Compressor/Nailer Advice

I'm starting on several projects that will require finish work. All of my windows will be replaced. And I'm remodeling my kitchen/dining area. I will have all my window casement to replace, some door casement, and all of my baseboard on the main level. When I finished my lower level, I hand nailed the trim. Never again!

I'm shopping for a compressor and finish nailer. I already have a Dewalt 18-gauge brad nailer (D51238K). It was free with a table saw I bought last year. I'm currently debating between the Dewalt D55155 Air Compressor and a Porter Cable Pancake compressor. If I go with the PC, I can get 2 or 3 PC nailers in a combo deal. If I go with Dewalt, I have to buy a finish nailer. Either the 15-gauge or 16-gauge.

Any experiences that point one way or the other?

Should I get a 15-gauge or 16-gauge finish nailer?

Thanks for your help,

Steve

Reply to
lefty
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Any size compressor with a tank will work fine for any of the nailers. Pick the one you like best. I would go with the 15 gauge finish nailer since you already have the smaller brad nailer.

Reply to
Leon

Been doing some more reading on 15 gauge nailers. Looks like the Senco

41xp is highly regarded. How does it compare to the Dewalt 15 gauge nailer?
Reply to
lefty

I have had a 15 gauge Senco for about 17 years now. I like it. It is the Cadillac. Senco invented the nail gun. DeWalt, too early to tell.

Reply to
Leon

Before I bought my last nail gun I went to the local repair center and asked them which brand to buy and they said I could buy any name brand except Dewalt. Yes they even sold Dewalt nailers but did not like them.

Craig

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Reply to
cm

You probably have one of the old American made Sencos, when they were one of the better guns. Not so any more. Like almost all the rest, the 15 ga. Senco I just traded off was made in Taiwan, and while it is a serviceable gun, it is just another gun.

The trimmers I know have all taken back their DeWalts and traded them for Bostitch. To a man, they hated the DeWalts. The specs were great, but the guns weren't. Most common complaints were that it jammed, and that things just "broke" on them. Triggers, drivers, magazine springs, etc. We have only one authorized service center here, and parts/service wound up with the guns being in the shop as long as 3 weeks for warranty. That's three or four houses they could have trimmed out with the gun instead of having it in the shop.

I had excellent luck with all my Bostiich guns, and they seem to last really well on the job, even in the hands of my guys. If you are looking for a 16 ga nailer, the Bostitch gun is pretty good; it will drive a 2" nail through a solid yellow pine knot. If you are looking for a 15 ga angle nailer, the Bostitch 15 ga is even better than the 16 ga.

Bostitch has some pretty good combo deals on at Amazon, and I think they have free shipping for most of them. I just got the 15 ga/18 ga gun combo with the compressor, lines, etc. for a lot less than I thought it would be. I like the compressor a lot as it has a quick recovery, pushes a decent amount of air and has a six gallon tank. It is handy to have two brad guns if you haven't before.

When I am hanging doors, I load one of them with 1 1/4 brads for the trim to jamb detail, and then the other with 2 1/2 brads to tack trim/jamb into place before nailing with the 16 gauge.

Great combo for baseboard/shoemold, too. Just use the same brad sizes and you are are ready for both.

Robert

Reply to
nailshooter41

If you ever plan on getting a framing nailer, buy acompressor large enough to handle one. Framing nailers take a lot more air than finishing nailers, a small pancake won't work with it.

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Reply to
Tom H

I use Bostitch guns, save for a Makita brad nailer. I pretty much ask around what guys like and Bostitch (especially for roofers) comes up the most. Chicks wearing Daisie Dukes is second. I got the Makita brad nailer because it came with the compressor I bought. Check out the MAC700KIT (google/froogle it). It's an oil-lubed design which is a lot quieter. So far I love it, and the brad nailer is great too.

JP

Reply to
Jay Pique

I have the porter cable, but haven't used the dewalt. The porter cable had been a great compressor. I have no complaints about the nailers either. I bought a full size framing nailer and used it with this compressor to frame up a 1200sqft basement. It's done everything I wanted. It even barely works with an impact wrench. My only compaints are that it's loud enough to wake the dead, and the vibration makes it walk a little.

brian

Reply to
brianlanning

I have PC nailers and one from bostich. All have been good. I think nailers are one of those tools where it's hard to make a bad one. A lot of people here also really like the $15 (iirc) harbor freight nailers even. For a pro using the nailer every day, the brand probably matters. But for the home user, it seems not so much. I'd get the one with the best combination of price and features.

brian

Reply to
brianlanning

I used a full size framing nailer with the small pancake porter cable. It did run a lot, but it worked just fine. I'd say I could frame an entire 8' wall with top and bottom plate and nail it into place before the compressor needed to refill. It would usually refill in less time than I needed to pull out and arrange the 2x4s for the next wall.

brian

Reply to
brianlanning

Reply to
Thomas Kendrick

Here's another question. What diameter hose is recommended for running the various nailers?

Reply to
lefty

There's a hose that comes with the PC compressor nailer kit. iirc, it's about 5/8" outside diameter. Inside is probably 3/8" or maybe

1/4". It doesn't take much. Those coiled air hoses that a lot of people hang from their ceilings look skinnier.

brian

Reply to
brianlanning

What are my nail choices/requirements for the Dewalt, Senco, and Bostitch?

Proprietary nails? Available in small quantities?

Reply to
lefty

Unless you're nailing off roof/floor sheeting or wall sheating then you have to slow down but it is doable.

Gary

Reply to
GeeDubb

That is just wrong. A pancake will easily handle a framing nailer.

Reply to
Leon

The small, oil-free Ridgid compressor looks good. It has a LOT of power; enough to even satisfy some HVLP sprayer specs.

Mike

Reply to
upand_at_them

You are going to need more than one gun.

(1) 15 gauge for "long nails" for baseboard. (2) 16 gauge for the smaller stuff (3) 1/4" crown stapler that shoots a 1.5" (4) 18 gauge brad nailer 1 1/4" (5) A pin nailer is on my wish list (6) framing nailer for larger stuff (7) palm nailer for weird stuff

I consider 1-4 the basic setup.

I have the Porter Cable pancake and all of the above guns in Porter Cable.

lefty wrote:

Reply to
Pat Barber

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