Home  5  Books  5  GBEzine  5  News  5  HelpDesk  5  Register  5  GreenBuilding.co.uk
Not signed in (Sign In)

Categories



Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
These two books are the perfect starting place to help you get to grips with one of the most vitally important aspects of our society - our homes and living environment.

PLEASE NOTE: A download link for Volume 1 will be sent to you by email and Volume 2 will be sent to you by post as a book.
Buy individually or both books together. Delivery is free!


powered by Surfing Waves




Vanilla 1.0.3 is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.

Welcome to new Forum Visitors
 Join the forum now and benefit from discussions with thousands of other green building fans and discounts on Green Building Press publications: Apply now.




Offers and wants: Finishing Nailer feedback

Bottom of Page

1 to 17 of 17

  1.  
    • CommentAuthorPugliese
    • CommentTimeMay 11th 2013
     
    I have struggled on without a finishing nailer by screwing most things down but with several hundred meters of skirting and architrave arriving next week I feel I must take the plunge on a finishing nailer. As I don't have a compressor I was looking at the DeWalt DC618KB - any experiences out there or other recommendations?
    • CommentAuthorBeau
    • CommentTimeMay 11th 2013
     
    I have a basic finishing nailer. Used it once but never again. Went back to screw and plug for things like skirting as pulls in so much better and good old fashioned hammer and nails for architrave. The problem I had with it was it was very inconsistent on nail depth depending on the hardness of the wood. Had to use a hammer to get some of the nails home anyway. It was not particularly expensive so the DeWalt may well be better. I just bought a good tool belt with nail pouch and it made using hammer and nails so much easier.
    • CommentAuthorFred56
    • CommentTimeMay 11th 2013
     
    I have the Dewalt 16g nailer and it works just fine. It is heavy and bulky and these two points are probably the only real downsides. Misfires and jams are very rare. They do not stop when the magazine is empty so you have to keep and eye on the nails. The light flash warning that the battery is discharged is easily missed in daylight conditions but you know when it stops driving anyway.
    The NiMh batteries are delicate - the first ones I got were defective and Dewalt was very reluctant to admit it. These batteries are also damaged by frost so you have to keep them in a warmish place. The machine is available with a variety of batteries and I would think the Lithium ion would be better. They certainly are with the drills and driver because I have those too. Try to get a machine that has a DE9135 charger.
    My nailer is the 20 degree angle model. These nails are not quite as easily available as you might like and often packaged with gas for Paslode users. Toolstation does the Tacwise nails without gas. I have used a fair number of Dewalt stainless nails on cedar and these are extortionately expensive.
    I'm not sure why so may people use gas nailers for finish work when there are much less troublesome nailers are available. Watching the performance on site with guys fiddling with Paslodes and swearing about gas not working in cold weather makes me wonder if it's just a macho thing - they like the noise.
    Dewalt has a framing nailer now. I tried it on a display stand - it's heavy and far too expensive. Might consider one if the price gets realistic.
    • CommentAuthorowlman
    • CommentTimeMay 11th 2013
     
    What are you fixing the skirting into,- blockwork, wood etc. What type of skirting hardwood, softwood, MDF? If for instance you are fixing pre lacqured hardwood onto masonry, possibly the worst scenario, then using a face fix with nails isn't advisable, especially if the walls are out of true. If the skirtings are also bent then its double trouble and nailing again wont suffice. Finish nailers come into their own when youve got a good timber substrate to fix to and especially pinners for getting external mitres closed up.

    For sitework I use a compressor and I have seven different nail guns and stapelers for different useages. I have no experience of cordless nail guns but they are not cheap and for that price perhaps you could buy a small compressor and a gun or two and have the variety of nailers and fine pinners.
  5.  
    Posted By: owlmanthey are not cheap and for that price perhaps you could buy a small compressor and a gun or two and have the variety of nailers and fine pinners.

    +1 How much are you looking at paying? I just Googled for the price of the DeWalt DC618KB, with a quick search the best I saw £340 on Amazon with the NiMH batteries.

    For that sort of money you can get yourself a nice little compressor and nailer and you will have a lot more flexibility in the future.
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeMay 11th 2013
     
    I used compressed air pinners for 20 yrs til I retired 5 years ago cant beat them for ease, spped, finish, cost or anything, will be getting one back out again soon for a voluntry job.
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeMay 11th 2013
     
    It will pin on skirting through newish s&c plaster with medium density blocks behing (or the dreadfull aerated ones)
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeMay 11th 2013
     
    Makes bipe boxings in seconds too
    • CommentAuthorPugliese
    • CommentTimeMay 12th 2013
     
    Thanks for the replies and you have made me think again about getting the DW and opt for a compressor & nailer instead. Any recommendations given the max budget of £340?

    HDF Skirting and architrave will be fixed through plasterboard into timber frame. In addition to nailing will use gripfill and two part glue.
    • CommentAuthorBeau
    • CommentTimeMay 12th 2013
     
    The nailer I hated was electric so looks like air powered is the way to go.
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeMay 12th 2013
     
    hire, if you need it longer term it will pay for itself, mine helped me retire at 55
  12.  
    I bought a 24 litre compressor in my local hardware for about £120 it runs the framing nailer I bought without any problems.

    Mine is a different brand but similar to this:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-76114-24L-230V-Compressor/dp/B00205MRZO/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1368347425&sr=8-14&keywords=24l+compressor

    I haven't bought a finishing nailer yet and would also like to hear people's opinions.

    Just going on brand name maybe something like this Makita for £72?

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAKITA-AF505-BRAD-PIN-AIR-NAILER-18-GAUGE-IN-CARRYING-CASE-/360587356258?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item53f4ae6862

    Or this Paslode air nailer for £80?

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Paslode-575485-FN1835-1-18-Gauge-Pneumatic-Fine-Finish-Brad-Nailer-/350783415176?pt=UK_Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item51ac522388
    • CommentAuthorowlman
    • CommentTimeMay 12th 2013 edited
     
    Try this one. I have one and It's very good. I've got other air tools from the big names in pro tools like Haubold, Senco etc and this stacks up really well. Dont forget to put a couple of drops of appropriate oil in the air line connector before use and you won't have any problems. There's someone in China selling one on ebay for £50 if you fancy a punt.

    http://www.dewalt.com/tool-categories/Finish-Brad-Nailers.aspx

    Edit: the 51276K angled one
    • CommentAuthorTimber
    • CommentTimeMay 13th 2013
     
    Another one here for getting a separate compressor

    Even a small 1 - 1.5hp compressor with a 5 ltr tank is good enough for a brad and other small nailers. I have a cheap Clarke set I got for £100 including compressor and gun and it is great. Spend another £30 on a load of extra hose so that you can be more remote from the compressor.

    You can then use the compressor for larger guns and other similar low air usage tools.
  15.  
    @owlman

    Thanks for the recommendation, when Googling for that DeWalt gun I came across a warning from a UK seller who said that DeWalt had instructed them to not repair any non-EU market tools that don't have a CE mark on them and that such tools are not covered by warranty. There seems to be quite a few US sellers of DeWalt gear on eBay.co.uk that undercut UK prices.

    I've been caught out buying very good looking fakes on eBay previously (Oral B electric toothbrush heads where the brush became detached in my mouth, the UK seller of them got shut down pretty quick!:wink:) so I don't think I'd chance the DeWalt gun from China particularly as the postage at £40 brings it up to £90 in total)
    • CommentAuthorFred56
    • CommentTimeMay 13th 2013
     
    ChrisP, not sure where you are but the Dewalt Spennymoor service centre has some interesting deals. I got my flip saw from there and it was new rather than refurbished - you can tell because the refurbished stuff has "Factory Rework" indelibly embossed somewhere. They delivered it to me. Give them a call, search the website for suppliers and filter by County Durham.
  17.  
    Thanks Fred

    I'm in Sweden so buying off the likes of Amazon.co.uk usually works out the cheapest due to the free postage on items fulfilled by Amazon.

    I must have a look around some of my local DIY sheds as well to see if they have anything on special offer that might be decent quality.

1 to 17 of 17

  1.  
Add your comments

    Username Password
  • Format comments as
 
Back to Discussions Top of Page
   
The Ecobuilding Buzz
Site Map    |   Home    |   View Cart    |   Pressroom   |   Business   |   Links   
Logout    

© Green Building Press