Driven to failure

Good maintenance prolongs pneumatic nailer life, but o-ring and driver blade replacement are simple, effective ways to breathe new life into well-used tools.

Pneumatic tool experts agree: if you give your nailer clean air and oil it regularly, it should give you hundreds of thousands and maybe even a million driven nails before it loses its power.

But if you allow dirt to get into the tool, neglect to oil it or rarely drain your air compressor, you are subjecting your tool to contamination that will take years off its life.

Jorge Silveira, pneumatic tool product manager at Porter-Cable, says the best tool to use to get the longest life from your nailer is the instruction manual.

“From a safety and use standpoint, tool users should thoroughly read the operator’s manual. You will also find troubleshooting tips there that can help you identify common nailer problems.”

Tool companies also have helpful technical and service personnel available at their service centers; tool distributors can also offer valuable advice if you are having tool problems.

Start at the compressor
Good nailer care starts at the compressor.

“Drain your compressor every day to remove water condensation, says Chris Dutra, global product manager at Stanley-Bostitch. “It also pays to install an in-line air filter or a combination regulator-filter-lubricator that removes contaminants and any moisture from the compressed air as it exits the compressor but before it goes in the tool. These filters, which cost around $40, dramatically reduce moisture going into the tool.”

Moisture getting inside a nailer can cause corrosion and o-rings to swell, making tool operation sluggish. “I recommend crews drain the tank once a day in winter months and twice a day in hot, humid weather,” says Lee Zinsle, Senco technical support and training manager.

Silveira also suggests paying attention to the intake filter on the compressor. “There is a lot of dust and contaminants on jobsites, and these filters are your first line of defense in keeping them out of the system. Dutra recommends the in-line filter element be replaced every six months.

Keep dirt out of the system
The components of a pneumatic tool have close tolerances; o-rings inside the unit harness the pneumatic pressure so you can drive a nail in fractions of a second. If you get dirt or other contaminants in the system, it will cause wear and tear on the o-rings, and they eventually won’t be able to maintain pressure.

“Be careful when connecting the tool to the compressed air hose,” says Zinsle. “Wipe the couplings off to make sure no dust or dirt gets inside the connection.”

Lubricate liberally
The experts agree that oiling the tool regularly is the best line of defense for preserving o-ring life. However, some finish nailers are designed to operate oil-free, so don’t lubricate those tools.

For the rest of the tools, lubrication is easy. Just add a few drops of pneumatic tool oil offered by the tool manufacturer or a non-detergent S.A.E. 20 weight oil in the air intake coupling. “Don’t use detergent oil or oil with other additives because they will damage o-rings and other rubber parts inside the tool,” says Bill Harman, DeWalt pneumatics product manager. “If temperatures fall below 20 F, the oil should also contain ethylene glycol to prevent moisture coming into the tool from freezing.”

If the tool is used heavily, the experts recommend that the tool be lubricated twice a day; if the compressor has an in-line lubricator, this step isn’t needed.

Daily inspections
Before each use, Harman recommends visually inspecting the unit. Look for loose or damaged components. If any component needs service, make sure it’s completed before the tool is used.

The tool should also be blown clean with compressed air, paying special attention to the magazine, pusher and contact trip mechanism. This helps keep the tool operating smoothly and reduces the chances for jams and faster tool wear.

Common problems, simple solutions
Even with tender loving care, pneumatic nailers can sometimes cause fits. The experts say jams, leaking air and incomplete nailing are the most frequent calls to technical service centers.

Nail jams are most often caused by attempting to use the wrong fastener in the tool, reports Stanley-Bostitch’s Dutra. Double-check the fastener to assure it’s the right size, angle and style for your nailer.

Jams may also be caused by a worn driver blade, says DeWalt’s Harman. “If you are driving fasteners into a very hard laminate material, it’s possible the driver blade will wear over time, causing more frequent jams.”

Loss of driving power and leaking air hissing from the tool are signs that o-rings need replacement. “It may help to turn up the psi setting on the compressor to get through the immediate job, but eventually, you will have to replace the o-rings,” Silveira says.

However, he cautions against setting the compressor higher than the maximum psi rating for the tool. It will only cause more tool damage with little or no nail-driving benefit.

Fortunately, o-ring or driver blade replacement is an easy task. “Anyone with even a little mechanical aptitude will be able to complete this job easily,” says Zinsle. “Manufacturers put the needed o-rings or other components into repair kits. They have easy-to-follow instructions.”

 Before attempting any pneumatic tool repair, make sure the tool is disconnected from the compressed air supply. Silveira estimates that replacing o-rings will take about 30 minutes. Replacing a drive blade will take about an hour, especially the first time you do it.

Once the tool is opened up, the experts agree that it’s wise to replace all of the o-rings. “If one is worn enough to cause air leakage, it’s likely the others are also worn. It’s a good idea to go ahead and replace them all,” says Zinsle.

“Also, once you have the tool open, use compressed air to blow or use a clean rag to wipe any other dirt or contaminants out of the tool housing. It’s a bit of preventive maintenance while the tool is open,” says Harman.

From there, the o-ring replacement is very straightforward. DeWalt even color-codes the o-rings so there is no mistaking where they go. Once the o-rings are in place, lubricate them with the grease provided in the repair kit, then reassemble the tool. It’s a good idea to use locking compound on the screws.

“Make sure you get the correct repair kit for your tool. Most kits are very model-specific,” Silveira adds.

Take a look at new models
If your nailer is over eight or 10 years old, you may want to take a look at the new models now available. “The power-to-weight ratio has improved significantly over time. Tools today are five pounds lighter and 20 percent more powerful than older models. Technological advances and feature enhancements also make newer models an attractive alternative,” Harman concludes.

Published in the March/April, 2003 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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