Tools, Sharpening and Power Machinery - Nailer

I am going to do some deck work and would like to use a air compressor nailer. I am assuming I need to look for a "Framing" nailer. Any recommendations?

thanks

If you're going to use it to nail decking to the joists, you may want to consider screws instead.

In order to help justify the cost of my compressor and nailer to the Better Half, I nailed my decking down using ring shank nails (using a Senco framing nailer). Every spring since then I have to re-set about a dozen nails that pop over the winter.

Bruce

Yes, I agree, a nailer is not the tool to use on a deck surface.
There are several forces at work to pop those puppies out and you need all the help you can get.
Screws are the best way.

Building the framing might be a reasonable thing to nail and a 3 1/2" full head nailer would be the ticket.

I don't own one but am looking.
A deciding factor for me is parts and service.
Bostich around here is quite popular and the factory depot offers pretty good service.

I understand the comments about nails vs. screws. Here is what I have run accross. The treated lumber shrinks and twists which breaks the screws. I have used nails in the past (manual nailing) and they have never broken from a shrinking board. Also, the nails seem to be a much more solid fastner (galv twist nails). The deck seems stronger when I use nails.

I thought you asked for recommendations. Are you asking specifically which nailer to purchase or recommendations on the project?

I agree that a twisted nail has fairly good holding power but nailers don't shoot nails as strong as those.
The broken screws you were comparing them to would likely have been of a guage that was either too small or were spaced too far apart.
Plus, a nailer will never pull in a board that is already twisted like a properly sized screw would.

People I know who do this for a living use screws and more recently a bracket that screws on from underneath to make the fastener invisible.

If it's a framing nailer you are looking for recomendations on, I would purchase a Bostich for the reasons mentioned earlier.

Dows anyone have any input on the asian knockoffs? I've sort of been looking at them for a fence project.
Now one of those butane/battery operated paslodes.... I've used one and it was awesome until the battery died and then the butane ran out. Then ANOTHER trip to Lowes. The nails were a bit pricey too. My Brother borrowed it to use on a project where a hammer would've worked fine and we wasted more time running to the store for consumables...

Dows anyone have any input on the asian knockoffs? .

I have one of those PRC made nailers. It's a 13 gauge, rather than a framing nailer. I think they are fine for a DIYer. They may not be the latest, greatest, lightest, strongest or have all the bells and whistles, but the do the job. I've shot about 3K nails thru mine, never let me down.

Any name brand nailer is of good quality. You can't go wrong with Bostich, Paslode, or Senco. All my nail guns, framing, finish, & staple guns (2) are Senco but that's just me. I've been using them for over 10 years and never had a problem. Keep them oiled properly and they last.

As for fastening decking, mchristo hit the nail on the head :) Screws have a tendency of snapping as the PT lumber dries. Huge stresses are induced and shear them. I've yet found a batch of screws that won't have some snap.

It's not a properly spacing thing either. Joist are 16" O.C. and therefore each decking board has 2 nails every 16".

Screws are fine for cedar decking since cedar is dried. Composite decking can also handle screws. But screws don't have the ability to withstand the shear stresses caused by shrinking wood.

I still nail decking by hand with 12 ardox (twist) galvanized and never have any service calls. Use a nail set (or the head of another nail) to countersink the nail. Don't want any pecker heads, err hammer marks, on the decking.