Thread: Advice on Air Nail Guns

Originally Posted by gazzas

Hi.
I am new to posting on the forum. Have looked at posts for a while and see the wonderful array of topics and opinions so I hesitate a little with this as it may have been covered before but I cannot find it using the search function.

I am about to undertake building a fair size deck and pergola (43m2) plus boardwalks at home and have been thinking of all that nailing to come up. In a certain dogologue there is a 34 degree framing gun and brad/staple gun in 2 piece kit advertised for $159. the brand is Rockworth which I understand started in the UK for the DIY market and is now in Australia. Seems to take most standard nails and staples.

Does anyone know of the brand? Will get heavy use for this project and then light occaisional use until the next big idea comes along.

Cheers
Gazzas

Don't know the brand but the type is not right for a deck or a pergola. The nails are the wrong type for fixing decking, head is ugly, they will rust. If you want to use a gun then a coil nailer is the type you want, used with spiral shank stainless nails. But these will leave a neat head proud of the deck board which can be problematic if you ever want to sand the deck. If you are nailing into hardwood joists then predrilling the deck board and handnailing with 50mm hot dipped gal bullet heads is good and it doesn't take a lot of time. The other alternative is screwwing with square drive screws. The framing nailer is not a lot of use on the frame either. You may have a feww skeww nails to drive but it really doesn't warrant a gun, same with a pergola and ditto for the durability of those nails exposed to the weather.

Cheers
Michael

Thanks Michael for your comments

sorry - should have given all the information to start with.

The framing gun would be just for the subfloor (doubled bearers and joists) and roof structures (pitched). I agree not a high use requirement but my hammer arm has tendonitis and I thought whilst the gun is heavy it will be better than striking nails.

Decking is Ironbark fixed to treated pine joists. I have selected 65mm Otter Chemshield type 17 screws for the fixing (self drilling and countersinking). These have a star type recessed head (not phillips). I plan to use an air driven impact wrench for the screwing job and hopefully will only need to drill the holes near the ends of the boards - will be testing first in any event.

I am really after any opinions or comments on the brand - expected life, servicability, spare parts / service etc. I realise you only get what you pay for but at $159 it is similar to hiring and I get to keep it!

Cheers
Gazzas

Good deal I have the same thing just in another brand (GMC I think) and it does all I need they all come with warranty so go for it. They are made for the handy man who isn't making a living from his tools. If you are then you wouldn't even contemplate it you would get a senco or the like.