The care and feeding of pneumatic nailers

Keep your nailer firing worry-free with simple maintenance

The staccato rhythm of a pneumatic nailer firing away on a jobsite is a welcome sound. It’s a sure sign the job is progressing.

Pneumatic nailers undeniably turn production up a notch on jobs. But if the hard-working nailer doesn’t get a little care, over time it will misfire or won’t fire at all.

Pneumatic nailers are precision tools. Internal components must work in tight tolerances to turn the compressed air into nail-driving power. The overall health of the internal components is very much determined by the care and feeding the tool gets on a daily basis.

Experts say most pneumatic nailer problems can be headed off before they occur. They suggest you take the following steps to assure your pneumatic nailer keeps driving hard.

Use the right fastener
The single most frequent problem users have with pneumatic nailers is attempting to use the wrong fastener in the tool, says Jorge Silveira, manager of Porter-Cable’s nailing and stapling product lines. “If the staple or nail is the wrong size, crown, gauge or collation, the tool won’t fire or will jam. Make sure the nails or staples are designed to be used with your pneumatic tool.”

Lubricate daily
Most all pneumatic tools require lubrication. There are some oil-less models out there used in finish applications, but framing nailers generally require a daily dose of lubricating oil, pneumatic tool experts agree. “It only takes two or three drops into the air inlet of the tool, every day,” says Lee Zinsle, Senco technical support manager. “We recommend a 10W non-detergent oil. Don’t ever use penetrating oils such as WD-40 or 3-in-1 oils. These oils make o-rings swell, which will cause sluggish performance,” he says.

“If you operate the tool in freezing weather, use a lubricating oil that contains an antifreeze,” suggests Dave Label, group product manager for DeWalt’s pneumatic tool line. “That will keep any moisture that comes through the air line from freezing inside the tool and causing problems,” he says.

Drain the tank nightly
Water condensation in compressor tanks is unavoidable. It happens as the ambient, moisture-laden air gets compressed and water vapor condenses and collects in the bottom of the tank.

“Most compressor tanks have easy-to-use drains. I suggest you drain the tank every night,” says Label. The moisture actually hurts the compressor more than the tool, but it can, over time, cause o-rings inside the nailer to swell and affect tool operation.

Keep it clean
The dirt, dust and debris on a jobsite can damage any precision tool. That’s why the experts say cleaning the tool regularly is important to longer tool life.

“Before you attach the air hose to the tool, make sure the nailer’s fitting isn’t contaminated with dirt or dust,” says Label. If the tool gets dropped into or covered with mud or dirt, clean it up before using it. “Make sure the exhaust port isn’t restricted by debris,” he adds.

“Every morning, it’s a good idea to clean the tool’s feed mechanism and magazine body and make sure it’s functioning correctly,” says Silveira. “Also, check the screws for tightness. They can come loose over time, which can cause the tool to malfunction.”

Maintain proper pressure
More is not better when it comes to nailer air pressure. “Adjust the air pressure to match what’s listed in the operator’s manual,’ says Silveira. “If you set the air pressure higher than what is rated for the tool, you are beating up the tool and shortening its life without getting any improvement in performance.”

Similarly, too little pressure will cause performance problems. “The nailer may not be able to fully seat the fastener into the workpiece.” It’s better to make adjustments with the tool’s depth setting than it is to adjust air pressure. The only time you should change the air pressure is when using a substantially different nail length, such as a 3 1/2" vs. a 2 1/2" in the tool. You may need a higher pressure for the longer nail, but check the operator manual for the correct pressure setting,” says Zinsle.

If fasteners “stairstep” in consecutive nailing bumps, Silveira suggests you check to make sure the compressor has the capacity to provide the volume of air needed for the tool. “I also recommend using 3/8" air hose to supply most of these tools. Plus, make sure fittings maintain a 3/8" inside diameter. Some fittings look like 3/8" fittings, but if you look inside the fitting, the actual hole inside the fitting is 1/4". This can restrict airflow and compromise tool performance.”

Leaking tools need repairs
The o-rings, the driver blade and bumper are considered wear items on pneumatic tools. “If you hear air hissing from your tool, it needs to be repaired,” says Zinsle.

Pneumatic tool manufacturers offer easy-to-use repair kits, complete with instructions and the various components that should be replaced. “This is a do-it-yourself repair project. If you have any mechanical aptitude, you should be able to do this job successfully,” says Zinsle.

“If you go in to replace one seal, there is a good chance the other seals are also worn. You may as well replace all of them while the tool is open,” Zinsle adds.

“The quality of the tool and how much it is used affects the interval between o-ring and other component replacement. One to two years is common,” says Label.

Label suggests using a drop or two of a thread-locking compound on each fastener as you reassemble the tool. “We use a thread-locking compound when assembling the tool, which reduces the chances of fasteners coming loose over time,” he says.

Think and act safely
In untrained hands, pneumatic nailers can be a work hazard. Further, users who attempt to disable safety mechanisms are setting themselves – and their work buddies – up for an accident.

“Never bypass the safety trip on any nailer,” says Label. He also suggests wearing eye protection at all times.

“On coil nailers, the wire collation gets ejected as the tool drives the fasteners. On stick nailers, the plastic collation strip can also fly uncontrollably while nailing. Both create an eye injury hazard, so always wear your eye protection,” Label says.

Published in the July/August 2002 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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