Jj

"Joe"

20/02/2005 8:43 PM

Home owner looking for an electric nail gun (nailer)

This is something I know little about. I need to repair a fence and
want to use nails, not screws. Maybe 2 inch nails, maybe 1 1/2. Any
expert or other home owner care to recommend a model electric nail gun?
Corded is fine. Battery powered is ok. But a pneumatic is too much.
I haven't seen a sub-hundred dollar electric nail gun that can shoot
big enough nails. Unfortunately, I can't afford the three-hundred
dollar plus models. Advise really appreciated. Thank you.


This topic has 17 replies

TK

Thomas Kendrick

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

20/02/2005 11:30 PM

Agree with the rental recommendation. The coil nails are typically
1-7/8" EG ring-shank. These nailers are usually bump-fire: hold the
trigger down and bounce the nose of the nailer where you want to drive
the nail. If you don't learn this, many double-nailings will occur.
The nailer is designed to work this way and holds 300 nails in a coil.
Get all your boards in place and get 1-2 helpers to position the
boards on the fence rails. All 6 nails per board can be set in about
8-10 seconds, so positioning the boards is the slowest part of the
process.
Unless you are in the fencing or siding business, you don't really
need to own this nailer, since that's about all it's used for.

On 20 Feb 2005 20:43:16 -0800, "Joe" <[email protected]> wrote:

>This is something I know little about. I need to repair a fence and
>want to use nails, not screws. Maybe 2 inch nails, maybe 1 1/2. Any
>expert or other home owner care to recommend a model electric nail gun?
> Corded is fine. Battery powered is ok. But a pneumatic is too much.
>I haven't seen a sub-hundred dollar electric nail gun that can shoot
>big enough nails. Unfortunately, I can't afford the three-hundred
>dollar plus models. Advise really appreciated. Thank you.

Jj

"Joe"

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

21/02/2005 12:42 PM

Thank you all. Someone suggested "Harbor Freight", but I didn't really
see an electric nailer there that can do the job. Perhaps a specific
model number? Renting a pneumatic nailer is not really practical,
since my fence boards get knocked down periodically when baseball
season starts at my neighbors house. And Hamering is a problem because
this is a very old fence and using a hamer will just as likely knock
the fence down instead of repairing it. So many problems....

Joe wrote:
> This is something I know little about. I need to repair a fence and
> want to use nails, not screws. Maybe 2 inch nails, maybe 1 1/2. Any

Br

"BobK207"

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

21/02/2005 9:33 PM

The OT describes his situation as:

Renting a pneumatic nailer is not really practical,
since my fence boards get knocked down periodically when baseball
season starts at my neighbors house. And hamering is a problem because
this is a very old fence and using a hamer will just as likely knock
the fence down instead of repairing it. <<<<<


since the requirement is occasional repair, I suggest using a
drill/driver battery powered & large head deck screws coarse thread.

cheers
Bob

AW

"A.M. Wood"

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

22/02/2005 5:35 AM

The tool you want does not exist. I want a good quality
(Delta,Jet,Grizzly, General, Powermatic) 10 inch 5 HP cabinet grade
table saw that runs on 110 volts for under $100. (I'd go up to $150 if
the saw included few carbide (Forrest,Freud) tipped blades for ripping
and cross cutting as well as a nice dado set would be a bonus) But
that ain't happening either. As a result, I use alternatives that
exist and that I can afford.

If you can't hammer, and don't want to use screws use 5-minute epoxy.

mm

"mp"

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

21/02/2005 1:16 PM

> Thank you all. Someone suggested "Harbor Freight", but I didn't really
> see an electric nailer there that can do the job. Perhaps a specific
> model number? Renting a pneumatic nailer is not really practical,
> since my fence boards get knocked down periodically when baseball
> season starts at my neighbors house. And Hamering is a problem because
> this is a very old fence and using a hamer will just as likely knock
> the fence down instead of repairing it. So many problems....

No problem at all. A couple of wraps of duct tape should tame any wayward
picket. And any of the wayward neighbours kids too. Make sure you don't
cover their faces completely, leave a gap so that they can breathe.

DB

Duane Bozarth

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

21/02/2005 9:25 AM

Joe wrote:
>
> This is something I know little about. I need to repair a fence and
> want to use nails, not screws. Maybe 2 inch nails, maybe 1 1/2. Any
> expert or other home owner care to recommend a model electric nail gun?
> Corded is fine. Battery powered is ok. But a pneumatic is too much.
> I haven't seen a sub-hundred dollar electric nail gun that can shoot
> big enough nails. Unfortunately, I can't afford the three-hundred
> dollar plus models. Advise really appreciated. Thank you.

For an 8d or less nail, just hit the damn thing twice w/ a hammer...

lt

"leonard"

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

20/02/2005 11:55 PM

your out of luck with electric, but might I suggest you rent a compressor
and air nailer?the cost with nails should be less than 100.00.

Len
"Joe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This is something I know little about. I need to repair a fence and
> want to use nails, not screws. Maybe 2 inch nails, maybe 1 1/2. Any
> expert or other home owner care to recommend a model electric nail gun?
> Corded is fine. Battery powered is ok. But a pneumatic is too much.
> I haven't seen a sub-hundred dollar electric nail gun that can shoot
> big enough nails. Unfortunately, I can't afford the three-hundred
> dollar plus models. Advise really appreciated. Thank you.
>

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

21/02/2005 2:04 PM


"Joe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This is something I know little about. I need to repair a fence and
> want to use nails, not screws. Maybe 2 inch nails, maybe 1 1/2. Any
> expert or other home owner care to recommend a model electric nail gun?

> Corded is fine.

Actually it is not.

> Battery powered is ok.

Probably wrong again.

But a pneumatic is too much. Actually it is the only one that will do the
job properly unless you go with one powered by gas.

> I haven't seen a sub-hundred dollar electric nail gun that can shoot
> big enough nails. Unfortunately, I can't afford the three-hundred
> dollar plus models. Advise really appreciated. Thank you.

If you cannot afford the proper gun, you certainly cannot afford to throw
money away on anything less.
Rent or get a hammer that feels good in you hands.

lL

[email protected] (Lawrence Wasserman)

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

22/02/2005 4:33 PM

In article <[email protected]>,
Joe <[email protected]> wrote:
>This is something I know little about. I need to repair a fence and
>want to use nails, not screws. Maybe 2 inch nails, maybe 1 1/2. Any
>expert or other home owner care to recommend a model electric nail gun?
> Corded is fine. Battery powered is ok. But a pneumatic is too much.
>I haven't seen a sub-hundred dollar electric nail gun that can shoot
>big enough nails. Unfortunately, I can't afford the three-hundred
>dollar plus models. Advise really appreciated. Thank you.
>

Those cheap electric guns only shoot 18 gauge brads and I don't
believe any shoot brads longer than 1 1/4" Not really the thing for
fence repairs. DeWalt and PC have some cordless rechargeable battery
nail guns that shoot larger nails but they are high $. You don's say
what kind of fence you are repairing but staples may be appropriate.
You'll still need a pneumatic for them though. Perhaps you can rent
something, or use a hammer if it's not too big a job.


--

Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland
[email protected]

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

22/02/2005 5:54 AM


"BobK207" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>
>
> since the requirement is occasional repair, I suggest using a
> drill/driver battery powered & large head deck screws coarse thread.


Ahh, but he does not want to use screws either.

EP

"Edwin Pawlowski"

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

21/02/2005 5:30 AM


"Joe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This is something I know little about. I need to repair a fence and
> want to use nails, not screws. Maybe 2 inch nails, maybe 1 1/2. Any
> expert or other home owner care to recommend a model electric nail gun?

This is easy. There are none.



> I haven't seen a sub-hundred dollar electric nail gun that can shoot
> big enough nails.

Because there are none. Not even a brad nailer, let alone larger nails.

Unfortunately, I can't afford the three-hundred
> dollar plus models. Advise really appreciated. Thank you.

Then buy a chepaer one. While I hesitate to recomment cheap tools, I've
heard that the Harbor Freight models are OK for light use by homeowners.
You may want to chek them out.

Consider renting one also. If it is a one day job, it may not be all that
much.


Lr

"Leon"

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

22/02/2005 2:06 AM


"Larry Jaques" <novalidaddress@di\/ersify.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Having put up new (and repaired old) fences both ways, I'll never use
> another nail on a bloody fence board again. Screws are 10x handier and
> cleaner.


LOL... Don't ever bid one to build.

Mm

"Mark"

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

24/02/2005 10:09 PM

You choices in electric are slim.
Forget 2" though - 1 5/8" is the best I found.
For what you are going to spend on a P.O.S. electric (I've owned two -
niether lasted long), I HIGHLY recommend going pnuematic which you could get
into for under $150.

Mark

"Joe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This is something I know little about. I need to repair a fence and
> want to use nails, not screws. Maybe 2 inch nails, maybe 1 1/2. Any
> expert or other home owner care to recommend a model electric nail gun?
> Corded is fine. Battery powered is ok. But a pneumatic is too much.
> I haven't seen a sub-hundred dollar electric nail gun that can shoot
> big enough nails. Unfortunately, I can't afford the three-hundred
> dollar plus models. Advise really appreciated. Thank you.
>

LJ

Larry Jaques

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

21/02/2005 5:13 PM

On 21 Feb 2005 12:42:15 -0800, the inscrutable "Joe"
<[email protected]> spake:

>Thank you all. Someone suggested "Harbor Freight", but I didn't really
>see an electric nailer there that can do the job. Perhaps a specific
>model number? Renting a pneumatic nailer is not really practical,
>since my fence boards get knocked down periodically when baseball
>season starts at my neighbors house. And Hamering is a problem because
>this is a very old fence and using a hamer will just as likely knock
>the fence down instead of repairing it. So many problems....
>
>Joe wrote:
>> This is something I know little about. I need to repair a fence and
>> want to use nails, not screws. Maybe 2 inch nails, maybe 1 1/2. Any

Having put up new (and repaired old) fences both ways, I'll never use
another nail on a bloody fence board again. Screws are 10x handier and
cleaner.

--
***********************************************************
"Boy, I feel safer now that Martha Stewart is behind bars!
O.J. is walking around free, Osama Bin Laden too, but they
take the one woman in America willing to cook and clean
and work in the yard and haul her ass to jail."
--Tim Allen
***********************************************************

LG

"Lee Gordon"

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

27/02/2005 2:51 AM

<<What people are saying is that an electric nailer does not exist for the
nails you want to drive.
Your only choise is an air nailer, Passload butane nailer, or a hammer.>>

This is not the case. DeWalt's XRP series nailers can do what the Paslodes
can do but, like the Paslode, they don't fit the OP's price criteria.

Lee


--
To e-mail, replace "bucketofspam" with "dleegordon"

EP

"Edwin Pawlowski"

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

21/02/2005 9:07 PM


"Joe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Thank you all. Someone suggested "Harbor Freight", but I didn't really
> see an electric nailer there that can do the job. Perhaps a specific
> model number?

Harbor Freight has inexpensive pneumatic nailers. They have a framing
nailer for $89.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=4041

I have no idea how the quality of it is.

Tu

"TaskMule"

in reply to "Joe" on 20/02/2005 8:43 PM

21/02/2005 4:32 PM


"Joe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Thank you all. Someone suggested "Harbor Freight", but I didn't really
> see an electric nailer there that can do the job. Perhaps a specific
> model number? Renting a pneumatic nailer is not really practical,
> since my fence boards get knocked down periodically when baseball
> season starts at my neighbors house. And Hamering is a problem because
> this is a very old fence and using a hamer will just as likely knock
> the fence down instead of repairing it. So many problems....

What people are saying is that an electric nailer does not exist for the
nails you want to drive.
Your only choise is an air nailer, Passload butane nailer, or a hammer.

Maybe using screws is looking more like the ideal solution. Inexpensive and
very effective.


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