Thread: Hitachi Gas Framing nail gun - any good?

As far as I know the Hitachi gas gun is not being imported into Australia by Hitachi Australia so you will not be covered by an Australian 1 year warranty....apart from that even the reps from Hitachi say that the guns sell well but they might have a slightly bias opinion

Another good gun at the moment that packs a punch is the Powers

• they have a slightly more powerful drive.
• The driver blade is also in a t configeration which gives it more contact on the head of the nail
• better filtration in the bottom half of the gun whichin trun results in less servicing

http://www.powers.com.au/forcedentry...t.aspx?ID=1050

i work in the hardware industry not availabe in australian market so buying that would give you no warranty because it "DOESNT EXIST " in australia senco make one but be carful great gun but i have heard the importer has gone into recievership makita is bringing one out am not sure if on market it may be or in process of release as only seen data sheet on it from makita rep other wise paslode is only other one in nth qld region troy

yes, the gas cartridges and nails can be bought easily off the shelf from any hardware shop, i normally buy mine from bunnies

regards, justin

you guys kick ####, thanks for the reply's has made my decision easier.

I checked out the Power and makita gas guns (yep the makita gas gun seems to be on the market already)

both look really good but about twice the cost of the paslode and hitachi.

I think im gonna go with this hitachi and take the risk with the warranty. If it wasnt "made in japan" i wouldnt go ahead with this.

Thanks for the advice

Not entirely relevant but Ive been building where there is no power.
For anything but heavy structural stuff I have been using the Dewalt 18v nailgun.
Screws + bolts do the job for solid stuff also have used a paslode -important they are well maintained or they leak gas .
The Dewalt powerful reliable have been using it 3 yrs .
Its only 16 guage really a finishing nailer takes 63mm nails but they now make a 15 g.

Originally Posted by dingaling

you guys kick ####, thanks for the reply's has made my decision easier.

I checked out the Power and makita gas guns (yep the makita gas gun seems to be on the market already)

both look really good but about twice the cost of the paslode and hitachi.

I think im gonna go with this hitachi and take the risk with the warranty. If it wasnt "made in japan" i wouldnt go ahead with this.

Thanks for the advice

have you checked if there are service kits available for the hitachi gun?......most gas guns require servicing every 2-6months depending on amount of use.... some advice to reduce the amount of servicing your gas guns

1. always make sure you run good quality gas cylinders
2. try to keep it of the floor whe you just finish firing a nail as the fan will suck up dust & increase the intervals of servicing
3. try not to double or triple press the nose down in between shots as it will cause you to run out of gas before you finish your nails & will fload your gas chamber

good luck with your purchase

yep the ebay seller also sells the maintenance kits for the gun too.

Cheers for that info Vek

Not sure who's been giving you the advice about the Paslode guns. I've had a framing nailer for more than 10 years (same one) and it will drive any nail an air compressor gun will into the same timber. I've used it into hardwood joists and bearers and into various pine members too and never had a problem. You can adjust the depth (power of the drive), but I rarely alter the setting. Visit and search for 'nail gun' or Paslode on the sister forum at http://www.renovateforum.com/index.php and you'll get plenty of pros & cons.

I am a fan and use the framer and my angled bradder and they are virtually trouble free - so long as the small amount of maintenance they need is actually done. Other builder mates use them till they stop then do maintenance and still are happy with them. Of course if you use any machine tool without maintenance it'll end in tears eventually!

The voices against them were often because they were (and are) higher cost to start with and the gas and nails were too. But there are now competitors as well as third party gas and nails.

The first time you do a frame or deck or fence with no need for power (remember you do need to charge the battery and I always get a spare - larger capacity NiMH not NiCd) no noisy compressor, no dragging and catching air hose that ends up being just that little bit too short so you have to clamber down and move the compressor and its extension cable and on and on - you'll be convinced.

Paslode have been in the business for yonks and I reckon they are the ripper guns. But that's just me after firing a few million nails through them . . . Haven't tried other brands of gas guns as I've never felt the need, but the Hitachi looks fine and most Hitachi trade tools I've had have been OK and that ebay price is a good one. The extra few mm of nail length might be useful, but I use the 83mm x 3mm nails on 90x45 framing and never had any problems.

Originally Posted by dingaling

you guys kick ####, thanks for the reply's has made my decision easier.

I checked out the Power and makita gas guns (yep the makita gas gun seems to be on the market already)

both look really good but about twice the cost of the paslode and hitachi.

I think im gonna go with this hitachi and take the risk with the warranty. If it wasnt "made in japan" i wouldnt go ahead with this.

Thanks for the advice

If "make in japan' is one of the factor that you want this gun, I suggest you triple check with the seller to confirm because sometime this is tricky, the tool may have a label "Tokyo Japan" but it doesn't mean it is 'Made in Japan"

i agree 150% alot of suppliers are twisting labels to get an advantage lately.some examples are
made in p.r.c

made in USA (not made U.S.A this one was one of the best,apparently one asian country decided to name themselves USA to resemble United States Of America...very very creative)

XXXXXXX corporation,japan

who knows whats next......One way to be sure is to ring hitachi Aust on 1800100600 & ask them

Yes your right, i noticed that with the hitachi labels at bunnings with the hitachi cordless drills, actually made in PRC even tho the label says tokyo japan (as in to say hitachi is and is based in japan as a company but the product is made in china.

As long as its designed and built to hitachi's specs im happy with that. I have heard good things about these guns from the USA where they seem to sell well. And Hitachi seem to have a good reputatation overall for powertools.

Cheers, Chris

i bought one of these off ebay u.s. and it is a sensational gun. no less powerful than my gas powered gun.. each gas cylinder lasts about 1,000 nails and penetrates deep and is also very light.. got mine for around $400 delivered.