Not a production carpenter, but more of an advanced DIYer. I went a third route, that’s more hybrid. Since I have all the trim guns from finishing my basement and previous handyman projects, I didn’t want to buy all new cordless guns, mostly based on cost. After some looking around and reviews, I bought a cordless quiet portable air compressor. I’m already invested in the Milwaukee battery systems, so I picked up the M18 compressor and was very surprised how quiet it was. With that compressor and a short urethane coil hose, I can just bring the compressor right with me into the room I’m working in, with minimal setup and cords/hoses to deal with. I remember originally laughing at the cordless compressor when it came out, but after using it, it’s a great way to add cordless portability to many of my pneumatic tools.
I totally agree, but having said that, 😊I find myself using my 18g cordless brad nailer and 18g narrow crown stapler all the time in the workshop because of the extra weight and their ability to sink the brads/staples so consitently. I do still use the pneumatic nailers and staplers from time to time, but nowhere near as often now. I pre hang doors on a regular basis for a local hardware store and for that i use the 18g cordless stapler for the jambs as i then don't need to take a compressor and hose. Most of my work is in the shop, but then i am typically spending a day or two installing the stuff & that's where the cordless stuff shines. I also have the Milwaukee M12 23g pinner, which i like, but just like my pneumatic 23g pinner, i will often reach for the 21g pinner over the 23g pinner, as i find it holds way better if there is any twist or bow to whatever i'm nailing up. Great video!
I have a similarly built Paulk trailer, and run all Milwaukee M18 nail guns, and one M12 nail gun. (15g DA nailer, 18g brad, 18g narrow crown, 33° framer, M12 23g pinner). I have a small compressor for a few pneumatic tools, and as a backup, but otherwise a mostly cordless jobsite. Asside from the obvious weight (& cost) difference, they’ve worked out just fine the last few years. Working 24’ up high installing nickel gap ceiling boards without an air-hose was worth it.
My Milwaukee 18g and Framing nailers are the first nailers I’ll grab when needed. I’ll only grab an air nailer if I’m working overhead for long periods. Cordless is perfect for most of my needs. Hate dragging hoses and cords.
Nice video Ron! I feel the same way if i have a small trim projects i love my Bostich finish and brad nailer. But on bigger trim projects and framing i still like my pneumatics.
Have both the Hitachi 18g and 23g air guns for about 15 years now. They are my primary nailers in the shop. Great nailers. Also have an 18g Ryobi battery powered nailer that I've had since they came out, great for doors and jams on the job site when air availability is questionable. . Also have a Harbor Freight 18g nailer / narrow crown staple gun that I only use for staples in the shop. It works just fine for the few times a year I need it. Even reclaimed my old Iron Maiden C+H framing nailer from my brother to build a shed for a friend. That thing weighs a ton, but it still air drives those nails. I keep some test blocks around the shop that I use for test firing the first nails when using a gun after I've oiled it. I guess that it really depends on the type of work you are doing. In the shop, its air all the way. But for installs of cabinets, doors, and trim work, I kinda like the battery operated stuff the best. Going to try the Ryobi 23g pin nailer next year (It's a battery thing). Just don't like pulling an air hose around a job site any more.
II have used Senco forever and have never encountered any problems. When I started purchasing Senco products, it was mainly because the parts were readily available and the local service center was outstanding. That may not be true today, so perhaps I will switch to another gun if service becomes an issue. Every tool is like a chainsaw - they need to be serviced, and if you cannot get it serviced quickly, it is a useless tool. However, I own one Paslode gas-driven gun and can honestly say it has worked flawlessly. I really appreciate it when I’m using a body harness and lifeline. While the gas cartridges can be a hassle, overall, it has no more under-driven nails than my pneumatic guns. The battery-powered guns are still heavier than I prefer, but the roofing guns show promise since the work is primarily at your feet instead of overhead. I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.
Just an anecdote a man I worked for for several years here in WA gave me one of the good mid 2000's Hitachi stick framers and a bostitch strapshot Teko nailer when he retired and downsized his shop, I absolutely adore those guns. Those two and a Semco palmnailer for the sinkers and I can make a passable imitation of a good framer even though I'm an oddball finish guy😂
Paul I have used those GRK cabinet screws for window flange, they have the same coating as the exterior GRK lags so I think its copacetic. Do you do something like that or hand nail roofing nails?
I prefer air. You get power and light weight. There are times and jobs where cordless is more convenient, but it is never better. Years ago I picked up a Hitachi 2 tank lightweight portable compressor. It is no more than 20 pounds and is silent. That is my portable setup, while not as portable as a cordless it is close enough for me. For context, I am not full time carpenter, but end up doing a lot where I work.
Ron is wrong on this. Cordless nail guns have come a long way and except for roofing, cordless nail guns are just more convenient when in a jobsite. Milwaukee nail guns are the top of the line. For working inside a wood shop that you don’t need to kove the tools around, sure having a hose connected to a tool works. Not when working in a jobsite going from floor to floor working.
I disagree wholeheartedly. Milwaukee line of cordless nailers are the best and fastest you can buy. They all are excellent at nailing (sorry for the pun) a consistent depth and all are extremely fast. Besides, who wants to carry a hose around with them when you are 20 feet up a ladder?
Have you used that new roofer they added to the M18 suite? I roof infrequently enough that I wouldn't worry about burning it up, and I have more m18 batteries than teeth at this point
The performance is in the portability. Compressors need electricity or gas. I can go to my Amish neighbor's house with some 3.0 batteries and work with them putting up T&G or shiplap and no generators, compressors plus nobody is tripping overt cords or hoses. Cordless wins. I have M12 stapler, 23ga pinner, NM cable stapler, M18 30deg, 18ga and 15ga. All fantastic and I can use them anywhere and transport them in a car trunk instead of lugging compressors around.
Purchase price of a pneumatic nail gun is initially cheaper, but when you start adding up the time spent lugging compressors and coiling hoses, cordless ends up being cheaper.
Every carpentry shop I’ve worked in has a collection of senco guns waiting for repairs. I bought a battery operated senco gun, which jammed, as all nail guns do, but that’s when I learned it had to be sent back to the factory for 2-3 weeks to clear a jam! I’ll never buy a senco product again.
When you use them all day everyday you learn to repair yourself. I used to have a kit that had o-rings, driver blades, etc. There is not much to them, I could repair them on the job during lunch time if I needed that gun back up. I typically had extras though, that I could plug in if I had a gun go down.
LOL that same reviewer which lives in the north east recommended the Gen 1 of that Milwaukee 15 gauge nail gun. BIGGEST PIECE of CRAP. All those nail guns should have been recalled and it’s definitely left a stain on their reputation.
Not a production carpenter, but more of an advanced DIYer. I went a third route, that’s more hybrid. Since I have all the trim guns from finishing my basement and previous handyman projects, I didn’t want to buy all new cordless guns, mostly based on cost. After some looking around and reviews, I bought a cordless quiet portable air compressor. I’m already invested in the Milwaukee battery systems, so I picked up the M18 compressor and was very surprised how quiet it was. With that compressor and a short urethane coil hose, I can just bring the compressor right with me into the room I’m working in, with minimal setup and cords/hoses to deal with. I remember originally laughing at the cordless compressor when it came out, but after using it, it’s a great way to add cordless portability to many of my pneumatic tools.
I totally agree, but having said that, 😊I find myself using my 18g cordless brad nailer and 18g narrow crown stapler all the time in the workshop because of the extra weight and their ability to sink the brads/staples so consitently. I do still use the pneumatic nailers and staplers from time to time, but nowhere near as often now. I pre hang doors on a regular basis for a local hardware store and for that i use the 18g cordless stapler for the jambs as i then don't need to take a compressor and hose. Most of my work is in the shop, but then i am typically spending a day or two installing the stuff & that's where the cordless stuff shines. I also have the Milwaukee M12 23g pinner, which i like, but just like my pneumatic 23g pinner, i will often reach for the 21g pinner over the 23g pinner, as i find it holds way better if there is any twist or bow to whatever i'm nailing up. Great video!
I have a similarly built Paulk trailer, and run all Milwaukee M18 nail guns, and one M12 nail gun. (15g DA nailer, 18g brad, 18g narrow crown, 33° framer, M12 23g pinner). I have a small compressor for a few pneumatic tools, and as a backup, but otherwise a mostly cordless jobsite. Asside from the obvious weight (& cost) difference, they’ve worked out just fine the last few years. Working 24’ up high installing nickel gap ceiling boards without an air-hose was worth it.
My Milwaukee 18g and Framing nailers are the first nailers I’ll grab when needed. I’ll only grab an air nailer if I’m working overhead for long periods. Cordless is perfect for most of my needs. Hate dragging hoses and cords.
Nice video Ron! I feel the same way if i have a small trim projects i love my Bostich finish and brad nailer. But on bigger trim projects and framing i still like my pneumatics.
Have both the Hitachi 18g and 23g air guns for about 15 years now. They are my primary nailers in the shop. Great nailers. Also have an 18g Ryobi battery powered nailer that I've had since they came out, great for doors and jams on the job site when air availability is questionable. . Also have a Harbor Freight 18g nailer / narrow crown staple gun that I only use for staples in the shop. It works just fine for the few times a year I need it. Even reclaimed my old Iron Maiden C+H framing nailer from my brother to build a shed for a friend. That thing weighs a ton, but it still air drives those nails.
I keep some test blocks around the shop that I use for test firing the first nails when using a gun after I've oiled it.
I guess that it really depends on the type of work you are doing. In the shop, its air all the way. But for installs of cabinets, doors, and trim work, I kinda like the battery operated stuff the best. Going to try the Ryobi 23g pin nailer next year (It's a battery thing). Just don't like pulling an air hose around a job site any more.
II have used Senco forever and have never encountered any problems. When I started purchasing Senco products, it was mainly because the parts were readily available and the local service center was outstanding. That may not be true today, so perhaps I will switch to another gun if service becomes an issue. Every tool is like a chainsaw - they need to be serviced, and if you cannot get it serviced quickly, it is a useless tool.
However, I own one Paslode gas-driven gun and can honestly say it has worked flawlessly. I really appreciate it when I’m using a body harness and lifeline. While the gas cartridges can be a hassle, overall, it has no more under-driven nails than my pneumatic guns.
The battery-powered guns are still heavier than I prefer, but the roofing guns show promise since the work is primarily at your feet instead of overhead.
I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.
Max nailgun fan ! They always preform
Groeten uit Nederland 🇳🇱
Just an anecdote a man I worked for for several years here in WA gave me one of the good mid 2000's Hitachi stick framers and a bostitch strapshot Teko nailer when he retired and downsized his shop, I absolutely adore those guns. Those two and a Semco palmnailer for the sinkers and I can make a passable imitation of a good framer even though I'm an oddball finish guy😂
For sinkers in hardware that is
Paul I have used those GRK cabinet screws for window flange, they have the same coating as the exterior GRK lags so I think its copacetic. Do you do something like that or hand nail roofing nails?
I prefer air. You get power and light weight. There are times and jobs where cordless is more convenient, but it is never better. Years ago I picked up a Hitachi 2 tank lightweight portable compressor. It is no more than 20 pounds and is silent. That is my portable setup, while not as portable as a cordless it is close enough for me. For context, I am not full time carpenter, but end up doing a lot where I work.
Ron is wrong on this. Cordless nail guns have come a long way and except for roofing, cordless nail guns are just more convenient when in a jobsite. Milwaukee nail guns are the top of the line.
For working inside a wood shop that you don’t need to kove the tools around, sure having a hose connected to a tool works. Not when working in a jobsite going from floor to floor working.
Paslode is a good compromise
I am with you 100%! Battery nailers can't touch air nailers! I am team air for nailers, all the way. But battery for just about everything else.
I disagree wholeheartedly. Milwaukee line of cordless nailers are the best and fastest you can buy. They all are excellent at nailing (sorry for the pun) a consistent depth and all are extremely fast. Besides, who wants to carry a hose around with them when you are 20 feet up a ladder?
Have you used that new roofer they added to the M18 suite? I roof infrequently enough that I wouldn't worry about burning it up, and I have more m18 batteries than teeth at this point
(Still got all my teeth btw)
The performance is in the portability. Compressors need electricity or gas. I can go to my Amish neighbor's house with some 3.0 batteries and work with them putting up T&G or shiplap and no generators, compressors plus nobody is tripping overt cords or hoses. Cordless wins. I have M12 stapler, 23ga pinner, NM cable stapler, M18 30deg, 18ga and 15ga. All fantastic and I can use them anywhere and transport them in a car trunk instead of lugging compressors around.
Agree
Purchase price of a pneumatic nail gun is initially cheaper, but when you start adding up the time spent lugging compressors and coiling hoses, cordless ends up being cheaper.
Agreed.
I personally am a Hikoki air powered nail gun fan.
Every carpentry shop I’ve worked in has a collection of senco guns waiting for repairs. I bought a battery operated senco gun, which jammed, as all nail guns do, but that’s when I learned it had to be sent back to the factory for 2-3 weeks to clear a jam! I’ll never buy a senco product again.
When you use them all day everyday you learn to repair yourself. I used to have a kit that had o-rings, driver blades, etc. There is not much to them, I could repair them on the job during lunch time if I needed that gun back up. I typically had extras though, that I could plug in if I had a gun go down.
LOL that same reviewer which lives in the north east recommended the Gen 1 of that Milwaukee 15 gauge nail gun. BIGGEST PIECE of CRAP. All those nail guns should have been recalled and it’s definitely left a stain on their reputation.
I prefer pneumatic as well.
Hate to break it to you Ron but by the time you roll out you compressor, hoses and gun we’ve been nailing up for easily 30min
disagree.
Only time to use air is for oak or maple crown with 23G pins.