which 23 ga pin nailer ? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Redman · 04-20-2008, 08:48 PM

just wonder what 23 ga pin nailer everyone uses and the pro and cons of each, just blew apart some nice maple crown last week with my 18 ga nailer and figure it time to buy a 23 ga for those delicate section of trim.

**Leo G** · 04-20-2008, 09:03 PM

I have a Senco and it works well. Only downside is that the longest pins it will shoot are 1". The cream of the crop is the Grex. It will shoot up to a 2" pin. Gonna get one soon.

nj handyman · 04-20-2008, 10:02 PM

just bought the grex because it could fire longer pins. also purchased the small senco compressor. very happy with the gun and the light weight of the compressor.

last week i fired a pin through my thumb and my thumb nail and could hardly feel it. an 18 gauge would have hurt like the dickens.

Joining_heads@c · 04-20-2008, 11:11 PM

I am going to pick one up soon. Is it worth getting the 2". I have been looking at the cadex

WarnerConstInc. · 04-21-2008, 12:08 PM

Omar, they are hard to find but they are bullet proof, plus they hold 2x number of nails that cadex holds. I think the Grex holds alot too. 2" are not really worth it, they have a bad tendancy to curl out of the wood, 1 3/8 is long enough for most things that you would pin nail.

#1 Omar
#2 Grex
#3 Cadex ( only because of limited amount of pins they hold)
#4 Bostitch ( price alone 129.00 1 3/8" 7 warrenty, money back gaurantee)

BKFranks · 04-21-2008, 05:44 PM

I've had the Senco for a couple of years. Like every said, it only shoots up to 1". I have that small Senco compressor too, but it only works with the 18 or 23 gauge nailers. If you try to use the 15 or 16 guage it will burn up to the motor.

JPV123 · 04-21-2008, 06:22 PM

Spotnails it shoots up to 1 9/16". Have it about 2 years now and no problems. Every guy that has worked for me and has used it has bought one.

JPV123 · 04-21-2008, 06:26 PM

BK - I have the small Senco compressor too. I have shot my framer with it. You get three shots before it kicks on. Beats breaking out the Porter Cable pancake or Ridgid twin tank for a handfull of nails. I also have my Paslode cordless but we all know how reliable they are. Oh yeah, I can also use my Kobalt CO2 mini tank. Wait maybe I need to post in Tool-a-holics.

john5mt · 04-21-2008, 07:38 PM

I have the cadex with the 2"... i think i should have gotten a grex. the cadex is nice but it doesnt do a good job of countersinking 2" headless pins which makes the extra money not really worth it if i have to set them anyway. Besides i havent really found an application where 2" pins have any use yet.

angus242 · 04-21-2008, 08:22 PM

Here's an article where they review 11 different pinners.
http://www.ebuild.com/articles/catCo...eId.536624.hwx

Spoiler: they call the Cadex the best.

PrecisionFloors · 04-22-2008, 08:05 PM

The cabinet guys I have talked to always swear by the Grex. Doesn't it just piss ya off that you can't get the best features of each on one unit?

angus242 · 04-22-2008, 09:57 PM

I've been eye-balling the Grex myself. However, after reading about the Cadex, I like that it does both pins and brads. I tend to do a lot of molding with my cabinet installs (crown, scribe, under-cabinet, decorative base) and I can think of situations where I could use both.
What to do

fvmerl · 04-27-2008, 10:33 PM

Just bought a pinner from Harbor Freight last week. Only shoots 1" pins but also only costs $25. I don't need one that often but had been wanting one for some scribe molding and small window molding. Tried it out to hold some casing in place and it worked really well. For the money and my needs it can't be beat.