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3.5 Inch Air Framing Nailer

2K views 22 replies 14 participants last post by  bigblockyeti 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I am in need of a Pneumatic 3.5 max full round head framing nailer. After watching many side by side reviews, the Makita AN294 was/is always in the top 3 or 4. The other top 2 or 3 are either 3 times the price of the Makita AN294 or unavailable or are not FULL ROUND HEAD NAILERS….. PS I am NOT a professional carpenter/Framer, I just have some framing to build a shed and close in a car port.

PLEASE ADVISE

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#6 ·
Hitachi now Metabo, available at Lowe's for $179 works great, nice balance. Does not come with a case. Been using it to build a deck. It replaced my aging Porter/Cable. But I see that the Makita is even cheaper. It would probably work just as well. Most of my power tools are Makita battery.
 
#7 ·
I can only vouch for my Porter cable that has seen a lot of use. I'm sure the Makita is a good one. I can say that if you're got some decks to build or other things and you already have the air getting a framing nailer is the smartest thing you could do. I wish I had it when I built my house. I had a compressor and I don't know why I didn't get a nailer. It would have cut the time in half. I can mention too that All my work has been done with a 3 gallon craftsman compressor. It's never made me wait. So, they don't take that much air.
 
#8 ·
I've only ever used Senco and Porter Cable.

Had the PC for years and years. But, I sold it off a few years ago. It looks like I might have two framing jobs coming up, so I've been thinking about picking up another one…. But, I'll be using it for a couple of medium sized projects.

I've been thinking about just hitting a pawn shop and seeing what they have.

For just a shed? I'd just find the cheapest one that was in the store and go for it. Unless you plan on framing a bunch fo houses, or go into remodeling? Nah, just find a cheap one and go for it.
 
#10 · (Edited by Moderator)
+1 on Axis39 comment..,find a cheap one and go for it for occasional/small projects.

Just bought a Senco 1-gal 1/2 HP compressor (4 amp) at HD to finish off a 256 sq ft deck with all the decking nailed down with 3" ring shank nails. The compressor is good enough for the job, and shoots 3 to 4 nails before starting to cycle. Clearly not the professional's choice for framing but plenty adequate for any framing job that I'm likely to do.

The benefits of light weight and small size and low noise level (quiet) outweigh by a large margin the reduction in nail driving speed for my occasional use. Really its main purpose is shooting pin nails, which as a cabinet maker is something I do a lot. But the small units can definitely drive bigger guns and nails when needed. If you buy bigger and heavier than you need, the compressor will sit around because you don't want to hear the noise or lug around the heavy iron.
 
#11 ·
I just found out ther Makita Iodered wont ship till next month I just may cancel it and get a Metabo
Hitachi now Metabo, available at Lowe's for $179 works great, nice balance. Does not come with a case. Been using it to build a deck. It replaced my aging Porter/Cable. But I see that the Makita is even cheaper. It would probably work just as well. Most of my power tools are Makita battery.

- Sark
 
#13 ·
If screws are not to code and you don't sound like you'll get a lot of use out of it then I'd either do it with a old fashion hammer or go to Harbor Freight/menards/Lowe's/Home Depot and buy the cheapest one with a couple year warranty and use it. If you don't see yourself using it after the little projects then why invest the money into a great nailer just to collect dust. I have a friend who built a 2000 sq foot home with attached 2 car garage with a hammer…. he couldn't feel two of his fingers for a while after he did it but he did indeed do it.
 
#14 ·
I just found out ther Makita Iodered wont ship till next month I just may cancel it and get a Metabo

Hitachi now Metabo, available at Lowe's for $179 works great, nice balance. Does not come with a case. Been using it to build a deck. It replaced my aging Porter/Cable. But I see that the Makita is even cheaper. It would probably work just as well. Most of my power tools are Makita battery.

- Sark

- stevejack
the hitachi/metabo is the #1 nail gun used by framers here in socal,it's all we sell.
 
#15 ·
I bought a porter cable years ago for 99 entire dollars. It said on the box "clipped head only" last week I built a fence and noticed it has a sticker that says clipped or full round on the gun. I bought full round and it worked fine. Maybe pop the box open and look at the actual gun.
 
#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
I looked up your Makita Framer, and right away I see the secret to it's consistent high ratings. It's set at 21 degrees.

My life started as a hammer swinger from age 12, till, well I am still occasionally getting stuff built. Long ago, sometime in my early 20's my right elbow quit wanting to take hammer blows, so I moved to air tools. My first framer was a made in Cincinnati Ohio Senco, 21 degree, 3.5", full round head and it worked flawlessly for a lot of years. A few million fires would be a conservative estimate. Hardly ever misfired, and just plain worked, until some scab*^% PO u know what, stole it out of my trucks cab.

By then I had moved from framing full time, to finishing full time, so I didn't really need the framer, except in helping friends build. So when I did need to replace it I went HF cheap. They no longer have the one I bought, but it shared the 21, 3.5", FRH, as my Senco, and that thing surprised me, and it had about a million and a half fires, and then thinking I was done with needing one anymore I sold it to a friend, and it's still going strong, He or someone use it most nice weekends all through Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Which brings me to being wrong about being done, so I went back to HF, and got this model.

https://www.harborfreight.com/10-gauge-3-in-1-air-framing-nailer-98751.html

You'll note 21 degree, 3 1/4" is what they sell now, FRH. I can't say this one has fired more than 30,000 fires, but it doesn't jam EXCEPT at the last 2 nails of the second strip inserted, pretty consistent with that. Will it get to a million???? It still looks like the day I got it, and for the money, it just works.
 
#17 ·
we've been using the real hitachis for years, have a crate of broken which we cannabolize for repairs, i do most of the repairs over a barley pop and some rock and roll. they imo are the best framers on the market.
best of luck with choice and buy
rj in az
 
#20 ·
OKAY i made my decision! I canceled the Makita from Amazon as it would take a month to get here. Went and got one at home cheapo for the exact same price. It's light as a feather. Almost unreal light!.

Richard Lee I am not 100% Convinced about cordless. They seem to take a few seconds to reload…. I may do a review later.

My reason for the Makita…

1) Over all watching endless videos it was in the top 3-4 on every review.
2) It uses Full round head nails.
3) Top loader
4) Very wide and adjustable Rafter hanging hook.
5) While it does NOT come with a case and that at first seemed a negative I have a huge PILE of Dewalt cases piled up I have never used one time
 
#21 · (Edited by Moderator)
OKAY i made my decision! I canceled the Makita from Amazon as it would take a month to get here. Went and got one at home cheapo for the exact same price. It s light as a feather. Almost unreal light!.

Richard Lee I am not 100% Convinced about cordless. They seem to take a few seconds to reload…. I may do a review later.

My reason for the Makita…

My Paslode reloads fast, but I also have a Makita Brad Nailer and never had a problem with it.
Im sure you will be happy, every Makita tool I have is well made and last forever.
1) Over all watching endless videos it was in the top 3-4 on every review.
2) It uses Full round head nails.
3) Top loader
4) Very wide and adjustable Rafter hanging hook.
5) While it does NOT come with a case and that at first seemed a negative I have a huge PILE of Dewalt cases piled up I have never used one time

- stevejack
My Paslode reloads fast, Im sure you made a good choice though every Makita tool I have is well made and works well.
 
#23 ·
I fixed Senco guns professionally for several years and saw my share of Paslodes, a few Porter Cables and some Hitachis. I'm partial to Senco as we did enough business with them to be invited to the factory in Cincinnati a few times then wined and dined. I have several Senco and a few Ridgid now, the weight of the Paslodes always impressed me but they weren't as abuse resistant as the Senco guns. If I were in the market today, used would be my first stop, the Makita would be towards the top of my list for new but the 21° nails would be a problem as I'm still sitting on mountains of 34° nails for my Senco farmers, the higher angle also allows getting into tighter spots that have benefited me more than once. Dad has a like new Paslode gas fired framer he bought for one job and is ready to sell it now, I have no interest.

FWIW, you can get full round head nails that will work in some guns that are supposed to be clipped head only. Here's a couple pictures of the nails I framed my shed with.
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