Paslode, a company known primarily for its work in framing tools and accessories, sent us two framing nailer models for our recent best framing nailer article. One of the models was a gas-powered, cordless nailer that performed well in the Cordless division. Keep an eye out for that review later. Today, however, we’ll look at the other model, the Paslode framing nailer (F-350S) PowerMaster Plus. Unlike the Paslode CF325Li framing nailer we reviewed back in 2012, the Paslode F-350S utilizes standard pneumatic air power.
Key Features
Adjustable Metal Air Deflector Cap
This Paslode framing nailer does come with an adjustable exhaust, but there’s a caveat here—one that will undoubtedly crop up a few times in this review. Adjusting the exhaust requires the onboard hex wrench, which, frankly, annoys us.
Metal Rafter Hook
This feature comes pretty much standard on nearly all framing nailers, but a few manufacturers continue to hold out on including it. Thankfully, Paslode has done us a solid here, since the F-350S includes an adjustable hook.
Metal Magazine
We prefer the reliability and durability of metal magazines over the sluggish plastic magazines that come standard on cordless models. As you’d expect, the pneumatic Paslode F-350S framing nailer can fit 2 sticks of nails (from any manufacturer) in the all-metal magazine.
What’s Missing?
- Dry Fire lockout
- Tool-less mode change
- Tool-less depth adjustment
In an extremely questionable move, Paslode has opted to leave out convenience on the F-350S. The mode change and depth adjustment both require using the hex wrench. Neither adjustment takes a crazy long time, but requiring a hex wrench at all seems unnecessarily regressive from a design standpoint. Even more frustrating is Paslode’s firing mode change design. Rather than including a simple switch to change firing modes, the F-350S requires that the user swap out the entire trigger assembly.
Ergonomics & Performance
At 8.41 lbs, the Paslode framing nailer falls into that middle ground of what you’d expect a Pro pneumatic nailer to weigh. We’d prefer that it weighed a little less, but it could be a whole lot worse. It’s not “fat”…just big-boned.
While the body of the tool feels relatively compact for a pneumatic nailer, the 4.875″ width of the head seems a bit more robust than we’d prefer. This could keep it from performing comfortably in tighter corners.
Beyond those critiques, the tool has nice rubber overmolding and good balance. Even after firing hundreds of nails, the Paslode framing nailer feels comfortable in the hand.
Performance
Here’s where this framing nailer gets its act together. After the annoyance of the ever-present hex wrench and the wide head, the F-350S comes into its own in the performance category. We fired 3-1/2″ nails…lots of them…into glued-up stacks of OSB. Then we fired some more.
Firing Strength
We set our compressor to the recommended 80 psi, and fired off ten nails. All ten nails sunk fully, with none standing proud. If you ever need to fire into a denser material, the F-350S shouldn’t present too many issues and it will take more air.
Recoil
Paslode has its recoil issues pretty well figured out. It almost feels nonexistent. Both Paslode models we’ve tested have truly set the bar for how we gauged recoil with every other tested tool.
Toenailing
The Paslode F-350S framing nailer excels in toenailing. Its tip design works well for biting into studs at awkward angles without slipping. It toenails both quickly and consistently. Part of this, we believe, is due in part to the aforementioned recoil control.
Visibility
The firing accuracy on the F-350S is on-point as well. The tip design lets you see what you’re doing. Accuracy probably isn’t the end-all, be-all in framing nailing, but it never hurts to hit what you’re aiming for.
Price and Value
The F-350S Paslode framing nailer retails for $270, which is kind of expensive. That price reflects the quality of the tool, and there’s something about the Paslode that makes us feel like it’s simply worth the money. The F-350S comes with a 5-year limited warranty on the housing and cap parts, a 1-year limited warranty on magazine parts, and a 90-day limited warranty on wear parts (like the firing pin). If the warranty is important to you, some companies offer a bit more in this department.
The Bottom Line
It is too bad that the Paslode F-350S can’t seem to ditch the hex wrench. The other model we tested doesn’t suffer the same issues. Since this Paslode comes at a premium price, we wondered why they couldn’t have gone toolless for the exhaust, depth, and firing mode adjustments. Those few things hinder this model’s overall appeal.
From a performance standpoint, the price for the F-350S can be justified. It has power in spades, and it has a great tip design that allows for stable, accurate nailing. Since, in our opinion, performance outweighs the underwhelming feature set, it’s not difficult to see why we can still safely recommend this nailer to Pros.
Paslode Framing Nailer Specs
- Model: Paslode F-350S
- Power Source: Compressed air
- Nail Length Range: 2″-3.5″ in length
- Nail Size: .113″ to .131″ shank diameters
- Magazine Angle: 30°
- Magazine Capacity: 2 strips (up to 84)
- Dry Fire Lockout: No
- Operating Pressure: 90 – 120 (5.5 – 8.3)
- Selectable Trigger: Yes, must change the trigger
- Exhaust: Adjustable
- Weight: 8.41 lbs.
- Length: 19-3/8″
- Width: 4-7/8″
- Height: 13-3/8″
- Warranty: 5 years limited on housing and cap parts
- Price: $270
