So, for the framing nailer, which I expect to use for two projects & done: I borrowed. But today I got to thinking about all the trim work I have in front of me, and, having found out the hard way a finish nailer is sometimes overkill for that, picked up a Hitachi brad nailer.

K'chunk K'chunk . One of Norm Abram's favorite tools.

I’ll be buying the Hitachi framer!

Update

As I noted a year ago: I borrowed my next-door-neighbour's framing nailer. Ended-up borrowing it for nearly a year, but he didn't mind. Figured on borrowing it, again, when I resumed the Man Cave Project and for the Store Room Project.

In the meantime: Lowe's had a killer deal on the Hitachi 23 ga. wire nailer. Something like half price. I grabbed one. I could not let that deal pass me by!

Now I'm working on the Garage Remediation Project (see: Construction Experts: I Believe Our Garage Is In Distress (somewhat photo-heavy)). I'll need a framing nailer for that.

Then it's back to the Man Cave Project, for which I'll again need a framing nailer.

Then it'll be the Storage Room Project, for which I'll need, you guessed it: A framing nailer.

Lastly (?) there'll the Family Room Remodelling Project, in which I'll be mostly (?) gutting the 23' x 13' family room and updating it. It's possible I'll need a framing nailer for that project.

My need for a framing nailer has now far surpassed the "borrow it" stage. So today, when I'm out acquiring materials for the Garage Remediation Project, I'll pick up a Metabo HPT NR90AES1 framing nailer

Check the new prices then hit the pawn shops. Several years ago that's what I did. I found a very good used one for 1/2 the price of new. We were re-modeling the our new fire station (took a year or so). I keep it for about 3 years then doubled my $$.

Thanks for the suggestion, but the immediate project needs to happen without further delay. (See referenced link in previous post.) So, while I may be able to find the exact nailer I want and I would likely save some money that way, I may also be buying somebody else's trouble. If I buy it new and have any trouble within a short time I can just take it back and they'll give me another. A pawn shop: Not so much.

Bostich nailers in many sizes have done very well for me.
Also when (after several years of use) an air seal blew in one and the parts were easy to get.
YMMV

Question:
So: Framing nailer: Buy or Rent?

Choices:
O A man can never have too many tools! Buy it!
O Enough with the hoarding, already! Rent it!
O I like pie!
X buy the Hitachi, and sell it for 1/2 price on the Sig Forum, when you are done.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

I was this >< close to buying the Hitachi--currently on sale at Lowe's for $150. Only thing that stopped me yesterday afternoon was finding I'd have to buy nails 1000 at a time. They're not expensive, but what the hell was I going to do with a thousand freaking nails?

Well, how many nails do you need? I'm pretty sure code around here requires you scatter just as many as you use all around the property you are working on.

There was a time I could hammer it all day. Not so much any more.

Lowes had a Bostich for $199. Probably fine for a home gamer. To rent one from the local rental place is $104 a week.

Pretty easy math if you need it much at all...

I have seen people recommend you buy the tool brands that the rental place rents, theory being they are likely very dependable and a good value for the money. I don't know if that is sound advice or not but for what it's worth the local rental place rents SENCO air nailers.

Anyone have any thought on that brand? They run ~300 bucks on Amazon for a framing nailer.

Impact driver and T25 3", 3.5" and 4" drive screws as needed

quote:

Originally posted by Perception:
Well, how many nails do you need?

How many I need has no bearing on how many I've ended-up with. You can only buy 'em in boxes of a billion

quote:

Originally posted by cparktd:
Lowes had a Bostich for $199. Probably fine for a home gamer. To rent one from the local rental place is $104 a week.

Pretty easy math if you need it much at all...

My math was even easier, at first: Borrow.

quote:

Originally posted by cparktd:
I have seen people recommend you buy the tool brands that the rental place rents, theory being they are likely very dependable and a good value for the money. I don't know if that is sound advice or not but for what it's worth the local rental place rents SENCO air nailers.

Anyone have any thought on that brand? They run ~300 bucks on Amazon for a framing nailer.

That's expensive for a weekend warrior framing nailer. The Bostich you mentioned would probably do you just fine. However, the Metabo HPT (formerly Hitachi) I bought consistently ranks w/in the top three in shoot-outs. Last time somebody asked about nailers, Hitachi got more recommendations than any other.

The one I bought is currently on sale at Lowe's for $180.

quote:

Originally posted by Blackmore:
Impact driver and T25 3", 3.5" and 4" drive screws as needed

Depending upon the application: Absolutely not! Nails have much higher sheer strength. In this particular case, framing (rafter ties, to be exact), nails are called-for. I don't know as screws would even meet code.

However, in addition to not having the strength or stamina to drive 16d nails all day long, I've always been hit-or-miss with a hammer. Often more miss than hit. So nailer