Recomendations for Cordless Finish Nailers

[Bikeboy80]

My company is looking to purchase another cordless finish nailer and I am looking for insight from anyone that uses them on a daily basis.

Our remodeling company consists of my father and I in the field. Currently he has a ~8 year old Paslode finish nailer that has caused him nothing but issues right from the beginning, he is ready to try something different. I carry an 18v Dewalt straight finish gun and have had no issues with it over the 5+ years of use. The Dewalt is heavy but works well for my use because I have an array of other yellow tools that all take the same battery. My father has all Makita tools so just buying him a Dewalt nailer may not be the best solution, though since Makita does not make a cordless nailer what ever we get will need a different power source.

I have done a bit of looking around at other options but am wondering if any of you have personal experience that would help us out.

Some that I have looked at are the 18v Bosch and Senco Fusion guns.

 

[Vi_k]

I have been eyeballing the Senco Fusion line for myself and will most likely pick one up early in 2013.

Here is the link to the one that really wants to include itself in my kit:  [big grin] [wink] [smile]

http://www.senco.com/ToolDetails.aspx?k=6U0001N

These are apparently not like the Paslode guns at all in terms of tip jammage, there is no need to pound the tip into the material to get the thing to fire. Oh, and that god-awful smell that is released by the Paslode isn't an issue either, no fuel cells! They also look slick as can be IMHO, a definite plus! 8)

Have fun shopping/researching your purchase &

C'ya L8tr,  [smile]

Skilo54

 

[Vi_k]

Here is a neat little ditty someone put together. The tunes are outstanding....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=glH5BxVKfjs#!

Have a good one,  [smile]

Vi_k

 

[peter halle]

I have been using the Dewalt 16 gauge angled battery powered nailer for at least 6 years.  Before that I used the Paslode.  As you have said the Dewalt is heavier, but getting used to the weight was a good compromise to get away from the fuel cells and the smell.  No regrets from me.

Peter

 

[jmbfestool]

I have been using the Dewalt 16 gauge angled battery powered nailer for at least 6 years.  Before that I used the Paslode.  As you have said the Dewalt is heavier, but getting used to the weight was a good compromise to get away from the fuel cells and the smell.  No regrets from me.

Peter

+1

 

[galwaydude18@gmail.com]

+2. Best pinner I have ever used and it has often taken good abuse and never refuses to work.

 

[upscale]

Some that I have looked at are the 18v Bosch and Senco Fusion guns.

I had the DeWalt 16g for several years, but it was pretty heavy and large for my preferences. Now, if I bought a cordless nail gun again with cost not an extremely high factor on the priority list, it would probably be the Senco Fusion,

 

[Bikeboy80]

Yea I'm thinking another Dewalt might be the way to go. It's a shame though that they have not upgraded the kits to come with lithium batteries. I got rid of all of the Ni-cads a few years ago, using the lighter lithium batteries in the nailer made a big difference in the weight.

 

[joiner1970]

Makita do a small cordless Li-ion nailer but its expensive and its only 18 gauge I think.

Your best bet would be the dewalt we've used them for years and never had a problem.

I bet they are updating the finish nailers, there's a new framing nailer which I've had for a couple of months now on test so I wouldn't be surprised if they updated the finish nailer.

 

[upscale]

Yea I'm thinking another Dewalt might be the way to go. It's a shame though that they have not upgraded the kits to come with lithium batteries. I got rid of all of the Ni-cads a few years ago, using the lighter lithium batteries in the nailer made a big difference in the weight.

I'm thinking (hoping) that the battery rebuilders will start replacing the ni-cads with li-ion. They may not change the size of the old batteries, but they should be able to make them considerably lighter. ~ And maybe, it they filled up the entire battery case with the new li-ion cells, they might be able to make them last longer between recharging.

Of course, then you'd need new charging stations, but that too would promote a newer market.

 

[Deansocial]

With dewalts new framing nailer out i cant see a new finish nailer being far behind

 

[jmbfestool]

With dewalts new framing nailer out i cant see a new finish nailer being far behind

Ditto !!!!

 

[Bikeboy80]

With dewalts new framing nailer out i cant see a new finish nailer being far behind

That's what I'm afraid of, buying now and a new one coming out within months!

I do have a few of the compact li-ion batteries, they do work in my current nailer, but they have to have a full charge and the usage time is real spotty.

 

[Vi_k]

The DeWalt stuff I've been hornswaggled into buying ends up in the dumpster within unreasonably short amounts of time. I am not a fan of their tool quality standards therefore I would rather have my nuts cut off with a butter knife than give them another of my hard earned dimes. [laughing]

Just sayin'

Vi_k

 

[jmbfestool]

The DeWalt stuff I've been hornswaggled into buying ends up in the dumpster within unreasonably short amounts of time. I am not a fan of their tool quality standards therefore I would rather have my nuts cut off with a butter knife than give them another of my hard earned dimes. [laughing]

Just sayin'

Vi_k

I hate all dewalt crap. But I own the second fix nailer and it is good! gotta admit I wud buy it again

 

[peter halle]

I also dislike DeWalt - not the brand name - but rather the practice of building to a price point and cheapening the quality of tools.  However, the cordless finish nailer currently in production lasted longer than my Paslode and eliminated the need to usually carry an air compressor.

Ni-cad batteries in tools will become scarce to non-existent for world-wide tool manufacturers due to restrictions in some countries.  I have Festool drills and have some of the Ni-cad's and love them in cold weather where the L-ions are not so happy.

Peter

 

[Bikeboy80]

The DeWalt stuff I've been hornswaggled into buying ends up in the dumpster within unreasonably short amounts of time. I am not a fan of their tool quality standards therefore I would rather have my nuts cut off with a butter knife than give them another of my hard earned dimes. [laughing]

Just sayin'

Vi_k

Well this brings up my next conversation...battery tool brands.

I haven't really had a problem with Dewalt overall. I purchased my first kit in 2005 before I was working with the tools everyday, about a year later. I am still using 3 of the original 5 tools and have added a few to their "system", the two tools I killed was the impact driver( after 4 years of hard use) and the recip saw after about the same usage. I have gone to all li-ion batteries but again that was well into the life of the tools.

I did recently buy a drill driver combo with their new "20v" system, but it kinda gets away from the overall system of tools with the same battery. I feel that with the addition of some other battery tools I am ending up with a hodgepodge of batteries and chargers. There seems to be much more innovation in some of the other brands and seems like Dewalt is just not up to par. Just wondering if it might be time to invest in a new system?

Right now I have:

General use
Dewalt 18v (2)Impact drivers, hammer drill, jig saw, grinder, recip saw, circular saw, 1/2" impact wrench, finish nailer, light, (4) li-ion, (2) compact li ion
Dewalt 20v impact driver, drill, (2) li-ion

Small punch list items
Makita 10.8v drill, driver (2) li-ion

Milwaukee 12v palm nailer
Pass lode framing nailer

And a recently purchase t15 that I am still working on working it into my work flow.

So that's 6 different chargers....seems a bit crazy.

Maybe it's time for a new thread.....

 

[Deadskins]

I was building a dock this summer and did not like the idea of using my zawsaw and circular saw while standing in 3 weeks of water [eek].  I got great a deal on a Dewalt combo of them and they actually worked pretty good.  It turns out the ones made in Mexico are much better quality than those made in China.  But, I still prefer my power cord tools.

 

[nehardwoodfloors]

My 15g senco fusion had to be repaired within a year. I got it back with it still not completely fixed. The trigger modes didnt work.
Now it just plan stopped working.
Im debating whether to waste the time and money to have them fix it again.

I use paslode 16g now. Not the most reliable due to the gas charges. They need to have a way to tell when theyre running low. Otherwise you have no idea whether the gas is full or empty.

 

[upscale]

That's what I'm afraid of, buying now and a new one coming out within months!

You have a big problem then. With the speed and frequency that new products come out in our society, buyer's remorse is always going to be there. It's unavoidable. Unless one is stinking rich and can buy what they want, when they want and replace whenever they want, you're always going to be afraid.