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

[4570Man]

I use a hammer for beating things. For smaller projects I much prefer 3” screws. Try ripping a screwed board apart and repeat with nails. If I felt inclined to use nails I’ll use my framing nailer. I don’t frame houses but I’ve done my fair share of carpentry.

 

[ovrszd]

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...

I anxiously await the video!!!

 

[CADplans]

Well, I am SUPER impressed with the $28 METABO Palm Nailer,,,
That is the best money I have spent on a tool in a LONG time.

A video of using it would be worthless,, you got to try it to believe it,,
There is no "trigger" as such, the nailer just senses that you are putting a slight pressure on the nail, then the nailer takes off, and drives the nail in.

I was building a set of shelves, several of the nails from the framing nailer did not fully drive, the wood was too hard.
I tried hitting the nail with a hammer, the nails were TIGHT,,
I picked up the palm nailer, the nailer effortlessly drove in those nails.. If I had used a hammer, I would have bent a couple of those nails.
I do not think the palm nailer could bend a nail,, at least in my use, no nail even attempted to bend.
The nails that were driven with the palm nailer acted like the nails were going into pre-drilled holes.
AND, the palm nailer is TINY,, it is half the size of what I was expecting,,,

 

[natedog75]

I do not think the palm nailer could bend a nail,, at least in my use, no nail even attempted to bend.
The nails that were driven with the palm nailer acted like the nails were going into pre-drilled holes.
AND, the palm nailer is TINY,, it is half the size of what I was expecting,,,

We use them for between joists and in tight spots. They will bend a nail if it hits a knot or something that stops its progress.

They are great tools though.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

That they are! I was always skeptical and never had/owned one when I was a framing contractor. Years later, I was getting a new framing gun and it came with a ‘free palm nailer’..... I was amazed at how easy it works, especially in the tight spaces. If this one ever stops working, I’ll buy another!

 

[PILOON]

The ultimate usage for the palm nailer (INMHO) is to fasten joist hangers, there it outshines anything else.
Screws, well I'm slowly getting converted but for speed I still like a good nail gun.

OK, on a deck screws won't protrude after a while while nails (perhaps 5/6 yrs later) want to have a % driven back flush.
A lot will depend on how you quoted the job, nails will be low ball while screws a % higher.

LOL, I once did a large deck and had Stainless nails and client opted for that as well a best treated wood available.
On aside the SS nails cost me less than others as I won them on a liquidation auction. A nice Win/Win.

 

[clemsonfor]

I have a palm nailer. Got it free from someone. Still never used it.

 

[Diggin It]

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...

On 10,000 swings, I'd completely miss the nail about 9,000 times.

 

[Snobdds]

On 10,000 swings, I'd completely miss the nail about 9,000 times.

You are why they made nail guns...

 

[ovrszd]

You are why they made nail guns...

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm still anxiously awaiting the video of 16 in two hits.