Replies

1. 
   BenA | Jan 10, 2005 06:20pm | #1

   I would recommend Bostitch framing tools. Very good quality , American made, plenty of power, light weight., and at a  reasonable cost. Many choices of nails to use for their tools. IMO make sure your using the correct nails to meet codes, full headed nails , clip head nails, are you using ACQ treated wood? Are you using joist hangers , strapping? Then you need special nails for that .There are specific codes for framing through out the country,make sure you meet your town codes. Good luck. see attached web site.

   http://www.stanleybostitch.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=BOS%5FFRAM%5FNAILER&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=N88RH-2MCN&SDesc=Industrial+Round+Head+Framing+System

1. 
   Skindem | Jan 10, 2005 11:02pm | #2

   Lots of good info.

   thanks

2. 
   MPHarper | Jan 17, 2005 04:43am | #3

   Hitatchi

   I've been framing houses for several years and I wouldn't use any other. There are some good guns but none feel better in the hand or last longer under heavy use than the Hitatchi.

3. 
   timbeaux | Jan 17, 2005 08:59am | #4

   Hitachi by far, they are indestructible.  Also, you can put more nails in a Bostich magazine with the tight wire-collated sticks, but when you need a hand-drive for string-lining it's easy to rip one off the plastic sticks that Hitachi uses.

1. 
   tailsorpins | Jan 17, 2005 04:11pm | #5

   Hello!

   When I decided to buy, I first checked out the local availability of nails, and decided on the Bostitch N88WWB.  I didn't need to use joist straps, and clipped head suited the use.  Read everything under the "solutions" tab on http://www.bostitch.com after selecting pneumatic, framing, and you'll have all the info to make the right choice for your location .... whether you buy Bostitch or not.  Check your local codes for acceptability of clipped head versus round head.  I couldn't be happier with my choice.  I calmly monitored the Ebay auctions, and ended up paying $178 delivered from Toolking of Denver.  Lowes & Home Depot have the nails at the best price around .... even internet vendors can't touch Lowes on the Stanley nails $$. 

   Good Luck,

   John

4. 
   Timuhler | Jan 22, 2005 04:16am | #6

   If you are looking for a "stick" nailer as opposed to a coil nailer, then get the Hitachi NR83A2  It is the same gun that's been out forever, but with an adjustable depth of drive.  I tested 10 or 11 guns for JLC and that gun and the Max were my favorite.  The Hitachi edges out the Max now in my opinion because you can buy belt hooks aftermarket.

1. 
   Skindem | Jan 31, 2005 07:11am | #7

   I've been talking to a couple of guys at Western Tool and they lean toward the Max, but they're also pretty high on Hitachi.  I'll take another look.

   Thanks for the input.

1. 
   Billmikesh | Feb 03, 2005 04:56am | #8

   You can't beat a Hitachi. It set the standard for nail guns. A word on Stanley. I worked in a machine shop for several years that made some of the nose pieces for Stanley. I wouldnt give a dime for the parts that were made that Stanley used. Terrible quality. There parts are made with so much slop, thats what makes them work.

5. 
   DDay | Feb 03, 2005 07:11pm | #9

   Hitachi NR83A2.  As others have posted, they have the best power and are bullet proof.  Framing crews around here all use them and they've been around forever.  You shouldn't need to worry about finding nails, all the box stores (Lowe's and HD) carry all the nails for different brands and the Hitachi nails are probably the most common (22 degree plastic corralated, full round head).  Like the other posts, make sure of your codes.  Some area's do not allow clipped head nails.

   I have a Hitachi NR83A (the older model without the depth of drive adjustment), I got that off ebay for $130.  Its been great, no problems at all.  One thing I've seen posted on the breaktime forum is Max nailers in general are a little less reliable than the hitachi's and finding parts and a service place is much harder than for the hitachi's.  From what I've heard, stay away for Dewalt, peopld say its a POS.

   For a few more dollars, the Hitachi NR90AC2, it has a few little things that are more conveinent than the standard NR83A2.  It's easier to see the nails and its more user friendly to load them (you slide them in from the back, like on an angle finish nailer.

6. 
   LostOne0069 | Feb 03, 2005 07:50pm | #10

   Here's another opinion...

   I've never used the Hitachi, but I have a Senco framing gun that I used to build a storage building in my back yard this last summer. In that time I went through about 2000 nails and had only one jam... and that jam was caused by one of my kids unplugging my air compressor and me not noticing until the air pressure dropped really low.

   I also have a Senco 15ga brad nailer and, while I haven't put all that many brads through it, it is also a very nice gun.

1. 
   Skindem | Feb 16, 2005 05:53am | #14

   I'm also planning to pick up a finish nailer, and the Senco seems to get pretty high marks all around.

   thanks.

7. 
   notrix | Feb 04, 2005 07:22pm | #11

   MAX!

   My first one was misfiring..it was a demo. I met the rep at the store and he came to my house to use my compressor and gave me a new nailer.

   I'm a nobody carpenter and got the royal treatment.

   Oh yea! The new one hasn't misfired once in about 3 kegs of nails.

   Notrix

1. 
   Nick25 | Feb 06, 2005 09:46am | #12

   Personally I like the hitachi's the earlier models seemed a little more durable. We use the coil nailers. Strip nailers just don't seem to hold enough nails. I can usually build about 30 ft. of wall give or take per coil. I think a coil has 250 nails and a strip nailer holds 60. Coils are heavier though and don't really get into the same tight spots a strip can. I don't think I've ever actually had a misfire on the fault of the hitachi, usually the nails seperate from the coil b/c paslode nails seem to be getting cheaper. I've never used a senco, I've heard really good things. Actually they don't even sell them in Canada(Ontario anyways) My only beef with hitachi is that they don't always shoot hard enough to bury a spike. Get a paslode on the other hand and it shoots almost through everything, so nailing plywood is out of the question. The Paslode strip nailer will bury nails in an LVL, the coil nailer on the other hand can't b/c the nails are to weak. Paslodes will refuse to fire if they don't have adequate pressure. So you can't even turn your regulator down to compensate for the super powerfull shot. Bostich I would say is a good nailer for a first nail gun, good level of nail drive, pretty dependable, tough, and relatively cheap in comparison to some of the others.

2. 
   Skindem | Feb 16, 2005 05:50am | #13

   I've heard elsewhere that Max tries hard to please customers, and I'm continuing to lean this way.

   Thanks for the input.

8. 
   TimLoupe | Feb 16, 2005 07:14am | #15

   SMK,

   I use a Pasload for several reasons ,local distributor , paper holds the nails together so your not peppered with plastic on every shot and have you ever tried to pull a Pasload nail out?The nails are a liitle more pricy but I think there worth it.Most of the "framers" around here use Hitachi.

   Tim