Question about 21 degree HF Franeing hailer

[Radio Ron w4ron]

I got a HF 21 degree Framing nailer as one of my B'day presents.
This afternoon I unpacked it so I could check it out.
I read the instructions, put a few drops of the included oil into
the air inlet and hooked it up to my air system.
I got a couple scrap 2X4s out of the scrap bin to try it out on.
It will only randomly fire a nail, maybe once out of five tried and
when it does put out a nail in leaves it about a half inch high instead
of driving it flush.
Does anyone have a idea what to problem is? Is it a setup problem
or does it just need breaking in?
Should I try lubing the nail track with maybe some silicon spray lube?
Or should I hurry up and return it and get another one?

Please help, I really want this to work, I have several upcoming
projects that it will get used on.

Thanks,

 

[fitz11]

Is the air pressure set correctly? My brad nailer will do the same thing if the pressure drops too low.

 

[cheechi]

what brand nails?

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

I set the pressure at about 90 psi the instructions say no more than 90 pounds.

I bought the nails at HF when I bought the gun.

 

[PelicanPines]

I use alot of nailers. My framing nailer needed a whip and larger hose to use properly. A regular 1/4 inch quick connector and hose didn't give it enough air. I put a 3/8 connector on it and it still shot proud nails... when i added a 3 foot whip to the tool and connected it with 3/8 hose and connectors all the way to the compressor... BINGO ... i could nail all day long.

Brad, finish, staples, pin, etc all work fine with 1/4 connectors. Framing nailers need more air getting to the tool. Just setting the compressor on max isn't always enough. You need that bigger hose and connectors.

 

[Zeke]

The hose shouldn't have anything to do with a single fire. That charge is in the piston chamber waiting to be fired. Refilling the chamber for sequetial firings and having partially driven nails is a sure sign of low air supply, not pressure.

In the case of this gun, I'd return it. Not firing but once in awhile with 90# is dangerous.

 

[PelicanPines]

The hose shouldn't have anything to do with a single fire. That charge is in the piston chamber waiting to be fired. Refilling the chamber for sequetial firings and having partially driven nails is a sure sign of low air supply, not pressure.

In the case of this gun, I'd return it. Not firing but once in awhile with 90# is dangerous.

A low air supply is corrected with a bigger hose and connector. I'm not guessing on this. I went thru the exact same problem with my framers and other peoples. As soon as they switched to a larger hose/connector. The problem went away.

Before you return the nailer... give my suggestion a shot. Don't increase the pressure... but like zeke says... increase the air supply to the tool.

 

[Parrothead]

I've heard rumors that the HF nails are the problem, even in their own nail gun

 

[Zeke]

Pelican, I agree with you and the bigger lines. You missed my point. If it takes all night to get the gun filled, it should fire the first shot. And the gun should fire reliably every time that it is filled to pressure. What good is it if the air comes in a 1 inch hose if the gun malfunctions?

 

[PelicanPines]

I have two pictures to show what im talking about.

The first shows the diff between 1/4 inch male connector and a 3/8 male that is directly on the tool.

The second pic shows the 3/8 inch hose whip i have on the framer.

 

[Trey T]

Air supply is dependent on the volume it can carry. The diameter of the hose play a big part of it. The pressure will be the same but the CFM (or cubic-feet/min) is dependent on the diameter of the hose (scientifically speaking, the larger cross-sectional area, the higher flow rate (CFM) can be).

a 3/8" hose has ~50% more cross-sectional area than 1/4" hose. Assuming constant pressure, your nailer gets 50% more air supplied to the piston. The brand of the nailer also play a big part of the nailing. I own a HF framing nailer and it has been work really well for me and I owned it for over ten yrs now. I used it once in a while.

That's why everybody that invest in a good air compressor cares more about CFM than the pressure.

 

[PelicanPines]

Pelican, I agree with you and the bigger lines. You missed my point. If it takes all night to get the gun filled, it should fire the first shot. And the gun should fire reliably every time that it is filled to pressure. What good is it if the air comes in a 1 inch hose if the gun malfunctions?

Ok, and all I was saying was I experienced his exact problem at least a dozen times and solved it every time by doing the few things i described. My suggestions are from experience on solving the exact problem he is having for my nailers and other peoples I worked with.

The problem I fixed was also with the very first shot standing proud along with every one after that. I have my framer triggered to fire one shot a pull, instead of the standard auto fire. It slows you down, but you never double fire.

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

I messed with it some more this afternoon, I think maybe I got it.
I checked the air pressure it was a little low, not much, I also wiped
the inside of the nail track and in and around the drive hammer with
a long stick Q tip with light weight machine oil. I also adjusted the depth
adjustment up and down a couple time, I finally get it working with the
air pressure just above 90psi.
I got it to fire 20 nails without missing, maybe it's fixed, we'll see
Thanks for the input, it's nice to get a reply to a posting.