Air brad nail guns

[charby]

I need to seek the advice of the folks on here.

Some of you know I keep bees and I'm getting tired of hand nailing frames together. So I'm in the market for a air brad nail gun. I only need brads that are 5/8" long, 18 gauge should be fine.

I'd like to keep the price under $100, but I'm willing to spend more if the value is there. I tend to buy quality tools.

Eventually I am going to try and get into commercial production of honey, so I want something that will last.

-C

[Boomhauer]

The Harbor Freight one works for us...
http://www.harborfreight.com/18-gauge-brad-nailer-68021.html

 

[K Frame]

http://www.menards.com/main/search.html?search=air+brad+nailer&page=1

Take your pick.

For $40 I'd be willing to try the Freeman.

If you want something better known name wise, try this one: http://www.rockler.com/porter-cable-18-gauge-1-3-8-brad-nailer-kit?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=pla&utm_campaign=PL&sid=V9146&gclid=CO2P2rGpzL4CFShnOgod9Q4Ahg

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Shop craigslist for the paslode butane powered guns. No compressor. I have a 13 year old one still going strong


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[Scout26]

If you're doing the repairs out on near your hives, you're going to have go with either hand, battery or propane powered as I don't see you dragging hundreds of feet of air hose out to the hives.


Are you taking the frames back to the garage/shop to repair?  Then something air powered would work just fine.  Porter Cable is excellent quality, but if it's just something that gets used on occasion, then the Harbor Freight would do.

[charby]

If you're doing the repairs out on near your hives, you're going to have go with either hand, battery or propane powered as I don't see you dragging hundreds of feet of air hose out to the hives.


Are you taking the frames back to the garage/shop to repair?  Then something air powered would work just fine.  Porter Cable is excellent quality, but if it's just something that gets used on occasion, then the Harbor Freight would do.

Builds in the shop, repairs will be done with hammer and nail if needed on the hive. 

[KD5NRH]

If you're doing the repairs out on near your hives, you're going to have go with either hand, battery or propane powered as I don't see you dragging hundreds of feet of air hose out to the hives.

Using a nailgun on a hive in production sounds like a really good way to piss off a lot of bees.

[lupinus]

Builds in the shop, repairs will be done with hammer and nail if needed on the hive. 

Using a nailgun on a hive in production sounds like a really good way to piss off a lot of bees.

Shut up you fool!

Charby, that sounds like a right fine plan. Any chance you plan on setting up a webcam to document your hive project? 

[230RN]

On the live bee hive:  Small long wood screws or drywall screws and a screwdriver bit on your battery-powered drill?

For that matter, even in the shop.  Easy to remove and replace, no extra cost 'cept for the screws.

[charby]

Using a nailgun on a hive in production sounds like a really good way to piss off a lot of bees.

Naw, I make plenty of noise pulling the hive bodies apart and removing frames. Air tools probably won't bother them at all.

Most of the time if the bees aren't too gumpy I don't even wear a veil or gloves when working the hive. Just a little smoke to calm them down. Yes I always remember that there can be 60k stingers aimed at me at any given time.

[charby]

On the live bee hive:  Small long wood screws or drywall screws and a screwdriver bit on your battery-powered drill?

For that matter, even in the shop.  Easy to remove and replace, no extra cost 'cept for the screws.

Frames are made out of 3/8" thick wooden strips.

http://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23_39&products_id=88

[230RN]

^ Yeah, I guess that's a little thin for screws. 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Finish screws are the same thickness as brads


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[KD5NRH]

Frames are made out of 3/8" thick wooden strips.

Man up.  Landscape timbers won't need so much repair, and you'll build your upper body faster.

[brimic]

Whatever chinacorp brad nailer they have at menards (Toolshop?) works pretty well- I did finished my entire basement with one which included a large room full of pine tongue and groove walls. I've used better ones (Bosch), but the main problem with the chinese brad nailers is the head doesn't clamp down tight enough or is a bit flimsy and you get an occasional jam. If you are doing finishing work, it needs adjustment for different nails and seating dpths, for outside work, it would probably work great.

I have what is essentially this model: http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/power-tools/compressors-and-pneumatic-tools/nailers-staplers/18-gauge-brad-nailer/p-1498012-c-12912.htm

except mine has a gray paint job instead of red. The nailer came with a pancake air compressor (woefully inadequate for anything more than putting a dozen or nails in per minute, but ok for small jobs) for around $120- 10 years ago.

[KD5NRH]

the main problem with the chinese brad nailers is the head doesn't clamp down tight enough or is a bit flimsy and you get an occasional jam. If you are doing finishing work, it needs adjustment for different nails and seating dpths, for outside work, it would probably work great.

Another advantage to the landscape timbers: bore the cross pieces lengthwise, and assemble it with 5/8 allthread, fender washers and nuts.  Then the only tool you need is a pair of crescent wrenches.

[charby]

Man up.  Landscape timbers won't need so much repair, and you'll build your upper body faster.

pretty sure that the bees will not accept them

[charby]

Whatever chinacorp brad nailer they have at menards (Toolshop?) works pretty well- I did finished my entire basement with one which included a large room full of pine tongue and groove walls. I've used better ones (Bosch), but the main problem with the chinese brad nailers is the head doesn't clamp down tight enough or is a bit flimsy and you get an occasional jam. If you are doing finishing work, it needs adjustment for different nails and seating dpths, for outside work, it would probably work great.

I have what is essentially this model: http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/power-tools/compressors-and-pneumatic-tools/nailers-staplers/18-gauge-brad-nailer/p-1498012-c-12912.htm

except mine has a gray paint job instead of red. The nailer came with a pancake air compressor (woefully inadequate for anything more than putting a dozen or nails in per minute, but ok for small jobs) for around $120- 10 years ago.

Going to borrow a buddy's Bostich for the 50 or so honey super frames I need to assemble. If I like it I will buy one, if not going to get a Porter Cable.

[KD5NRH]

pretty sure that the bees will not accept them

Flog a few of them publicly for refusing, and the rest will fall in line.

[geronimotwo]

check that your local store has the brads for the gun you choose.

[charby]

Flog a few of them publicly for refusing, and the rest will fall in line.

I'll let you borrow my hat and veil, then I'll sit back and watch who gets flogged.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I have a Hitachi finish nailer that works very well.  I've also used a few Hitachi framing nailers, and they all worked fine.  If I needed a brad nailer I'd go straight to the Hitachi.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

And lots for sale used


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[tokugawa]

Dump the brads, get a stapler. They will hold better in thin stock.
 5/8" leg, 1/4 crown", 18 ga.  An oil-less tool is nice too.

  Do you have a compressor? some companies have a compressor -hose-gun combo pack for very reasonable.

[charby]

Dump the brads, get a stapler. They will hold better in thin stock.
 5/8" leg, 1/4 crown", 18 ga.  An oil-less tool is nice too.

  Do you have a compressor? some companies have a compressor -hose-gun combo pack for very reasonable.

I got the compressor, just a 5hp 20 gallon, barely runs my other air tools (hammer/ratchet/etc). I do need to upgrade to a bigger tank.