Finish nailer suggestions

[jziegler]

I'm waiting for a contractor to get started on an addition to the house. We are having some dormers put in an a new master suite built in a section of walk out attic. In order to save some money, I will be doing all of the inside trim work myself (along with the electrical, flooring...) So, it is time to get a finish nailer. I've been looking at various refurbs on Amazon and at CPO, which seem to run just a bit over $100. Are there any suggestions for what I should be looking for? Any models that anyone has used that are particularly good and reasonably priced? I'm willing to pay a bit more if there is a good reason. I'm thinking that since I'll be using it for all of the trim in a few rooms, I don't want to go with the cheap HF unit (that I don't think takes the longer nails anyway, so if I use it for crown later on that might be a problem).

Jim

[lebomike]

Jim, I have a BOSTICH that iused for trim and crown work. I love it and it has worked very well for me. I think it takes nailes from 1" to 2". Not sure of the model. I am at work and do not have the model number , etc. with me. I think they make a good nailer. If I remember right I purchased it at Lowe's for like $98.00. Came in a case , with safety glasses and some nails. I then purchaed nails of different sizes in boxes of 5000.
Just my two cents.
Mike

[jziegler]

Mike,

That's a good deal, I haven't seen anything that good, even refurbished. I'll have to look there again.


Here are a few that CPO has that I'm looking at. They are running a free shipping deal right now:

Senco($89.99):
http://www.cposenco.com/products/1x0002r.html

P-C($109.99):
http://www.cpoworkshop.com/nailers_a...s/fn250cr.html

Makita($119.99):
http://www.cpomakita.com/nailers_and...ers/af633.html

There is also a C-H for less money, but are their nailers any good?

Jim

[Garasaki]

I was able to score a decent deal on a used Paslode airless finish nailer.

It's nice because it eliminates the need to drag a compressor about while doing the finish work (I don't own an easily portable compressor). I don't believe it's any louder then a "traditional" model. There are no cords to deal with. When I need it, I just grab it out of the box, walk over to where I need it, bam bam bam, go put it back in the box.

Comes in handy in the workshop too. For much the same reason - if I need to nail a few things together real quick, I dont need to get out the compressor etc etc, I just grab the nailer and do it.

[dbhost]

Mike,

That's a good deal, I haven't seen anything that good, even refurbished. I'll have to look there again.


Here are a few that CPO has that I'm looking at. They are running a free shipping deal right now:

Senco($89.99):
http://www.cposenco.com/products/1x0002r.html

P-C($109.99):
http://www.cpoworkshop.com/nailers_a...s/fn250cr.html

Makita($119.99):
http://www.cpomakita.com/nailers_and...ers/af633.html

There is also a C-H for less money, but are their nailers any good?

Jim

All of the ones you list are decent, except the Campbell Hausfield. Their air tools IMHO are junk... (LOTS of bad experience with CH here...)

If I were buying a new finish nailer, I would take a strong look at Senco...

[LarryG]

I have owned the P-C finish nailer for about five years, and also have their brad nailer and narrow-crown stapler. I use the brad nailer a lot more than the finish nailer but am very satisfied with all three. None of them have ever jammed (I always oil them before use, and use brand-name fasteners -- usually Senco, sometimes P-C).

[tjr]

Not to hijack this thread, but how to choose between 16ga straight vs. 15ga angle? Looks like you can get up to 2.5" length in either. 16ga nails cost about half as much as 15ga, but in the quantity that I'd use that's not too big a consideration.

[jziegler]

Not to hijack this thread, but how to choose between 16ga straight vs. 15ga angle? Looks like you can get up to 2.5" length in either. 16ga nails cost about half as much as 15ga, but in the quantity that I'd use that's not too big a consideration.

Actually, that is a good hijack. Length range looks to be the same in both, but the 16ga nailers tend to be a bit cheaper as well. Of the 3 I listed, only the Makita is angle, and it is the most expensive of the 3.

[LarryG]

I use my P-C straight 16ga finish nailer mostly in the shop. If I were doing mostly finish carpentry on a job site, I would get a 15ga angled nailer. The 16ga fasteners are okay for cabinets and furniture with materials up to 3/4" but can be a little light for standing and running trim that's 3/4" and above; and the angled nailer would be handier when working in tight spaces.

Also, please note that I have edited out what I wrote in my previous reply about the C-H combo package. On further review I *think* it may have been branded as Delta, which makes sense since Delta and P-C were/are under common ownership.

[jziegler]

So, it sounds like the angled is probably better for my current needs. Looking at CPO again, that gives me two options, both the same price. The Makita listed before, and this Senco:

http://www.cposenco.com/products/1y0001r.html

Any thoughts on Senco vs. Makita? Any other deals in the ~$120 that I should be looking at?

[Sawatzky]

I have a Bostitch 15 guage angled nailer, and it works great!