The Bostitch N64C is a pneumatic coil nailer specifically for designed for fencing and siding nails. 15-Degree Wire Collated Hot Dipped Galvanized Ring Shank Coil Nails are grippy little bastards that aren’t likely to bend when misfired. The N64C is one of my better pneumatic nailers and my favorite siding nailer of the bunch.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Features:

• Magnesium housing for job site durability
• Quick-release canister for fast, easy loading
• Adjustable depth control for flush nailing
• Rubber grip for comfort
• Adjustable deflector conveniently directs exhaust
• High-impact composite canister survives falls
• Large coil capacity holds up to 350 nails

Experience:

I picked up this particular Bostitch nailer at the Depot because I needed a third gun on a larger siding job. Since then I’ve stashed the others and carry the N64C. Over the past five years I’ve owned this nailer it was only required a few times a year, unlike my finish, brad and pin nailers that are in use almost every day. The Bostich N64C has been a good performer despite issues I’ve had with a Bostitch Framing Gun. I have owned 4 large Bostitch guns, one of them was a dud.

As far as experience, I’ve installed more than 20,000 feet of siding with the N64C firing a dozen+ boxes of nails. It’s an easy gun to operate that leaves no mark when fired. It’s arguably lightweight and doesn’t jam like some guns but the coil type nails can and will get hung up in the cylinder.

Comments:

When siding, setting the nail just below the surface is a close tolerance. Too far and you risk the thin material of modern siding but too shallow and the painters will be pissed. Attaching your nailgun to someone else’s compressor means a change in operating pressure and likely a change in nail depth. I’ve had to use a few different compressors, all to fine results. It takes a method not to double shoot with the N64C but once you’ve got it, you can keep the double-taps down to a few per roll.

As with all coil nailers you’ve got to protect the coils before they make it into the gun to insure the smoothest feed possible. The most common issue with this gun is the coil getting hung up. Other than properties inherit to the design of coil nailers, I like this tool for it’s light footprint and smooth shot. (It’s hard to qualify ‘smooth’ in pneumatics but the Bostitch N64C seems to be a pretty smooth operator!)

Links:

N64C - Industrial Coil Siding/Fencing Nailer at Bostitch.com (Product Data)

Bostitch N64C-1 Industrial Coil Fencing / Siding Nailer at Amazon.com

Bostitch N66C-1 1-1/4-inch to 2-1/2-inch Coil Siding Nailer with Magnesium Housing
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BTW: Nails are a lot cheaper at Amazon.com than they are at my local store.
B & C Eagle Round Head 2-Inch Hot Dipped Galvanized Ring Shank (5,400 per Box)

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Experience: I have used a saw boss for over 20 years. I can’t remember when I purchased the 6″ Porter-Cable saw I have these days but it’s cut a lot of plywood. This little saw excels at ripping sheets of 1/2″ for roofing or sheathing and I keep it for just such an application. My Porter-Cable 345 Saw Boss has ripped countless pieces of plywood and the occasional 2x.

Comments: It’s been around for a long time and that should say something for the P-C Saw Boss. Mine doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. The fence is a good one. I’m not a fan of circular saws. I was raised on the wormdrive Skilsaw but I can still drive this little Porter-Cable accurately.

Links:
Model 345 at Porter-Cable (Product Data)

Porter-Cable 345 Saw Boss at Amazon.com (good pricing)
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