Paslode 900420 - a framing nailer for remodelers
Written: Aug 11 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: no hoses to deal with, comes with extras, light weight
Cons: firing, stuck with the gun at heights, does not include necessary fuel cell
The Bottom Line: Average - not bad, not stellar. For a remodeler not a career framer.
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| GuisBuild's Full Review: Paslode Impulse Cordless Utility Framing Nailer 90... |
Cordless guns became quite the fashion statement a couple years ago. Yes, 'fashion statement', thanks to the bright orange of Paslode and their cordless, battery & fuel cell powered, guns. I have used a cordless finish nailer from Paslode for a year or so but only recently had the opportunity to include model 900420 to my tool experience.
When the job was a kitchen remodel including some minor demo and re-building of walls, the Paslode was certainly handy. The good stuff? I liked the light weight and lack of hose, commonly found with my gun of choice. Because I found my feet - for the most part - firmly planted on the ground, I didn't miss the swinging hose (there was always a floor or counter nearby to set the nailer on). The size of the gun, measuring about 14 inches long, allowed me to fit between areas a bit easier - again, not having a hose and the accompanying attachment contributed to this as well.
Furthermore, the homeowner appreciated the lack of compressor running in the background. While most contractors tend to block out the noise of a compressor, eventually forgetting the noise entirely (and losing some hearing in the process), a homeowner can find the noise of a construction job barely tolerable. The occasional hum and bam of this nailer is a small price to pay.
I moved on to building a home from the basement on up at which time the Utility Framing Nailer proved to be more annoyance than assistance. If the job involves a lot of heavy-duty framing, consider these items:
no air hose from a high perch of framing (think roof, think two story home), not having an air hose can actually be a bad thing. The hose is often relied upon to set a nailer down from said perch, especially when working alone. A hose can mean the difference between dropping a nailer and ruining it, to giving it a more gentle landing.
rapid fire would not be a characteristic I'd list when discussing features of this nailer. Don't associate this one with that "bam-bam-bam" sound often heard coming from construction sites. (Literature states 2-3 nails per second....I'd go with 2, perhaps 3 when the gun is brand new out of the box.)
powering up straight from purchase is not possible. The item comes with the necessary battery but no fuel cell - plan on spending at least another $7 for a fuel cell and make sure you purchase the right version, as each model takes a different fuel cell.
RECOMMENDATION?
I think this is a good gun for a remodeler. The size is right as is the production capabilities. That said, to call it a "Framing Nailer" is a bit of a misnomer as I would not rely on this gun to do a whole lot of framing - especially new construction framing.
For a homeowner, the plus here is not investing in a compressor and hoses needed for air tools. The plus also comes with storage and the seeming popularity of Paslode - finding fuel cells should be relatively easy.
For this consumer? It's not a purchase I would repeat. While it works well for remodelling and I certainly will end up using it, there are enough negative considerations that render this one average. Average doesn't mean "bad" but it's not stellar either.
-features-
WEIGHT: Just under 7 pounds per literature, call it 7 even when loaded.
POWER: The biggest selling feature for Paslode guns is the fact that they run courtesy of power supplied by battery and fuel cell. No cords, no air hoses.
1200 nails on a fuel cell, 4000 nails on one battery. (This information, again, comes from literature.)
FASTENERS: Drives nails in the 2 - 31/4 inch range. Holds 150 nails at a time.
INCLUDED: Plastic case, clear plastic safety glasses, charger, battery.
Recommended:
No
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GuisBuild
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Location: USA
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About Me:
to a man with a hammer everything looks like a nail
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