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

 

[grsthegreat]

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

thank you, they are a nice breed of horse.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

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

DOUBLE AMEN Brothers!:laughing:

That and KIDS!:thumbsup:

But I love them all and I simply would not want to live without them.
Still I hope they don't see this post!
David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

thank you, they are a nice breed of horse.

Say what? Hook me up Brother, where can I see your horses too?
David

 

[MeanOrangeL45]

I'm 27 years old and run a framing/trim crew based out of NY. I am a third generation carpenter and i was banging nails at 3 years old.Nail gun is way faster period. All though I like to hand bang certain things just cause nothing get something tight like a big sinker. If I showed up to frame 5,000 sqft house for a gc without a arsenal of framing nailers I don't think it would go over too big. I think a homeowner do it yourselfer can make do with no gun. However if you need one the passlode cordless products are definitely better for occasional usage. Also they are safer because they won't bump fire. I run all my framing guns with no safety and the happy trigger.

 

[Ken45101]

We have had two pole barns built.

The first one the crew did by hammer and used big pole barn nails.

The second one, a different crew used nail guns and used a lot of 3-1/2" nails.

In my experience, pole barn nails hold a lot stronger, they are almost impossible to pull out. I've even seen the heads pull through oak boards, the nails will not come out! I have to wonder if the second barn is as strong as the first one.

I have borrowed a nail gun and it's very useful for light work where the boards are unsupported and they would move too much for hand nailing.

 

[Huffy]

After the past 40+ yrs of beating my body parts up and not having any spare parts, I've decided it's time or past time to start taking it easy on me. Power nailers are one heck of a lot easier on your joints than a hammer. Bengay isn't as effective as it used to be

Nelson
Central Missouri

 

[MotorSeven]

Old guys?

I switched to nail guns when I was 25 and never looked back(53 now). However, don't think that one can't kill your elbows....try using one for 15 years to build fences and decks. 6 nails per fence picket...and 10,000 feet later the damage is done. I can swing a hammer, but if I can get a nail gun on it, that's what I use.

 

[jinman]

I guess my earlier post about scrap made it sound like I don't like pneumatic nailers. That's not true. I own a Porter-Cable finish nailer and full-head framing nailer. I also own a staple nailer, but have never actually used it. I also love my framing nailer. When I framed my lean-to barn, it made my job a breeze. You just can't argue hand nailing is anywhere nearly as efficient as being able to hold lumber with one hand and shoot a couple of 16s, "Pop! Pop!"

A funny thing happened when I added on additional decks to my house a couple of years ago. I specified that screws and Simpson brackets would be used for the framing as well as the deck boards. When the crew arrived, they first shot ring-shank hot-dipped galvanized nails and then sent a helper around with screws and a driver to put on all my Simpson brackets. I must have the strongest deck in the county.

 

[ultrarunner]

I have several Senco pneumatics... Don't here too much about them.

 

[creekbend]

I don't own one, but I used a nail gun 2 weeks ago to build a handicap ramp. I borrowed it and hopefully one day will get one. Here's hoping. :tractor: