Started By
Message

Nail gun keeps jamming

Posted on 7/12/25 at 9:37 pm
Posted by jlovel7
NOT Louisiana
Member since Aug 2014
23694 posts
Posted on 7/12/25 at 9:37 pm
Newish (2 months old) nail gun keeps jamming. Throws one or two nails then jams up. A lot of times the nail comes half out and gets stuck and then the air continuously spills out.

Tank pressure is good. First couple shots go fine. I just oiled it yesterday but maybe not enough? Definitely using the right nails as it’s worked fine the last two months of light use.
Posted by agilitydawg
Member since Aug 2022
188 posts
Posted on 7/12/25 at 10:06 pm to
Warranty return?
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
60153 posts
Posted on 7/12/25 at 10:36 pm to
I would return that in a heartbeat…nail guns are dangerous as hell, if they don’t work right.
Posted by BoogaBear
Member since Jul 2013
6915 posts
Posted on 7/12/25 at 10:51 pm to
Sounds like it has a bad seal from the factory. Inconsistent air pressures. Return it if it's that new.
Posted by jlovel7
NOT Louisiana
Member since Aug 2014
23694 posts
Posted on 7/12/25 at 11:59 pm to
Aight it’s going back likely tomorrow.
Posted by Turnblad85
Member since Sep 2022
4158 posts
Posted on 7/13/25 at 12:07 am to
if air pressure is good, sounds like a seal. Despite me making many attempts, oiling has never solved a jamming gun.
Posted by 2 Jugs
Saint Amant
Member since Feb 2018
2283 posts
Posted on 7/13/25 at 9:27 am to
Finish gun? Framing gun?

Did you buy the correct angle nails?

Photos?
Posted by Clames
Member since Oct 2010
18731 posts
Posted on 7/13/25 at 11:51 am to
quote:

Tank pressure is good. First couple shots go fine. I just oiled it yesterday but maybe not enough? Definitely using the right nails as it’s worked fine the last two months of light use.


Lot more helpful if you posted the make/model of the tool in question.
Posted by jlovel7
NOT Louisiana
Member since Aug 2014
23694 posts
Posted on 7/13/25 at 11:56 am to
quote:

Lot more helpful if you posted the make/model of the tool in question.


It’s a NUMAX 16 gauge straight nailer. 2 1/2” max.

Been using the nails that are paired with it on Lowe’s website. Worked great for the first several times I needed it. started to jam nails side by side in the magazine as well. Got it all cleared out (very frustrating) and then it just started jamming individual nails again.
This post was edited on 7/13/25 at 11:56 am
Posted by jlovel7
NOT Louisiana
Member since Aug 2014
23694 posts
Posted on 7/13/25 at 12:32 pm to
Update: returned the NUMAX and bought an on sale Metabo instead. Same thing 2 1/2” 16 gauge. $50 difference in price ultimately with sale prices. Had a Lowe’s credit from returning an air switch I didn’t end up needing that got returned yesterday so ultimately a wash.
Posted by Clames
Member since Oct 2010
18731 posts
Posted on 7/13/25 at 12:34 pm to
quote:

NuMax’s 1 Year Limited Warranty and 30 Day Limited Parts Warranty



Yeah, Chinesium junk. Toss it and go get a Hitachi/Metabo NT65, it will cost you more but will last years and years.
Posted by jlovel7
NOT Louisiana
Member since Aug 2014
23694 posts
Posted on 7/13/25 at 1:01 pm to
quote:

Yeah, Chinesium junk. Toss it and go get a Hitachi/Metabo NT65, it will cost you more but will last years and years.


That’s what I got. The metabo. Only cost $100 as it was $80 off so I think that’s great. Probably didn’t get it at first because the difference in price was more severe. But with saving some money on other returns at the same time it made the swap make sense.


I do have a NUMAX 16 gauge framing nailer that I need to make it through building my home theater but after that I’ll likely not need it for a long time if ever.

I did buy an 18 gauge Brad nailer as well but I think that cost maybe $30 so if it’s junk then oh well.
Posted by Clames
Member since Oct 2010
18731 posts
Posted on 7/13/25 at 1:08 pm to
All my pneumatic nailers are Hitachi, got them when I did finish carpentry in new homes for a living. Had a few Sencos over the years but weren't any more reliable and heavier.
Posted by idlewatcher
Planet Arium
Member since Jan 2012
91732 posts
Posted on 7/14/25 at 1:38 pm to
Check the degrees on your gun vs the box of nails.

Mine did the same thing and I was perplexed. Come to find out, my nail gun was for 21 degrees and the nails themselves were 23 or 24.

Edit: NM, you were talking about a small nailer not a framing nailer
This post was edited on 7/14/25 at 1:39 pm
Posted by Ncook
Member since Feb 2019
719 posts
Posted on 7/14/25 at 2:27 pm to
6 drops in the air inlet every time you use it.
Posted by Clames
Member since Oct 2010
18731 posts
Posted on 7/14/25 at 5:53 pm to
quote:

6 drops in the air inlet every time you use it.


Maybe one or two drops for a finish nailer and that's if you are using it a lot. Hitachi's don't need much oil at all, just a little and no more for a few thousand nails. Think my 15ga nailer is about 15 years old and has had maybe 10 drops of oil in it ever, running it clean means more, we ran an inline filter/dryer into the splitter so whatever crud our compressor would push wouldn't get into the guns.
Posted by FreddieMac
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2010
24831 posts
Posted on 7/15/25 at 7:39 am to
This is going to sounds snobbish, but I find that all the lower end stuff for power tools just does not hold up. My wife makes fund of me all the time, but I have such good success with Dewalt, Bosh, Rigid and Makita, that I just do not want anything else. For example, I have a few Ryobi/Wen tools I got when I first got started woodworking. As they wear out or break, she wants to get me the cheapest tool. I will just say nope and save up for the Dewalt. I had a jig saw where the straightener pin just flew off in the middle of a project. I have only used it sparingly and a few times. Its only 4 years old. I have a Rigid finish nail gun that is oilless that has been running for the better part of 8 years and I use it all the time. I have Hatachi nailers they still work as they did 15 years ago. That little pin nailer is awesome. The battery powered tools, the ryobi batteries are total crap. The dewalt batteries just keep taking a charge.
Posted by Clames
Member since Oct 2010
18731 posts
Posted on 7/15/25 at 8:35 am to
quote:

but I find that all the lower end stuff for power tools just does not hold up.



Nothing snobbish, better tools cost more usually. There is something to be said for value and evaluating tools that are costly because of their brand name though. Snap-on and Hilti charge a premium for cordless drills that don't match the performance of Dewalt, Milwaukee, and Ridgid. Between Yellow, Red, and Blue there's not much difference, basically just pick whatever ecosystem has the most of what you need. I have mostly Dewalt as that's what I started with and have tons of batteries for though I also mave a few M12 & M18 tools. Used Makita for a few years too, used to get their cube soft-case drill/impact combo from HD because they were well under $200 and solid performers until they wore out (Makita used this plastic-caged bearing support for the impact mechanism that didn't have good durability back then).
This post was edited on 7/15/25 at 8:49 am
Posted by FreddieMac
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2010
24831 posts
Posted on 7/16/25 at 8:47 am to
quote:

Metabo


Metabo once was Hatachi and I have a finish and pin nailer and stapler. I think they make quality nailers. My hatachi guns are 15 years old. I put on drop of 3-in-1 oil in the gun each time I use it and they just keep running. Entire gun is a metal design and just keeps on chugging along...

I bought a couple of Ryobi electric nailers just because I did not want to carry a pancake compressor in the house. They works great but I do not like them. They are heavy and awkward and the batteries do not last. I much prefer the pneumatic version of those guns in my shop, they are light and just work. If I were a professional woodworker, I am sure I would come to love those electric nailers more than pneumatic.
This post was edited on 7/16/25 at 8:53 am
Posted by Clames
Member since Oct 2010
18731 posts
Posted on 7/16/25 at 9:08 am to
quote:

If I were a professional woodworker, I am sure I would come to love those electric nailers more than pneumatic.


I wouldn't. I have cordless nailers in my collection, Milwaukee M18 18ga brad nailer, Paslode 16ga angled trim gun, and a Dewalt 23ga pin gun. They are fine for small jobs and punch lists where taking out a compressor is more of a hassle but for anthing more than just a few pieces of work or access to shop air I'm running a pneumatic every time.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram