dewalt finishing nailer

[thatsnotafestool]

Is there much benefit in going for the 18v rather than the 12v or 14.4v which are much cheaper?

[engineerone]

two thoughts, do you have any other dewalt tools that take batteries, if so go for a compliant one

otherwise the 18 volt battery should do more for longer.

paul

[thatsnotafestool]

Hi Paul

Thanks for the reply.

I have a 14.4v right angle driver but the charger can do both 14.4 and 18v.

Good point re longevity of charge but isn't it the Ah that defines how long it will last?

Cheers

Roger

[Keith]

I have tried both the 18V and the 12V. Nothing to choose between them except I thought the 12V is a lot lighter and so feels more balanced in the hand.

The main difference between the two versions is the run time, which is a product of Volts x Amps, so the 18V will run much longer, but how many brads would you want to put in at any time?

After waiting for DeWalt to bring this tool out I've now decided to go for air pinners

[thatsnotafestool]

May 26, 2008 12:59:54 GMT Keith said:

....

After waiting for DeWalt to bring this tool out I've now decided to go for air pinners

I do have a smallish air pinner but it's (a) not man enough for skirting boards and (b) I long gave up on dragging an air hose behind me throughout the house during the renovation! Air tools ARE good in the workshop, I agree.

[Keith]

May 26, 2008 13:35:25 GMT thatsnotafestool said:

I do have a smallish air pinner but it's (a) not man enough for skirting boards and (b) I long gave up on dragging an air hose behind me throughout the house during the renovation! Air tools ARE good in the workshop, I agree.

Mentioning a 12V nailer, I thought you meant the new 18g pinner which is also available in 18V, but IMHO this isn't up to pinning skirting or architrave.

The 16g brad nailer which has been out for some years is available in 18 and 14V and is more suited to 2nd fix. This is aimed at the trade who mostly have 18V kit so I'm surprised they brought a 14V version out. This also feels more balanced in 14V but for 2nd fix I'd go for an 18V to get the extended run time, unless I was nailing ceilings all the time. They do feel very heavy compared to my Paslode though, particularly the 18V.

[Scrit]

May 26, 2008 14:13:26 GMT Keith said:

The 16g brad nailer which has been out for some years is available in 18 and 14V and is more suited to 2nd fix. This is aimed at the trade who mostly have 18V kit so I'm surprised they brought a 14V version out. This also feels more balanced in 14V but for 2nd fix I'd go for an 18V to get the extended run time, unless I was nailing ceilings all the time. They do feel very heavy compared to my Paslode though, particularly the 18V.

I agree with woodsmith - 16g isn't a brad nailer, it's a finish nailer. Brad nailers are 18g (whisch puts me at odds with Senco :

Maybe they (the DWs) feel heavier, but they sure as hell don't misfire, dry fire or conk out as often as Passlode guns. I've used them (the DWs) on a few jobs and I really like them (maybe I should buy one..... : Passys on the other hand are large and unwieldy and when you're up and down a scaffolding tower that can make all the difference. Passys are also ruddy unreliable in my experience. Sorry, but I'm in an anti-Passy mood again this evening having just spent the whole day with a clipped head nailer (a loaner and a complete pile of doo-doo)

I agree with woodsmith that the 12 and 14.4 volt models are lighter and feel better balanced, but if you already have 18 volt DW stuff then that's the way to go as you can swap batteries. From my own experiences the 18volt 16g is certainly man enough for solid oak panelling, although the heads are a bit on the big side. The battery capacity thing only becomes an issue when you're working somewhere with no mains power and you need to work for an extended period. I've found that you get a good half day out of one 18volt battery driving 16g nails, so the pair will do you a full day with no need to recharge (and that's fairly regular use). I'd like to try the 18g brad nailer to see how well that copes.

Incidentally, there is an alternative to DW from Senco if you are interested, and at a better price than the DWs:



The Senco 3K7002N uses the same 14.4 volt batteries as some of the Senco Duraspin drywall screwdrivers:



For completeness, Senco also offer a 14.4volt 15g nailer, the 987002N:



as well as a straight magazine 16g nailer

Scrit

[Keith]

May 26, 2008 18:03:29 GMT Scrit said:

[ Sorry, but I'm in an anti-Passy mood again this evening having just spent the whole day with a clipped head nailer (a loaner and a complete pile of doo-doo)

I thought you were anti-passy because you managed to nail your thumb to the woodwork with one

[Scrit]

May 26, 2008 20:23:41 GMT Keith said:

May 26, 2008 18:03:29 GMT Scrit said:

[ Sorry, but I'm in an anti-Passy mood again this evening having just spent the whole day with a clipped head nailer (a loaner and a complete pile of doo-doo)

I thought you were anti-passy because you managed to nail your thumb to the woodwork with one

That was a 50mm brad nail which turned through 45 degrees and pinned me to the wall.............

I've had a few minor piercings with compressed air guns, too, but I don't hate them. I'm anti-Passy because they are big, clumsy and lumpen, because the battery contacts seem to oxidise at a hell of a rate causing the damned things to refuse to fire (never had that problem with any other cordless tool), because the magazine springs weaken with only moderate use forcing you to push the nails at each shot or suffer dry shots (admittedly more of a problem with the full-size clipped head nailers), because they have the occasional gas cannister which leaks (or I run out on a Sunday, and where in God's name do you get a Passlode gas cannister on a Sunday?), because they suffer from a tendency of the igniter mechanism to die (an expensive tool repairer fix as it can't be sorted in the field) and because they cost a fortune when they go for repair............. To name just a few of the downsides. Anyone care to add to the list? I know that JFC also hates then with a passion, although unlike him I've yet to lob one out of a second floor window!

Don't get me wrong. They're great when they are new, but as they age they become crankier than Victor Meldrew

Scrit

[andy king]

Another one Scrit (don't think you've mentioned it...) the gas goes 'stale' ie. after the 'use by' date it loses it's impetus and doesn't load the chamber with enough charge.
Incidentally, I tested the 15 gauge Senco (angled clip) recently, and compared to the DeWalt, it isn't as good in my mind.
It has the same bump fire, but can't fire as consistently as the DW. I found it struggled if you gave it a rapid few bangs, missing the occasional one or two.
It also lacks the same power, and left heads standing on maple, even at full setting. The DW fired home easily, punching them under as well.
I'd go for the DW every time, despite the bad press DW gear gets from some people.

Cheers,

Andy

[Keith]

Don't get me wrong. They're great when they are new, but as they age they become crankier than Victor Meldrew

Scrit

Mine's about 3 years old and I can't decide if it is just coming into the terrible teens or moving into its final dotage years.

I know what you mean about the bloody battery, fire three pins, remove battery, replace battery, fire three pins........you can get contact enhancing spray like eloctrolube, that helps.

Otherwise as long as the battery is fully charged, the gas is in date and the firing chamber is regularly cleaned it works well.

Apart from the smell; hells kitchen springs to mind ;D

[thatsnotafestool]

Thanks guys. Found a snip of a bargain on Tazbar (a new auction site to me) a naked 14.4 DW for £129. Since I've already got one battery I reckon that will do me...until I run out of charge and need a 'spare'!

[jfc]

I know that JFC also hates then with a passion, although unlike him I've yet to lob one out of a second floor window!

At least i opened the window first ;D