Carpentry Of Homes,,, Nail Diameter,, and Codes?

[oosik]

Thirty eight years ago I built two small( 12x18 ) decks onto our house. The framing is all held together with carriage bolts. The decking was attached with 16d nails. Over the years I've slowly removed all the deck nails and replaced them with screws. No more spring time pounding down of the nails.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Talking about pneumatic guns,, I want to put up 3/8" beadboard in the basement attached to the 2X4s I will be using the framing gun to assemble,

What pneumatic gun should I use to hang the beadboard? I have a 1/4" wide stapler, with 1 3/8" staples,, and I have a Porter Cable finish nailer,,
Will one of these tools hang the beadboard (it looks like T111 board, except more grooves) , or do I need some other tool?

I would use a siding nailer for that with about 1 1/2" nails. But I happen to have two siding nailers. I'm not sure a finish nailer would have enough grab on 3/8" material. I fear the staples would ruin the look of the beadboard.

 

[PILOON]

I have used a 1/4" stapler to hang composite siding with good success and I'd try it on your beadboard as well.
To err on the safe side we'd double tap at every furring strip.
Sure was faster than the recommended roofing style nails.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I put up about 20 sheets of 1/4" beadboard last year using a 1/4" crown stapler. It worked very well, just adjust your depth/air pressure so the staples don't blow through. Some areas, like a tight inside corner, I tried using my 16g finish nailer. The staples definitely held better. The holes also seemed to fill better, even though they were bigger, they were harder to see/find after finishing.

 

[clemsonfor]

I put up about 20 sheets of 1/4" beadboard last year using a 1/4" crown stapler. It worked very well, just adjust your depth/air pressure so the staples don't blow through. Some areas, like a tight inside corner, I tried using my 16g finish nailer. The staples definitely held better. The holes also seemed to fill better, even though they were bigger, they were harder to see/find after finishing.

Round is a natural shape unlike the slit or whatever the staple leaves.

 

[Snobdds]

For sheet goods...I like coated staples. Try and take apart a sheet of plywood or OSB with staples in it...you will destroy the sheet before the staples come out.

I have and use a air gun for some framing, but I like hand nailing things. A 16 penny sinker should take 2 hits to drive home. The nails should be angled \/ like this into the framing as it's hard to remove and nails wont come out.

When I built my cabin, I hand nailed everything. We were in the mountains and I did not want a loud compressor going, I just wanted to hear the thud of nails being driven. Had a couple of young workers helping me, they could not hit a nail without bending it at first. By the end of the day, they were finally able to drive a nail square and true. Most carpenters today can't drive a nail square, it's becoming a lost art.

 

[ovrszd]

I'd love to see a video of you driving a 16 in two blows!!! Have a friend that can do it in four. Counting the start tap.

 

[3Ts]

16 in 2 blows! I certainly not going to arm wrestle you.

 

[natedog75]

It’s all about technic. Head speed and weight are your friend.

Some of the titanium hammers weigh less but transfer more force than a steel hammer.

My framing hammer of choice is 19oz and has a handle about 6 inches longer than a regular 16oz finish hammer. Im an Estwing hammer guy. I’m out of practice but can still 3 tap one. One to get it started, second send it in, third makes sure it ain’t coming out. If you can hit a nail square that’s good but to make it count you have to hit it square with plenty of speed on the hammer head. That takes practice and hand eye coordination .

I once saw a video of a man in his 80’s two tapping 16s. It is all about the technic and using the appropriate hammer.

 

[Snobdds]

I'd love to see a video of you driving a 16 in two blows!!! Have a friend that can do it in four. Counting the start tap.

I would be ashamed of 4 hits.

For one, the hammer should be quality. I like vaughn 21 oz framers, then I cut down the handle by a couple of inches and sand it round. I then wrap about 20 wraps of black electrical tape about 2 inches down from the head, just to protect the wood. The wrist should never bend in the hit, the bending happens at the elbow. The swing should be through the nail, not stopping at the nail. One tap to set the nail and then two hits to drive it home.

My dad was a general contractor. When I was 14 my dad gave me a job for the summer. I shadowed an old time framer. There is not a $ amount I could value that summer with him. He only had me hand drive all summer. I could not help out until I could drive 50 nails into a rail road tie without bending one.

Practice with a box of nails, I bet by the end your doing 5 hits. After 10,000, you will have it down to two...