Tools, Sharpening and Power Machinery - What is a good brand name for a floor nailer.

Hi everyone I would like to ask everyone's opinion on what brand name makes a good hardwood floor nailer. Any opinion what wold be greatly appreciated. I brought some bamboo hardwood flooring for the whole downstairs of our house. I wanted to take my time to put in the flooring considering we are also remodeling the kitchen too. Anyone have any good suggestions on brand name and a good place to purchase too?

Thanks all,

Dharma

by the way I have a air compressor.

Thanks,
Dharma

For a single use such as this, I would consider renting an expensive tool opposed to buying it.

i haven't had any problems with tools from harbor freight. I do not have this tool, but I do have some. If you are not in the business of laying floors I imagine it will do the trick For about 1/3 the price of a senco or bostich.


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=90399

I don't know what you mean be taking your time and I don't think it will ever be cheaper to buy than rent but if you want to buy I would get this one as long as the compressor could handle it----5 cfm at 80 psi

I agree with renting for one time use. A quality pneumatic floor nailer will probably run you around $400-$500 - Bostich, Senco, P-C, PortaNailer, etc.
I know H-D rents these if they have rentals in your area. They used to rent them for about $40 per day.

"I wanted to take my time to put in the flooring considering we are also remodeling the kitchen too"

I had no idea they cost that much to rent. That must be with a compressor which you said you have. If you will be taking your time as you said I would definitely buy not rent,especially at $40.00 a day. Considering you [an amature] will be doing your whole downstairs and considering Harbor Freight Tools one is a stapler which is better than a nailer imo, I would buy.



I interpreted dharmalism's job as doing a little now then a little tomorrow and some when we finish this or that. If they can do it in 1 day rent if not buy. At the end you will have a tool that a family member can use or you can sell.

If you really want to buy one then I am not too sure about Harbor Freight air tools. Most cheaper air tools are just that, light weight, use more air and are built for easy usage.

If you are going to buy a pneumatic floor nailer, get a quality one that is heavy weight and has easily replaceable seals and driving blade. That way you can do a rebuild and have a tool good as new. H-F tools can be hit or miss. I don't know anybody that uses the floor nailer, but I have known guys that have had the framing nailer and some lasted about a day and others lasted years. Personally, I think going with a lower priced model from a quality company will probably save you money in the long run - when you figure quality, operating cost and resale. Just my opinion.

There is a 30 day money back guarantee with all their tools. If it fails to the job or if it works like a charm you can get your money back=$0.00 -shipping. This is for 1 house, bottom floor, 1 time and done. take the $300.00 you save and get yourself a sears table saw for less than $200.00 and a small chop saw..

If you feel the need to buy a name brand may I suggest this.

http://www.nailzone.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=610

I do have their nail gun which shoots framing + finish nails and I love it

Thank you all for the advice! I would like to take my time to do the whole first floor of my house and considering I am new and want to do this right it might take a while. I hear that they are quite easy to resell if I keep it in good shape. I will check into those models. I know of a few people who are planning to do the same so I think I have a buyer already in a few months. I have a small table saw, a 10" rigid chop saw now and a finish and brad nailer with compressor. Is there any suggestions to what else I might need.

thank you all,

Dharma

Dharma,

I completed a job in my home in the fall that was similar to what you have outlined. I struggled with the questions that have been posed to you as well. I'll offer some suggestions from my experience.

I considered a combination of renting, buying and borrowing. I ended up doing most of my flooring with a rented Bostitch MIII. This is a great stapler. I did my flooring over the course of a few weekends so I would rent for a couple of days and then take it back and pick it up the next weekend. All told I probably spent $250 renting.

This stapler runs for around $600 new so that wasn't a bad way to do it. Having said that, I could have bought the stapler off ebay for around $450 and then used it at my leisure and resold it on ebay for the same price. If you have a fair bit of flooring to do and really want to take your time, my suggestion is that you consider doing this.

One thing to watch out for though is that the bamboo is very hard wood and may require a specific stapler/nailer. Is it tongue and groove? Whatever you decide, it might be a good idea to rent a nailer, even if only for a day, just to make sure that it will work with your wood and is of sufficient quality to keep you happy.