I did a ton of research when I bought my gun, tried a bunch out, read reviews trialing multiple brands back to back, etc. And while I'd agree Hitachi is one of the good ones, there are several that are very good and very close in performance. Bostitch, Paslode, Senco, are all good nailers too.

As for the OPers question, there is no "best angle" for the nails. You just have to use the right one. As someone else said it's the angle they're collated to fit in the magazine. It seems like common angle is kind of regional. Around me I can only get 28 or 30 degree nails. Other areas only seem to deal with 21 degree mainly.

I think Bostitch nails are 28 degrees and so they'd be your best bet. Paper is the common nail local to me as well, although some guns only shoot plastic collated. Most of the newer guns can use both but check the manual on your gun to confirm. Neither is really better but plastic leavas little plastic bits littered everywhere.

Someone also touched on the heads. Most quality guns will shoot clipped or full head, but again you have to check the manual for your gun. Some regions' building codes require full head so that's something to look into too. Don't want to help your buddy by driving a few hundred nails that won't meet inspection.

 

[Parrothead]

Someone also touched on the heads. Most quality guns will shoot clipped or full head, but again you have to check the manual for your gun. Some regions' building codes require full head so that's something to look into too. Don't want to help your buddy by driving a few hundred nails that won't meet inspection.

Yep, make sure you can use clipped nails.

 

[rlitman]

Yep, make sure you can use clipped nails.

There is an alternative option. There are three styles of nails for framing nail guns.

There are coils (these are always wire collated from what I've seen). Coils align the nails perpendicular to the length of the coil, and while they take up a lot of space, a coil holds more nails than any other option, so some framers like these for larger jobs (particularly sheathing).

Then there are clipped head nail strips. Traditionally, these were paper collated, and the nails had a D shaped head that would allow each shank to contact the next along almost its full length. A round head would prevent nails from being right next to each other. This is what the OP has. Don't be fooled by the "degrees". They're ALL the same. 28 degrees, 30 degrees, doesn't matter.

When round heads started to become code, manufacturers rolled out plastic (or sometimes wire) collated round head nails. These leave a gap between each nail so that the head of one nail rests on the shank (just under the head) of the next, and the plastic (or sometimes wire) maintains the spacing (paper cannot do this), keeping the nails parallel. Again, don't be fooled by the degrees. 21 degrees, 23 degrees, it's ALL the same.

Now for the OP's problem. How to shoot a round head nail out of a paper collated nail gun? Easy, just buy the round head nails that fit it. And pay attention, because they're weird. The secret is that the head is offset to one side, to allow the shanks to touch along their length.

 

[Den69rs96]

I have the porter cable round head framing nailed. I’ve used it a decent amount. It’s built two sheds and framed a basement. I don’t think I’ve had one single jam. I would check your local hd Lowe’s or wherever you get nails from and see what they have in stock and which nailers they fit. Nothing worse than running out of nails mid project or needing a different size and not being able to get the size you need.

 

[OccupantRJ]

The Hitachi I bought blows every other one I have used out of the water. I had a Senco, Bostitch, HF, and went out and bought the Hitachi after a recomendation for it being lighter and great performing. It was definetely that. I have some joint issues and my body thanked me. I paid about $160 for mine at Lowes.

 

[yukenet]

Paslode. Used many, owned a few, Paslode is the only way to go if you are serious about your tools.



Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[Dagny]

They look very handy but what does each shot cost.

 

[mike93lx]

i would return it. you want a full head nailer. some jursidictions won't even allow clipped

my harbor freight 21 degree is great.

 

[Dagny]

I have a collection of bostich and senco most from my father around 20 years old all work well, but most of the time I just use a hammer.