Customer Reviews

Freeman PFR2190 21-Degree Full-Head Framing Nailer

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i have to tell everyone i can about how good these guns are. i have been installing siding, triming houses, and framing for 20 years and have always been a hitachi and makita guy, but since i've started using these guns i have no reason to buy them again. i have been forced to branch off into other areas like roofing and interior trim. I've bought several of their guns and i have had zero problems with them. great service, quick shipments, and a very dependable product. Freeman deserves a bid kudo for bringing a great product to us at a price everyone can afford.

I bought this product to build a large deck. I'm very pleased with the performance. Weight/balance is good. Worked well with a variety of nail sizes (2 3/8, 3, 3 1/2, straight and ring shank). My only compliant is that the gun stops working when the gun gets low on nails (3-4 nails) due to the nails losing alignment. It's not a big deal since it works fine once you load more nail strips. However, it was frustrating diagnose the condition the first time.

For the money, this is a strong product.

What can I say, it does exactly what it's supposed to do and it's very solid. Right out of the box it was firing nails and kicking butt. I was very surprised to get a framing nailer at this price and with great quality. I like to buy top named brands for the most part, but would consider Freeman every bit a top named brand after using this nailer. Skip the high priced nailers and get this one, you won't sacrifice in quality.

I used the Freeman Framing nailer to build a roof on a porch and it's been great. I've used Paselode nail guns in the past and this compared nicely to those. I accidentally dropped it once but had no problems from that. This nail gun has been great and so was the price

I just can't get over the price of this gun. I knew it was going to be pretty good when I read the reviews, but I really wasn't expecting something this professional in this price range. All the action is smooth; everything is where and how it should be. Huge power and quality. When I first set my eyes on it when I opened the case I literally said out loud, "now THAT'S a nail gun!". I couldn't be happier and so far so good. In fact I'll be buying a couple more for gifts this season.

I can't think of anything specific to praise that hasn't already been mentioned in the description or other reviews, but I definitely wanted to concur that I highly recommend this gun and if you get it you shouldn't regret it.

I haven't really put this thing through its paces yet, got it in and played around with it but thought I have a pretty good idea of how its going to work. The good is its made very well for the price, as good as guns that sell for 2x. It also includes a case (although pretty cheap) and magnesium housing that others costing 2x don't. Very nice.

There are a couple of design faults that I don't really like, but can live with. First, I was surprised to see a trigger hanging off a tie strap when I picked up the gun. Confused I look through the book (which was hard to find, tucked into a slot in the case) and found out if you want to go to bump fire you need to change the trigger. Very unhandy. The Porter Cable I had been using just had a lever and my Paslode cordless didn't have any, it was always bump fire. I don't like bump fire on air guns anyways because they have a lot of recoil and can be very dangerous, and once you are used to it you don't really need bump fire anyways. The 2nd thing I liked much better on the Porter Cable was the way the nails loaded. Its not bad on this gun, and similar to what most guns do, but the PC design seems so much more practical when you get used to it. On the PC you just slip the nails in, pull the spring back and release and it snaps right up against them. On this gun you have to pull the spring back and lock it, insert the nails (which go in a slot in the top, not the back, which isn't as easy as they have to go in just right), and then release the spring catch to let it go back up. Just an extra, unneeded step.

I didn't ding it any stars just because of the price, but if I had it to do over again I might just get the Porter Cable refurbished. Its about the same price, but to get the PC with magnesium housing was much more, and the reurb didn't have a case (and I really like fitted cases for my tools, it takes much better care of them). I do think the weight is some better with this gun, even though its really large.

As far as comparing it to my Paslode cordless I have come to like air better. No fuel to buy, air uses full head, heavier gauge nails that do make a difference, and 22 degree nails are much more standard and often cheaper. Every cordless I have ever used works great sometimes, and sometimes they seem to loose power when they are either hot or the fuel gets cold. I actually like to have an air hose sometimes, it keeps the tool from sliding around, and a week ago I was using the PC on a 28' ladder, left it on top to run down and get something and it fell and the hose stopped it before it hit me. I know, I know.... but we all do stupid stuff like that from time to time!

4 1/2 stars

FOLLOW UP

After using it more in the field I haven't much else to say. It has been very reliable and never jammed. Its pretty big and hard to lug around, but that's to be expected. I set it to drive just below flush and its very consistent. One thing I did notice is it comes with a really high gloss paint, not the best choice for something that gets banged up as bad as a nail gun does! Would buy again.

First of all, this tool is gorgeous! I appreciate a good looking tool and this nailer gets top honors. It also comes with a sturdy carrying case full of pockets for all the accessories. It's nice touches like this that make me smile.

It came with a single fire trigger attached, something I don't normally use, so with a simple removal of an o-ring (super easy to remove), I had the single fire trigger out and the rapid fire trigger in (yes, there are two triggers). It also came with a plastic bumper sleeve on the safety (where the nails exit the gun)and since I prefer the spiked tip for framing, I promptly removed and stored it in it's pocket inside the carrying case. Nice touch, those pockets.

The nailer sinks a nail, no problem, with green lumber. On old, dry lumber (I was restructuring/reframing an existing, water damaged ceiling) it tends to balk a bit, but then again, there were knots and we all know how hard it is to drive a nail into dry, old lumber! Using my large framing hammer, I had a hard time driving the little bit of nail that didn't sink, so I don't fault the gun.

The magnesium body on this tool is a godsend when you're framing for long periods of time. I'll never go back my old, heavy nailer.

Another excellent feature is the nail depth adjustment. When nailing sheathing, it's critical NOT to sink the nail head below the first ply of the sheathing (inspectors will call for renailing if you over sink the head), so with this adjustment, I'll never have to fret. A simple turn of a knob near the tip and I'm good-to-go.

The only "con" I have is that this unit doesn't like to "easily" load two rows of nails back to back. It seems as if it could use another quarter inch of magazine. I can make it work, but I have to pull the release and push the spring tensioner forward. You have to pay attention to the tension, and whether or not the nails are packed together properly. Now, it might just be the nails I'm using, or that I have to get used to this tool. It's just something I thought I'd mention, and nothing to get all worked up about.

I recommend this nailer, and hope it gives you the same excellent service it gives me.

It replaced a HF gun of similar style. I used it to drive about 200 3 1/4" ring shank nails in rough sawn pine, at 100 PSI and on the max depth, it drove them all the way in with out issue. At 90 PSI it drove in 2 3/8" ring shank nails all the way into the same rough swan pine, I drove about 300 of these today as well. No jams or problems. Great so far! Have to see how long it lasts.

This Freeman nailer is a big surprise. I read the positive reviews and had my doubts, but gave it a try. The reviews were spot on. It is a great nailer at an incredible price.

I've had this nailer for about a month. I've been building a small (6x8 ft) garden shed. It's more than adequate for my needs and I've had no problems with it. Nails for it are a little difficult to find in local stores, but Lowes carries them. Also, the nailer is fairly heavy and not balanced well. It's very hard to use it over your head. But that may be true of all nailers. I also wish it could take 2" nails. Overall, it's an extraordinary value -- probably $40 less expensive than equivalent products.