I've run into similar issues with Bostitch, especially when switching between different gauges. Milwaukee has been pretty solid for me overall, but I'll be honest—nothing's perfect. It handles various lengths smoothly enough, but I've noticed it does better with standard gauges than some of the specialty ones. For thicker membranes and root barriers, I usually switch to a pneumatic setup just to avoid headaches. It's a bit more hassle dragging hoses around, but fewer jams and misfires save me time in the end.
One thing I've learned: regularly cleaning and oiling the feed mechanism makes a huge difference in performance across different nail types. Have you tried tweaking your maintenance routine or are you looking for something that's lower-maintenance out of the box?
I've noticed the same thing about Milwaukee handling standard gauges better. Interesting point about maintenance though—I haven't been as diligent with oiling as I probably should be. Maybe that's why I've had more jams lately... guess I'll give that a shot.
I've had similar issues myself—used to neglect oiling until one summer when jams drove me nuts. After I started giving it a quick oiling every morning, things improved noticeably. Worth a try before ditching your nailer altogether...
Totally agree on the oiling—it's a small habit but makes a big difference. A couple other things I've noticed help:
- Check your air pressure regularly; inconsistent PSI can cause jams too.
- Don't skimp on nails. Cheaper brands tend to jam more often (learned that one the hard way...).
- Quick clean-out every now and then keeps buildup from messing things up.
These little tweaks saved me from tossing out a perfectly good nailer.
"Don't skimp on nails. Cheaper brands tend to jam more often (learned that one the hard way...)."
Haha, man, I feel this one deep in my soul. I once grabbed a box of discount nails thinking I'd save a few bucks—ended up spending half the day clearing jams and cursing my life choices. Lesson learned: cheap nails are like cheap toilet paper...you regret it instantly.
The air pressure thing is spot-on too. I used to think my compressor was just finicky until I realized I hadn't checked the PSI in months. Once I dialed it in, smooth sailing.
Quick question though—do you guys prefer coil nailers or stick nailers for roofing? I've always stuck with coil because that's what my old man swore by, but lately I've seen some roofers around here using stick nailers and claiming they're lighter and easier to handle. Not sure if it's worth switching after all these years, but I'm curious if anyone's tried both and noticed a real difference.
