Pin gun recommendations?

[craigmarshall]

Hi,

I need to get a fine nail gun and I want to know whether the electric ones are any good. This one in particular looks interesting:

www.rutlands.co.uk/cgi-bin/psProdDet.cgi/181EL

I currently use my bosses Ace & K portable 21g air nailer + compressor running off a small lead acid battery. Like this:

www.toolsbypost.com/product.php?id=1917&category=678&tools_session=7adf482cce141f6b96ad713b0be29bd2

It's a great machine, and he says the electric ones aren't nearly as good as you have to lean hard on them to make sure the nail goes all the way in (And this is not true of the air nailer).

I don't really want to lug around a compressor though...

So - Any thoughts? Ideally I'd like an 18v makita nailer, because I already have those batteries, but they don't seem to do one, just the 14.4v ones Rather than getting into using a second type of battery, I'd probably rather a mains one.. Any recommendations

Thanks,
Craig

[9fingers]

Craig,
I have an 18g electric brad nailer and you certainly need to apply significant pressure to get it to drive the nail in all the way. I find I can't use it with one hand and guarantee good results.
I don't have a pneumatic one to compare with though.
All the forces should scale down with 21g pinning but the recoil will still be there.
If you can - a try before you buy - would be my suggestion.
I think there is a fundamental flaw with electric nailers. The current in the actuating coil builds up slowly due to the inductance & resistance of the coil whereas a pneumatic or gas powered one can apply the force virtually instantaneously.
The downside is the compressor or gas cartridge.
Good Luck

Bob

[nickw]

I have the previous TacWise model the nailer. You do need two hand to get it to sink the heads properly but it does mean that you don't need to lug a compressor onto site. So you have to weigh up one hassle against the other.

[craigmarshall]

Well - I can't seem to find a single 21g mains nailer.

The trade off seems to be: can't do one-handed nailing easily or drag a big noisy and expensive compressor around with you. Neither are ideal, so I might go for the following cutting-edge cordless technology:

www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axminster-Warrington-Pattern-Cross-Pein-Hammers-19604.htm

:-)

Apparently the Dewalt battery nailers use some kind of flywheel system which works better than the normal mains nailers, but they are big and heavy, only do large 16g nails and they cost a packet:

www.axminster.co.uk/product-DeWalt-DC618KBV-Cordless-Nail-Gun-18V-577390.htm

Craig

[andy]

Craig

Ive just this morning bought the 191EL model

I also have an 18g air nailer

What wood are you intending to use and what length nails?

I will give it a go later and report back tonight if you want me to

[Scott]

Is that the dreaded Rapesco 181/191 18g jobbie with new coat on? If so "jobbie" is word - it's $h:te!! IMHO of course. You need to lean on it so hard there's always a massive square nose indentation on the timber. The driving depth is never consistent and I personally hate it.

I have an Axminster pneumatic gun now that's a million times better. I'd rather hump the compressor around!

I've got a 181 at home if anyone wants it. It's been gathering dust for years. Only problem is it's in France and I'm in Liverpool docks so you wouldn't want to be in a hurry!

Cheers

[craigmarshall]

Apr 12, 2008 10:45:55 GMT andy said:

What wood are you intending to use and what length nails?

I will give it a go later and report back tonight if you want me to

Yes please - that would be interesting. The most common thing I'd use it for is putting oak beads onto window frames, probably using 18g 30mm nails.

(Edit: The other main thing it would be useful is knocking together jigs out of softwood or MDF scraps etc., again 30mm nails probably)

Thanks,
Craig

[craigmarshall]

Apr 12, 2008 12:17:53 GMT Scott said:

I have an Axminster pneumatic gun now that's a million times better. I'd rather hump the compressor around!

I've got a 181 at home if anyone wants it. It's been gathering dust for years. Only problem is it's in France and I'm in Liverpool docks so you wouldn't want to be in a hurry!

I'll (very) happily take it if it's not being used. Even if the pneumatic ones are superior, I think I'd get some use out of an electric one. I'm not in a dreadful hurry but if you're talking e.g. next year, then I'll give it a miss.

I'll PM my home address to you. Do you want me to cover postage from France or will you be back here soon?

Thanks,
Craig

[Keith]

I too had a Rapesco nailer, absoltely agree with Scott that it was cr*p. I couldn't even give mine away and so despite being as new I put it in the bin and it went to landfill.

I believe Tacwise is the same company so unless they have completely redesigned it it is well worth avoiding.

DeWalt have just brought out an 18g pinner; this is the best price I could find.

www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/section//sn/DEWDC602KB

[craigmarshall]

Apr 12, 2008 14:48:21 GMT Keith said:

DeWalt have just brought out an 18g pinner; this is the best price I could find.

www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/section//sn/DEWDC602KB

That looks interesting! And half the price of the big one too.

Is there much difference between 18g and 21g nails - are 18g ones very much more noticeable?

Cheers,
Craig

[jasonb]

I have used a Masteri ME30 for about eight years, will work one handed most of the time, just needs two on hardwood when using the 30mm pins. Not cheap though .

www.spotnails.co.uk/spec.php3?stock=ME30

Jason

[cadas]

I only use pneumatic, I've got the senco 18g gun plus their tiny 5litre compressor.

Tried electric nailers, not enough power or reliability

[blacksheep]

Definitely pneumatic - much cheaper and better IMO.

Plus, when you've got a compressor it opens up lots of opportunities like spraying and other air tools such as drills and sanders. I wouldn't be without a constant supply of compressed air in the workshop.

For site work I have a £50 B&Q compressor that has never let me down.

[andy]

30mm 18g Brad into oak

No 1 Bostitch SB1850-BN 18G Brad Nailer one handed

No 2 TacWise 191el one handed

No 3 TacWise 191el two handed

As other members have reported you need to apply significant pressure to get it to drive the nail in all the way
Pic no 2 the nail is about 1mm proud

HTH
Andy

[''The village idiot'']

I have had a Bostitch what ever number is for the last six years. 18swg fire 15 - 50mm (use it on architrave etc) and I have no problem with it what so ever. How well the nail goes in depends on the air pressure and the depth stop setting. If you use too much presser it marks the finished timber. Tomorrow I will check the number and report back.

I use it to fix pre-finished skirtings, architraves that type of thing and all I need to do is fill the nail holes with a matching colour hot melt wax and job completed.

One last thing its fires home 50mm nails into 50mm solid oak with no trouble what so ever.

[craigmarshall]

Hi all,

Thanks for your comments. I get a vague notion :-) that the electric ones are rubbish, but I've accepted Scott's offer of a free one that's sat around doing nothing at the moment, so it can't hurt to give it a go. Even if I have to use two hands to use it, it will still be useful, more useful than a hammer, just not as useful as an air-powered one. I can see myself getting an air-powered gun one day, but I'll give the 'lectric one a good shot first.

Thanks for your practical experiment Andy. It definitely confirms what others are saying about them not working one-handed. I wonder if it would work better if I strapped a 10lb lead weight to it? :-D Mind you if I had the cash to buy 10lbs of lead, I could probably buy a compressor and nail gun. Isn't it valuable stuff nowadays?

Cheers,
Craig

[seaco]

I got an 18g Rapesco nailer from a car boot for £3.00 and after using it it was £2.99 to much the other penny is because it's probably great for balsa....