Cordless Nail Guns

Did you know that the use of cordless power tools on the job site can actually save you money? According to a recent report from the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc., the oldest and largest provider of workers compensation and employee injury data and statistics in the nation, "Without a doubt, cordless tools do help reduce trips and falls, entanglements, and electrocution injuries," noted Mark W. Kinsey, Broker/CRA/Consultant for PKG Insurance Associates, Inc., in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, head of NARI's Insurance Group. "Additionally, we believe it would make sense for the insurance industry to take this under consideration when writing insurance policies."

All of you contractors feel the effects of rising workers' compensation costs. These rising costs are driven largely by medical care and payments for lost wages when injuries occur. As a business owner, you can control these costs, protect your employees, and keep them at work by reviewing safety issues in the workplace.

Most power tool manufacturers today have created a cordless version of their nail guns. With the advent of the lithium ion battery technology, many of these tools are comparable in power durability, as long as you have two batteries: one battery charging while you are working with the other.

Paslode has taken a different approach to the cordless nail gun. In 1986, Paslode introduced the first cordless power framing nailer, the Impulse. The Impulse offered the power of a pneumatic without hoses. Still considered by many the industry standard, the Impulse features a patented combustion motor that provides freedom from compressors and cords allowing greater safety, portability and versatility. Basically, Paslode's nail guns are powered by a battery that sparks gas from a fuel cartridge.

Paslode's cordless Nailers have come a long way since 1986. The early models required daily cleaning, misfired enough to disrupt your work and replacement fuel cartridges were expensive. The new models however are relatively trouble free with only occasional misfires. The costs of the replacement fuel cells is $5 each. While this increases the operating costs of the Paslode nailer, the company says that each cell is good for about 2,400 shots for the IM250II. The Trim Master 18 and the Trim Master 16 use smaller cartridges, which are good for about 1,200 nails. Dated cartridges have an 18-month shelf life which is fine for the professional who uses them every day but something that the occasionally user should take into consideration. The fuel cells on the Paslode nailers work by mixing with ambient air so using a Paslode nail gun above 4000 feet in elevation requires a special "Blue Valve" high altitude adapter.

In addition to pneumatic and cordless nail guns, Paslode also manufactures a complete line of fasteners designed specifically for use with Paslode tools. ProStrip(TM) paper tape collated nails provide high holding power and ease of drive with a revolutionary designed collation tape that provides less breakage and waste, less debris on the job site, and minimizes flying debris for increased safety. Other quality Paslode fasteners include the TLN(TM) (treated lumber nail), the first corrosion-resistant fastener coating for treated lumber in residential construction, and FloorGrip(TM) fasteners, which improve residential subfloor construction.

** As with all power tools, hearing and eye protection are highly recommended.

Jude Herr is the editor for Toologics.com, a Tool Blog which provides information, news and reviews about power tools for the professional tool user and craftsperson. Visit http://www.toolking.com where they leverage their buying power to offer you the best prices on professional power tools and accessories.