Clipped head framing nails

[MarkB_MI]

I have a Porter-Cable framing nailer (FC350A) that takes 34 degree clipped head nails. When I went to buy some more nails, I found that neither Lowe's nor HD stock the clipped-head nails any more. I can find nails for my gun online, but it seems the 3 inch galvanized ring-shank nails I like to use aren't available, at least not from Grip-Rite or Senco. I can get them in smooth-shank, but not ring shank.

I see that you can get "offset head" 30 degree nails from various manufacturers. These look like the clipped-head nails, but have a full head that's offset from the shank. Is there any chance these will work in my clipped-head nailer? Or should I just order the smooth-shank nails?

 

[MarkB_MI]

Never mind. I did a little more digging and found that SOME Lowe's carry these nails in the Metabo HPT brand. At $102 for 2500 they're a bit pricey, but that's a lifetime supply for me.

Metabo 15137HPT

 

[GermantownGreen]

I have a Porter-Cable framing nailer (FC350A) that takes 34 degree clipped head nails. When I went to buy some more nails, I found that neither Lowe's nor HD stock the clipped-head nails any more. I can find nails for my gun online, but it seems the 3 inch galvanized ring-shank nails I like to use aren't available, at least not from Grip-Rite or Senco. I can get them in smooth-shank, but not ring shank.

I see that you can get "offset head" 30 degree nails from various manufacturers. These look like the clipped-head nails, but have a full head that's offset from the shank. Is there any chance these will work in my clipped-head nailer? Or should I just order the smooth-shank nails?

Full heads no
Did you look at Bostitch clip heads, I don't remember their degree of lay. If the degrees match, they should work. GG

 

[Stephen Newell]

I have a Porter-Cable framing nailer (FC350A) that takes 34 degree clipped head nails. When I went to buy some more nails, I found that neither Lowe's nor HD stock the clipped-head nails any more. I can find nails for my gun online, but it seems the 3 inch galvanized ring-shank nails I like to use aren't available, at least not from Grip-Rite or Senco. I can get them in smooth-shank, but not ring shank.

I see that you can get "offset head" 30 degree nails from various manufacturers. These look like the clipped-head nails, but have a full head that's offset from the shank. Is there any chance these will work in my clipped-head nailer? Or should I just order the smooth-shank nails?

The clipped head is unimportant. All you have to do is find 34 degree nails. I had the same problem with a bostitch nailer, the nails were 28 degrees and nobody carried them in my area. I ended up buying another gun with 30 degrees so I could have a nailgun. All the clipped head does is allow more nails be placed on a clip. The unclipped nails use a plastic piece to put space between the nails. The 30 degree nailer I bought was a Banks gun from harbor freight. It works alright but I would rather use the bostitch. It will shoot a #16 nail to where it countersinks in pine where the banks occasionally you have to take a hammer and finish driving it in.

 

[john in la]

Get out the specs for your gun.
I bet it can shoot 30 to 34 degree round and clip head nails.
The thing you need to make sure is they are paper collated as wire and plastic collated will not work.

 

[Tony in SD]

Seems the clipped head nails are falling out of favor because some jurisdictions do not allow anything but full head nails.

 

[Stephen Newell]

Get out the specs for your gun.
I bet it can shoot 30 to 34 degree round and clip head nails.
The thing you need to make sure is they are paper collated as wire and plastic collated will not work.

The nails would jamb for sure with 4 degree angle difference. I couldn't use 30 degree nails in a 28 degree gun.

 

[john in la]

The nails would jamb for sure with 4 degree angle difference. I couldn't use 30 degree nails in a 28 degree gun.

I’m sorry your gun will not shoot different size nails but there are guns out there that will. That is why I told him to check the specs for his exact model.

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Clipped head nails are being phased out here in Victoria Australia
Some bright spark in our Government building regulatory department came up with an idea to make it look like they were doing their job .
Manufacturers are also changing designs in order to create new sales .
I have an extraordinarily efficient Bosch framing gun , the trigger valve had worn , no spares available. Fortunately an aftermarket source made them and i was able to repair it . For want of a $7.50 part a $450 well designed and easy to use nail gun is supporting be scrapped .

 

[MarkB_MI]

Full heads no
Did you look at Bostitch clip heads, I don't remember their degree of lay. If the degrees match, they should work. GG

I don't think Lowe's or HD carry Bostitch fasteners anymore. HD hasn't carried Bostitch for years, while Lowe's recently dropped Bostitch and switched to Metabo.

 

[MarkB_MI]

Get out the specs for your gun.
I bet it can shoot 30 to 34 degree round and clip head nails.
The thing you need to make sure is they are paper collated as wire and plastic collated will not work.

I'll do a test today and see if my 34 degree gun can handle 30 degree nails. I'll post what happens.

Hmm.... 3 inches x sine(4 degrees) = 3 x 0.07 = 0.2 inches. About the diameter of the nail head.

 

[MarkB_MI]

Seems the clipped head nails are falling out of favor because some jurisdictions do not allow anything but full head nails.

I think that's the case. Also, the clipped-head nails don't look good when they're used in an exposed location.

I bought this nailer eighteen years ago to do one job: nailing sheathing on a roof. Since then it's paid for itself several times over, so no big deal if I have to buy a different gun.