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

[LS Tractor Owner]

To meet code for framing, the diameter of the must be .131, length a minimum of 3 1/4". The .120 nails are a little bit cheaper. I have had building inspectors ask to see the boxes of nails we were using. I haven't been in the trade for the last 12 years, but I still don't have any hand nails.... I do have about 10,000 pneumatic nails though...

 

[PILOON]

Then it gets complicated.
Some inspectors refuse "D" head nails wanting 'full head' and others OK 'D" heads.
Fact is it has nothing to do with the head but more to do with the shank size.
Same for shingles,
Some accept 1 inch staples while others demand round head nails only.

With autocrats there is no grey, only black or white.

 

[clemsonfor]

Those nails looks very interesting

Look like normal framing nailer nails to me. Nothing special really.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I used full head 3 1/2" 16d nails for all of my framing from bostitch 21 degree framing nailer. I sunk 3 nails top and 3 nails in the bottom of the 2x6 studs and 2 top and 2 bottom for the 2x4 studs. Inspector never said a word to me about the nails. He did think I was nuts for running 16d nails through the heels of the trusses and adding hurricane ties as well.

Nails are shear connectors only just in case anyone was curious.

 

[CADplans]

Well, I went to Lowes, and found a box of Metabo framing nails, qty 4000, 0.131" diameter,, and they were a great price, (under $40,,, IIRC)

THAT will be my lifetime supply of framing nails,, the box was less than 2X the price of 1,000 nails,, so, I had to buy 4,000,,

I also bought another box of galvanized ring shank nails,,
the last box of 1,000 lasted through a BIG chicken coop build, and three home remodel jobs,
the three remodel jobs were a little small, but, they would have been almost impossible without the nail gun!!

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Some inspectors refuse "D" head nails wanting 'full head' and others OK 'D" heads.
Fact is it has nothing to do with the head but more to do with the shank size.

Yep. If a nail needed a head to stay in, wouldn't there have to be heads on both ends? What's keeping the pointy end in?

I could see if you're nailing something thin the head plays a part, but if you're nailing 2x to 2x with a 3" nail there's as much nail shaft in both pieces.

 

[ovrszd]

Air nailers are very cool. Increase productivity dramatically.

Second to that are air staplers. Very cool.

Builders that did my house had rechargeable battery powered staplers. I'd never saw those before. Much easier to use by not having to deal with the air hose.

 

[4570Man]

I never hand nail anything. I’m not a huge fan of framing nails to begin with and usually use screws. It’s much more secure and pulls tighter. If for some reason that’s not what I want to use I do have a framing nailer. My most common used nailer is my 15 gauge gun. It’s quite a bit beefier than a trim gun but not an eyesore like a framing nail.

 

[ovrszd]

I only hand nail if I can't use the air nailer.

I only use screws if the joint is going to carry a load. And that is bad design.

Disclaimer: I am absolutely, totally, not a carpenter.

 

[3Ts]

Those of you who use screws: Just don't use drywall screws for anything other than drywall. As was mentioned, the fasteners are used in shear mode and the shank diameter of drywall screws is pretty thin compared to a nail and the head is designed to pop off so it can be speckled over if need be. There are construction screws (such as Spax) that are more appropriate and meet all the construction codes.