The Bostitch F21PL Framing Nailer Offers Quality, Value, and a Quick-Change Nose piece. It’s Like Getting Two Nailers in One
What We Like
- Sequential and bump trigger
- Fastener depth control
- Rubber grip and skid pads
- Two quick change nosepieces
- 1,050 inch pounds of driving power
What We Don’t Like
- Occasional jams
- Tips can break with frequent use
- No male air compressor hose attachment out of the box
The Bottom Line
For DIY and home improvement projects, this Bostitch F21PL framing nailer can be a great choice. Reviews from professionals have been mixed, with many contractors saying that this nailer isn’t strong enough to do the job repeatedly without damage over a period of time.
With that being said, though, there are also many professionals and handymen who use this nailer and get the results they’re looking for. Homeowners who use this framing nail gun also generally have good success with it, as it’s designed for smaller and less strenuous jobs which are more common to homeowners and other non-professionals who don’t use the nailer in their work.
Bostitch F21PL Review Introduction
The Bostitch F21PL Framing Nailer Offers Quality, Value, and a Quick-Change Nosepiece. It’s Like Getting Two Nailers in One.
When it comes to framing nailers, Bostitch is a well-trusted and commonly discussed brand. That’s because the company has been around for some time, and people who buy this nailer are good at knowing what they want and need in a product that’s going to work for them.
There are some great things about this nailer, but there are also some downsides. Here’s what our Bostitch F21PL framing nail gun review shows about this particular choice of the nailer.
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What The Bostitch F21PL Framing Nailer Offers
- Two Great Nailers in One Piece of Equipment
- Fastener Depth Control to Reduce Damage or Risk
- A Lightweight Housing and Rubber Grip for Safety
- The Right Tool for Several Different Jobs
Two Great Nailers in One Piece of Equipment
With the quick-change nosepiece, it’s easy to switch the Bostitch F21PL from framing to metal connector applications. That means you don’t need two different nailers for those applications, and you can keep a project moving forward more easily and efficiently.
Our review shows that it’s easy to switch from one nosepiece to the other, so you won’t have to slow down and switch to a different nailer or other pieces of equipment to finish the job. That’s a great benefit for anyone who needs to use the nailer for both framing and metal jobs because they have everything in one place.
Fastener Depth Control to Reduce Damage or Risk
Being able to control the depth adjustment of the fastener matters, especially for more delicate jobs or times when you need to switch from one type of job to another. The more versatile your framing nailer is, the fewer tools you’ll need to get the job done.
Our Bostitch F21PL framing nailer review shows that this nailer can accept 1-1/2″ to 3-1/2″ framing nails, and offers up to 1,050-inch pounds of driving power, with options for a bump and sequential trigger. That’s a lot of power, adjustment options, and value, all in one place.
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A Lightweight Housing and Rubber Grip for Safety
The magnesium housing of the Bostitch F21PL framing nailer is lightweight and durable, so you can have a quality nailer you can rely on upon without struggling to use it due to the heavyweight.
Especially for homeowners who might not be used to using pneumatic equipment, a lightweight framing nailer can be the right choice. The grip and skids are designed to reduce slipping and sliding and to improve safety while using this framing nail gun.
The Right Tool for Several Different Jobs
Our review shows that this framing nailer works well for more than just framing. It’s also a quality choice for subflooring, sheathing, and bracing, so you can explore its versatility whether you’re doing a weekend job at your house or a professional job for someone else.
Being able to switch the nosepieces, the size of the nails used, and the kind of work you’re doing with this framing nailer helps ensure you get a good experience from a tool and a company you can trust.
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A Durable Framing Nailer at a Fair Price
Framing nail guns can be expensive, and you don’t always want to take a chance on the lowest-priced option. But there are plenty of in-between choices, like this Bostitch F21PL framing nailer.
For this nailer, you can expect to pay between $170 and $295. By choosing this brand and style of equipment, you can focus on the value you expect from Bostitch and get the job done without paying too much.
The Specs Matters, When it Comes to Framing Nailers
For this Bostitch framing nailer, you can expect fastener depth control and fastener collation, along with options to use nails from 1-1/2″ to 3-1/2″. With a 7-year limited warranty and weighing just 8.1 pounds, this nailer gives you the options you need at a price and quality level you’ll feel good about.
The option to switch nosepieces is a big benefit that you won’t get with a lot of other nailers, as well.
Attachments are included, and the 23 x 16 x 6-inch size is compact enough to be easily carried but large enough to feel like it can get the job done. You won’t have to settle for less with the Bostitch F21PL framing nailer.
With a standard grip and skid pads, you’ll have less of a sliding problem than would be experienced with some other nailers on the market.
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Here’s the Final Verdict on the Bostitch F21PL Framing Nailer Review
If you’re a seasoned professional that’s going to be putting thousands of nails a week through this Bostitch F21PL framing nailer, you might be better off purchasing something else. While this nailer works well, for the most part, it does have some jamming issues and can break at the nose with significant and long-term use.
That doesn’t mean pros haven’t used it successfully, but only that it might be worth considering that before you make a purchase for something like a construction site. If you’re looking for a DIY option for your home improvement projects, or you’re a handyman that does occasional small framing or subflooring jobs, this could be the nailing you’ve been looking for.
Bostitch has a good reputation for quality and value, and the framing nailer generally doesn’t disappoint. Try it out for yourself, and see if it’s giving you the level of work and quality you’re looking for. Our review found the gun to be good quality overall, but to have a few issues we’d like to see corrected.
No one wants to deal with jammed framing nai guns on a job site, and a DIY homeowner might not be comfortable with how to clear that kind of problem without doing harm to the nailer or to themselves.
With that said, though, most people who aren’t looking to use this Bostitch F21PL nailer for professional construction projects won’t have any trouble operating and appreciating what this framing nailer has to offer.
