Framing nailer won't toe nail all the way in

[Terry Dean]

I bought a new Ridgid R350RHA framing nailer a few months ago and just recently got a chance to use it. I am having trouble getting the 3-1/8" nails to drive all the way in (particularly when I toe nail). I am nailing standard 2x4 pine studs.

I am using the twin steel tank Ridgid compressor and I have set the pressure to 120 psi. The rubber air hose is 3/8" 50' long. I am using a plastic 1/4" coil hose at the end (to give me more flexibility). I have set the adjustment on the nailer for deepest penetration and I removed the rubber no-mar pad on the end of the nailer. Even with all this, the nail still protudes about 1/2 inch when I toenail. When nailing a flat 2x4 to another (to make a TEE) it seems to work OK.

I have read thru the owner's manual, and the only thing I can find that I might be doing wrong is the 1/4" plastic coil hose at the end of the 3/8" rubber hose.

Any opinions?

[mike wacker]

Terry,

Are you putting the same pressure on the gun when toe nailing?

I know at least one carpenter friend that swears by 1/4 hose at the end of his 3/8 lines so I don't think that's your problem. But, obviously take the 1/4 line out as an experiment and see what happens.

Mike

[Dan Clark]

Terry,

I'm sorry you're having problems. I hate to say it, but it might be the nailer.

I have a Hitachi NR90AE (the alien) round head framer hooked to a Thomas 200ST compressor. The compressor is always set to 90 psi so that I can use all of my nailers. I use a 50' and 25' 1/4" Flexeel hose for short runs and a 100' 3/8" Flexeel as a feeder line for longer runs.

Using this setup with a small line and low pressure, I've never had problems setting nails up to 3 1/2". At worst, if I'm lazy and haven't held the nose tightly to the board while toenailing, the head will be off the board by maybe 1/8". If I crank down the adjustment and hold the nose firmly to the board, it will bury even a 3 1/2" nail completely. It will easily split the wood if I'm not careful.

Suggestion: Go rent a Senco or Hitachi nailer and connect it to your compressor. That should help narrow down the problem.

Good luck,

Dan.

[Randal Stevenson]

Some compressors, have a only one gauge, which is tank pressure. Others have two, which also includes output pressure. I had to add a regulater and gauge to the output of my HF pancake compressor, to shoot the nails completely into my brothers barn, when we built it.

[David G Baker]

Terry,
Is your nail gun capable of shooting clipped head and standard head nails? I have an old Senco that will take clipped heads only. Is your gun capable of shooting 3 1/2 inch nails? My Senco is not, it shoots a maximum of 3 inch.

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

I bought a new Ridgid R350RHA framing nailer a few months ago and just recently got a chance to use it. I am having trouble getting the 3-1/8" nails to drive all the way in (particularly when I toe nail). I am nailing standard 2x4 pine studs.

I am using the twin steel tank Ridgid compressor and I have set the pressure to 120 psi. The rubber air hose is 3/8" 50' long. I am using a plastic 1/4" coil hose at the end (to give me more flexibility). I have set the adjustment on the nailer for deepest penetration and I removed the rubber no-mar pad on the end of the nailer. Even with all this, the nail still protudes about 1/2 inch when I toenail. When nailing a flat 2x4 to another (to make a TEE) it seems to work OK.

I have read thru the owner's manual, and the only thing I can find that I might be doing wrong is the 1/4" plastic coil hose at the end of the 3/8" rubber hose.

Any opinions?

Try it without that 1/4" coil. I'm, guessing that 'll do it.
If not try it with a shorter length of hose.

The hose could also have some bit of something obstructing it.

[fRED mCnEILL]

My guess is the nailer. I have a chinese framing nailer that "likes" higher pressure. When the pressure in the tank goes down so does the penetration.

I tried using this nailer of a small portable compressor(1 gallon tank) and its the same-higher pressure equal more penetration. The only difference between the big compressor and the small one is that with the big one I can shoot 10-15 nails before the compressor comes on while with the small compressor it starts after every second nail. Slower, but handy in certain situations.

My impression is that, unlike an air wrench which requires high flow rates (and corresponding large air lines)and high pressure , the nailer stores the air charge in the gun, thus the large air chamber.

I would take it back. Its from HD so gauranteed forever.

Fred Mc.

[Jerry Olexa]

If not the 1/4 inch hose @ end, then probably the nailer. If from HD, they'll take back and then u can replace/switch

[Terry Dean]

Thnaks for the ideas. I just tried removing the 1/4" hose section, and it didn't make any difference.

I will try different angles, but I am skeptical - when I tried it just a few hours ago (after I removed the 1/4" hose) the head was still a good 1/2" from going in. I drove 3 or 4 nails and they all were about the same penetration. That's with the depth adjustment set all the way down and the air compressor at 120 psi.

Like I said before I had bought the nailer back in June and am just now getting a chance to use it. It's supposed to be able to drive a 3-1/2" nail and I was using 3-1/8" nails. I bet, even on a tee type joint, that it won't drive a 3-1/2"er. Reckon it might be a defective one?

[Terry Dean]

Some more info, the nailer is a 21 degree round head angle nailer. The compressor has 2 gauges - one tells the pressure in the tank, the other tells what the built in pressure regulator is set at. The tank pressure is 140 to 150 psi. The regular gauge is set at 120 psi. The owners manual and the tag on the tool says 120 Psi max.

[Steve Leverich]

I have the Senco FramePro, and the only times I've needed more than 90 psi is when nailing WELL-cured 2x material - I looked at the Rigid at HD (to compare it to Senco for a friend) and it looked almost like it was made in the same factory, except a couple of things looked a bit "cheesier" so for $30 more I recommended he get the Senco.

If you don't wanna spend the difference, I'd at least ask for another nailer and see if it has the same problem.

Don't take offense, but are you sure you don't have the depth control at the wrong end of it's range? (Spoken by an experienced "senior moment" person :confused:) Steve

[Kevin Mishler]

Hey Terry, did you get any resolve on this? I just bought a Bostitch 28° framing nailer, bought Bostitch 3" full head nails, and it does the same thing. I am new to the framing nailer thing, a home improvement hobbiest. I was hoping reading your responses that a framer could have just told you what you were doing wrong. I hope I don't have a bad one as well.

Take care,
Kevin

[Peter Stahl]

I have a Bostitch and it has a fastener depth adjustment. Is your's turned all the way and you still can't bury a nail. The longest I used in mine were 3-1/4" and never had any trouble burying a nail at 90 psi. See the section I copied from the user manual from the Bostitch site.

[Kevin Mishler]

I have a Bostitch and it has a fastener depth adjustment. Is your's turned all the way and you still can't bury a nail. The longest I used in mine were 3-1/4" and never had any trouble burying a nail at 90 psi. See the section I copied from the user manual from the Bostitch site.
Thanks Peter, your gun is different than mine. I've adjusted the depth adjuster all the way up, which allows my gun to go all the way down ( I assume ). I have a F28WW Bostitch framing nailer. My only problem is with toe nail joints; butt joints work great. I was wondering if I was holding the gun at the right angle, height, or whatever.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Hello,

I have set the pressure to 120 psi.
:eek:
Thankfully, your Ridgid offers free lifetime replacements on the hammer.

My short lived HF 28* framing nailer needed 120 psi also. After having it jam something like 10 times in the first dozen nails, I ran out and picked up a Bostitch. Forgot to dial down the pressure and almost blew a 3 1/2" nail clear though a 2x4.

Anyhow - my Bostitch also leaves toenails proud.
It's not the nailer, it's the operator's technique. W/the Bostitch you'll notice they package a sequential trigger.

The "trick" to toenails is to use that trigger. You trigger the nailer and "mash" it down against the wood so it fires the nail on impact. You don't place the nailer against the wood and pull the trigger. Doing that causes the framing nailer to "kick back" and the nail to stand proud.

IIRC,, it was Amy Deavers on DIY to the Rescue that explained how it works. Unfortunatly, it was after I'd done all the toenails. The good news is that my Bostitch came with a free palm nailer and I got to play with that :D.
(Palm nailers rock!! Almost as much fun as a hammer drill :D)

[Jason Roehl]

Rich...right explanation, wrong name for the trigger. The sequential-trip trigger is the one that forces you to compress the nose safety first, then pull the trigger, and only one nail will fire until you repeat the process (it must always happen in this SEQUENCE). A "bump-fire" trigger is one where you can hold down the trigger and fire a nail every time you compress the nose safety (or vice versa--you can still compress the nose safety then pull the trigger). The bump-fire method is for production and is considered less safe (you could be holding the trigger and bump your hand, foot, leg, whatever). My Bostitch came with the bump-fire installed, and I eventually swapped it with the sequential-trip.

[Paul Greathouse]

Terry

If you do decide to change brands, check out the Grip Rite guns. They were running a promotional price on them a year ago when my local lumber yard started carrying them. They made me a deal on a full round head framer that I couldn't pass up.

I bought it and am very pleased with it. It looks similar to a Senco. I am a Diehard Senco fan and have seven of their guns but the Grip Rite framer seems to be just as good as the Senco. It shoots hard and sinks 3 1/2" nails everytime whether its a tee shot or a toenail. Try Googling them, they have a website.