Yeah, pneumatic nailers are solid, but honestly, cordless roofing nailers have come a long way lately. I was skeptical at first—battery life, weight, reliability—but after trying one on a recent inspection job, I gotta admit, it surprised me. No hoses to trip over or compressors to lug around...makes working on steep pitches a bit less sketchy. Still, if you're renting and just need reliability without surprises, pneumatic's probably the safer bet.
Totally agree cordless nailers have improved dramatically. I switched to a cordless roofing nailer last summer for a shed project, and honestly, the freedom of movement alone was worth it. Battery life held up surprisingly well—got through most of the day on one charge. Still, if you're tackling a bigger job or working in colder weather (which drains batteries faster), pneumatic might still edge it out. But for smaller projects or tricky spots, cordless is becoming my go-to choice...
I get your point about cordless nailers—they've definitely come a long way from when they first came out. I borrowed a buddy's cordless roofing nailer for a quick repair job a few months back, and I was honestly expecting it to be more hassle than it was worth. Surprisingly, it held up pretty well—no jams, decent battery life, and the convenience factor was undeniable. But I gotta admit, I'm still hesitant about fully ditching pneumatic, especially for larger-scale roofing jobs.
Maybe I'm just old-school, but when you're re-roofing an entire building or working in colder temps (which happens more often than I'd like), battery life becomes a real sticking point. I've had situations managing properties where guys are halfway through a roof replacement, and suddenly you're scrambling for chargers and extra batteries. Pneumatic nailers, despite the hoses and compressors being cumbersome, just don't have that same uncertainty. You know exactly what you're getting into, and downtime is minimal.
Still, I can see cordless becoming the standard sooner rather than later, especially as battery tech keeps improving. For smaller repairs or one-off projects—yeah, cordless makes total sense. And like you said, the freedom of movement is a huge plus when you're up on a steep pitch or tight corner. It's hard to beat not having to drag around hoses or trip over cords.
So, even though I'm still a bit skeptical about using cordless exclusively, I totally get why it's becoming your go-to for certain jobs. It's just a matter of matching the tool to the task, right? Either way, glad to hear your experience has been positive overall...makes me think I should give cordless another shot on my next smaller project.
Yeah, cordless is handy for sure, but how do you guys find the weight difference after a full day? My wrists were killing me after using cordless all afternoon—does it get easier over time or...?
"My wrists were killing me after using cordless all afternoon—does it get easier over time or...?"
Had the same issue when I first switched to cordless. Thought it was just me being new to roofing, but maybe it's the tool itself? Curious if anyone's tried different brands or models that feel lighter or better balanced. Or is it more about technique and getting used to the weight distribution...?
