Paslode PF150S-PP Specs
Weight: 6.3 pounds
Height: 11.7 inches
Length: 17.4 inches
Capacity: Two strips (44 to 47 nails)
Nail size: 1 1/2-inch only
Magazine angle: 30 degrees
Street price: $369
Paslode
800/222-6990
www.paslode.com
I have used or owned most of the metal-connector nailers on the market, so when I heard that Paslode was introducing a new, smaller Positive Placement tool, I was eager to try it. Unlike earlier models, which shoot both 1 1/2- and 2 1/2-inch fasteners, the PF150-SS shoots only the 1 1/2-inch size.
In March, the manufacturer sent me the new nailer. My crew and I have been using it ever since. Here's what we discovered.
Paslode's new nailer is short enough top-to-bottom to fit in a 12-inch joist bay.
Operation
Like Paslode's previous hardware nailers, this one has a probe, or aiming tip. The user presses the probe into the hole in the metal hardware and pulls the trigger, and the fastener goes in through that hole. With tools from other manufacturers, the user puts the tip of the fastener directly in the hole and then fires the gun. In my experience, these two ways of aligning the nail work equally well.
The PF150S-PP is less than 12 inches tall, so it's easy to maneuver in tight quarters, such as joist bays. The rear-loading magazine is long enough to accommodate two sticks of nails, which means less reloading and increased production. Lighter and more compact than Paslode's other hardware nailer, this gun is still a couple of pounds heavier than its closest competitor, the Bostitch MC150. The MC150, however, holds just one strip of nails.
Features
As with most guns of this type, the Paslode has only one firing mode: sequential. This is to prevent it from accidentally shooting a second nail that misses the hole in the hardware, which could cause the tool to bounce back and hit the operator. To eliminate premature wear to the driver and reduce the likelihood of missing fasteners, a dry-fire lockout engages when the magazine is down to four nails.
The gun comes with a small metal rafter hook that bolts to the handle next to the air fitting. You can attach it on whichever side you prefer, for left- or right-hand use. The tool works well in either hand because the magazine is in line with the grip.
Comfort. Its rubber grip and compact size make this gun comfortable to use for long periods, and the oversize trigger makes it easy to operate while wearing gloves. Although it's not the lightest model on the market, it has a nice solid feel and produces very little recoil.
Though the PF150S-PP (on left in both pairings) is similar in appearance to Paslode's earlier hardware nailer, it's smaller and lighter and drives only 1 1/2-inch fasteners. (The larger tool can also drive 2 1/2-inch nails.) The only thing I don't like about this tool — a complaint that applies to most of the guns that shoot 1 1/2-inch fasteners — is that it's a pain to remove the magazine to clear a jam.
Verdict
Thanks to its reliable performance and comfort, the PF150S-PP is our tool of choice for driving 1 1/2-inch nails in framing hardware. We haven't had it long enough to know how durable it will prove to be, but given our experiences with Paslode's other hardware nailers, my bet is that it will last a long time.
Tim Uhler is a lead framer for Pioneer Builders in Port Orchard, Wash., and a JLC contributing editor.
