Nail gun

[bqz]

Has anyone ever used a "Paslode "nail gun if so what has been your experience?
I'm thinking on buying one but can't make up my mind.
Had one fellow tell me they work fantastic
But looking for more than one opinion.
Here's what they look like.
http://www.paslode.com/

[Scrounger]

Haven't OWNED one, but I've used a few. They are nice guns - WAY better then Bostitch.

[Ramblin Wreck]

One brother has a Paslode. Another has a Stanley. They both get the job done, but the Paslode is a better nailer. Once you get the settings right for whatever you are nailing, it never "misses a lick". BTW, the Paslode is at least 10 years old, probably older but I can't remember exactly, and has never had any problems. Best wishes in whatever you choose to do.

[crafty2002]

I had a compressor and pneumatic nail guns until the Paslode came out. I walked into the building supply center I was dealing with at the time and there was a man there showing how they worked. I didn't buy one then because they were over $800 but after the price came down on them and the one I had went south I bought one. I never looked back at an air gun. That was the best thing I ever did as a contractor.
But you have to keep them cleaned good. If you use them every day as I did you need to clean the once or twice a week. It isn't hard to do but needs to be done. I started bringing mine in the house when I got home and I have a little table that I work of things I just slide over to my easy chair and I would clean it so it would be ready the next morning.
The best thing about them is they beat the dickens out of dragging a hose around all day and loading and unloading a compressor.
IMO
Dennis

[Macybaby]

You mean the impulse nailer? We have one, and it is now DH's favorite (and just for reference, he uses "NailGun" as his user id on a few message boards).

In addition to the Paslode, we currently own a large and small Craftsman finish nailers, along with a craftsman stapler. Finding nails that fit can be a problem where we live now.

We have a Senco Finish nailer that takes up to 2.5" nails. This one is really nice, but a bit too big for some applications.

We have two large Senco framing nailers - one is older and only takes full round heads. The other takes clipped (or offset), the same type as the paslode takes.

We also have a Senco roofing nailer.

All of these other than the paslode are air powered.

We have been doing serious remodeling for the last four years, and the pasloode is used a lot. If we are doing some serious framing, DH will get out the 220 air compressor. The big senco air nailer is better at sinking the 3.5 inch nails, but need to big compressor to keep up with it.

The impulse nailer is easier to haul up and down the ladder, though the air hose makes it easier to leave the nailer up the ladder if only the person needs to go up and down (like when you drop the tape measure, or pencil - grrrr!)

The Paslode does not have the capacity of the Senco, so it seems like you are always feeding it - it's real easy to go through a string of nails fast!

We don't have a lot of misfeed problems, and I don't recall having jam problems with it either. Biggest problem is that the battery will come loose and then it won't fire. Battery use does not seem to be a problem - we replace the battery on the drill way more often. Just keep the second battery charges, and a few extra fuel cells on hand at all times.

DH said they had serveral at the last project he was on (he works construction - big stuff like power plants and putting up wind turbines). Most had the battery taped in place - but it was still the prefered nailer of choice for most of the carpenter crews. Made DH feel very good about his, as he saw guys really abuse them, and they seemed to hold up quite well.

The orange color helps for easy location too!

Here's a picture from October - the paslode is sitting in the front.


I'm really hoping we'll get the stairs rebuilt over the Thanksgiving weekend - tired of using the ladder!

And just because I like sharing pictures, here is what it looked like from the outside a few days ealier.



Edit to add - I don't think we've every cleaned ours. My DH is very particular about his tools, so they rarely get dirty so maybe that helps. I think we've had it 6 - 7 years. It does not see the use that a contractor would do, but way more than the average home owner.

Cathy

[bqz]

Thanks for the replies !!
I think I may buy one and see how it goes.

[Witterbound]

Yep, got one and I love it. Great for a do-it-yourselfer. I work a lot by myself, and with a Paslode it's easy to hold something where you want it and shoot it with a nail. Almost impossible to do it with a nail and hammer. Are pricy, but worth it.

[Stephen in SOKY]

I have both Paslode & Bostitch, the Paslode is lighter weight & functions flawlessly.

[rambler]

I really like my Bostich 33 degree paper nailer - it does any 30 degree nail, clipped, round, off-set round, as well as the short hardened metal connector nails. I already have an air compressor (well, 2 or 3 actually). I think I would not like to have to run the miles to the store for the power canisters.

But, I sure hear good things about them, and if you don't have an air compressor to start with would be a good choice for sure.

--->Paul

[PyroDon]

I frankly I dont take good care of my nail guns . they stay our in the weather all year long seldom get any oil and most are over 10 years old and still work fine .
they are bostitch.
Senco makes fine finish nailers and good nailer in general but they wont take abuse. their coil roofing nailers are heavy and dont last.
Pasload air nailers tend to have much the same problem , they dont like abuse.
I know guys who sware by the pasload impulse guns but considering the price of fuel cartridges and batteries as well as maintainence I wouldnt bother . They just dont make that much since when it comes to the bottom line

[Columbia,SC.]

I have had four of the Impulse guns over the last almost ten years I guess, the first two where black guns - frame and trim, I replaced them with the newer orange guns.

When I worked with a crew of 10 to 15 other carpenters they all made fun of me spending so much $ on these guns. Guess who they came to when they had to go into a tight spot or high up a ladder to nail this or that> YEP me and my paslode everytime!
If you figure having to buy a compresser,hoses and gun it is actualy cheaper to buy a Impulse gun! Also if you ever worked all day with a hosed gun they (Impulse) wheigh 50 pounds lighter by the days end!
I also do a lot of inside remodleing and those hoses rub walls and leave marks! I have to say I liked the way the older black guns hung on my belt better than the newer ones, you just had to be careful when you knelt down with a framing gun on your belt, the cleat or whatever it is called where the nails shoot out would scratch the fool out of your outer right calf!
I only clean mine 2-3 times a year and its no big deal after you learn how.
P.S. if you own both a trim and a frame gun you have to have a yellow cylinder for trim and a red one for framing, if you run out of red for framing you can snap off the carburater top on the yellow cartrage and replace it with the red one,,yellow gas red cap or the other way around. Hope that makes scence

Once you own one of these guns you will NEVER look back~!

Edit. by this qoute 'Guess who they came to when they had to go into a tight spot or high up a ladder to nail this or that> YEP me and my paslode everytime'!
I ment to say they would always ask to <borrow> my guns. Not that I went up and did the work for them! hahaha

[greg273]

A properly working Impulse gun is great, but they are cantankerous and prone to failure if not kept clean. As much as I dislike dragging an air hose around the jobsite, it beats having to deal with a gun that only shoots 'sometimes'.

[saramark]

I borrowed a Paslode ONCE on a jobsite. We were framing up interior walls and that thing was pathetic for a real work load. I have a stack compressor, probably about 40-50 lbs. We have the eel hoses that don't kink so bad and are lighter weight. I do alot of remodeling and new construction, and I can't imagine having to buy cartridges and charge batteries. I have a compressor I bought from a friend when he switched to Paslode, got it cheap. He had it for years, and I have run it for 3 years. Never needed work or cost me a cent. He has to buy cartridges and repairs/batteries that burn up have cost him enough that he recently re-bought a compressor and new pneumatic guns. I find it funny. More of a homeowner's rig, but I have not seen a serious carpenter use one. I could see it for trim or maybe siding, but no way can it compete with a framing nailer. I also didn't like the odor left behind when working in confined spaces. A good compressor can keep up with 2-3 nailers going all at once constantly, and doesn't wear out very quickly either. Our Bostitch trim, framing, and siding guns have been great and we abuse them hardily from time to time, be it intentionally or by accident.

Mark

[saramark]

Oh, clients that want trim done without a compressor's noise, I could see it for, but I don't buy tools for my clients comfort, but to get the job done, so maybe I am a big jerk, but we can usually set up the compressor far enough away that it doesn't bother too much

[deaconjim]

DW bought me one for my birthday last year (just in time to start building the house she wants). I have both the framing and trim guns. I haven't used the trim gun yet, but I absolutely love my framing gun. I've used the pnumatic guns before, but the Paslode impulse gun works as good and doesn't have the hose dragging around behind you all the time. I consider it to be one of the best tool investments DW has ever made.

[sbin]

I like to buy older Senco nail guns on Ebay clean them up, replace the rings and seals.The original models were made from quality metals in America.

Paslode makes some nice tools and repair parts - nails are common.Not a bad choice if you are buying new