Gotta disagree slightly on the coil nailer being lighter on the wrists. Yeah, reload downtime is definitely less, but I've found coil nailers can feel bulky after a few hours up top—especially if you're doing steep pitches. Personally, I'd go for a quality stick framing nailer instead. Easier to maneuver in tight spots, and honestly, the weight distribution just feels better balanced to me. But hey, everyone's got their own preference...
Interesting take, but have you tried adjusting your grip or stance with the coil nailer? I found that tweaking my hand position slightly and keeping my elbow tucked in closer to my body really helped reduce wrist fatigue. Also, taking short breaks every hour or so to stretch out the wrists and shoulders makes a huge difference—especially on steep roofs. Might be worth experimenting a bit before totally writing off the coil nailer...just my two cents.
Fair points, but honestly, tweaking grip and stance only goes so far when you're up there all day. I've tried the coil nailer plenty, and even with adjustments, it still feels like lugging around a bowling ball after a few hours. Personally, switching to a lighter stick nailer made a huge difference—less bulk, easier maneuvering, and my wrists thanked me later. Sure, reloading more often is annoying, but I'll take that over feeling like Popeye by lunchtime...
I've been there with the coil nailer—felt like I was dragging around a kettlebell after a few hours. But honestly, even the stick nailer wore me down eventually. Ever tried a pneumatic palm nailer? Saved my wrists big time, especially on steep pitches...
"Ever tried a pneumatic palm nailer? Saved my wrists big time, especially on steep pitches..."
Does a palm nailer really hold up for roofing though? I've seen them used for tight spaces and joist hangers, but never thought they'd handle a whole roof. I'm about to tackle my first roofing project (wish me luck...) and was leaning towards a coil nailer, but now you've got me second-guessing. Is the palm nailer practical enough to justify skipping the heavier options entirely, or is it more of a backup tool?
