Joist Hanger Gun

katoman

Hi All, I need to purchase a gun for installing the nails for joist hangers.

Any recommended brands ? Thanks.

figbuild

just bought the bostich strap shot gun and it works great. i got the one that shoots the paper nails not the plastic coallated.

katoman

Thanks, I assume you have to buy the brand of nails to match the gun?

ie. Bostich nails for the bostich gun.

WestwoodHomes

I bought the Hitachi positive placement gun a few months back and just like the rest of their pneumatics it is indestructible. Very solid gun

KentWhitten

I finally broke down and got the strap shot. I hated doing it, but to make it idiot proof for the guy using it....

The strap shot shoots up to 1-1/2" nails. I've seen two different diameters (of course) for around $225. I can pick the nails up at Lowes or HD. I don't know about the Hitachi nails though.

The Hitachi (unless there's more than one model) shoots up to 2-1/2" nails and is more expensive at around $400. I so wanted to get that one instead, but couldn't justify the big price difference.

The strap shot works good. It took us a little while to figure out WTH was going on, it wasn't shooting. But you have to give it a little shove at the same time you are pulling the trigger. You'll get down to 3 or 4 nails and then you have to reload because the nose closes in on the nail points and you can't see. I'm sure that's by design.

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katoman

Thanks for the input guys. I checked out the Hitachi online. They shoot 1 1/2 to 2 1/2". They have two models, one has a shorter magazine.

I have emailed them to see if I can purchase one gun with two magazines.

I'll let you know, but looks nice. Hey, it's only money.

loneframer

I bought the Strapshot you're referring to last summer. HD had their display unit marked down to $109. Didn't really need it at the time, but I have a hard time passing up 1/2 price on something I know I will use eventually.

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Warren

I have the paslode. It works decent, we have had it for 5 years probably. the nails are overpriced though. Usually it only comes out if there are a bunch to do. I like to break the new guys in with hammer first, followed by palm nailer, and then the gun. They all have their advantages and disadvantages.

loneframer

Yup, hand nailing is a requirement for the new guy. Then when you hand him the palm nailer, you tell him "When you mistreat the tool and it croaks, you get to go back to hand nailing."

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EricTheHandyman

I've got this baby here:
http://www.nailgundepot.com/shop/cat...2-p-27006.html

I went to the shop with the intention of buying the Hitachi, and the guy insisted that I try this gun. I thought it was a joke--it seems like such a toy, but it works great, is super lightweight, and less than 1/2 the price.

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EricTheHandyman

I tried a friends Paslode a while back--really nice gun, but it weighs a ton and I'm a scrawny weakling!

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jdeck

Hitachi posi placement guns are great the short magazine one is nice for tight places. Watch out if you miss the hole though. I have used the one Eric mentioned also it is okay basically a palm nailer with a magazine. I have a Bostich gun that the nose changes to allow you to shoot hanger nails but I usually hand drive. The nails are cheaper that way.

Chris@Sunrise

Go Hitachi. I had a paslode its broke in my shop, it went through alot of tips. No problems with the hitachi at all. I have used the palm nailer with the mag to it was alright if your not doing alot of hardware. I also own two of the bostich switchable tip guns they work fairly well not as good as hitachi and ive had the tips break on them to would not pay money for them just got them free with a pallet of nails. The hitachi accually uses the nail as a guide istead of a tip. Im pretty sure i paid for the hitachi again today 79 ft of cs 16 strap installed in less than 15 min. Weve put over 500 ft of cs strapping on this building and have less than an hour and a half in it.

Aframe

Same learning curve, Saves tons of time though. The nail point is the placement no retractable tip. Down side over 1-1/2" gun is it is a little bigger can get crowded in tight spaces

woodworkbykirk

hey framerman, we have the same gun and we have the same issue with the nails advancing, on really cold days it freezes up and wont advance even when full

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jhark123

I really like my paslode, I haven't had it long enough to comment on longevity.

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john5mt

blew out a bostich in 2 jobs

bought a used hitachi, been using it for 3 years straight now no probs.

It shoots any brand of the paper collate tiko nails

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txgencon

I realize this is an old thread but I did a search and discovered this one that sorta deals with my question.

For those that have the Bostitch gun that only shoots 1-1/2" nails, what do you do for the double shear nails on LU and LUS hangers? Hand nail or palm grip?

jamesdc

Simpson won't even allow the 2.5" pp nails for double shear. Only full length 16d commons, I think its length issue. I usually just end up hand nailing the double shear holes and hit the rest with the pp gun.

carpentershane

I have the Hitachi positive placement nailer and the thing works like a charm. I have the short magazine, great for tight places but I sorta wish I got the one with the longer mag- you have reload the short one a fair bit

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