Framing Nailer Question (Garage Sale Gloat ?)

[buckeye95]

All,

Was heading through our local neighborhood garage sale yesterday and at one of the last houses I found a old Craftsman framing nailer on the lawn. Tag on it said $5, and the owner (a remodeler) said it worked OK with occasional jams. For $5, it was worth a shot (no pun intended). The only problem is that I forgot to ask the owner if it used full-head or clipped-head nails. I looked for a part # on it when I got home, but the label has worn off. I searched here, but found no information. Additionally, I looked on Ebay, where I found a nailer that looks exactly like this and is listed as part number 351-18320. I also looked on the craftsman.com web site, but it is "being updated" and has been the last couple days. Here are my questions:

1.) Is there a way to tell looking at the striker if it for full-head or clipped head nails ? I have attached a photo looking down the "barrel" of the nailer.

2.) Is there any way to get owners manuals / information on these old nailers ? Most companies allow you to download manuals off their web site, but I'm not sure if this is the same for Craftsman.

Thanks in advance,

Pete

[Wood_workur]

my geuss is that it is a 22 degree clipped head nailer, usually, full head'er are 34 degrees. I will try to find a manuel.

[buckeye95]

Thanks for the reply Alex.

I looked at a "Lowes Fastener Guide" I had around, and it lists the full-head nails at 21 degrees and the clipped head at 34 degrees. Are you sure you did not get your numbers reversed ?

BTW - I got out my protractor and verified the angle between the "barrel" of the nailer and a line perpendicular to the long edge of the magazine is 22 degrees or so, so I do believe you are correct that it is a 22 degree nailer as you mentioned.

Pete

[newbie2wood]

Round head nails are usually listed as 21 degrees. However, to add to the confusion clipped nails range from 21 to 34 degrees depending on the brand. Your best bet is to call Sears with the model number found on ebay and test out the nails that they recommend.
________
Sunset Boulevard Residence Pattaya

[jhart]

My PC framing nailer is 22 degrees and is full head

[Wood_workur]

Hmm... maybe I did get heads mixed up. But I got angles right. But that tip has "clipped head" written all over it.

[buckeye95]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Sears was next to no help when I called today At first they told me they knew nothing of the nailer except that a manual was available (in paper copy only) at the local Sears repair depot for $4. I called the depot to inquire about it, but they forwarded me on to someone else there who said they in fact did not have it there. I know enough about nailers to operate it, so simply asked if they could tell me the nail size and type to use. They said they did not have access to that information. In the days so much information and manuals are online (such as Porter Cable and Milwaukee), or in worst case by calling up CS, Sears (Craftsman) support seems horrible compared to their competitors BTW - Craftsman.com has now been closed for three days for "site enhancements". Longest web upgrade I've ever heard of for a large established company.

Anyways, looks like the local HD rents full-head nailers (and sells nails in small quantities as well), so I will probably head over there next time I am in the area to get the smallest nail quantity possible to try it out.

Thanks for the help.

Pete

[Wood_workur]

here is one that looks LIKE yours:
http://cgi.ebay.com/CRAFTSMAN-CLIPPE...QQcmdZViewItem


try going to HD and looking at the tips. The shape of where the nail comes out might tell you the type of head.

[mater]

BTW - Craftsman.com has now been closed for three days for "site enhancements". Longest web upgrade I've ever heard of for a large established company.

Pete

I tried to go on their site about 3 weeks ago and got the same message.

[Jim Boyd]

Sears parts works fine for me through Explorer but nada with Netscape.