SENCO Air-Powered Nailers, Staplers, and Fasteners

Technical Questions Parts & Tools
Have a question about your SENCO parts or tools? Here are some frequently asked questions. If your particular question isn't answered, send us an e-mail.

Q:	What are the most common pneumatic tools and what projects can they help me complete?
Q:	I'm in the market for a good full round head (FRH) framing nailer. What are the differences between the SN60, SN65, and the SN65C?
Q:	I am looking for a nailer that will be primarily used for attaching 1/4" plywood underlayment. Do you manufacture an appropriate nail and gun for this application?
Q:	I need to drive larger size nails with your Palm Nailer. What options do I have, and what parts are needed to drive larger nails?
Q:	I need to install cedar shingles (or shakes) for roof and sidewall. What tool and fastener combination would you recommend for this job?
Q:	What are the vinyl siding attachments for SENCO tools?
Q:	How often do air-powered nailers and staplers need to be rebuilt?
Q:	With so many tools to choose from, which tool should I buy to get the most utility for my purchase?

Q: What are the most common pneumatic tools and what projects can they help me complete? A:
TOOL	COMMENTS	FASTENER TYPE AND RANGE
SLP 20 Brad Nailer	Usually the first purchase by any home woodworker. A high utility product which allows you to fasten moldings, corner blocks and assemble small projects. Eliminates a lot of clamping and gluing!	Brads, 18-gauge, 5/8"- 1-5/8", slight head and medium head
SLS 20 Narrow Crown stapler	The holding power of narrow crown staples is well-known by the professional. Great for box-building tasks, finish applications and cabinet backs.	Staples, 18-gauge, 3/8"- 1-1/2", 1/4" crown
FinishPro 41XP Finish Nailer	The finish carpenter’s favorite tool has multiple uses including crown molding, baseboard, chair rail and window and door casings, but also is popular for shop uses in building cabinets, furniture and other projects.	Finish Nails, 15-gauge, 1-1/4"- 2-1/2"
SFN 30 Finish Nailer	The little brother to the SFN 40, this tool drives up to 2" nails and offers a lighter, more maneuverable size.	Finish Nails, 15-gauge, 1"- 2"
FramePro 601 Framing Nailer	A homebuilder’s first tool purchase, this framing nailer does large wood joining, plywood sheathing, decks, fences and many other homebuilding, remodeling and shop tasks. The FramePro drives the classic D-Head style of nail.	Framing and Sheathing Nails, 2"- 3-1/2"
Frame Pro 602 FRH Framing Nailers	(SEE ABOVE) The FramePro FRH tools drive a full round head nail, required in some areas by building codes.	Framing and Sheathing Nails, 2"- 3-1/2"
SCN 40R Roofing Nailer	This coil-fed nailer drives on roofing shingles, with it’s unique straight-drive feature that prevents tilted nails. Can also be used for application of vinyl siding with a special attachment.	Roofing Nails, 3/4"- 1-1/2"
SNS45XP Medium Crown Stapler	Lightweight, fast, tool is popular for sheathing applications and great for box and crate construction.	Staples, 16-gauge, 7/16" crown, 1"- 2"
A9 and A20 Palm Nailer	Get into tight spaces with this unique hand-sized tool. Drives bulk nails in places where swinging a hammer is impossible.	Bulk Nails, 6d to 16d (optional tips allow up to 70d nails)

Q: I’m in the market for a good used full round head (FRH) framing nailer. What are the differences between the SN60, SN65 and the SN65C?

A: The SN60 was introduced to the market in the early ’90s as a tool for builders in markets where the FRH nail was preferred over the traditional D-head style nail (the original style air-driven nail). The SN60 offers a 2"- 3-1/2" nail range encompassing the popular sizes most builders demand. Primarily sold in the earthquake and hurricane markets, the SN60 offers excellent power for new construction.

Builders in cold weather markets liked the SN60, but wanted a tool with more power to handle frozen lumber or harder woods. The SN65 was developed to offer a slightly heavier, 15% more powerful version of the SN60. The SN65 weighs a half-pound more than the SN60, and uses more compressed air for each cycle. The SN65 is recommended for harder lumber, especially treated grades, and is well suited for remodeling pros that need to drive into the lumber of older houses.

The SN65C was developed in the mid-90s for builders in the earthquake markets who had specs to build with thicker common-shank nails. A common 16-penny offers a shank diameter of .162, while a standard box-type 16-penny has a shank diameter of .131. Primarily a requirement in commercial construction, the need for common nails has now expanded into some residential projects. The SN65C is able to drive the thicker common nails, but is less suited to drive the shorter, thinner .113 diameter nails.

Q: I am looking for a nailer that will be primarily used for attaching 1/4" plywood underlayment. Do you manufacture an appropriate tool for this application?

A: Our best and most popular tool for 1/4" floor underlayment is the SKS-L stapler driving the L13BABN staple. The code guideline books do list the staple as an acceptable fastener (NER-272). (The AccuSet tool choice would be the A150LS.)

The 1-1/4" ring nail is the popular choice for swinging hammers, but the choice when utilizing air tools seems to be the staple. Nailing tools that drive this shorter length tend to be used in crate and box construction, not for home building, and do not offer the features needed by the homebuilder.

The SKS-L is a great tool for all kinds of shop and on-site applications.

Q: I need to drive larger size nails with your A9 Palm Nailer. What options do I have, and what parts are needed to drive larger nails? A: The SENCO A9 Palm Nailer comes equipped with a nose guide (tip) appropriate for a 6-penny to 16-penny range of bulk nails. In order to adapt the Palm Nailer to drive larger nails, you need to obtain a different tip for the tool. Tips are available to drive up to 70-penny size nails. Remember: Once the Palm Nailer tip is changed to a larger size, it may be awkward to use the tool for the smaller penny sizes. The hole diameter of the guide should be slightly larger than the nail head to obtain the best results. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING CHART FOR PART NUMBERS: PALM NAILER TIPS (options and choices for the SENCO A9 Palm Nailer)
Guide	Nose	Hole Size	Max Penny Size
FC0317	FA0168	27/64	16d
FA0200	Assembly**	27/64	16d magnetic * (both parts - FA0200)
FC0351	FA0168	29/64	30d
FA0204	Assembly**	29/64	30d magnetic (both parts - FA0204)
FC0353	FA0169	19/32	50d
FA0180 assembly		7/8	70d
the Palm Nailer comes standard with this setup * the FA0169 nose remains available for older non-assembly setups; old-style guides for 16d magnetic and 30d magnetic are no longer available

Q: I need to install cedar shingles (or shakes) for roof and sidewall. What tool and fastener combination would you recommend for this job? A: The installation of cedar wood products calls for extra care when selecting the proper corrosion-resistant fasteners. The use of the wrong fastener may lead to bleeding problems or cause ugly streaks from the chemical reaction of the fastener and the natural acids of the wood. For this reason, it is often recommended that stainless steel fasteners or premium hot-dipped galvanized fasteners be used for the job. Driving hot-dipped products with air-powered tools is rare. The overall availability of collated hot-dipped products is also poor. Hot-dipped nails are primarily used in the hammer-swinger. If you want to use an air-powered tool for the job, the best choice is the 16-gauge stapler, and stainless steel staples.
SENCO’s best combination:
Tools - SNS40 Stapler or SNS45XP	(drives 16-gauge, 7/16" crown, 1"- 2" leg lengths)
Fastener - N17BGB Stainless Steel Staples	(16-gauge, 7/16" crown, 1" leg, type 304 stainless steel) (3000 per box covers about 6 squares)
FYI: Clipped from a cedar shingle/shake manufacturers installation instructions: Fasteners: Hot-dipped zinc coated nails or stainless steel staples are recommended. However, any U.B.C. approved corrosion-resistant fasteners can be used. Use two for each shake placing them approximately one inch from each edge, and high enough to be covered an inch or two by the succeeding course. Fasteners should be long enough to penetrate at least 3/4" or through the sheathing. The butts of the shakes should project from 1-1/2"- 2" from the first roof board so that the rainwater will spill into the gutter or to the ground without working down the side of the building. Individual shakes should be spaced about 1/4" to 3/8" apart to allow for possible expansion. These joints or spaces between shakes should be broken or offset at least 1-1/2" in adjacent courses and should be kept out of direct alignment in alternate courses.

Q: What are the vinyl siding attachments for SENCO tools?
A:	SENCO Tool	Siding Attachment Part #
	SNS40	RM4616
	SNS45XP	RM4616
	SKS-N	RM3080
	SLS20-M	RM4630
	M1	RM3014
	M2	RM3016
	LG4450	RM3061
	LG5562	RM3061
	SCN40R	HC0260

Q: How often do air-powered nailers and staplers need to be rebuilt?

A: It all depends on the amount of use. A tool used every day by a pro will probably need to be rebuilt every 1-2 years, while tool being used once per week may go 5-10 years before needing any kind of service.

Ironically, oil-type tools will last longer if regularly used. Longer storage with no operation will lead to dry rotting of certain o-rings. From time to time, it’s best to get them out, oil them up, and cycle the tool to keep the rings lubricated.

Some SENCO tools feature a no-oil design and can be stored for longer time periods with no concern.

When rebuilds are necessary, you can choose to hire a servicing dealer, or do the job yourself with the handy o-ring and rebuild kits offered by SENCO for most tool models. SENCO leads the industry in making self-service easy to do.

SENCO tools are professional-grade. Compared to discount brands they last longer, and they work longer before any service becomes necessary.

Q: With so many tools to choose from, which tool should I buy to get the most utility for my purchase? A: To be a general as possible, we try to match certain customer types to certain tool models. Some can get most of what they need with one of our tools, while others will need (and want) more than one tool. The incredible gain in your productivity, quality and fun (yes, fun!), make the cost of your tool a very wise investment. Here are a few customer/tool matches:
Customer Type	Tool(s) to Buy
Craft maker	brad nailer, narrow-crown stapler
Upholsterer	upholstery stapler, medium-crown stapler
Cabinet maker	brad nailer, narrow-crown stapler, finish nailer
Furniture maker	upholstery stapler, narrow-crown & medium-crown staplers, brad nailer, finish nailer
Home builder	framing nailer, finish and brad nailers, and a roofing tool
Remodeler	heavy framing nailer, finish and brad nailers
Roofer	roofing coil nailer or wide-crown roofing stapler, medium-crown stapler
Floor underlayment installer	heavy narrow-crown stapler
Siding installer
Vinyl	medium-crown stapler or coil roofing nailer – (with special vinyl siding attachment)
Clapboard	coil siding nailer
Wood shake	medium-crown stapler
Fiber cement	full round head framing nailer
Picture framer	upholstery stapler with fitting attachment, brad nailer
Pallet and crate builder
New wood	heavy-duty coil nailer
Old wood	heavy medium-crown stapler
Of course, this could be a very long list. If you don’t see your specific need listed above, call 1-800-543-4596 to get some good advice.