I've got a project where I'll be putting up 16 feet of header on a ceiling to accommodate two levels of dropped ceiling. I'm not real handy with a hammer on the best of days. Overhead nailing even less so. So I'm thinking framing nailer.

After that project is done I'll be dividing another portion of the basement into a storage room. I'm looking at roughly 16 feet of wall (8' x 8') and a bunch of shelving. No doubt a framing nailer would come in handy for that, too.

I'm certainly not averse to buying new tools for a project. And we're not talking a lot of money. The Estwing EFR2190 looks to be adequate for my needs and can be had for less than $150. There are others in the same price range. But the house is overflowing with "stuff," most of it mine, and I'm not certain that, beyond these two projects, I'll ever again have need of a framing nailer.

Looks like they can be rented around here for around $30/day.

In your comments, recommendations on brands and models welcome, if you have them.

Question:
So: Framing nailer: Buy or Rent?

Choices:
A man can never have too many tools! Buy it!
Enough with the hoarding, already! Rent it!
I like pie!

 

Paslode is the brand. Owned them for years, can be rebuilt and parts are available. Just had a 20 plus year old 3-1/2" framing nailer serviced and the cost was $65 USD which included new seals and top cover plate on this model.

If your only using it for a few projects which can be completed in a day by all means rent. Personally unless your set on using nails have you considered using an impact and screws? Timewise it is slightly slower however when I’m framing at home time isn’t an issue. Even at work I primarily use an impact to complete small framing projects vs dragging out the compressor and hose. Cordless framers are handy but much higher priced.

On another note one of the other supervisors I work with has used Harbor Freight nail guns with no complaints other than to not use their nails.

quote:

Originally posted by staugustfla:
Paslode is the brand. Owned them for years, can be rebuilt and parts are available. Just had a 20 plus year old 3-1/2" framing nailer serviced and the cost was $65 USD which included new seals and top cover plate on this model.

I wholeheartedly disagree. Paslode is correctly named. It is a load that should be passed.

If you want a framing nailer that lasts forever, there is only one. Hitachi.

OP, for such a small project, I bet you could borrow such tools. Also, consider that 3" screws are adequate to the task, if I understand what you've described. A decent cordless drill/driver can do small framing jobs.

Rent, or borrow. Don't buy a tool you'll rarely use.

It totally comes down to you. If you are the kind of guy who goes looking for projects to justify buying another tool (because no man can ever have enough tools), then buy it and move on, as it will make you happy. However, with this talk about too much stuff in the house, you don’t sound like that guy. Unless it is going to cost more to rent, renting may be the better option for you. I’m a big fan of screws and a cordless drill too, that may be your best option. A little slower, but plenty strong...

Yet another option is to buy the nailgun, do your project and then sit on it for a year or two. By then you will have either found other projects that you want to use it on or find out that you really aren't going to be doing any more construction. Then you sell it. Long term rental.

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder76:

quote:

Originally posted by staugustfla:
Paslode is the brand. Owned them for years, can be rebuilt and parts are available. Just had a 20 plus year old 3-1/2" framing nailer serviced and the cost was $65 USD which included new seals and top cover plate on this model.

I wholeheartedly disagree. Paslode is correctly named. It is a load that should be passed.

If you want a framing nailer that lasts forever, there is only one. Hitachi.

OP, for such a small project, I bet you could borrow such tools. Also, consider that 3" screws are adequate to the task, if I understand what you've described. A decent cordless drill/driver can do small framing jobs.

Rent, or borrow. Don't buy a tool you'll rarely use.

Hitachi all the way. I have seen some hitachi guns that have been used almost daily for 2 decades running like a top.

Given the description of the current job, I would most likely rent one. If you decide to buy, make damned sure you buy a reliable/good brand!!!

Went down that road a while back when putting a new deck on a 9x30 foot deck. The damned nailer was a piece of shit, jammed like crazy, about 20 % of the nails didn't sink, were bent or otherwise malfunctioned.

Took the damned thing, along with its compressor, to Lowes. Bought a crap load of exterior grade deck screws with T5? heads on them. Used an impact driver to fasten all those deck boards down. Already had the impact driver so that was a no cost issue. Over all, saved a goodly portion of money by using the deck screws and driver bits.

Bought my Hitachi a few years ago on sale, and with only one project in mind to use it on.
Have used it a few times since. Never know when you might need it again, so if you can find one for a decent price, go for it.

One thing to consider outside of the brand, is whether you want a full head nailer versus clipped head nails.

Full head nailers might cost a bit more, and carry less nails per strip, but more durable it you need to pull a few. Clipped head nails are more prone to breaking head of if you need to pull them.

As a homeowner, I have , over time, bought 5 nailers for projects. I have everything from a farmer to a brad nailer. I can always sell them and get most of my $$ back.

Mike

I have a friend that has a used tool shop out this way. Email me if you want his phone number, he's open on Friday and Saturday only but he will do a meetup at his shop on other days.

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder76:

quote:

Originally posted by staugustfla:
Paslode is the brand. Owned them for years, can be rebuilt and parts are available. Just had a 20 plus year old 3-1/2" framing nailer serviced and the cost was $65 USD which included new seals and top cover plate on this model.

I wholeheartedly disagree. Paslode is correctly named. It is a load that should be passed.

If you want a framing nailer that lasts forever, there is only one. Hitachi.

OP, for such a small project, I bet you could borrow such tools. Also, consider that 3" screws are adequate to the task, if I understand what you've described. A decent cordless drill/driver can do small framing jobs.

Rent, or borrow. Don't buy a tool you'll rarely use.

Ref: Paslode....Agree to disagree based on the older guns I have that are 25+ years old, replaced two sealing rings from wear, other parts from extreme drop damage over the course. Use life based on structural framing.

I'm a Hitachi owner.
Have had mine almost 30 years now. Bought it used. After setting for about 10 years I had to re-kit it as all the rubber had rotted.
Very easily done with parts readily available and reasonably priced.

Bought my Hitachi NR83 back in the 90’s. It drives every brand of nail without a hiccup. Never any problems. Careful, it’s easy to nail your hand to your work with a framing nailer. BTDTx2.

quote:

After that project is done I'll be dividing another portion of the basement into a storage room. I'm looking at roughly 16 feet of wall (8' x 8') and a bunch of shelving. No doubt a framing nailer would come in handy for that, too.

Bostich owner here.
I would say a framing nailer for shelves might be a bit much.
I have used a 16 gauge finish nailer (18 gauge brad nailer for little projects) for a lot of intermediate projects where the framing nailer is just too big or too deep.
Even with some intermediate projects the finish nailer and a little Gorilla Glue goes a long way.
YMMV

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder76:
Also, consider that 3" screws are adequate to the task, if I understand what you've described. A decent cordless drill/driver can do small framing jobs.

^^^This. Screw those headers in place. No muss no fuss.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:
Bought my Hitachi NR83 back in the 90’s. It drives every brand of nail without a hiccup. Never any problems. Careful, it’s easy to nail your hand to your work with a framing nailer. BTDTx2.

Not only your hand!!!!!!

My brother had a neighbor who was sitting on a saw horse playing with a pneumatic staple gun.

Stapled his nut sack to the saw horse.

Of course the medics were really sympathetic when they got there.

They cut the saw horse off about 18 inches in front, and even with his butt cheeks in back.

Then put him on a stretcher, covered with a sheet. One can imagine the hub bub that caused getting into the ambulance, from there to the emergency room.

Hitachi framing nailers are THE STANDARD.
Walk through any house being framed and 9/10 framing nailers in use are Hitachi - they last forever and can be easily refurbished/rebuilt if/when needed and keep working.

I bought a Bostitch on eBay (used) framed an entire. basement and relisted it.
I actually got more than I. paid for it. So. my vote would be buy use and resell, but not a new one....

Hitachi is the only way to go. Refurbs work well and there might be some on sale for Black Friday.