PNEUMATIC NAILER THAT'S LARGE ENOUGH TO DRIVE 20d RINGSHANK NAILS FOR POLE BARN

Well, age has caught up with me, and when I do a lot of nailing on a project such as this, my hands and joints will be swollen for weeks. Therefore, I've been looking at some pneumatic nailers. To my surprise, however, I'm finding them to be quite wimpy when it comes to driving nails for a pole barn. The largest ones will drive a 3-1/2" nail (16d smooth shank), but I can't seem to find any either at building supply stores on on-line merchants will drive a 3-1/2" rinkshank or larger. Most top out at about 2-1/2" for ring shanks. I can see building a deck using these short nails, but not a pole barn with these small nails and the continual flexing.

I've done web searches and looked at Senco, Paslode, Stanley/Bostich, Porter Cable, and some of the other brands.

Yesterday, after work, I stopped by Lowes. They had the usual framing nailers that tops out at 3-1/2 inch. While I was there, however, I saw a Stanley-Bostitch catalog and began perusing it. In it was a model # N100C that will drive up to 4" nails. I immediately found two associates in the tool department that proceeded to go brain-dead. They didn't know anything about it, nor did they know how to order one out of the Stanley catalog.

Does anyone know where I can get the industrial/commercial rated nailers that are not commonly known about? Who has had experience with nailers and have they been successfully used on pole barns. I don't want to use screws, because they're too slow.

I'd sure like to save some wear and tear on my body by avoiding using my 28 ounce framing hammer.

Any advice-other than hiring it done?

Ken McWilliams
Dayton, OH

I asked my local Stanley Bostitch guy this same question for the very same reason. He told me that big nailer is very heavy and the recoil is tremendous. The other guys are right, you make up for the extra length by using a coated fastener and shooting more of them. Second bad thing is that unless you find someone that will special order for you, those big nails are not available for the guns. You might have to order a case which will be some serious $$. Just my experience, hope it helps.
Robert

teadave

The crew that built my pole barn used the Paslode Impulse cordless framing nailers. They didn't seem too concerned about the length of the nails they were using, but did make sure they shot plenty of nails into the posts to hold the top plates, etc.

• Senco Framing Nailers