Customer Reviews

Porta-Nail 42620 Flooring Nail/Staple Setting Tool

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I bought one of these with high hopes. They were not met. It seems like the right idea. It seems like it should work because it is made by a company that sells flooring nails and nailers. As was noted by another reviewer, the working end of the tool is just like a flat-bladed screw driver. It slips off the top of the cleat. I end up with this tool slipping off the top of the cleat and hitting the wood. That is not good. I don't use it any more, under any circumstances. I don't use nail sets either for driving the cleats. I do use the nail sets for face nailing the finish nails on floor boards that are close to the walls where a power nailer won't go. I do much better with a standard round/cylindrical punch that you can buy at any home center, like Home Depot. The one that I use, came in a set of Dasco Pro punches. My favorite punch for setting cleats that are not completely driven in by a power nailer is a 1/4 inch pin punch, number 589. The cleats that I use are Bostitch FLN-200, 2 inch Hardwood Flooring Nails. Perhaps the Porta-Nail tool works better with Porta-Nail cleats, but I would doubt that. Nail sets work well with finish nails because the top of the finish nail is dimpled so that the nail set does not slip off. Flooring cleats are not like this (I checked with a magnifying glass). If you use the Porta-Nail tool and it slips off the head of the cleat (as it is wont to do) you have a cleat that is probably rounded off somewhat. Now, the rounded off cleat is even harder to drive with this tool when you go after the cleat a second time. The striking face of this tool is smaller in both dimensions (length and width) than the head of the cleats that it strikes against. The head of the cleat is small and the working end of this tool is even smaller! What gives with that? I am not making watches, I use this tool to install flooring. The punch that I recommend is bigger than the cleat, just like the heads of hammers are bigger than the nails that they drive. This Porta-Nail tool looks like it should work. It comes in its own plastic pouch. It is very expensive for a simple striking tool. I would not recommend this tool to a friend, even at half the price.

Four stars for high price.
These must be available to professional flooring mechanics but I've never seen one before. Expensive for a nail set but works better than the screwdriver I was using. The rectangle shaped point fits any brand "T" or "L" style wood flooring cleats and 1/4in. staples (maybe 5/16 also). It doesn't slip off the nail head as easily as a standard nail set.

This tool is a big, heavy piece of high quality tool steel. It's easy to hold and smack with a hammer. Now, what is it good for? It sure isn't setting flooring cleats. The head is too tiny and way too smooth - I gave it a good G.D. try on dozens of slightly high cleat heads only to have it slip off every time. I tried roughing up the face with a diamond file - no help at all. I went back to my tried and true oversize nail punch and tossed this one into the back of the tool drawer. I guess it's good for punching a lower case sans serif L into wood. Save your money - this is not the tool you are looking for. Move along.

For the most part I preferred to use this setter rather than my other nail sets for the L-Nail, but I do think that it could have been designed much better to prevent it from slipping off the nail head.

this item is a waste of money I found a large size center punch worked much better at 1/4 of the price.

This tool is beautifully made and works well. You certainly get what you pay for, but ~$15 for a nail set is a high price.

Still, if you inadvertently leave a nail slightly raised while face nailing with the Porta-Nailer in face-nailing mode, this tool really saves the day.

If you only use your Porta-Nailer to blind nail, then I'd probably use a standard nail punch, as any slips/damage to the tongue of the plank while setting a raised nail will be hidden by the next plank.

Better than using a standard nail set, but Porta-Nail nails can be problematic to set. Your best bet is to take your time with the Porta-Nailer to get the nail set properly the first time. Hint: Do not let the nailer move at all until the nail is set and the ratcheting ram has reset. A little pricey for a nail set.

THIS TOOL IS A MUST HAVE IF YOU OWN A PORTA NAILER. IT MAY BE A BIT PRICEY FOR WHAT YOU GET BUT IT'S WORTH IT

DOS' NOT HAVE GROVE/SLOT CUTT OUT TO WRAP AROUND STAPLE .IT NO MORE THENE A FANCY POUNCH.THINK ABOUT IT HOW IS IT GOING TO HOLD ITSELF ON THE STAPLE?MAY BE SOME ONE PACKED THE WROUNG ONES IN PACGEAGE? T/U WESTLEY DOZIER.

This was designed to fit the nail head but often slips and damages the floor. I ended up using my finishing nail setting tool instead and surprisingly that worked better. The finishing nail setting tool has tiny round tip with groove instead of this flat screw driver looking tip. That groove helped to prevent slipping when I apply with a hammer. I initially thought the round tip could ruin the nail head or puncture or leave round impression on the hardwood material but this wasn't the case. I paid three dollars for the set of finishing nail setting tools (3 total in different size) at local store.