23 Gauge Pin Nailers

[Steve Aiken]

I'd like to get a pin nailer. I read a thread written about a year ago, and there was no clear "winner" in the opinion poll.

More people have probably "taken the plunge" over the past year. Any recent opinions? It seems that they all seem to be a good tool...maybe I should be asking: "Any bad horror stories?"

Does anyone know of any tool reviews? I check most of the WW'g mags and haven't seen one yet.

Steve

[Harry Goodwin]

I have a PCD and like it. Harry

[Dennis McDonaugh]

I like this one Steve. I've seen it as low as $159 at other sites. It shoots a little longer pin than the PC.

http://www.internationaltool.com/grexnailer.htm

Here it is.

http://protechsupply.com/grex_23-gauge_headless_pinners.htm

[Dave Falkenstein]

Wood Magazine had a mini-review this fall. They rated Grex as the best tool and PC as the best value. I got the Grex at the WW Show recently, based on the Wood article, but have not had a reason to use it yet.

[Roger Everett]

I have the PC 23ga.. I had my choice boiled down to a Senco or PC, but in my locality and for repair parts availibility, plus the PC was $20 cheaper I decided on the PC. Haven't had any problems with it, seems like a good quality gun. My only complaint would be the double trigger , which is the safty, but if it starts to bother me, I'll tape the safty trigger.
Roger

[Lee DeRaud]

I "test-drove" both the PC and the Grex at the woodworking show last month, went home with the PC...works like a champ so far.

But really, the only thing about the Grex I didn't like was the price tag.

[Steve Clardy]

PC here. Haven't used anything else. Happy with what I have.

[Mark Carlson]

I heard a lot of good things about the Grex pinner so I bought that at a woodworking show recently. I havn't really used it much but the few times I did I was very happy with the results. Its also a nice green color.

~mark

[Wes Bischel]

If budget is an issue, the Air Locker and HF pinners are inexpensive alternatives. I recently picked up this Air Locker P630 here:

http://www.toolmartusa.com/

Some have said they didn't like the safety set-up, but I haven't had any issues with it. So far it has worked well. I picked this unit up because of price and it was recommended by others.

Also, I have read that the HF pinner has worked well, but I don't have any experience with it.

FWIW,

Wes

[Bob Noles]

Extremely happy with my PC

[Jim W. White]

I've been very happy ih my Air locker and the price is unbeatable. The safety is a little burdensome, I guess; but it could be defeated pretty easily if it really bothered you.

...Jim W

Here's an old thread from when I posted a picture of it

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=20308

[Jim Becker]

I own an Accuset (Senco) but would probably by the Grex if I were buying today. Nice tool and very comfortable in the hand. Wider range of fastener lengths, too.

[Bill Fields]

Wes said the HF pinner is OK and I concur.

But, since there should always be a concern about quality/durability on stuff from HF--I bought 2-- I think the price for the first was 14.95 and the second was a bit more--under $20.

First works fine--safety mechanism is a bit too "careful" in that one must hold the tool "just so". Second still in the box.

As stated here many times, if you are a pro--no need to consider HF.

For the rest of us--maybe.

BILL FIELDS

[Bill Borchardt]

Another "positive experience" with the Air Locker.

It shoots pins up to 1 3/16" and for $60 it's worked GREAT!

Since I'm only a hobby woodworker and don't give it that much use, it's been a good tool at a good value/price point. :)

Make sawdust, have fun, and be safe . . .

Billbo

[Steve Clardy]

Steve. Just going through my mail. Got a flyer from Timberline Woodworkers Supply.
Porter Cable PIN100 nailer. $99.99
Also looks like $1.00 shipping. Great price.
1-800-630-2260
www.timberlinetools.com (http://www.timberlinetools.com)

Sale ends Dec. 31st

Not affiliated, blah blah blah.

[Anthony Anderson]

I have the Senco and it works great. Although I don't use it as much as I thought I would. So for occassional use, you may consider one of the less expensive units. If you do a lot of picture frames or small/miniature projects it will pay for itself. Others have mentioned guns with longer nail length capability, but if I want to go with a longer nail, usually the project requires a heavier guage nail. My opinion for what its worth. Bill

[Russ Massery]

I have the P.C. Happy with it so for far. Along the SIX other porter cable air nailers I have. In fact I've never had any problems with any of them.:D

[Paul B. Cresti]

I sold my Senco and now have a Omer both pin nailer and brad nailer. Expensive but great guns. They a bump feature you can turn on and off. The pin nailer has a very nice double trigger/safety feature. I have also noticed the pin nailer does not leave marks like the Senco did. I just love buying and using Italian tools ;)

[Scott Larson]

I have the Grex 635 and have been very satisfied (never a misfire or jam). It does have the advantage of shooting the longer pins, appears well engineered (allen key holder and additional tip built into the gun) and matches my Festool's ;). Bostitch has a gun avaliable at amazon for $105 that shoots 1 3/16 that I would have looked at if I hadn't needed mine on the spot.

-Scott

[Steve Aiken]

Problem locally here is that I'll have to either drive to Toronto, or mail-order. I've found a great price for a Bynford 23 Headless Pin Nailer http://www.kmstools.com/main.php?scripts/products/cat.php?107
I don't have any knowledge of the company or this tool...Anybody?

Thanks for your replies...sounds like you can't go wrong with the PC for occasional use...

Steve

[Matt Meiser]

I have the Senco and the only complaint I have is that it shoots the pins flush rather than countersinking them. According to their tech support it is designed to do this. I am under the impression that the PC countersinks them slightly.

[Alan Turner]

I had a Senco, and had the same issue. I now have the Grex 635, and it does countersink the pins appropriately. This countersink is not adjustable, which I think may be true of all of the micro pinners, although perhpas the Omer is adjustable.

[Steve Evans]

Problem locally here is that I'll have to either drive to Toronto, or mail-order. I've found a great price for a Bynford 23 Headless Pin Nailer http://www.kmstools.com/main.php?scripts/products/cat.php?107
I don't have any knowledge of the company or this tool...Anybody?

Thanks for your replies...sounds like you can't go wrong with the PC for occasional use...

Steve

Steve, save your money on the Bynford. DAMHIKT. I was looking at a different one at the Toronto woodshow in Nov. (might have been the Grex, I can't remember), and I think I might pick it up at the spring show.

Steve

[tod evans]

my vote goes to senco

[Bart Leetch]

I own an Accuset (Senco) but would probably by the Grex if I were buying today. Nice tool and very comfortable in the hand. Wider range of fastener lengths, too.


Which brand of pins will the Grex pinner use. I have 2 Grizzly 18 ga. guns 1 nail & one staple & they use Senco nails. I also have a 15 ga. Senco angled finish nail gun.

I was told by a Senco rep that in different parts of the country the manufactures design their guns to shoot the fasteners of who ever dominates the market in that area. It seems that I see more Senco style nails up here in the NW & he agreeded that this was true & told me where the other areas were & whose nails dominated that area. As I remember there is only 2 or 3 areas.

[Bill Spievak]

Matt, I have the Senco as well. I've had it long enough and used it enough that I'm on my third driver. I ground the tip down when I had the problem of it not counter sinking, works fine now.

[Scott Larson]

Bart,

I've shot Senco and Grex pins in my Grex 635. In fact, my local dealer only stocks the Grex pins over 1" (since they can be harder to find) and the Senco for all pins less than 1". This is a real shame as a box of 10k Grex 1 3/8" pins was only a few bucks more than a box of 2600 senco's. :( When talking with they guys at the store, the suggusted that all of the pins should be interchangable.

-Scott

[Ted Shrader]

Steve -

Very happy with my PC. It came from Timberline Woodworkers Supply. Good price, quick shipping.

Ted

[Steve Clardy]

I have the Senco and the only complaint I have is that it shoots the pins flush rather than countersinking them. According to their tech support it is designed to do this. I am under the impression that the PC countersinks them slightly.

Yes. About a 1/16"

[Lee DeRaud]

Based on my admittedly limited experience with it and reading between the lines in the manual, it looks like the countersink depth on the PC PN100 is strictly a question of air pressure. At 85-90 it sets the pins flush, at 95-100 it sinks them slightly (maybe 1/32"). Looking at how the thing is constructed, I doubt any further increase in pressure will drive the pins any deeper.

[Dennis McDonaugh]

I thought the whole idea with the pinner is invisibility, which you lose if the pin is countersunk. Matt, Bill, Alan, do you fill the holes like you do with a brad nailer?

[Lee DeRaud]

I thought the whole idea with the pinner is invisibility, which you lose if the pin is countersunk. Matt, Bill, Alan, do you fill the holes like you do with a brad nailer?The "holes" end up roughly the same size as the wood pores in most species. If the pin is flush with the surface, it makes a shiny spot...a very small shiny spot, but visible nonetheless. Not to mention that any further sanding becomes problematic.

[nic obie]

I have the Senco and the only complaint I have is that it shoots the pins flush rather than countersinking them. According to their tech support it is designed to do this. I am under the impression that the PC countersinks them slightly.


Hi Matt,

If you want the gun to shoot the pin a bit deeper, just grind a bit off of the tip of the gun. Eventually you'll have to do this with all your nail guns as the driver wears down over time.

[Bill Roland]

Problem locally here is that I'll have to either drive to Toronto, or mail-order. I've found a great price for a Bynford 23 Headless Pin Nailer http://www.kmstools.com/main.php?scripts/products/cat.php?107
I don't have any knowledge of the company or this tool...Anybody?

Thanks for your replies...sounds like you can't go wrong with the PC for occasional use...

Steve
I have this nailer. I haven't used it much, but it worked great for what I have. The safety is an arm that rotates under the trigger to lock it out. When you are in the unlock position the trigger is always live, like will shoot any time you pull the trigger.

[Dave Lehnert]

I own the Senco model and like it a lot.

[Steve Clardy]

Based on my admittedly limited experience with it and reading between the lines in the manual, it looks like the countersink depth on the PC PN100 is strictly a question of air pressure. At 85-90 it sets the pins flush, at 95-100 it sinks them slightly (maybe 1/32"). Looking at how the thing is constructed, I doubt any further increase in pressure will drive the pins any deeper.

Yes. This gun depth of drive depends on air pressure. I run 130#s, so I get a deeper countersink.
And a lot of it depends on wood species, lenght of pin you are driving.

[Alan Turner]

I thought the whole idea with the pinner is invisibility, which you lose if the pin is countersunk. Matt, Bill, Alan, do you fill the holes like you do with a brad nailer?

Dennis,
I fill the holes. I use CA glue, just a small drop, right on the hole, and then sand with 320 grit till the CA is dry, about 20 seocnds, and the sanding dust and CA mix, fill the hole, and it is fully invisible. Quick and easy.

[Dennis McDonaugh]

Thanks Alan

[Alan Turner]

Thanks Alan

No problem. But, attribution is due, and this is a Jeff Jewitt trick.