NuMax SFL618 Pneumatic 3-in-1 15.5-Gauge and 16-Gauge 2" Flooring Nailer / Stapler with Flooring Mallet and Interchangeable Base Plates

I've laid solid 3/4" Brazilian Cherry hardwood flooring 3 times. First two times i rented a nail gun from home depot. This time, I decided to purchase because it was cheaper than a weekly rental. My plan was to purchase the Harbor Freight Banks nail gun which was rated highly but I couldn't wait for it to go on sale.This gun perform flawlessly, sunk the nails, never scratched the floor, never had a jam. Can't believe how much quicker I completed the job vs using The Home Depot nail gun which scratched my floor and kept bending the nails.Follow the instructions and keep the gun well oiled.

This tool worked perfectly

If you're going to install a lot of bamboo wood flooring then you'll need this gun! It's cheaper than renting if you'll keep the gun for more than 2 days (and you probably will:) Plus I think it's a good idea to have it handy if you do more or need to replace any flooring. However, you can always resell it.Nails/Cleats - I used the brand "PowerNail" from Home Depot, 1 1/2 inch L-Nail 16 gage Powercleats L 150-16. NOTE that they can ONLY be found in the tool rental department. $16 a box of 1,000. They are in a white box with black lettering and have an image of a flooring nail gun on the box.Jams - only had one and it was very easy to remove the nail without any tools used to open gun. When I first began my project I rented a Bosch nailer from Home Depot and it jammed twice. Both times I had to take it to the store for them to fix it. The last time it took them 20 minutes to remove the nails so I left it there and bought this gun.Air Compressor - I used one that I had bought on Amazon - Porter Cable 6 gallon set at 100 psi.Ease of use - Very easy! I like it better than the Bosch I had originally rented.About me - I'm a female novice daredevil when it comes to home improvement. I love to try my hand at things and save money! This was my first time at installing wood floors and found it to be a bigger project than I expected. It took me 8 solid 9 hour days to remove old carpet, nails, tacks etc and install nearly 1000 sq ft of bamboo - all by myself.Tools I found really helpful to have handy before you start the project:1. Crowbar - I used this remove goofed up boards and to push them tighter together along drywall.2. Paint scraper ( I used this thing in more ways than you'd ever imagine)3. table saw ( this is imperative!) You'll need to know how to use it safely so practice first. I had to buy one at the last minute and spent till 1 AM watching Utube videos on how to put it together and use it without loosing a finger. That's a serious piece of equipment! The reason you need is to cut or "rip" your wood flooring to fit around anything that sticks out in your room or hallway - like pillars, door openings, entrance halls etc. you'll also need it to cut around vent grids and for your final piece if it won't take a whole floor piece.4. Safety glasses and ear plugs. Seriously, use them.5. Garbage removal of old carpet and pad - I used a new franchise company called Bin There, Dump That! Great service at a reasonable price. I used a 4 yard dumpster for only $175.I still need to figure out how to make my own transitions because the ones Lumber Liquidators and the big box stores don't have any that will work for my situations. That would actually be another tip I give the DIYer - think about and even buy a couple of transitions so you know how it fit with your situation before you start. There may be an alternative way to end your wood flooring as you approach the other surface.Good luck on your install!!

My wife and I recently purchased a '59 ranch-style home. While the bedrooms had oak hardwood flooring, the living room, hallway, and dining room had carpeting, which, while in great condition, looked like it was original to the house. We'd need to remove it. We prayed that hardwood might be under it. After pulling up a corner, we found we weren't that lucky. We looked at various options to replace the carpet -- carpeting, laminate, and hardwood (it's too cold in PA during various times of the year for tile, without radiant heat (which gets pricey)). After getting quotes on materials (with and without labor), we decided hardwood was the way to go. However, the only way it was reasonable was to install it ourselves. After a number of online videos and a great deal of reading forums, I decided I could, indeed, do this myself... however, I knew I would need a pneumatic flooring nailer to save my back and knees. After deciding on the type of hardwood we wanted (3/4 tongue-and-groove pre-finished oak) and researching the type of nailer needed to do the job (one that supports 16 gauge staples, T, or L cleats -- I used L cleats), I started researching nailers. I came to find (as you'd expect) there are some seriously expensive nailers out there. I considered renting one but decided quickly that it would cost too much (as I was installing the floor pretty much on my own a couple hours at a time, with occasional help from a great friend on nights and weekends after work). I knew I had to buy a nailer. However, I also knew (with the exception of loaning the tool to a friend or helping a buddy in the future) this was likely the only floor I'd install. Expensive was out of the question. Based on all the reviews I read about the NuMax, I took a chance. I figured if it got me through 3/4 of the install and I had to rent a nailer if it broke down, it would have been worth the $103 I spent at the time. To have the floor installed would have cost almost twice what we spent on the floor. It would have been worth the loss. At any rate, I'm so glad I got this gun. It far exceeded my expectations. Knowing I'm no pro (only a DIY'er) and can't speak to other nailers (pro or otherwise) and how well they might work in comparison, after having installed hardwood in our living room, dining room, and hallway, here's what I found.Pros: The set comes with some great items. First, there's the nailer (of course), a well-built long-reach handle. Second it comes with all the hardware needed to assemble the gun and maintain it (which was awesome as all my tools were at our old house when I first started installing the floor). Without those tools (allen wrenches and a star wrench to tighten the bolts and bracket to attach the long-reach handle), I would have been out of luck right out of the gate. NuMax provided oil, a great add (ensure you follow the instructions included and a) use this oil and b) use the oil as documented. They also provided a quality (and truly useful and durable) multi-purpose rubber mallet. Don't be afraid to hammer with this thing. It can handle the work. The mallet was indispensable during the install for a number of reasons (e.g., tapping the floor into place, lightly or with some force -- watch vids on how to do this the right way, as you can use all sides of the mallet on different parts the floor boards). NuMax also provided two plastic (non-marring) base plates. The one I needed worked perfectly for me (see General Comments). Finally, they included sample nails, staples and cleats (only to show you what works in the gun -- not enough to use for the install. This was a nice add as it gave me something to bring into the store to ensure I got the right cleats. And, finally, the included instructions... they were sufficient enough to learn how to put together the nailer, prepare it for first use, use the basics, and maintain the nailer, which seems really well-built for the price. The body is solid and has a decent heft to it. Since it's aluminum, it isn't so heavy that it makes the job harder. The slide mechanisms are responsive and smooth, shooting one nail after the next without issue (keeping in mind I'm a DIY'er and not a pro who could probably shoot nails one after the other in their sleep). Clearing jams wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Manufacturers definitely thought about the end user when they made this nailer. Use some common sense and patience if you experience a jam. You should have no issue resolving jams. The plunger worked well throughout the install as well (as long as you hit is squarely, have the right PSI setting, and give yourself enough room for a reasonable swing, contact, and complete plunger depression). Don't be afraid to hit it; but, don't abuse it either. With a few swings, you'll find the sweet spot fairly quickly. The area to which you attach the compressor is built well, solid and (as do most) comes with a dust cover to use when the nailer isn't attached to a compressor. Another great selling point (which ultimately convinced me on this nailer vs others), is the fact that it offers versatility in the types and lengths of staples and cleats you can use -- 15.5 gauge Flooring Staples and 16 Gauge T and L Cleats from 1-1/2” to 2” in length. While I knew I was only going to use 2" L cleats (please don't comment on whether I should have used staples -- that debate will likely go on for as long as staples and/or cleats are used, from what I exhaustively read), I like the idea that the nailer offered more options compared to most, if not all, of the others I researched -- despite cost.Cons: I wish there was a case. When all was said and done and I had to break everything down, I wanted to store the tool properly so if I needed it in the future, it would be there and would have all the items that came with the nailer (plates, wrenches, etc.) in one place. No such luck. I ended up putting all items in a ziploc baggie for safe keeping and then wrapping it and the tool in a construction-grade garbage bag -- duct taping everything to make it tight -- and putting it on a shelf for safe storage. I case would have been a nice add for maybe another $20, which I would have been willing to pay. Another con is that the rubber grip on the long-reach handle started twisting around roughly 3/4 of the way through the job. The company should have adhered the grip to the handle in the factory (or made a better grip). Still, I was wearing gloves for most of the job. I ripped off the grip (not the handle, which was a back-saver) and kept going. One final con was the container in which the included oil was packaged. It was a really nice, add, please don't get me wrong here. My only bone to pick with it was that it was offered in a cheap squeeze bottle without a cap. Once you cut the nozzle to allow the oil to come out, there was no way easily to seal the bottle. Moreover, the bottle was bubbled out at the bottom. It didn't sit flat and had tendencies to fall over easily -- resulting in spilled oil. A simple cap would have resolved the spill issue.General Comments: I can't count the following as pros or cons, as they were simply experiences that I think most would experience with this or any other gun. I used the nailer with a Porter Cable pancake compressor (which I purchased on Amazon at the same time -- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009NR3R6A/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0). I highly recommend this set (or similar sets) for reasons I'll explain. First, you will have to play around with the pressure to get the nails to hit the tongue just right. I found 80-90 psi work perfect for my needs (flooring and subfloor (3/4 plywood), so as to lessen/avoid split tongues. Any setting over this and I either got a split tongue or the L cleat sank too deep. I noticed some reviewers complained about the base plates. Ensuring the allen-head screws were set properly in the plate recesses, I had no problems with the 3/4 plate at all (i.e., it didn't mar any of the wood and it didn't come off, despite lifting the gun off and placing it back on the wood countless times). Please note that I didn't drag the gun across the floors or anything, as some might. I always lifted and re-positioned between shots; but, it worked great for me. The plate and guide combo gave me perfect alignment with the tongue and perfect shot depth, with the right PSI setting. Concerning the magazine, some reviewers noted it was too long or got in the way. I liked the magazine's length, as you go through cleats fast. I couldn't imagine having fewer cleats in the queue. The install would have taken much longer having to load cleats more often. Having said this, the magazine will not allow you to install your first couple rows and last couple of rows of floors. This is normal and unavoidable. You need to face nail and/or nail/bradnail those boards in until you get enough room to clear the magazine, which was why I also got the PC set referenced at the link. Check out online vids on how to do this. Regarding jams, I did get one that was caused by the gun throughout the entire install -- two were caused by me when I got lazy and tried to hit the plunger too close to a wall and couldn't fully or solidly hit the plunger (which causes the cleats to only partially fire). Trust me, don't be lazy and try to do this. The time needed to clear the gun or pull/cut cleats from/n the flooring isn't worth it. For the one jam caused by the gun (about 1/2 the way through the job) the cleat came out of the barrel guide slightly. Unfortunately, I didn't know this until I already fired another nail. This resulted in 20 minutes trying to clear the jam and 10 minutes ensuring all metal shards were clear from the barrel and that it was clean for the next nail. After oiling the gun up again, she was good to go and didn't have any other problems not related to user error. One final note (after ensuring you get the proper nails/cleats for the gun (I used Bostich 16 gauge 2" cleats, which worked great), keep in mind that the button to release the slide mechanism (after pulling back the slide and inserting the staples/cleats) is on the left side of the magazine near the top closest to you when you are standing over the gun. This might be normal for nailers (I'm not sure) but it took me a little to find it when I started using the gun and ran out of cleats the first time. It can be a little hard to press, but you get used to it quick.Recommended Purchase?: Folks, I know there are more expensive nailers out there. I also know that NuMax isn't a brand name. However, I did a lot of research on nailers. I was ready to spend twice what this nailer cost, as it still would have saved me a ton of money compared to a pro install (about which I've heard, from friends who had installs done, horror stories depending on whom you choose to do the work.) This nailer, at least on paper, filled the bill in all aspects. After having used it (for DIY purposes), I'm sold on NuMax. Don't get me wrong, while I believe NuMax offers quality and durability, depending on the tool and how long I plan to have it, I might go with another manufacturer that offers a lifetime warranty vs. a 30-day and up-to-one-year warranty. But, for my needs for this install, it was perfect. I couldn't be happier with the nailer, the items included, and the results. The only reason it doesn't get a five-star is that I really wish NuMax included a storage case (even if it meant a slight bump in price). Still, the NuMax nailer gets a very solid four-star. If I use the nailer on a future install and I have a reason to update this review (for better or worse), I'll do so ASAP. For now, it's a solid buy definitely worth considering.

I’m a big DIY-er, I’ve never done hardwood floors before but got a screaming deal on some oak. So that being said, I needed a flooring nailer. This is one of the most inexpensive ones I found and decided to give it a chance. And HOLY MOLEY, this thing is amazing! I played down around 600 square feet of hardwood and never had a single issue with this gun. Despite the price, it’s built very sturdy and operates very smooth. It operates by smacking the back of the gun with a mallet (that comes with the gun) which closes any gaps and sets the board while simultaneously driving a nail. I had no gaps and a nice uniform floor thanks to the product. I cannot recommend this thing enough!