Used Nail Guns

is a pretty good nailer. I have one, and I like it. Don't forget that you'll also need a compressor.

You should ask yourself if you really need a nailer though. You'll use nails infrequently enough in building furniture that it's faster and easier to use a hammer and a nail set. Buy a good 12 oz or 16 oz hammer and a set of nail sets, it will be 1/2 to 2/3 the price of the porter cable nailer.

Air nailers only really make sense if you're doing production work. If you're putting up trim in your house, a nailer makes perfect sense. If you're building a library's worth of book shelves and need to nail the backs in place, a nailer makes good sense. If you're occasionally building furniture, the nailer is a big expense you don't need.

You should really have a good hammer and nail set anyway, because you'll need it. Buy a real hammer. Nothing that comes in a tool kit, but a real hammer, the kind that swings from the belt of hairy, sweaty guys who build houses. They're an amazingly efficient and useful tool.

Clay, are you recommending a finishing hammer or a framing hammer? Do they even make framing hammers in 12-16oz? (I would sure like one!) Just wondering because you say 12-16oz, but then say the kind guys who build houses use (which I've learned is usually a big heavy framing hammer).

luckylady - make sure to test out how the hammer weight feels as you are swinging it. I recently borrowed a 22oz hammer just to pound in a couple nails and oh my gosh was my wrist TIRED just from a few nails! It's surprising what a difference a few ounces makes, and it's not always easy to tell until you're actually hitting the nail heads.

A finishing hammer has a smooth striking face, and a framing hammer has a striking face cut up into a grid. I don't actually know the weight ranges. I know that most framers I've spoken with prefer a 16oz hammer for framing. Mine is bigger, at 20oz, but makes the work easier.

For building furniture you'll want a finish hammer, something with a smooth striking face, because you don't want to put a waffle grid on your furniture.

I don't actually know if I own a hammer with the waffle grid. I think even my heavy hammer, that I've used for framing, has a smooth striking face. I'm not at home right now so I can't check. I'll try to remember to post here again after I get home and take a look.

My advice remains the same though: don't buy an air nailer until you need it. That money can be spent on other, more interesting things until then. Books on woodworking, a decent set of chisels, some basic planes.

I just ordered a Refurbished DeWalt DC608K from ToolKing.com for $189. Yes, it's refurbished but it still comes with a 1 year warranty backed by DeWalt. It's by far the best deal I've seen on this nailer.