Flooring Nailer Reccomendations?

[duncanshannon]

I'm about to buy a Flooring Nailer - putting in some new HW Floors at home (in the Master Bedroom). Prob. 3/4" thick Maple.

Its my first floor job... and plan on doing more of the house in the future (and quite possible some of the future cabin).  I'd like a decent nailer that will last for at least two homes worth of use... and maybe a friends houe or two.

I'd rather not drop a fortune... any recommendations on flooring nailers?

Thanks in advance...

Duncan

[Redoverfarm]

I have used a Bostich nailer.  The manuel type.  Never a maulfunction.  There are air floor nailers by Bostich that are a little easier on the arms. 

http://www.ebay.com/sch/items/bostitch%20floor%20nailer?_dmd=1&_sop=12

I think alot of the contractors are switching to the flooring staplers rather than nailers.  Might be an option.

http://www.amazon.com/Bostitch-MIIIFS-2-Inch-Pneumatic-Stapler/dp/B0000224PN/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1331000374&sr=1-1

[PEG688]

Amazon has some cheap ones that may fill your needs. Made over seas , but they all are even the Bostich floor nailers from what I've seen recently.

Ramsond RMM4 2-in-1 Air Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer and Stapler Gun by Ramsond
Buy new: $299.99 $185.99

2 new from $169.99

[duncanshannon]

Ya.. I was looking at that Ramsond nailer... great price, great reviews.  Might just be the winner. I deff. wanted to check in here to see if anyone had any experience with these.

thanks for the tips.

I'll prob. order something up tomorrow... incase anyone has anything else to add in!

Duncan

[PEG688]

There's a similar one that shoots both T nails and staple, I didn't find it in my quick search earlier.   So of the thinner engineered floors need to be stapled.  It was under $200.00 as well, had good reviews posted about it.   

[duncanshannon]

I purchased the Ramsond (which both staples and nails). It seems to work well. 

If you don't whack it hard enough (ie, your 6 year old helps out and doesn't quite have the strength!) it will only drive the nail part way (duh).

It started to fail me on my 3rd or 4th day.  A hissing sound that came out of the top "piston" area.  I was pretty disappointed and assumed it was crap and maybe related to me not hitting it square (as I was working on the last couple rows of flooring).

I emailed support and got a response in a day or so... they said it sounded like an o-ring failure.  They advised 3 drops of oil each time you use it... which I confess i didn't do that each day. I prob. only put in 2 drops the first day.

So I'll take the blame for that for now. Need to go try and take it appart and repair it with an (included) o-ring.

Assuming that will take care of it.

Seems solid otherwise.  The action on the 'slider' part that opens up isint all that great, but it def. works.