Framers: nail size and other questions

I mean if you are not doing framing for a living and only need to do the occasional wall every few years then why not look at the palm nailer and drive in regular sized nails up to 70d I believe. Hold better than those strip nails IMO.

What are you gonna use it for?

This next section probably isn't for anyone who's squemish - especially this early in the morning.
No real prefrence in most respects....over the years I've learned that the glue that holds the Paslode finish nails together for the Impulse Finish nailer REALLY hurts and aches when you get your finger. Last summer I learned that the wire colated 16's don't hurt near as bad when they go through you hand, but the wire left hanging on the nail snags the meat when you snatch it back out. On the other side, at least the doctor didn't have to probe and pick out pieces of paper.

But wire & plastic make little bits of stuff fly around. Didn't like that. Seems messy & goes for the eyes....

Got myself a paper tape, 30-34 degree nailer a couple months ago, and I like it. Have run Bostitch (it's a F33PT model), Senco, Paslode, and a generic brand of paper tape nails through it from 2" to 3.25" - no problems. It also has a head to put in 1.5" metal connector nails, haven't used that but a nice feature.

In my town, there are _no_ Bostitch paper nails; but there are a lot of Paslode & some Senco paper available.

Look what you can get in town. Hate to have to run 50 miles to get a few nails for your gun if you run out.

Was a little nervious about mixing brands, but has been no problem - so far. I hear some brands are more fussy.

Most of the nail boxes have a d size reference on them as well as the inch size - in very small print.

I was splitting wood with some of the long fatter (.130?) nails, went to a .120 size same length & it went better. You might as well get a selection, you'll end up using them. You get into the treated lumber coating, ring shank, and other options, & you need a lot of different....

For some reason the framer nails go from 2-3/8" to 3". _Real_ hard to find anything in between. I had to order 2 boxes of 2.75" ring shank for a flooring project. 2, 2-3/8, & 3 are probably what you will use the most.

Driving 3.25" into old siding & 2 pieces of home sawn _hard_ lumber was a challenge for it, but got it done mostly. :) New wood you can burry the nails as much as you want.

I like the paper tape a lot but it's all I know, if you get a good brand of nailer (Bostitch & Paslode kept coming up...) you can't go too wrong if you go with what is popular in your area.

Lot of folks like the Paslode that doesn't use air - has a canister that charges it. Since I had the air compressor, figured was easier to go with air than to remember to buy the canisters... But, no hose can be a plus.

--->Paul

HD 30 miles from me has a lot of paper tape nails, some plastic, & very little wire.

Menards across the street has a lot of wire, a lot of paper, and little plastic.

The lumber yards in my town have a lot of wire - both flat & coil. They have some plastic, and a fair amount of Paslode paper.

Prices for all seem pretty close, comparing apples to apples as far as coatings, ring shank, etc. If by 'regular' you mean bulk nails with a hammer, they are cheaper, but it takes alot more time to do a job - homeowner probably comes out ahead paying more for nails, less for labor.

--->Paul