Round Head Framing Nailer | BOSTITCH N80cb 1 Coil Framing Nailer

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If you are a construction professional or simply love doing small home repairs by yourself, a round head framing nailer is a tool that can make the job quick, safe and simple.

There are various types of round head nailers in the market, and each one functions differently. One of them is the framing nailers. A tool that resembles a gun and is used to drive nails into different surfaces such as woods. Using framing nails saves a lot of time and is proven to be very effective.

This kind of nailer comes in two types, the round head, and the clipped head. There have been debates which among these have better holding strength, and frankly speaking, the traditional round head is ahead of the clipper head. What makes it better?

Round head framing nailers

The round head framing nailers are basically nails that have a full head. It is used primarily on new buildings and renovation projects. Constructors often choose this type of nailer because of the overall security it provides. For some areas prone to earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes, a round head nail is required to be used. Most local building codes also require the use of these nails. Before deciding on a round head framing nailer, it is important to consider the type of project you’re working on.

All-round head framing nailers are not the same. There are vast differences in features, such as weight, adjustments, and magazine capacity. A variety of models offers different features and options that one has to weigh carefully. Some of these features are useful while others may be totally unnecessary.

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Weight and balance

Weight is one of the crucial things to consider. Maybe you are going to buy a framing nailer for regular work. So the tool needs to be user-friendly. The weight of a round head framing nailer can vary significantly from one model to another. Weight can range from seven to ten pounds. While a heavier model also may tend to be more durable, this is not always the case. In addition, heavier tools contribute to hand and arm fatigue faster.

Strike plates

When a contractor has to make slight adjustments to a stud, such as by moving it over, it’s easy to simply use the back end of the nailer to bump the stud. Many new models of round head framing nailers are designed with a steel strike plate on the back, specifically for this purpose. It’s a much better idea than using the backside made of molded plastic, which may not hold up.

Drive adjustment

Drive adjustment is important in many framing situations. The depth of the drive may need to change, from one situation to another. Some round head nailers require adjustments to be made with a key, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. But, many models come with a turn wheels or push buttons, which make adjusting the drive depth a simpler process that saves time. The convenience of the drive adjustment is likely to be more important to those who change nailing depth often.

Clearing jams

Much newer round head framing nailers have a pull lever which unlocks, to allow access to the top of the nail cartridge. This makes clearing jams easier. While this is not a necessary feature, it can also be frustrating to try to clear a jam with available tools. If you have a low tolerance for problems like jammed nails, this may be an appealing feature in a round head framing nailer.  If time and efficiency are not important, such as when working on a home renovation project, this feature may not be absolutely necessary. quick clearing jams can save your time.

Rafter hooks

Rafter hooks are available on many new round head nailer models. Hooks are convenient when working at job sites where there’s no space to lay tools down, such as when working from scaffolding. A framing nailer with a metal hook is probably better and it’s not a good idea to try and test the quality of plastic hooks, especially when the nailer can potentially drop several stories down. Hooks can be plastic or metal.

Rafter hooks are essential for a framing nailer because this will help you to provide rest to your hand. You can hang the tool with your belt if your tool has a rafter hook.

Trigger options

The trigger features important to round head framing nailers include the ability to set the trigger, to use the bump action as opposed to the sequential trigger mode. Having a bump mode is important for those who need to set several nails in a short period of time. In the sequential mode, the trigger must release and be pulled again, for the nailer to fire. This is a safer way of operating the round head nailer because it prevents accidental firing. If the bump action is necessary due to the nature of the job, many models require the trigger to be replaced with a different one. Others come with a switch to flip from bump to sequential mode and vice versa.

Nail loading

Finally, last but not the least the Nail Loading. This refers to loading the nail cartridges from the back or from the top. This is a matter of personal preference and one doesn’t seem to have an advantage over the other. Regardless of which loading method is offered on various models, it’s important to consider the potential for jams. Loading should always be done with caution, to prevent jamming.

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BOSTITCH N80CB-1 Round Head 1-1/2 to 3-1/4-Inch Coil Framing Nailer

A popular model among builders who work on high-repetition projects like trusses and prefabricated frames, Bostitch utility coil nailer offers huge capacity and solid reliability. When fully loaded, this nailer certainly isn’t the lightest tool you could choose, but when you can drive 300 nails without having to reload, you quickly appreciate the timesaving capacity.

Product Dimension: 12.1 x 5.6 x 13 inches

Model Number: N80CB1

Color: Bostitch Gold and Black

Item Weight: 10.05 pounds

Applicable Nails Length: 1-1/2 to 3-1/4 inches

Warranty: 7-Year Warranty

This framing nailer is best for seating, fencing, roof decking, subflooring, siding, and framing. BOSTITCH N80CB-1 Round Head 1-1/2 to 3-1/4-Inch Coil Framing Nailer is popular among builders working on prefabricated frames and trusses, on high-repetition projects in general. It has a solid reliability and huge capacity. While the weight is no joke when fully loaded, you can appreciate not having to reload every now and then, drive 300 nails and save a lot of time.

Features To Look For When Searching For The Best Framing Nailer

Choosing a framing nailer could be intimidating, but what it really takes to pick the best among others is to have a list of things to consider before buying. With this, it’ll be easier to point out if what you’re buying fits into the type of framing nailer you want.

Protection

A nailer with a protective guard ensures safety. Although these tools are safer than the traditional hammer, accidents can still happen since the nails can be fired at a very high speed. Using these units also can be safer when compared to using hammers. There are high chances that you might hit your fingers while working with the hammer until you are extremely sued to the hob and can do it smoothly.

Air pressure

Every nailer has a specific air pressure and volume requirement thus it is necessary to buy a nailer that is compatible with your compressor. Failure to do so will result in the nailer not functioning properly.

Trigger type

There are two types of triggers, contact and sequential. The former fires the moment the tip touches the work surface. The latter requires depressing the tip of the gun against the work surface and pressing the trigger of the nail gun. While sequential is safer, contact is more convenient.

Depth control

Most nailer models allow you to set the depth you want the nail to drive into the work surface. While others need additional tools or have a gauge on the nailer itself.

Final Verdict

All tools are essential in our works, but we must choose the right one to do our job better and faster. Framing nailers will help you with some heavy nailing tasks like constructing a house or something like that. So you have to choose one carefully. So, follow the features written above, and I will guarantee you that you will choose the right one.