"When I opened it up to see what went wrong (curiosity got the better of me...), I noticed the internal parts were mostly plastic and cheaply made metal alloys that had worn down quickly."
This kinda worries me since I'm about to tackle my roof next month and was thinking about grabbing one of the cheaper cordless nailers. After reading your experience, I'm leaning towards a mid-range tool instead. Any recommendations on specific brands or models you've had good luck with? Trying not to break the bank, but also want something that'll last...
Totally get why you're hesitant about the cheaper cordless nailers after seeing that—plastic internals aren't gonna cut it for roofing, especially if you're tackling your whole roof. Honestly, roofing is one of those jobs where tool quality really matters. Mid-range nailers are usually the sweet spot for DIYers.
I've had pretty good luck with the Metabo HPT (formerly Hitachi) roofing nailer. It's not exactly cheap, but it's definitely not top-of-the-line pricey either. Solid build, mostly metal internals, and it's held up well through a few storm-damage repairs I've done. Another decent option is Bostitch—they've been around forever, and their coil nailers tend to be reliable and sturdy enough for homeowner projects.
Whichever you pick, just make sure you keep it clean and oiled. Even a mid-range nailer can fail early if it's neglected. Good luck with your roof...it's a big project, but totally doable if you pace yourself and have decent gear.
"Whichever you pick, just make sure you keep it clean and oiled. Even a mid-range nailer can fail early if it's neglected."
Couldn't agree more on maintenance—seen plenty of decent nailers bite the dust early just from neglect. One thing I'd add is to double-check your compressor setup too. Had a buddy whose nailer kept jamming, turned out his compressor wasn't delivering consistent pressure. You running a decent compressor already, or still shopping around for that too?
Good point about the compressor—had a similar issue myself once, drove me nuts trying to figure it out. Maintenance definitely matters, but consistent airflow's just as crucial. You checked your hoses lately for leaks or kinks? Could save you some headaches down the line...
Had a similar compressor battle myself—turned out to be a sneaky kink hidden behind the toolbox. Felt like an idiot after hours of troubleshooting, lol. Anyway, hoses def matter, but honestly, if you're picking just one nailer, go coil roofing nailer. Less reload downtime, lighter on your wrists, and way easier when you're balancing up there. Just my two cents...
