What nailer should I get?

Question

I'm about to install a wooden board-on-board privacy fence, which is a perfect excuse to buy a nailer. Obviously I need a nailer that will suffice for that purpose, but I would like a good all-around nailer for other projects as well. Do I want a framing nailer? Finish nailer? Air or cordless? Brand? Strip or coil? Thanks!

Answer 1

That particular job can be done with either a frameing or finish nailer depending on the thickness of the boards you are using. This is one instance where an air crown stapler also does well. If you go for the framing (probably the most common you will need) or finish nailer, Pasalode makes a cordless nailer that works real well

Answer 2

I have used a Paslode roofing nailer (a rental) and was impressed with its quality and durabilty - important qualities for a rental unit that got a lot of use and abuse.

I also own a Senco finish nailer and am very pleased with its performance.

I believe that Porter-Cable units are well-regarded.

I am not sure that one nailer will meet all your needs, from framing to finishing -- I think you would need two to cover that range of nail sizes. It depends how many projects you think you will do. If you make fine woodworking projects, get a finish nailer. If you are building a house or doing an addition (rough construction), get a framing nailer.

Air vs cordless is a personal preference. You need a compressor for air and the hose gets in the way. I would be surprised if a battery-powered framing nailer will have a long duty cycle, unless you bought high capacity batteries. Paslode makes a gas-powered framing nailer that uses fuel cells (I think they are butane or propane) that would provide a lot of power for heavy duty nailing.

Strip nailers have a limited supply of nails - particularly for framing nailers, so a coil supply would last longer before refilling. For my finish nailer, it's a stick-fed unit, and the capacity is high enough so as it's not a problem.

Consider the safety design (both trigger and tip), depth of nailing controls, ease of getting replacement parts, and whether the nailer is prone to jamming or not. Check with some magazines for reviews - Wood Magazine does some good evaluations.

Finally, you might want to rent a couple of nailers to try before you buy, and see how well they operate and handle.

Answer 3

Get an Air nailer that shoots up to a 2 1/2 " ring shank 16 guage should do it. Some nailers will hold several lengths. Check out the Depot for a good assortment of nailers. Framing nailer would be overkill.

Answer 4

Since you stated this was a privacy fence that means 1 x 6 Any nail gun would be an over kill. I would rent an air staple gun and use either 1 1/2 or 2" staples. Staples do a much better job on plywood, OSB and 1 x material. On privacy fences nails sometimes split boards on you due to using nails and you get stain marks after several years of weather ( even galanized). Staples will not. Staples will not back out either.

If I was going to buy a nail gun though it would be a paslode. You do have to choose between framing and finishing. Unless you are a contractor or in the wood working trade I would stick to renting. Paslode framing nailer $265 at Home depot. Oh it only shoots paslode nails but paslode is the best nailer bar none. Go out to where there building houses and see how many framers are using them. :)

Hope this helps :)

Answer 5

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Answer 6

There are several good brands. I have two different sized Porter-Cable nailers and have had them for years with no problems. They are reasonably priced in comparison. The only problem with a framing nailer is that you can't really do trim work with it. There are 18 ga. nails available in 5/8" to 2" size so it depends on what you want to do besides the fence. I'm not a fan of cordless anything because it seems that the battery always need s a charge right in the middle of something. I much prefer compressor driven nailers. I build a lot of cabinetry and do trim work and I love the Porter-Cable products...nails are very available as well in different sized

Answer 7

My personnal favorite is the Paslode model F-350S, framing nailer. And, no it is not an overkill for your project. The nailer will shoot from a 2 inch to a 3 1/2 inch nail. For your project, I would use a 2 inch ring-shank galvanized nail. When you start out, test the pressure of the nailer on some scrap wood. Adjust the air pressure until the nail head is set flush to the surface of the fence boards. The nailer also has a depth adjustment on it.

Specifications
Model: F-350S
Part Number: 501000
Weight: 7.9 lbs.
Height: 13 in.
Magazine Type: 30 degree stick (nail strip)
Cycle Rate: 10 nails/second
Nail Capacity: 74-84 nails (2 strips)
Air Req./90 p.s.i. (6.3 bar): .082/cycle
Op. Pres. p.s.i. (bar): 80-120 (5.5-8.3)

Answer 8

Man there's a lot of misinformation here. First of all, if you use a finish nail, I don't care HOW long of a nail, it WILL pull out in a year or maybe far less. Most guys start out just like you are; hoping to get just one gun to do it all. It won't work that way. If you do much carpentry at all, you'll end up just like all the rest of us; an air compressor that's just a little too darn heavy to carry, a framing gun, then a 15GA trim nailer and finally an 18GA trim nailer.

Answer 9

I dont know much about nailers but I do know what i like and those cordless ones are great.

I have seen them used in every project from framing to finish work

Answer 10

Senco strip nailer.

Strip nails do not jam as much and are cheaper.

For you purpose, a framing nailer would be best.