PC FR 350 – Restrictive trigger, YES!
Being a little tight (by circumstance, not choice) I bought a Porter Cable FR 350 framing nailer. From the beginning, I had issues with double firing – that is, two nails in rapid sequence instead of one like I wanted!
I’ve split boards and put nails in with the shank of the second contacting the head of the first. It has been a real pain the seat cushion and a little scary.
Then, last year, the evening news had a segment on a local guy building a garden shed. His nailer double fired trying to drive the second nail into the head of the first – needless to say, it didn’t happen and the nail shot out backwards. The news had xray photos with the nail resting against the guys brain after entering the edge of the eye socket! And they showed his nailer – the PC FR 350, the one I have.
Some folks at breaktime suggested getting PC’s new restrictive trigger kit. With siding to replace on the garage (oops, “shop”), I got and installed the kit. 400 stainless steel ring shank nails later, NO DOUBLE FIRES! Yes!!
I know the pros use bounce triggers to speed their work – I’m not fast enough to benefit much with a bounce trigger anyway. And, I suspect, they’re trading speed for risk and some of them pay the price!
Replies
As I recall the restrictive triggers are free if you call and ask PC.
They are the best investment you can make.
Wow, that's scary stuff! Thanks for posting.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
To be quite honest, I find that the problem with the double fire of most guns is more a matter of the spring in the nose than the trigger. I work now as a carpenter and use a framing nailer often. The one I use is near the first generation (or so) Bostitch made is something like 1968. Then nose spring is very weak and I use the bounce fire technique all day long with no trouble.
A couple of months ago we framed and addition with another crew and I had to use their guns. Several different models all with much heavier springs in the nose. I was double firing all day long.
To me, it seems the harder I have to press down on the nose to fire the less I am able to let the gun naturally recoil and the more likely I am to double fire. In those situations, I always use a single fire technique.
Rob Kress
I too have the 350 framer and I put the restrictive trigger on ;only to late after I nailed two fingers together on my left hand.It is free from Porter-Cable,call the 800 customer service number.
I have used framing nailers working on a few framing crews and most all the guns had the safety removed.
Seems like when you have a safety on a big gun most people naturally hold down the trigger to long instead of just punching the gun into the lumber.
Then when the big gun bounces you get the double fire. I pulled a few nails out of guys hands that because of the gun bouncing.
You know a good 20 oz. framing hammer with a good long handle drives 16 penny very well . I like the hammer myself start the 16 and down in 2 licks. And I only have to worry about hitting my thumb with the corrugated head - Ouch!
Ron
Who Ever Has The Biggest Pile Of Tools When You Die Wins
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