Totally agree about the storage issue—my compressor takes up valuable real estate in my garage. And honestly, for quick fixes or small trim jobs, grabbing my trusty hammer is usually faster than dragging out hoses and fittings...less hassle overall.
Same here, hammer's usually my default for quick stuff. But honestly, if you're doing repetitive framing or decking jobs, the nail gun pays off big-time in efficiency—despite the compressor hassle and garage space sacrifice. It's all about picking your battles...
Totally get what you're saying about the compressor hassle—I just went through this myself. When we started building our deck, I was all about the trusty hammer at first. But after about the 50th nail (and a sore wrist later), I finally caved and borrowed my neighbor's nail gun setup. Honestly, it was a game changer.
If anyone's on the fence, here's what I'd suggest: for small fixes or quick projects, stick with your hammer—it's simple, reliable, and no setup needed. But if you're tackling something bigger like framing walls or laying decking boards, the nail gun really does save your sanity. Just make sure you factor in some extra garage space for the compressor and hoses (mine now lives tucked behind the lawn mower...).
And don't stress too much about learning to use it—after a few practice shots into scrap wood, you'll feel like a pro. Just watch your fingers!
"Just make sure you factor in some extra garage space for the compressor and hoses (mine now lives tucked behind the lawn mower...)."
Yeah, storage is definitely something people overlook. I switched to cordless nail guns a while back—no hoses, no compressors, and way easier to maneuver around job sites. They're pricier upfront, but the convenience pays off big-time when you're framing multiple houses. Still keep a hammer handy though; sometimes simplicity wins out, especially for quick fixes or tight spaces where the nail gun won't fit.
Cordless nailers are convenient, sure, but honestly I still prefer the compressor setup. Yeah, it's bulky and annoying to store (
—sounds familiar!), but I've had cordless guns die on me mid-job too many times. Batteries drain faster than you'd think, especially in colder weather. Compressor's always ready to go, no downtime waiting for batteries to charge. Sometimes reliability beats convenience, at least for me..."mine now lives tucked behind the lawn mower..."
