prestonjrf
Member
I am looking to buy a framing nail gun What is the difference in a clip head and a round head gun Also the difference in the different angled heads Advantages and disadvantages of all 4 Thanks for all help and advice 
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framing nail gun
- Thread starter prestonjrf
- Start date
wafrederick
Well-known member
First,you better check building codes and there is a reason why.There are some that do not allow clipped head nails
csp
Well-known member
Angled ones are nice in odd corners or places where a straight one would be hitting something when you're trying to drive a nail.
x2 on some local codes requiring a full head.
x2 on some local codes requiring a full head.
OP
prestonjrf
Member
No codes where I live plus this will be for projects Why code problems with the clip heads and what are clip heads Also what angle is prefered?
Major Ramifications
Well-known member
I prefer a 21° full head nailer, but you may prefer something different. Last time I checked, 21° full head nails were the most common.
No codes where I live plus this will be for projects Why code problems with the clip heads and what are clip heads Also what angle is prefered?
The heads of the clip heads look a little like a 3/4 moon. Because of the reduced area of the head, they do not secure the lumber quite so well. One place this is important is in high wind areas. Thirty years ago, when I bought mine, 3/4 were the only ones available, at least in my area. Now, I would buy a full size head model; I don't see any disadvantages.
Most angle framers will shoot both clipped and full head nails. Stick with Paslode would be my first choice, followed by Porter Cable, then Hitatchi. Stay away from Bostich, not that it isn't a good framer, but you will be stuck buying Bostich nails or genarics just for Bostich which won't be the cheapest.
The reason clipped head nails were the big craze was because you could stack nails tighter in a rack and more nails in a gun in the same space. Now a lot of nail companies make a full head nail that the head is offset still giving you the same amount of nails in a rack, but with a full head.
As far as the clipped heads not holding, I'm going to call B.S. If you nail off with proper nailing patterns it isn't coming apart. I'm sure there are some liberal nanny state counties that require full head nails, but it is just them on a power trip, but what do I know I have only been framing for the last 20 years.
The reason clipped head nails were the big craze was because you could stack nails tighter in a rack and more nails in a gun in the same space. Now a lot of nail companies make a full head nail that the head is offset still giving you the same amount of nails in a rack, but with a full head.
As far as the clipped heads not holding, I'm going to call B.S. If you nail off with proper nailing patterns it isn't coming apart. I'm sure there are some liberal nanny state counties that require full head nails, but it is just them on a power trip, but what do I know I have only been framing for the last 20 years.