Nail Gun for Installing a fence

[waitetr]

Need recommendation on what type of nail gun I'd need for installing a fence.  Trying to determine the cost of renting one versus buying one.  I assuming I need something like a framing nailer, correct? 

Here is what my local tool rental store has to offer:

http://www.albanyrental.net/Reference%20Pages/compressor_reference.html

Is it better to go buy from Harbor Freight or just do the rental thing?

[Greg]

I guess it depends on how much fencing you need to install.  Will you have other uses for a new air tool?  Do you have the compressor already?  Look at pawn shops and craigslist as well.

HF tools are hit and miss, and often don't have the same nail options as professional tools.  A siding nailer that uses coil nails would be a better option for rental fro just this job.  Personally I would use screws instead of nails, so that any damaged boards could be replace easily in the future. 

It depends on how nice of a fence you're building.  For cedar, stainless nails or screws are the right fastener, as galvanized will stain and streak the cedar.  Again it depends on how you want it to look, if you're painting then galvanized will work.  Personally I like the weathered and streaked cedar look of unstained cedar, and also use a wood treatment called Lifetime or Eco Wood Treatment to get the old cedar look on purpose.

[waitetr]

I'm putting in a 30-35 foot section of fence that the neighbor is buy materials for.   I don't have a compressor and understand I would need to get one as well.  To rent a nailer and compressor for a week it would cost ~$100.  I can do the nails by hand if necessary just trying to make it easier on me. 

Not painting the fence but it will be stained.

[Greg]

I'm all for air tools... maybe someone you know will lend you what you need?  You could knock out the fence in a day with a nail gun.

[Milspecstache]

Framing nailer sounds like serious overkill.  It shoots 2-3" nails.  Screws are probably better in the long term for outside work as nails will tend to loosen with time.

[waitetr]

Looks like my neighbor is going with screws instead of nails so that takes care of the nail gun question.