Nail Gun Thoughts

I'd go get an air nailer or two. If your current compressor has a tough time keeping up (unlikely), keep your eyes open for a used one. I got a 15 gallon oil-lube for $60. It's 15 years old, and runs like new.

For birdhouses and such, I'd get an 18 ga. brad nailer. For trim, a 15 ga. angled finish nailer. For the side of the house, it depends on what you're doing, but a framing nailer may be necessary. For trim on the side of your house, the 15 ga. finish nailer is fine.

In about a year, as projects came up, I bought my brad nailer for $14 from Harbor Freight. I bought my Porter Cable finish nailer refurbished from Tyler Tool. I bought my Bostitch framing nailer well-used from a pawn shop. All work well, though the brad nailer doesn't shoot straight.

-Mike

My fence picket nailer is the Hitachi NV65AH coil siding nailer. A box of 9000 nails (30 coils of 300) is about $70. Lasts a long time. Individual coils are available at the nail supply store.

IIRC the Paslode brand nails that I am talking about come 7500 to the box. Good for about 600' of fence using 6" pickets and 3 rails between posts.

Ah, good thought. I'll give that a try. I mainly like the nail gun because the tendonitis in my elbow makes driving nails with a hammer rather painful. The thing is that for general "around-the-place" type work you need about 10 different sizes/types of nails on hand. Right now all I have are 12d (3") and 8d? (2") both are shiny and I really need galvanized for stuff. And ring-shanks are great for siding on the shed I'm fixing, and for "real" framing I want some 3 1/2". etc. etc. etc.

Tim Douglass

Haven't seen them here, but Lowes just opened a couple weeks ago, so things may change. I'll check again.

Tim Douglass