Jimmy Mack wrote: I suspect most leading brands will be fine.
Good point there Jim - I had never heard of Firmahold or quikload before so perhaps if I decide to go non genuine, a known brand is the way to go. I've since seen Rawlplug nails, known brand and I like the fact they come in smaller box sizes (1100).
Merlin wrote:I do try to avoid using non Paslode nails as every time I have a problem with mine it seems to be down to the nails.
If I use genuine Paslode it will fire nearly every time and it is more reliable, winter is sometimes a bit of a pain but if you keep the gas warm its better.
Just try to pull the nails from a strip of genuine and non genuine and see the difference.
Merlin
Exactly the kind of story I've read countless times, and which makes me wary. The gun I've bought is second hand and the plan is to use it to build my workshop and then sell it on. I wont be using an awful lot of nails, with this is mind perhaps I should just go genuine.
Paul200 wrote:I used to own a small tool shop and after listening to the umpteenth complaint about the price of Paslode nails we did a lot of practical research (giving gas and nails free to tradesmen in exchange for feedback) and, long story short, found that Firmahold were the most reliable of the cheaper brands. I used them myself 2 years ago when I built a summerhouse and couldn't fault them. Having said that I totally agree with Merlin that there are degrees of quality involved - Paslode nails are not expensive just for the sake of it.
One thing you may want to check is how your warranty stands. If it's a new machine I'm pretty sure that Paslode won't honour their warranty if you use other brand nails and gas. Although how they can tell what you've used in it I don't know (unless you leave the alternatives in the gun, of course!).
Cheers
Paul
Exactly the kind of thing I was hoping to hear - thank you Paul! So that seals the deal, if I go non genuine, Firmahold is the way to go. Incidentally Firmahold have good reviews on Amazon.