I would like to get my cousin a Framing Nailer & Compressor for Christmas as a gift for helping with my renovation.

By trade, he's a tile setter. My mother mentioned he needs/wants one of these things... problem is I have no idea what's what.

I'd like to spend $200-300... which is fairly low budget looking at Home Depot. However, Harbor Freight has stuff alot cheaper... and there's one right up the street from me.

If I had two guesses on what he'd be using it for, I'd assume he needs it for laying Hardibacker on side-jobs... cement board that is mortared and nailed to your subfloor as a backing for mortar/tile... AND/OR... general around the house type duties.

Given that use, how powerful a compressor & what style/degree of gun would do the job? Know of any sales?

 

Also, I don't know if this matters... but for Hardibacker... they typically use 1.5" 10D roofing nails.

 

The Paslode Impulse. A friend of mine replaced all of the :doors and the trim, and around all of the windows. also. Never even went through one fuel cell, and I'd estimate he fired about 2,500 nails. Cordless also. Somewhere around $300, I think.

 

hmm sounds interesting. any downside?

 

No, not really. Paslode is one of the companies of ITW, and all we do is try to make the tool more durable. It should last you a lifetime.

But you need to decide weather you want a finish nailer, or a framing nailer. One is too powerful for one job, too weak for the other.

Home Depot has them. Look for the orange plastic case.

 

Definately have to be framing. No way a finish nailer is penetrating 1/2" of cement board and 2" of sub-flooring.

 

Bostitch N88RH or N88WWB, the most powerful frame nailer, very light too.

Makita air compressor.

 

Wow, that's nice. I had no idea they made stuff like that.

Is there any kind of childproof lock out? I hate to think what could happen if my little kids got a hold of it.

 

Although no tool is foolproof, almost all nailers require you to depress the nose of the tool against the substrate, then press the trigger. It's a two step thing.

However, a few years back (shudder), where we do a lot of crating and shipping, a guy did shoot himself right behind the kneecap.

The "tools" (Paslode bristles if you ever dare call it a gun), should be kept under lock and key.

 

Good choice for a framing nailer! I use this:

It's very light (Magnesium), uses clipped-head nails (you can do a lot more nailing between refills) and only runs like $200-something bucks (I forget)

To run it I use one of these compressors:

The PC is a $180 unit which is good for portability and works fine with the Bostich when use is limited. It'll run a lot if you're doing a lot of nailing, but has the power you need.

The other I use in the garage and for larger nailing jobs(fuzzy pic - sorry):

These run around $400-something, but can run a nailer all day long (probably multiple nailers without complaining). It's an oil unit and runs very quietly.

If you combined a small compressor likethe PC I showed above in the second pic with a good nailer like the Bostich, you'd be out around $400+/-, but your buddy would be able to use other air tools with the compressor...

You also may want to check to see if he uses a nailer or screws for backerboard... It would suck if you bought him a nailer and actually screws them in

 

Sorry for the hijack.


Scribesoft,
What scroll saw is that? I am meaning to buy one.

 

Dewalt DW788 ..

There are some smaller/cheaper ones out there, but I did a ton of testing when I bought this (about 4 years ago) and it just blew the other scroll saws away...

 

I was checking out that Bostitch at Lowes earlier. $279... + Compressor + Hoses/etc ... gets pretty pricey.

What the advantages/disadvantages compared to the Paslode?

 

Ebay, less than $180 on the WWB model, the same one at Lowes.

Bostitch:
Lighter, more powerful, but hose to drag around, air compressor.



Paslode:
Heavier, no need for air hoses, replacement power cartridges(can be quite a bit of money). A lot more expensive.

 

He uses 1.5" 10D Roofing Nails for the backers.

 

From what I can see, the Paslode is a good product (I've read favorable reviews on the internet - but never used one myself).

I personally would much rather have a compressor (even a smaller one) and a nailer as you can run hundreds of tools from it. Your cousin can simply buy a new tool later on and he'll already have the compressor to run it with.

With the Paslode, he's stuck with a "one-trick-pony". Although, as you mentioned, the $$ will start going up if you start buying compressors, fittings, nailers, hoses, etc...

Either way you go, you're a pretty good cousin for looking into such a big gift for a relative (I consider this a big gift at least )

You may also want to look up which nailer (whether you go with an air tool or Paslode) is best for roofing nails if that's what he generally uses it for. I know the Bostich I have is not designed for most roofing nail applications. Most roofing nailers have a round nail holder as the nails come coiled rather than in strips like framing nails.

Here's an exmple of a roofing-specific nailer: Bostich coil roofing nailer

You could also try something like this which does not require a compressor: Cordless roofing nailer
or here: Cordless roofing nailer 2

There's a bunch more compressor types HERE.

 

I've used the Paslode before when I helped build my step-dad's garage. Pretty cool unit... I do remember having problems with the life of the cartridges depending on the temp outside...

BTW, PASLODE =PAcking, Shipping, and LOading DEvices

 

I'll have to check my compressor kit at home. I got it at Home Depot - compressor and 2 or 3 nailers, but not sure if any of them are for framing. The ones they have currently are just for finish, brad and crown nailers, so those won't do.

 

Scribe, yeah... it is a Roofing Nailer he needs.

I asked my mom about the Paslode, she said he mentioned he used one and hated it (I dunno, weight probably?)... so I guess thats out of the question.

I'll probably go with that Bostitch Roofer... $289. Looks like the safest bet.

So, as far as compressors go, how much does he NEED? Cheaper the better. I just want to give him something to get started with his new gun. If he wants to go crazy he can go buy his own damn fancy compressor

 

A cheap compressor (like the PC for $180) will run the gun without complaint. It will just stay on more (motor will run a lot) if he is using it constantly. The bigger/better the compressor, the less it will run.

It will be enough to get him started... Like you said, if he wants a big quiet compressor in the future, he can pick one up himself.

 

I have the Paslode framing nailer(900320) - I bought it when I was finishing my basement. Overall, I'd say it was good. It did jam every once in a while, but the jams were easy to clear. I also managed to knock it off a ladder it was resting on once which broke off a piece of the plastic nail guide - I always thought that part was a bit on the fragile side. It still worked, albeit it jammed a little more often. I need to get it fixed, but I've been too lazy and I really don't use it much anymore.

It costs about 350 for the nailer(maybe cheaper on ebay). The gas cartridges are pretty cheap - 2 for 12 bucks or something like that. The only other thing you need to do is keep the battery charged - otherwise its a big paperweight. They also recommend to use the paslode nails(much more expensive), but I used a bunch of different types and couldn't didn't notice any benefit with the paslode ones.