Toolbox: Metal Connector Nailers

If you install lots of joist hangers and hurricane ties and are tired of pinching your fingers driving those short nails, you should take a look at the new metal connector guns on the market. Right now there are three — Paslode’s Positive Placement nailer, Senco’s SN60MC, and Max’s CN601J (see Figure 1). Three carpenters and I had a chance to use all three recently. These guns have one purpose — to position and drive collated hanger nails through the holes in metal connectors. All of these guns shoot 11/2- and 21/2- inch nails, and they all get the job done, but there are some key differences. Max CN601J This gun is nicely engineered and well built. At