Yeah, cordless has come a long way, but for heavy framing, pneumatics still have the edge. I've tried cordless nailers on some beefy LVLs and noticed they bog down after a few shots, especially when it's chilly out. Pneumatic setups might be a bit more hassle dragging hoses around, but they just keep hammering nails consistently without losing power. Until batteries can handle that kind of sustained load, I'll keep my compressor handy...and my sanity intact.
Totally with you on pneumatics for heavier framing. I've got a cordless nailer I love for quick jobs—trim, baseboards, or patching stuff up—but when it comes to sinking nails into thicker lumber like LVLs or headers, it just can't keep pace. Batteries drain faster than I'd like, especially if you're working in colder temps, and then you're stuck swapping packs out constantly. Pneumatic might be old-school and noisy, but it's dependable...and less frustrating overall. Guess I'll be dragging hoses around a while longer too.
Have you tried any of the newer cordless framing nailers though? I used to feel exactly the same way—battery life was a huge pain, especially in winter—but recently picked up one of the newer gen models, and it's surprisingly solid even with LVLs. Sure, it's not quite as punchy as pneumatic, but the convenience factor is huge. Maybe worth a demo if you're tired of dragging hoses around...?
I was skeptical too, but after borrowing my neighbor's cordless framing nailer last summer, I definitely see your point. Built a small deck extension without tripping over hoses or lugging compressors around... game changer. Sure, it didn't have quite the same kick as my pneumatic, but for most homeowner projects, it's plenty powerful. Glad to hear the newer models handle LVLs well—might be time for me to upgrade soon.
Totally get where you're coming from—cordless nailers have come a long way. I used to swear by pneumatics for framing, especially on bigger jobs, but after trying out a cordless model on a recent remodel, I'm sold. Sure, you sacrifice a bit of raw power, but the convenience factor is huge. No more dragging hoses through tight spaces or up ladders... honestly, that's worth the trade-off alone. If you're already impressed with last year's models, you'll probably love the newer ones even more.
