Harbor Freight Floor Nailer?

[wiz561]

Hi!

I'm going to be installing a 3/4" hickory solid hardwood floor over the next couple of days. The room isn't huge; probably about 10x11.

My question, should I attempt to rent the stapler from Home Depot, buy the one from HD for ~500 bucks, or get a cheap one from Harbor Freight for 99 bucks. The one from HF can be found here...

It's model number 99640-9VGA. I couldn't really find anything about it on the web, and I'm a little leery about the quality of it, like everything else from HF.

The other question, about how much is it to rent a floor stapler from HD?

Thanks in advanced!

[Ulysses]

I can't speak for their floor stapler but I have two or three brad nailers and staplers from Harbor Freight and I think they are every bit as good as the Bostitch nailers that I have. I can get a new brad nailer from HF for about the same price as a new seal to fix a Bostitch. Bostitch can't even identify my 25-year-old guns which makes getting parts rather difficult. They lost my business.

[dadiOH]

Have you thought of calling them and asking?

BTW, I'd use cleats, not staples.

[hrhofmann]

Why not rent a first-class stapler at your local rent-all?

[SteveBell]

I second the motion. You can buy the crappy one for about the same price as renting a good one, but unless you intend to lay a lot of floors, owning the device makes no sense.

Check the installation instructions for your flooring. They may not cover the warranty if you use staples. I can assure you that staples will loosen up faster than nails.

[George]

I would go to the local contractor rental place and rent a good tool probably for what you will pay for the unknown quality version.

[Mike W.]

Thank you all for the advice. I still have a few days before I get started, but I am going to take your advice and just rent one for a day. I called HD, and they rent the MIIIFS for 30 bucks a day. Now, all I have to find is the nailer version. :)

BTW, can anybody recommend a good place to rent these on the southwest side of Chicago?

Thanks!

[Paulaner]

Think about buying a used one on an auction site and sell it when you are done. It's nice to have the tool for a while so you don't need to rush things.

I bought >Hi!

[Bob F]

Have you tried the yellow pages? "rental" or "tool rental" perhaps.