Framing Nailer

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I plan on using the 20% off coupon just mailed by HF to purchase a framing nailer. It will not be used extensively, the first job being a play house and from there the jobs will be smaller.

I do not have to concern myself with local ordinance on the type of nail being shot ie round head versus clipped.

Given those factors which of the framing nailers would you suggest? Seems 10 gauge is the standard with varying degrees of angle for the nails. Is there a huge difference between 21 degree nailed and 34 degree nailer (other than 12 degrees! Lol!). I know that list price means absolutely nothing at HF, howver should I choose one of the $199 marked down to $79.99 as best bang for the buck?

[newbie2wood]

The degree is just another way of indicating whether the nailer uses clipped or round head fasteners. A clipped head nailer holds more nail per strip but each nail has less holding strength (theoretically).

I would check the local BORG or Lowes to see what kinds of nails are readily available to determine which nailer to get.
________
HairyBerry

[JeremyM]

newbie has a very valid point.

I bought a 21deg Stanley Bostitch as SB is a widely used brand, people everywhere have parts for them, and you should be able to get nails.

I was wrong.

The first two points were right on the money. However, the latter point is a bit of a sticking point. Lowe's and HD (where I bought the gun!) don't seem to keep anything in stock. HD had some when I bought it, but they don't seem to now. However, I found a great little shop in my small area (45,000 people) that caters to contractors and others with fasteners and tools that aren't the normal everyday big box fare. And his price on nails was right in line with HD and Lowe's before they quit carrying them.

If your code does not require FRH (full round head) nails, then just go buy whatever everyone else is using. Stop by a construction site and ask the framers what is most common in the area. The buy that degree.

What are some of the things to consider? My 21deg uses plastic to hold the clips. The plastic flies and some people gritch about it hurting (babies). The 21deg doesn't fit into as tight a place as a 34deg. The 21deg doesn't hold as many nails, meaning loading more clips more often. Does 21deg hold better? I don't know. But I bought it so if I ever did go somewhere with a more restrictive code, I wasn't hauling a 'useless' tool around.

Do a search through the forums about framing nailers to see what is a good one from HF.

But whatever you do, have fun with it!

[ryan.s]

Jeffrey - Let us know what you think of the HF framing nailer if you pick one up. I've been thinking about getting one too for some time now.

[LinuxRandal]

ITEM 91044-6VGA HF adjustable framing nailer

HF has an adjustible framing nailer (ITEM 91044-6VGA) that shoots both clipped and full head. I have been wondering if anyone has tried it?

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Thanks for the info Jeremy.

Seems HF carrys nailes for all the guns they have and it is nearby so I should not run into the same problems as the BS.

Linux I will check out the 91044. I note it has no depth control and I am naturally concerned about any tool from HF that can be coverted to different types of nails. Maybe paranoid, however I will check it out. Seems like a good idea as long as the ability to convert does not impact over all quality.

[greencat]

I bought the HF 28 degree clipped head last year and drove over 500 nails with only 1 jam. I was told the clipped head will jam less - don't know if that is true. I bought 2 boxes of nails from HF. I couldn't find the nails at borg or lowes. But the 2 boxes will last a long time.

I would buy the HF adjustible framing nailer that will accept different angle nails. If this is not your trade I think the HF unit for $79 beats a borg unit at $400.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Purchased 4041 - 21 Degree 10 gauge framing nailer kit.
Retail $199.99, sale $79.99 - 20%.
Bought this unit as it has adjustable depth drive.
The local store did not have adjustible framing nailer (ITEM 91044-6VGA), so I was not able to check it out. I figure 21 degree 10 gauge is pretty common and they did have them at my local Lowes today, as well as having them on sale there at HF.
I will post results of gun usage under this thread in the next few weeks as we build the kids playhouse.

[Stormbringer]

Purchased 4041 - 21 Degree 10 gauge framing nailer kit.

Jeff,

What makes up the "kit"? Hard shelled case? Oiler? Air Connections? Nails?

Thanks,
Greg

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Yes to all those items plus clear safety glasses.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

This thing works as well as can be imagined. I am using PC pancake compressor to power this thing and it is driving 3 1/4" nails through pine 2 x 4 like a champ. Just to test it out I took some scraps and fired 10 nails into the wood as quickly as I could and it keep up without jamming. Tried a few toe nail angles and it didnt have problem with that.
Given the amount of time I will use this thing I am pretty darn happy with the price, especially since I was planning on paying $199 for PC Framing Nailer.

[ryan.s]

This thing works as well as can be imagined. I am using PC pancake compressor to power this thing and it is driving 3 1/4" nails through pine 2 x 4 like a champ. Just to test it out I took some scraps and fired 10 nails into the wood as quickly as I could and it keep up without jamming. Tried a few toe nail angles and it didnt have problem with that.
Given the amount of time I will use this thing I am pretty darn happy with the price, especially since I was planning on paying $199 for PC Framing Nailer.

Do the nails that fit for this gun have plastic sleeves or casings to hold the nails together? If so did you notice any problems with the plastic sticking out of the nailing surface? Kinda like the picture below. The surface has been painted so it's not the greatest example of what I'm trying to say but I hope you get the point. Thanks.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Do the nails that fit for this gun have plastic sleeves or casings to hold the nails together? If so did you notice any problems with the plastic sticking out of the nailing surface? Kinda like the picture below. The surface has been painted so it's not the greatest example of what I'm trying to say but I hope you get the point. Thanks.

Ya, that looks really bad. I shot about 250 more nails today doing some framing for a playhouse. It was the base of the playhouse and involved some pretty wet/dense treated wood. Drove in them like a champ. There was the plastic debris I had to clean up and I did notice it around maybe 10% of the nails but no where near the level you are showing. I was able to "wipe" the debris off with my hand.

[Stormbringer]

Ryan,

Which nailer did that?

Greg

[ryan.s]

Ryan,

Which nailer did that?

Greg

To tell you the truth I'm not sure which nailer it was. The fence was built by a sub contractor when my g/f was renovating her house. Not sure which brand of nailer he used. Should of done it myself from the start since I'm re-doing most of the work he's done anyhow.