Duo-Fast Coil Siding Nailer
By Robert Robillard on Tool Reviews
Duo-Fast Construction Coil Siding Nailer Review
Installing siding or trim by hand is by far the most superior method of nailing but not always the most efficient use of time.
In the carpentry and remodeling field these days people are expecting us to do more for less. Too many people are out of work and willing to work for way less than the industry pay standard.
In order to stay competitive as well as continue to deliver high quality work I continually have to rethink how to approach jobs systematically and methodically.
Getting the job done more efficiently means a higher profit and less time on task.
One such change I instituted was purchasing a coil trim and siding nailer. Trim nailers allow you to nail off a wall of siding in a mater of minutes versus an hour.
Review of the Duo-Fast Coil Siding Nailer
The folks at Duo-Fast Construction recently sent me their Coil Siding Nailer, Model DF225C to evaluate.
Needless to say I was excited to see how this new nailer faired under job site conditions, and when paired up to my other trim nailer.
Trim nailers are designed to be used on decking, fencing and siding. Duo-Fast also says this nailer works on Hardi Board siding.
FIRST IMPRESSION:
When I took the duo-Fast DF225C coil nailer out of the box the tool looked bigger than my current coil nailer, however when compared side by side I realized that only the nail magazine that was larger. [photo below]
The DF225C coil nailer appears to be well made and was well balanced and light. At 4.5 pounds this nailer will result in less overhead nailing fatigue, especially when standing on staging or a ladder.
It has a quality rubber grip that I found comfortable and no doubt will prove handy when the weather gets cold.
The DF225C also has an adjustable exhaust port [tool less] to avoid having the exhaust and any dust blow in your face.
The DF225C’s large, bright orange colored tool less, depth of drive adjustment was easy to see and adjust. This feature is huge for making sure you do not over or under drive your nails. If your like me and like to set your nails to be filled this is a huge time saver. My older trim nailer required a tool to adjust the depth of drive. [photo below]
The DF225C also has a convenient hook for hanging the nailer on your tool belt, ladder, lumber or storing it on my tool trailer’s shelf edge.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Weight: 4.5 lbs
- Dimensions: 12-5/8″ x 12-1/2″ x 5-3/4″
- Collation Media: 0 degree plastic collated coil nails
- Capacity: 300 CS or CI coil nails
- Nail Length: 1-1/2″ to 2-1/2″ inch
- Fasteners: CS or CI Series Round Head Plastic Collated Coil Nails, smooth or ring shank.
FEATURES & BENEFITS:
- Lightweight at 4.5 lbs
- Tool-less adjustable depth of drive
- Tool-free 360 degree adjustable exhaust port
- Metal storage hook
- Clear magazine to see fasteners
- Switchable trigger – easy to change with no tools
- Comfortable rubber grip
- No mar tip
APPLICATIONS:
- Hardie Board Siding
- Fencing
- Decking
- Wood siding and trim
USING THE DUO-FAST DF225C TRIM NAILER:
I found loading nails into the Duo-Fast trim nailer super easy.
The proprietary Duo-Fast® “CI” and “CS” series plastic collated round head coil nails fit into the coil magazine perfectly and the unique plastic nail strips precisely align, hold and feed the nails through the nailer with no jambs or miss feeds.
At the job site we used the DF225C to repair rotted trim, siding and plywood sheathing. We nailed to nail off 1/2″ sheathing, cedar siding , 5/4 trim and PVC trim.
One thing I noticed was that the CI” and “CS” series plastic collated round head coil nails did not litter debris all over the place or embed small fragments of wire into the wood like other wire-weld collated coil nails do. Those embedded wires always end up staining the wood and the coil debris is a pain to clean up.
Instead the plastic collated holder stayed together, when it got too long, I ripped it off and threw it away. The clear plastic magazine door on the DF225C was useful to monitor it’s 300 nail storage capacity.
The DF225C can be used with smooth, ring and screw shank nails from 1-1/2” to 2-1/2” with shank diameters of .080 to .105. Stainless steel nails are also available.
I found nothing negative with the DF225C trim nailer and would rate it better than my current nailer based on it’s features alone. As far as my current nailer is concerned, I have had it for a long time, that type of problem free longevity is not something to ignore.
The DF225C depth of adjustment was impressive. I found it super easy to use and super precise. I was able to dial in depth adjustments in 1/32″ of an inch. [photo below]
Having a tool less depth of drive adjustment is a huge advantage. This means that you instantly set your fasteners flush or at a desired depth for different materials you are nailing.
I found the no mar tip gripped the material I was fastening as well and left no scratches or dents.
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
I have had the Duo-Fast DF225C Coil Siding Nailer for some time now and it has held it’s own on the job site by providing me with a powerful yet lightweight, accurate and productive nailing tool. Time saved is money earned and this nailer WILL save you time!!
In my opinion, the tool less depth of drive adjustment is this nailers best feature and has saved me time and aggravation with it’s pin point accuracy. Highly recommended.
PRICE:
The Duo-Fast coil trim nailer lists for $369.00 and can be purchased on line here: Duo-Fast-DF225C-Degree-Siding-Nailer
I take pride in providing my readers with an honest and objective information as well as a practical approach to using a product. I never accept payment in exchange for a positive review. Many of the tools and products are provided to for free by a manufacturer for review.
In order to stay competitive as well as continue to deliver high quality work I continually have to rethink how to approach jobs systematically and methodically.
