Do old guys need nail guns?

[MossflowerWoods]

I find that most carpenters with nailers also have huge piles of scrap. Nobody seems to want to break out the claw hammer and clean bracing lumber with a few nails in it. There's nothing that works as good as a claw hammer, crowbar, and a 2x4 block for cleaning lumber. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but it gripes me to no end to see a nice piece of lumber with a few nails laying on the scrap pile.

On the other hand, I find most folks building concrete forms and using hammers and form nails also clean and conserve their lumber when possible.:thumbsup:

Jinman,

Years ago I built a cedar deck way over 1000 square feet. It was 2 octagons, one step up from ground, one step up to the second octagon, and all of the railing was 2x2 supporting a 2x4 and a 2x6 where the 2x6 was 18" above the deck and doubled as a seat. With all of the 45 degree cuts my total scrap pile fit in about 1/2 of a garbage can.

I'm not one to scrap good lumber. We are in agreement sir!

David

 

[blueriver]

I have a nail gun but sure like my plumb handled hammer ... speaking of that I still have the very first one I bought when I started vo-tech carpentry class. About worn out ... I'm going up to take a picture of it for ya'll.

 

[bp fick]

We can go back to shovels and wheel barrows too, (things I still own and use) but I like my tractor and FEL for a lot of it.

We can go back to bow saws and a buck to make fire wood, (still have 'em), but I sure like my chainsaw.

We can still use a rachet jack and 4-way to change a tire, (yup, still carry one on the road) but I sure like my hydraulic floor jack and air impact gun.

We can go on all day with this comparison. I got the old and I got the new. I use it all. But, frankly, it's got to the point where I'd rather pull up a stool and give directions, er... encouragement to a younger man, if you know what I mean.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

As for which one to get, a decent finish nailer won't be regretted, but the framer can be cheap and nasty unless you plan on using it all day every day. We just finished building a barn with a cheap Canadian Tire framer ($99 on sale), and although a Paslode was used for some of it, the CTC cheap gun held up well.

Sean

Sean,

This is a POWERFUL argument. I like this thinking. I have many buddies who say i can borrow, so don't buy, but I don't like to borrow, ad when I need it, I need it, and waiting until I see them on Sunday or such simply don't work.

SO.... I can see how a finish nailer I will use ALL THE TIME, so buy a good one (makes sense). So for the framer is a HF one good enough? (don't have any Canada Tire here in VA). I will use one every once in a while, but when I use it, I will USE it.

I know I need or want to build the following...

1) approx 12 x 20 shed for my Harleys.
2) approx 840 square feet of Attic I need to finish (mostly framed, need ot add interior walls) MAYBE I will tear off a poorly done dormer and build a bigger proper dormer also.
3) Finish Basement (mostly interior walls)
4) Trailer Chicken Coop
5) Tree house/deer stands

Thoughts?
David

 

[beppington]

Hammer vs nail gun is a debate I've had several times with a friend of mine. He just can not stand to see me hammering nails into say a sheet of plywood sheathing, while I think nothing of it & actually thoroughly enjoy it! :thumbsup:

I'm 42 & have been hammerin' since about age 12. For most of my building projects a nail gun wouldn't likely save me enough time to bother with (I'm not a pro), & this way I get to keep my money, get some aerobic exercise, & maybe save the planet (a little anyway).

All that said, I would like to try one of those finish nail guns on some shoe mould sometime, namely the interior corners, but it's gonna have to be a loaner because I'm not buying one. I've installed the shoe mould in entire houses with a hammer before, & I can do it again no problem :thumbsup:

 

[grsthegreat]

Hammer vs nail gun is a debate I've had several times with a friend of mine. He just can not stand to see me hammering nails into say a sheet of plywood sheathing, while I think nothing of it & actually thoroughly enjoy it! :thumbsup:

I'm 42 & have been hammerin' since about age 12. For most of my building projects a nail gun wouldn't likely save me enough time to bother with (I'm not a pro), & this way I get to keep my money, get some aerobic exercise, & maybe save the planet (a little anyway).

All that said, I would like to try one of those finish nail guns on some shoe mould sometime, namely the interior corners, but it's gonna have to be a loaner because I'm not buying one. I've installed the shoe mould in entire houses with a hammer before, & I can do it again no problem :thumbsup:

yup...your one of them crazy woorkaholics i keep hearing about :laughing: :laughing:. Never seen one myself, but i hear thatthey exist

 

[LarJea]

mossflowerwoods;a professional builder friend of mine uses a hitachi air nailer for framing,so thats what i bought its a model nr83 i have been using it for 2 yrs now-works great.

 

[bullbreaker]

Boone,

I also heard Age is all in your mind, but I lost mine years ago...:confused2:

David

David if your like me,you didn't lose your mind because of age.
It was because of marriage ! :laughing:

Boone

 

[grsthegreat]

David if your like me,you didn't lose your mind because of age.
It was because of marriage ! :laughing:

Boone

amen to that brother

 

[bullbreaker]

amen to that brother

GRS,You posted that in less than 60 seconds from the time I posted my comment to David.Talk about quick on the draw,in the wild west days you would have been one H%ll of a gun slinger ! :thumbsup:

GRS BTW: I've seen them beautiful horses of yours and I'd get them whatever they wanted.Man your animals are flat out stunning ! :thumbsup:

Boone