Yikes!
If any of you non-Canuck memmbers think we're whiney little princesses...check out the two links below...they are not the same.
Now, tell us we don't have a legitimate beef!




http://www.amazon.ca/Bosch-FNS250-16-Straight-Finish-Nailer/dp/B0022NHVZA
http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-FNS250-16-Straight-Finish-Nailer/dp/B0022NHVZA

 

Yikes!
If any of you non-Canuck memmbers think we're whiney little princesses...check out the two links below...they are not the same.
Now, tell us we don't have a legitimate beef!




http://www.amazon.ca/Bosch-FNS250-16-Straight-Finish-Nailer/dp/B0022NHVZA
Bosch FNS250-16 16 Gauge Straight Finish Nailer - Amazon.com

And they probably came from Asia. Last I heard, Vancouver was still a major port of entry.

 

Ridiculous, isn't it........

 

Dan-

I've always rebuilt my own. They are easy to rebuild, but if you don't think you can... Well... I've enjoyed talking with you about allot of things in the last 1-1/2 years. You've been a friend and we are somewhat neighbors...

If I can find the kits or the replacement o-rings... maybe even heads if they need them... I'll rebuild them for you. You just pay the parts and shipping.

 

Or look at a 15 gauge gun... In that range and for what you said you were using it for... I have a Porter Cable 16 Gauge Finish nailer that shoots aluminum nails and a Senco 15 gauge angle nailer that shoots steel galvanized nails. Both are less than that Bosch.

EDIT- I get it now... Canadian Duty

 

I have the Porter Cable set (16ga finish, brad, narrow crown stapler) in 2 years of use neither one has jammed or misfired. I can honestly recommend them. Right now the 2in. brad nailer kit with case is on Amazon for $73.99. I don't know about the Canadian cost, but it may still be worthwhile.

 

Porter Cable?



Is this the gun, Dick?
http://www.amazon.ca/Porter-Cable-FN250C-1-Inch-2-Inch-16-Gauge/dp/B001AOSX3Q/ref=dp_ob_title_hi
It's the only PC model that I noticed at the Amazon.ca site

 

Both of us being in the trades... 25-30 years for a finish gun was well worth the price when you bought it.

I know I am fanatical about oiling my guns. (was drilled into me) Couple drops in morning, 2 more at lunch. I also learned on nail guns that cost is not the only consideration. I got burned a few times. Hilti, although you would think at that time a big major name... stopped making nails for my Hilti clip-head. I had 2 5 gallon buckets left of nalis for it, but saved it for home use until that supply ran out. I had a kid on my crew that used cheap HF finish guns. Would last 2-3 months before leaking air. Other brands would change their models and stop stocking kits for the older ones...

Never had problems with bostich, porter cable or senco... Nevr had any problems finding parts or fasteners for them. I'm sort of bias to them. Never used Bosch guns so I can't comment on them.

Speaking of Rip Van Winkle-
Of those 3 brands, the only company reps I've met is from Senco. I have to say, they keep making improvements to their finish guns. As Hitachi has been what to emulate as the Cadillac in framing nailers, Senco is in finish nailers. (I didn't always believe that.) Their line of rechargeable electric finish guns... adjustable depth, actually shooting to depth, long battery life, light, small. It's the first rechargeable that is not just worth a ****... I think one may have finally made it to my want list as worth having.

On duties... You're in BC, What happens if you come "visit"? (But then fuel cost...)

 

If we come across for 24 hours we are allowed $200 duty free or if we come across for 48 hours or more we can claim $800 free, except maybe for the Goods and Services tax of 5%. However, that is only on personal use items and doesn't include anything destined for commercial use so it might be a crapshoot as to how they would classify it.

It's interesting how you rated the Hitachi. I just bought a 1 3/8" 23 gauge Hitachi and it is a very nice gun with the exception of the trigger safety. It is a litltle awkward to pick it up, then get the safety held down with your middle finger, so that you can fire it with your index finger. No problem for continuous use but a little unhandy when you pick it up and put it down often.

I've bought 3 of their routers and I'm starting to get pretty fond of that green color.

 

Charles-
I don't know if it's my size or my hands, but hitachi finish guns and I didn't mesh. Felt awkward for me, so didn't buy any of their finish guns. I have their framers, palm nailers and a few of their different coil nailers, but none of their finish guns...

 

Interesting. My hands are very large, I have a hard time finding gloves that will fit but I don't have a problem with that pin nailer. A PC 18 gauge is the most comfortable one I own but it is also a bit larger gun. I also have 2 Bostich 18 gaugers and a Bostich narrow crown stapler and they are good but I like the feel of the PC better.

 

Mike; thanks for that very generous offer!
Never mind the fuel costs, I have to take a ferry to get off the Sunshine Coast.
I never used to use mail order but with their cheap delivery costs I'm depending on them more and more. I figure a trip down to Vancouver, all expenses in, about $100.

I'm going to take a crack at repairing it, later this morning...I may be seeking some guidance...

 

Charles; the newer 18GA is a 'PRIME' definitely from Asia...great little gun. It's been trouble free.
The 16Ga...well, I'm not sure where it's from. I think I bought it in the '70's; never been torn down and serviced. Maybe from Japan, or Germany(?).
I'll take a look for more info on it later this morning...can't even remember the brand name right now.

 

Probably 90% or more are made in Asia now but thankfully, not all are junk. But if you stop and think back, if you spent the original price adjusted to today's dollar you could afford the best one made.

By the way, since "pretzelized" isn't really a word, there is no need to worry about spelling :haha: Glad it was nothing serious.

 

YeeHaw! Took it mostly apart and discovered that a nail had been pretzliezed (pretzeleized sp?) into the nail loading channel...hidden until I got it apart.
came out looking like a paper clip.
In the process, I discovered the company name on the casting, along with the model #
BASSO BAT-50
It's a Taiwanese company. Making progress here...
Basso Oring Kits |  Addems Air Tools
Good to know it's a reputable company; been around for quite a while. I guess that's why I got 30 yrs of problem free usage.
BASSO INDUSTRY CORP.
I was 10 yrs out on the date I got it...couldn't have been before '83.

 

YeeHaw! Took it mostly apart and discovered that a nail had been pretzliezed (pretzeleized sp?) into the nail loading channel...hidden until I got it apart.
came out looking like a paper clip.
In the process, I discovered the company name on the casting, along with the model #
BASSO BAT-50
It's a Taiwanese company. Making progress here...
Basso Oring Kits*|* Addems Air Tools
Good to know it's a reputable company; been around for quite a while. I guess that's why I got 30 yrs of problem free usage.
BASSO INDUSTRY CORP.
I was 10 yrs out on the date I got it...couldn't have been before '83.

Well all righty then!! You not only salvaged the nail gun, you also got to introduce a new word to my vocabulary--i'd go with pretzelized on the spelling though. :sold:

earl

 

I have never had any problems with any of my air nailers. I attribute this to the fact that I use Marvel air tool oil in them. One drop in the fitting when connecting the air.

 

Charles-
Opposite body type of you. I'm 5'7", small hands. I'm the short guy on crews that always got stuck dragging bags on concrete in crawl spaces for pouring pads and shoring... Because I fit into tight spots. I have small hands with short fingers.

PC finish guns are comfortable to me. Senco's, it depends on the model. I haven't own any Bostiches in about 30 years, but I had good luck with the ones I had. Hitachi finish guns weren't comfortable for me and The one's I did use (borrowed from others on my crews) I had problems with the saeftys.

As a finish carpenter, when your trimming out, I'm constantly shooting a few nails... move down the wall as you're lining things up and spotting the studs as you shooting a few more nails... So grab you gun, shoot, gun back an belt... hand constantly repositioning on the gun, sometimes on your head behind a toilet.... If cedar siding, the same. If making cabinets, then you grab your gun and shoot a lot of nails. Stair banisters, same.

Mike-
In the trades, your going to wear out gun and occasionally get jams.When I worked for BFL, the longest a 2500 count box of 16 gauge 2-1/2 finish nails would last me was 5 days. That was over 12,500 nails a month of just that size and gauge. Odds are with that many over time... Now I use a lot less. The work just isn't there like that anymore. And yes I've had finish nails "pretzelize" (good descriptive word)... usually when hitting a nail plate or by chance hitting square on a nail head or drywall screw head.

 

Dick; that's an 18Ga...the one that I was having trouble with is a 16Ga. My PRIME 18Ga is a great little gun...works fine.
But thanks for the link!
Cheers,
-Dan

 

You may laugh, but Harbor Freight has them reasonable...
16 Gauge Finish Nailer

I have had good service from my HF nailers!

Don't know if they are available in Canada, though.

 

Duane, Harbor Freight is US only, although there is a good chance the same item is available from a discount tool supplier here too. Any tools that cheap are guaranteed to come from Asia.