Framing Guns!!!

IBUILD

Any of you guys still using air? I converted to gas & batteries 8 years ago, love it, no more hoses getting fetched up, less weight, extra mobility, clean em after every job or two, good to go!!

KentWhitten

I haven't seen one in production. I'm assuming you're talking Passload's? Flexeel hoses are the best thing to happen in construction. I run ¼" hose to my framers. They would be nice for going to do a small job, but everyday framing day in and day out, from the stories I've heard is that they break too often and the price for nails, gas and batteries runs over typical airhose setups..

I'm sticking with my Hitachis

IBUILD

Yup, Passload is what I mean, and they do break down if you dont clean them, which is a simple process. As for breaking down all the time, nope, I can go 2 weeks solid without cleaning and have no problems, and thats running 2 cases of nails through one. Nails are a little more in price, gas is cheaper than running a generator for air, not to mention I dont have to listen to the generator all day plus the compressor kicking on. No maintainence for a compressor and save time lugging it, plus straightening hoses plus un-wrapping and wrapping them. They are easier to climb with, just hook em on your belt and go, no tripping over hoses. Thats all the crews around here use, they save time, which costs more in the long run. I have spares in case of a break down, but I have only had to resort to them twice in the last 8 years, again, because I clean em regularly. Best move I ever made!!

Same Old

Hmm, they don't work very well in cold weather. And, they don't have enough power to drive a 3" through lams.
I can see a couple uses for them and I have one but there's no way they can keep up with air guns for decking and sheathing.

IBUILD

Gotta keep a spare fuel cartridge in your shirt pocket under your jacket, change em out if it misfires!! As for Glue lams, your right, cant fight that, but how often do you have to do it? Not as fast, but fast enough so your not behind.

Same Old

Yeah, I dunno, I don't think there's any way a crew with impulse guns can come close to the speed of a pneumatic crew with a solid air supply.

I just don't see impulse guns as the answer for production framing. If you were climbing around remods all day with tight quarters, maybe. But still those things can barely fire RS 8's into TJI's through 3/4" Advantech with a brand new gas cartridge.

In_Mexifornia

Funny. There was just an evaluation of cordless framing nailers(I think in FHB) and they pretty much summed it up by saying that they were great for small jobs, but for framing a whole house they didn't cut the mustered.

travish

I find the paslode impulse great for rafter work (would be nicer with a rafter hook instead of that little clip), but I run air. Would rather listen to a compressor running than breathing butane all day. Impulse is slower firing and is harder to press the safety - try hanging fascia by yourself and you'll understand real fast


framerman, ever used 3/8" line? I haven't been able to notice a difference but some guys swear 1/4" is too restrictive.

IBUILD

They just came out with a rafter hook for them, works great!! As for framing a whole house, do it all the time. I was framing condo's on a multi million dollar project 3 years ago, my crew used nothing but passload's, the crew across the way used air guns, we started at the same time, and was decking over the second building on our side before they finished. We ended up finishing their last building and picked up the second phase for building 6 more 3 units. It must have been our experience level right!!
It all comes down to what you like, just wondering what people think!!

In_Mexifornia

Ever have to add a bunch of anchor bolts or hold-downs using threaded rod and epoxy when doing extensive remodels because of all the new engineering requirements? I do on every house. We have to clean the holes in the concrete and blow them out. Can you do that with a passlode?

hrscammisa

never tryed one how much for a gun ? and how much for the gas

KentWhitten

1/4" would probably be too restrictive if you have alot of guys. I just got myself and it's just fine. Nailing floors or wall sheathing is a little slow, but that's my little compressor I'd say.

IBUILD

A gun runs $325.00 for me, I got an in, but they normally go for $400 at a lumber yard. Home Cheapo sells em for like $359.00, but they are junk, they are made special for them as a homeowners gun, cheap parts, passload dealers wont even work on them!! Any Home Cheapo product with a name brand is a knock off, I pay the extra, less head aches. The fuel cells are cheaper by the case where I get them, I pay $64 per case, 12 cartridges, each cell shoots about 1000 nails. Nails are $35 per box unless I am doing a big project, then I buy bulk and save $8 per box.

Joe Carola

The reason why you got the framed quicker was because you have a better system of framing then the other crew. Has nothing to do with the gun you used. Those impulse guns I use and use them for small stuff.

There's no way in a million years that you can say that they nail as fast as an air gun. They can't and I'm sure you know that and anybody who frames knows that. They do not rapid fire like an air gun.

You obviously have a good system the way you frame and keep things moving but if you've ever tried the flexeel 1/4" hoses and an Hitachi Coil nailer, they can frame circles around the impulses. The set up time to put the compressor on the ground and role the hoses out is nothing and those hoses are so light you don't even feel them. One flick of the rist and the hose is untangled off of something.

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Joe Carola

Hulk'n Out

I own 2 cordless framers the only time they get the most use is when we are in the trusses nailing braces or rat runs, also when working off ladders framing in cathedrals. Things do move a lot faster in trusses with them but I would never frame a whole house with them.

hrscammisa

I Build my friend ask me why i dident use them last summer he said thats all his brother will use he is a concret con

IBUILD

Faster no, but fast enough to keep up yes!! I used stick and coil nailers for some time, until I put an impulse gun in my hands, much more versatile. Yes, I have the flex hoses, use them for shingles, they are the answer to hoses. Unless you framed whole houses using impulse, you cant make me believe there is a better product. Ive built near 50 homes with them, and the guns are still in operation. Clean em, learn how to work on them, hook em on your belt and go. I do have a good plan of action, dont waste my steps, everyone has an assigned job, and a cut list is always made up ahead of time. Seen some pretty poor planning in the past when I was a green horn, watched it, learned from it, and found a way to pretty much perfect it. Not the best out there, but I like to think I can hold my own.

Joe Carola

I've tried them on many houses before, that's what I do is try any tool and they are just not as efficient as an air gun for me anyway. They nail way to slow for me framing houses and additions.The only thing I can give you is that you don't have a hose. They make hooks for all air guns anyway.

Whatever works for you keep doing it.

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Joe Carola

AtlanticWBConst

To answer you first question Ibuild:

We still use hoses and a large capacity oil fed compressor for frames.

Paslodes for smaller projects and really cold weather.

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AtlanticWBConst

There is an interesting article on gas powered framers in the recent Fine Homebuilding mag. I picked it up to read about what they had to say... FWIW -Paslodes came out on top.

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