Good Morning,
I am looking for a brad nailer. 18ga seems to be the size for me to install furniture trim/built-in trim, etc. I read the 2004 FWW review and was wondering if the Paslode T200 was still the way to go.
Also, I need a new compressor. What size/power/manufacturer should I get for a gun and other around the house tasks?
Thanks, TWG.
Replies
I think you might try looking at the Senco package unit. It includes a small compressor, an 18 guage gun, hose and some accesories. I think the big box stores stock it but cant remember the price. We have good luck in our shop with Senco.
If all you plan to do is shoot nails, a small compressor will keep up fine. I have a Campbell-Hausfeld 2 gal that weighs less than 20 lb. and travels with me. Less than $100.
I hired an upholsterer to go with me on a hotel job a couple of years ago. He had a cordless stapler that died on the first piece of work. His backup battery didn't last much longer. I ran out and got my little compressor and we worked the rest of the day with it. The next week, he had his own little compressor.
If you need more CFM to power driving tools or spray guns, they won't work as well. But nailers have a very low demand.
I like quiet compressors, so I went for a MAK700 (Makita). It will even allow minor framing nailer use.
My brad nailers are hitachi, and I am very happy with them. I also PC, Senco and Paslode, but I like the hitachis just fine.
I also had a Grizzly 18ga, but it broke quickly. Never again...
Whatever you do, don't buy a combo brad nailer/stapler. I bought a Bostich outift w/compressor and the combo. The plunger that drives the nail is wide to drive a staple and leaves about a 1/4" dent in the wood instead of a hole the size of the brad head. I use the combo only for stapling now, and bought a separate brad nailer.
Thanks for the replies.
Last month, around here, Home Depot was running a special on a Porter-Cable pancake compressor and 5 guns -- finish nailer, brad nailer, narrow crown stapler, upholstery stapler and micropinner. IIRC it was running about $370. Since each of the guns run in the $100 neighborhood, it seemed quite a deal. I have everything except the finish nailer, so it was not of much interest to me.
If you are going to use it a lot I would get the FP25XP Senco if your going to use only occasionally the FP18 kit with the compressor would be fine. That combo kit is not meant for the professional, but for homeowner use it is just fine. I think Costal Tool sells it for $189 for the Combo. I don't know what the big boxes get. I have had the best luck With Senco guns and Senco parts and service.
Terry
Edited 2/28/2007 1:52 pm ET by terrylee86
Senco....
TWG, the nail gun must suit your task , the compressor may have other tasks to support?
There are two basic types each with several levels of quality(read life span) and several levels of performance(read able to provide enough air in the volume and pressure necessary to operate the tools) also known as CFM.
The oil less type are good but should not run much more than 30 to 40 min. solid . These will not support long heavy use
The oiled compressor will run mostly all day but change the oil according to the Mfg. instructions if not sooner.
The CFM of 4 to 6+ will run almost all nail guns but hook up a tiny die grinder or 1" sander for polishing on a lathe (realize that either of these will almost fit in the palm of your hand) and it will suck the tank dry in less than 30 seconds. Rotary tools are turbines or windmill motors that eat up air volume. If you need to run sanders ratchets, or socket drivers you need 10-12-16 CFM with large tanks of 60/80 gallons. There is no cheap way to provide large air volume.
There has been as many lies-oops, misrepresentaions- of CFM's at a particular pressure than the output watts of a stereo at a certain OHM rating so read carefuly. Paddy
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