Aldi nail gun.

[Andy Hall]

This is rather specific, Holly.

I'm no expert on parquet flooring, but thought that it had to be laid onto a substrate such as ply.

If they are talking about secret nailing larger boards to joists, then there are air nailers for that, but they are specialised and pretty expensive. There are mechanical only flooring nailers but even these are north of £200.

There are a selection at

Enter "flooring nailer" and search.

Since this is such a specific tool, it probably makes sense to rent it, if it's only to several floors in a house.

I have used a mechanical one and they certainly save time and make the job a bit easier.

One important thing with secret nailing of flooring is getting the nails positioned consistently and well. The specialised nailers essentially do that for you.

[John Rumm]

Because they know that statistically most of the pe "better guarentee = better sales = more sale profits"

"better guarentee = more returns = more return costs"

So long as "more sale profits > more return costs" it is worth it.

[John Rumm]

No I think he is saying they are a marketing tool. i.e. they increase sales because "it gives peace of mind to the buyer in that within 3 years they can have their money back or the item replace if defective" (sic).

It's a numbers game....

With something like a nail gun however there is also the question of what happens when you want a new firing pin (they wear out, and one misfire can knacker one as well)?

[Andy Hall]

As soon as you begin to use expressions such as "people like you", you are making assumptions about the other person that are almost certainly unfounded, especially since you have never met me.

I simply pointed out that there is an increased risk from air tools of poor material and build quality and described what happened when somebody who had been using one completely correctly had one fall apart on them.

You may understand the risks, although generally it is *people like you* who have "been using them for years" who are the most likely to be careless and have accidents.

Nothing that I have said here conveys or implies any superior knowledge at all, other than that I have used a lot of air tools and that there are potential pitfalls for the unwary.

That really does demonstrate a stupid attitude.

Are you from Australia yourself at all??

[Andy Hall]

I can't think of anything that I've ever bought only on price, Mary.

Of course it's a factor, but only a factor.

I decide what I want to buy first, price being but one of many factors, and then look at sources.

If it's a commodity item, or I don't need service from the retailer, and the time and cost for going and getting are the same, then of course I will go for the lowest price.

However, often one has to weight the time and cost of going and getting or shipping etc.

[Mike Halmarack]

OK, I understand from what you write that you're not a perfectionist. If you were you'd know it *can't* be achieved. The "Big Guy" tried with the "Crown of Creation" and look what a shower we turned out to be. :) I suppose it can still be moved away from though.

[John Rumm]

While they do not suggest any appropriate uses for the nailer (or even state its "guage" for that matter), the "decking" backdrop is no doubt calculated to create the impression that this would be a suitable use for it.

I presume it also plays on a general lack of knowedge in the general buying public regarding nailers. "Oh look, I saw Tommy Walsh using one of them there things to build a pergola and do some decking on Ground Farce"

[Chris Bacon]

As soon as you start making assumptions about safety of tools you've never even *seen*, purely on the basis of price, you put yourself on dodgy ground, and are exposed to ridicule, as has justy happened.

[Chris Bacon]

Well, complain to the ASA, then. Whinging here won't help, will it.

[Chris Bacon]

Supply is limited. Could be a "loss leader".

[Dave]

misleading...

You're quite right, John, it's an appalling bit of advertising - they should have pictured it being used to fix quadrant beading or similar!

I've got a cheepie 18g brad nailer that I've used extensively for light duty work and it's never let me down... so I'd be interested in Andy's experience of one blowing up being explained in more detail, i.e. what actually went wrong, and should I be inspecting mine for signs of wear in any particular area??

Cheers,

Dave

[Andy Hall]

My sentiments exactly

[[news]]

blah blah blah.

you are a safety nazi, one of the lifestyle police that think you know best even though the tool in question will have been tested for market and job suitability by people far more qualified than you.

there's also a distinct possibility that your expensive 'better' tool was made in the same factory as a cheaper 'poorer quality' and rebadged simply to rope in people like you.

if you don't want it, don't buy it but in the meantime don't sit on the sidelines quacking on about ifs, ands and maybes, it makes you sound like an old woman.

RT

[Andy Hall]

I didn't suggest that I have seen this particular tool.

I simply pointed out that I have seen a lot in this category which were from two different sources and in all respects apart from the colour of the paint and the badge were identical and of very poor build quality in comparison to a good quality product from Senco, Porter Cable, Hitachi and a small number of others.

I went on to describe the results of what happened when one of these, although used correctly, fell apart and pieces embedded into a wall.

There is an obvious correlation between poor manufacturing quality and materials and such an outcome.

There is a further correlation between poor quality of mechanism and jamming. While the instructions do warn about disconnecting the airline before doing anything to the tool, people do take risks. Therefore the greater the number of times the tool jams, the greater the risk.

It's entirely possible that Aldi have worked wonders and have been able to source a tool that costs £25-30 elsewhere such that they can sell it at £20. It may even be that it's a different buyer to the one who secured a deal at Covent Garden to be able to offer two cucumbers for the price of one, but possibly not.

However, it is highly unlikely that they have been able to source a tool equivalent in build and material quality to the best nailers on the market.

My point was simply that with air tools it is unwise to buy at the low end, and I have explained why.

If you feel that purchase price is more important to you then that's your choice.

[Andy Hall]

or dumping of old stock acquired for next to nothing ....

[RedOnRed]

Andy don't worry about him (news) the blokes a complete idiot who can only communicate in the modern day equivalent of caveman language.

[Andy Hall]

Bordering on? It's way over the line.

If I could be bothered, I'd write to the ASA and trading standards.

This thing is cheap enough that I am sure that the retailer has figured out that most people will drop it in the cupboard and forget about it.

[[news]]

hahaha, punctuation. ever heard of it ?

do you even know what red on red means ?

no, lemme guess, it's about football.

RT

[Andy Hall]

On the one that I saw, the mechanism jammed, then the clip holding the retainer for the hammer gave way and both of these plus some nails flew off at an angle. Some bits ended up in a wall about 2m away and others were on the floor about 5m away.

Obviously lubrication is an important issue, but the hammers are a consumable item, and especially if the tolerances of the tool are not good will probably wear more quickly. I replace the hammers and manufacturer's recommended parts as a matter of course according to their schedule.

I would check these at least, and certainly investigate very carefully if there are any instances of jamming. If there is a retaining clip, then I suspect that that would be another risk item.

The important thing is that if you even suspect a mechanical problem, either replace the pieces (if you can get them) or throw the tool away.

[Chris Bacon]

Or get your money back.