I tried cordless on a shed roof once and honestly regretted it halfway through. Even with extra batteries, it felt heavier and awkward after a couple hours. Pneumatic's annoying, sure, but at least it's consistent...no surprise pauses mid-job.
I've had similar experiences with cordless nailers—great for quick repairs or small jobs, but once you're up there for hours, the weight really starts to drag you down. Pneumatic setups might be a hassle with hoses and compressors, but at least you know exactly what you're getting every time you pull the trigger. Plus, pneumatic guns tend to have fewer jams and misfires in my experience, especially when you're dealing with tougher materials or longer nails.
That said, cordless tech has improved a lot lately. Some of the newer models are lighter and have better battery life. I haven't personally tried one on a full-day roofing job yet, though. Has anyone here used one of the latest-gen cordless nailers on a bigger project? Curious if they're finally catching up to pneumatic reliability or if it's still mostly marketing hype...
- Tried a newer cordless nailer last summer on a shed build.
- Battery life was surprisingly decent, but still felt heavy after a couple hours.
- Reliability-wise, fewer jams than older models, but still not quite pneumatic-level yet... getting closer though.
I've been using cordless nailers off and on for roofing jobs lately, and your experience lines up pretty well with mine. They're definitely getting better—battery life has improved a ton, and jams aren't nearly as frequent as they used to be. But yeah, the weight is still a bit of a drag, especially when you're up on a steep pitch for hours. Pneumatics still have the edge there, no doubt.
One thing I've noticed is that the newer cordless models handle temperature swings better. Had an older cordless nailer that would act up in colder weather, but the latest gen seems more consistent. Still not perfect, but it's encouraging to see manufacturers moving in the right direction.
Anyway, sounds like you're on the right track. Cordless tech isn't quite there yet for heavy-duty roofing, but it's getting close enough that I'm optimistic about the next few years.
"Had an older cordless nailer that would act up in colder weather, but the latest gen seems more consistent."
Interesting point about cold weather performance—I haven't trusted cordless nailers enough yet to try them in winter. Pneumatics are just so predictable, even on those brutal January mornings. But if newer cordless models are really improving in the cold, maybe it's worth a second look... Have you had issues with battery charge dropping off quicker in freezing temps, or is that better now too?
