Hi All,
Looking for a nice pin nailer, for molding, various finish work, and occasionally for veneer. Recently read about the Grex models, which look like great little nailers.
I’m looking at the P635 or the P630. Both of them handle 23-gauge pins. The P630 goes 1-3/16″ deep. The P635 goes 1-3/8″ deep. The P635 also seems to have a few additional features.
Does anyone own either of these machines? What do you think? Also, where did you buy them? International Tool sells the P635 for $200.
Also, I would be interested in hearing recommendations on compressors. I’m new at the whole air-tool game.
Here are links to the Grex machines I mentioned in this post:
http://www.grexusa.com/finish-nailers/p630.htm
http://www.grexusa.com/p635.htm
Edited 9/26/2005 1:26 pm ET by MatthewSchenker
Replies
There are a lot of 23 ga. P630 pin nailers available for $60. Look on Ebay under 23 gauge or some such. The Grex costs too much, and that Grex name seems to be only a name that is put onto a Chinese made tool that is sold by various other companies for much less.
P630, (30mm nail length, 1.18") has done ok by me so far. Anytime I have needed something longer, 18 ga. has seemed a better choice, and those are easy to find going up to a 2" long brad. I just used one of those to tack some 1/4" cement board in place, till I went and got the screws to put it down, and I only bent one 18 ga. brad out of a dozen I shot into it, so I know you can nail some tough stuff with those things.
The old saw about spending the most to buy the best doesn't apply, when the highest price goes to the guy with the most imagination in asking for bigger numbers rather than the guy who builds the best product.
Omer also makes some high dollar stuff.
Virtually will be enough for any nail gun. Amazon used to have nailer and compressor kits for fairly cheap. My compressor is fixed on an 80 gal. tank, but if you want one for working around town and such, you want the one that is easiest to carry and get in and out of the truck.
I don't know how you would nail veneer. I have been called a know it all, but I don't know that one.
kesac,
Thanks for your reply. As you know, when you are looking to get the first tool of a certain type, what you need is honest information!I just saw some kits from Porter+Cable at Home Depot that include a pin nailer and a brad nailer, along with a compressor. I think one of them was around $400.When I said nailing veneer, I should have been more specific. Lately, I've done a few kitchen projects, and in one of them I built a line of book cases that went in under a set of windows, and they joined up to form a continuous shelf about 10' long. The tops of those shelves formed a continuous space, and I glued down 1/4" oak plywood across the entire length. I added some pins to help hold it down. It would have been neater to use a gun like the Grex.
Any of those 23 gauge guns will do for that, and the 23 ga. pin installed is virtually invisible at arms length even before you apply any finish or touch up.
Porter Cable doesn't go below an 18 gauge gun that I know of, which is great to tack your glue ups and such, you just have to hide your nails, just like in the old days.
My wife even likes them and sometimes she don't like nothing.
Does that mean that your wife likes something? ;-)
What do you think of the pin nailer made by Porter-Cable? I'm talking about model number PIN100 23, which goes for about $125. I have heard hot and cold remarks about it.
Edited 9/28/2005 3:20 pm ET by MatthewSchenker
I don't know anything about it. I have a 18 ga. Porter Cable, and it is great. I have had universal good luck with everything made by Porter Cable, except for their detail sander. Some of their stuff is not always the latest technical marvel, but it usually does what it says it will do.
Matt: Bostitch just came out with a new pin nailer , it will take up to 1-3/16 pin. I think it retails for $129.00. Check out link below Good luck. Also make sure that you check driving power and power to weight ratio, that's the only way you can compare air tools to each other.
http://www.bostitch.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=BOS%5FFINISH%5FAND%5FTRIM%5FNAILER&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=TU-216-2330&SDesc=Industrial+1%2D3%2F16%22%2C+23%2DGauge+Headless+Pinner
You don't need to worry about any driving power to weight ration on a 23 ga. pin nailer. That pin is so small, that it takes virtually nothing to drive it. You get virtually no bounce, so you don't even need a soft nose on the thing.
Has anybody had any experience with the new Ridgid nailers? The R213BNA is an 18-gauge, oil-free model, and it takes 5/8" to 2-1/8" nails.Maybe the Ridgid together with the Porter+Cable PIN100 would be a good combination?
The PIN100 is a good tool. Most of the P-C guns are.
I was unhappy with the mark left by the plunger (hammer) when the pin is driven.
Had to file it so it didn't leave nasty T marks. Maybe just mine, though.The older I get, the better I was....
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