I know this is not a new topic but I can't find an answer.
I ,perhaps stupidly, bought 5/8" horizontal solid bamboo from HD. (Legend)
It is what the wife wanted in her attic work space/office.
I have put down wide plank pine flooring and oak flooring years ago... but I am just a homeowner amateur.

I attic is heated but can get pretty hot in the summer( we need better AC) and pretty cool in the winter never below 50 degrees.

My plan is to lay 15 lb tar paper/roofing felt then floor. (right?)

Now I need a gun... I was going to rent one but although I am laying less then 1000sq feet it will be done( can not be avoided) in stages. This means I'm renting it appox 3-4 times so I might as well buy one. Maybe use it down the road or sell it. The manufacture recommends 18 gauge nails! and one gun but claims ignorance to all others.. The Powernail Flex with 18 gauge.. of course that is the high end gun... go figure. SO do I bite that bullet or can you recommend a totally adequate gun that will not drive me crazy with constant adjustments and jury rigging. I will test it , dial down the pressure if needed but I want to use the tool with no hassle .Thanks

The 50p is what I recommend to guys in the trade. They resell on ebay real well when you finished. Ive seen them go over 350 used. You would eat up the difference in rental time pretty quick. It would be my choice.

I have the 50p It is does well.
I also have the Primatech q 550 18 gauge nailer that works better.
The safety is on the bottom of the foot so your hand doesn't get tired of holding it down. Also it takes less of a blow to activate it. It is shorter so you can get closer to the wall. So less drilling and blind nailing.
It runs a little more but you can find them on amazon for around $500.
Portanails also carries one under their name that looks exactly like the Primatech just red instead of blue. However I have never bought or seen one to see if it is really made by primatech they are only a few dollars cheaper and not worth the gamble to us.
The only bad side of the 50p is I have to tighten the bolts sometimes a couple of times through out a job. Also I have had it jam up where as the Primatech I haven't had those troubles. I carry a 50 p for a backup gun.
The Primatech if I get into a hurry I have a tendency to drive a nail in the face then you end up pulling a board out other than that I haven't had a downside.
The powernails 18 gauge nails work in both guns which I think HD Carries.

thanks for the advice.
.I'll take more..
Is tar paper is ok? ...
but for now.................. Merry Christmas

if you can get a quality nailer on Ebay or craigslist cheap, for say 200-250 than go for it .

if not go with a Wen or Freeman..they are inexpensive and certainly not for the pro everyday use( although I have heard guys using them and having good success for daily work.

for one job and not abused I would say these are your best bet..they go for under 200 and have warranties..so even if you have a failure, bring it back and get a new one..

some guys just run them in to the ground then buy a new one after a year or 2..and this daily nailing.

no reason to spend on new professional level tools.. and the cost will be less then a rental and you will own it..or auction it off and come to ahead of the game.

James- I was hoping to hear that but from what I read many guns give folks so much trouble.. I don't want to cheap out and then suffer... It ends up being worth a$100 more bucks just to get out of the jam

that's a good mind set to have..but generally unwarranted in some situations.

for one install would be one those instances..

they're all made in China...except I think powernail and primatech..

you can probably get a bostitch nailer on ebay for 200..

I just ordered the powernail flex... figured I could sell it easy... there is one on ebay and bidding is wild ... going with 1.5 inch cleats... but hey guys should I use 15lb tar paper (roofing) or that red rosin paper???? what do you all think?

Good Choice on the gun.

NWFA says not to use red rosin paper.
I would recommend aquabar underlayment to go under your wood.

i got to get the job done so I tried to find that stuff.... too hard in my location so I went for 15 lb felt roofing tar paper.... all the lumber yard had
But this is for a heated finished attic... do I need any thing? the ply( 3/4) was covered with ac ply ( can recall how thick) and painted white... Looked great but the wife wants Bamboo.. so after years of stalling and deluding myself that I wear the pants... these pants are going to nail down the bamboo the minute (MOnday) I get nails for my new powernailer...( closest lumber yard did not have any)
So should I forgo the vapor barrier????? Should this be a new thread?

As I said the attic ( 3rd floor) is heated but we keep the door closed and We keep the heat real low in the winter. In the summer no ac up there so sometimes it gets real hot..we are going to try to solve that this year too.
Can I / should I forgo the vapor barrier?????

No you don't need any sort of additional vapor barrier up there in the attic. The Aquabar is sold at home depot is is also a 15lb asphalt but thinner and cleaner, it is all I use.

I called a bunch of local HD...they are not carrying the stuff in my area... I would prefer not to wait. can I get by with nothing? clean white painted wood floor... or should I use the 15lb tar paper?

Although you don't need it I would use the roofing felt if that is all you can get.

thanks ... i'm gonna use it,, i got it so why not... doing half the floor tomorrow