Porter Cable Nailer issues

[fred d]

I have 2 PC nailers 15ga angle nailer & 18ga finish nailer...Issues with both

18ga
Has had less than 500 nails run through it. It Working fine the other day, but today when I grab it and I go to use it when I depress the safety all I get is a small bleed of air. I’ve disconnected the hose pull the nails out make sure the safety was compressing all the way and I still cannot get it to shoot nails.
100psi on Comp.

15ga
Less than 60 nails through it. When I hook it to air it just starts to constantly bleed air.
I have taken vacation to try and finish up multiple Home Improvement projects and reall need the 18ga to work as it should.
Added a couple drops of oil to both before hooking to air hose

Anyone well versed in nailers 101
Just looking for a fix on these.
Thanks

 

[ALinCarolina]

My brad nailers were one of the reasons I swore never to buy another Porter Cable tool. I threw away my PC 18 gauge last year. I installed a complete rebuild kit and it still failed. My current nailers are Cadex. I have larger Paslodes which I don't use as much.
I will add that I find myself using my 21 gauge most. In places that I used to use the 18 for.

 

[wayne55]

I've had a PC nailer and a Craftsman stapler fail due to a similar plastic part in each just disintegrating. It was just from age as they had not been used much either.

 

[DWise]

The one I had failed and there was a soft rubber washer?? in the back end that had become unseated.

 

[tapered-pin]

I've had a PC nailer and a Craftsman stapler fail due to a similar plastic part in each just disintegrating. It was just from age as they had not been used much either.

me too.

purchased the rebuild kits on ebay and it runs like a sewing machine again...

 

[rlitman]

Have you looked inside the nose to be sure there isn't a nail stuck in there?

 

[fred d]

Have you looked inside the nose to be sure there isn't a nail stuck in there?

Yes

Funny thing. Grabbed my bostich stapler and it has same issues

 

[NUTTSGT]

I've noticed issues with mine and adding oil cured them both. Maybe the PCs are more finicky when it comes to wanting oil over other brands ?

 

[rlitman]

I've noticed issues with mine and adding oil cured them both. Maybe the PCs are more finicky when it comes to wanting oil over other brands ?

PC has made many generations of nailers. Mine are all the older ones that require oil. Can't say I've ever had an issue with any.

Many have switched over to being oilless, and oil can destroy the seals in some of those.

 

[manwithtools]

Yep, not sure about the PC's, but many versions of Senco's - oil is a no-no. need to check on your specific tool.

 

[6PTsocket]

PC, DeWalt, Bostich all from SB&D

Yes

Funny thing. Grabbed my bostich stapler and it has same issues [emoji38]_hitti

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[bob15]

How often have you oiled it? Is this the first time?

So you have 3 nails guns that all do the same thing? If yes, do you have enough air pressure?

Have you tried different nails....maybe from a different company.....

 

[bob15]

PC, DeWalt, Bostich all from SB&D

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

They are now....but how old are all the pieces he has? They might pre-date the mergers

 

[Technikal]

Have you tried it with a different compressor, hose or connector? Given you have 3 tools that used to work and now don't, either you are extremely unlucky or something else is messed up...

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[driftpin]

I believe him. I had the same thing happen with my P-C brad nailer. It worked great for the few times I needed it, and then the next time, just-like that Chevy compact of the 1960's: "no-va."

I went to a P-C service center, got a couple of pieces, disassembled it, and restored the function. A seal & an o-ring I think.

It's probably cheaper to go buy a HFT brad air tool...

 

[The Cobbler]

the new line Porter cable air nailers are pure **** IMO

 

[never enuf time]

Take it apart, look for bent driver, debris ripped o ring. They are pretty simple. The older Porter Cables worked well but, parts would wear faster than Senco.

 

[metaldad]

20 year old p/c 3 pack, brad, staple, finish, no problems. coupla drops of oil before use.
horrible fright nailers (framer, roofing) , good thing the store is 5 minutes away. several failures when new, during the job.

 

[WWheeler]

Guess they don't make them like they used to. My +20 yr old Porter cable brad and finish nailers that came with a PC pancake compressor have never given me a single issue. I've shot thousands and thousands of whatever the cheapest brand nails were available at the Borg at the time through both over the years. Nary a week goes by that I don't put one of them to use. Same goes for the compressor. Always run them right around 100PSI (both say 120 PSI max).

 

[Indexmill]

Seems very strange. I have a FN250A and a BN125A and both are awesome. Both are of the generation prior to the current version. The finish nailer quite working and a Google search identified that plastic bumper that denigrates as the likely culprit. Sure enough, $15 later like a new nailer and been perfect ever since.

If you are here on GJ you should be more than capable of taking it apart and finding and fixing the problem. These PC nailers are bulletproof.

 

[bob15]

Some of you guys are forgetting that he has 3 nailers that are all doing the same thing.....and one of them is a Bostich. So having bad O-rings or nailer faults in all three nailers would be stretching it a bit, bordering on playing the lottery type luck

Look at the common issues FIRST: air pressure, air lines, air volume, nails, oil used, operator (had to go there )

 

[spock91]

^^^^ I was thinking the same thing. What is the air pressure?

 

[fred d]

Ok to answer some of the questions
Have tried on my other compressor with no luck
18ga was working fine, ran about 150 nails through it in last couple weeks
PC are about 5 years old Bostich about 8 years


I am capable of disassembled. Have watched a couple YouTube videos to see the particulars.
Don’t really have the time at this moment to wait on parts.

I have taken 3 days off work to get things done and was hoping for a answer that was a quick fix, obviously that isn’t the case. Will probably go to HF and get a cheap one to keep me going

Will disassemble and check them out
Probably from sitting for years without use
Thanks