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I had no problems with the tool while blind nailing. I recommend using a pneumatic finishing nailer instead for face nailing. The face nailing shoe doesn't really work, because the nailer bounces off the nail after the first blow. I used this hammer to lay 400 sqft of 2-1/4" T&G oak flooring. The finished floor is nice and tight, no gaps. The plastic case is really flimsy and won't last a week. HOWEVER.
We are remodling an old farm house, and have already installed over 900 sq. of 3/4" solid oak flooring with this nailer and we still have more to go. ft.
A pneumatic nailer must be handled as a loaded weapon that, given the right circumstances, can nail your shoe to the floor, or worse. I own the cleat set, but have found it unnecessary; a regular 8d nail set works much better for me.Never put a single cleat in the nailer, although I have often driven cleats until the nailer is empty without problems. You can move furniture around instead of emptying rooms. Think about it.if you are a do-it-yourself person, do you have the experience to finish the job in a day. This manual nailer, on the other hand, is impossible to activate accidentally, and has no dangerous springs accessible that can harm anyone.
I then set the cleat into the flooring using a 8d nail set. Two weeks. So unless you are experienced and/or have most of the pneumatic setup already in place, consider purchasing this nailer.This nailer is easy to handle, and not as difficult to activate as you might think. This American-made product is professionally well constructed. The one jam I did experience (due to that single-cleat issue) I cleared quickly by following the instructions.Yes, I highly recommend this nailer for any size job, even an 800 square-foot job such as mine.
You can work on evenings and weekends instead of wasting precious vacation time. In fact, the face nailer shoe attachment, which has received a lot of bad marks, has actually worked well for me once I learned how to lean over the nailer from the side and strike straight down on it; I have not had an unintentional ding yet, although I stop nailing immediately if I feel the nailer move. This close-in stance also gives me greater control so that I don't end up with a wild upswing that hits furniture and walls.This nailer is also quite safe to use compared with pneumatics. The case has room enough for the face nailer shoe attachment and a couple of boxes of cleats.
I feel comfortable leaving the nailer loaded--there is absolutely no wasted prep time.Read the instructions carefully. A week. From the time you open this tool's case you will be impressed.
Purchase this nailer and you can take your time. Hitting a subfloor nail would most likely jam the nailer too, but I have never hit one despite re-nailing the subfloor with flooring nails. Loading a single cleat will indeed jam the nailer.
Little things such as placing your foot on the rear of the nailer shoe, are important. Quality craftmanship and efficiency of design are just two of the great advantages of this nailer over many other options.Renting a pneumatic setup will cost you more that purchasing this nailer, if you rent for the amount of time you would really need. I consistently grab the mallet toward the head (I prefer not to use gloves), and find that I can drive a cleat much more easily than swinging the entire mallet.
This tool has quickly earned respect and pride, right up there with my chisels and planes. I would be afraid to use such a tool when I grow tired, or around children.
I would also avoid going below about 4 glued-together nails in a strip. This is a nice, basic manual nailer. The real trick to being successful with it is to make sure it's seated well against the board and doesn't move when struck. Using these methods, I had very few problems with jamming. If it does move, make sure it's over the partially seated nail and that the ram hasn't reset and put another nail in firing position.
This is a tough tool and worth the money. Worked very well. I did about 900 square feet with no problems. It is nice to see American made tools. I only had one nail jam, not too much trouble to take it apart.
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