Framing nailers

[DrPizza]

I just want to say, if you've never used a framing nailer, you have no idea what you're missing out on. I picked up a grip rite framing nailer; 2" to 3.25" nails, at an auction for a very good price a couple weeks ago. The other day, I held a 2x4 up against a 2x4 stud in a wall to give it a try. It sunk that nail perfectly. I was grinning like a 5 year old kid who just had Santa walk up to him and give him a shiny new toy.

Yesterday, I built a raised bed for my wife (well, for me, since it's going to be a 16.5'x5.1' strawberry patch, and I love strawberries). I could barely hold the 2x12 larch planks together by myself, let alone think about pounding a nail with a hammer. Bap. Planks were together at the top. A little pushing to bring the bottoms of the planks together, bap, bap, bap, bap, bap. 6 nails in each corner just to make sure they stay together long term. When I got done, my wife remarked that the job took me a lot less time than it would have taken with a hammer.

I'm looking forward to some framing projects coming up, plus I have to throw a few sheets of OSB up over the formerly garage door opening. Amazing how much time they can save.

 

[highland145]

Finish nailers too. Well worth the $$. Finish nails bend if you look at them wrong. I blame China.

 

[DrPizza]

Finish nailers too. Well worth the $$. Finish nails bend if you look at them wrong. I blame China.

Yep. I never owned one before. Starting in November, I got a coil roofing nailer. Then a set with a finish nailer, brad nailer, crown stapler, and pin nailer. (I thought that one would be useless, but it's turned out to be incredibly useful for fastening small things that a regular staple is too big for.) And then a palm nailer, and now the framing nailer. When I redo the siding on my house, I'm going to figure out if I can set the depth on the roofing nailer appropriately.

 

[highland145]

Will the roofer handle the right nail? Head size wise.

What kind of siding?

 

[DrPizza]

Will the roofer handle the right nail? Head size wise.

What kind of siding?

Vinyl siding. The house already has vinyl siding - white. But, I hate white siding, especially living very close to a dirt road. And, with a bunch of the renovations I've done, I have to repair siding in quite a few areas. Instead of searching to figure out which brand I have, and match it, and then it not matching due to age, discoloration from age, etc., I figured it's easiest to just replace the siding. Thinking of going from white to a dark gray - with white trim. That would eliminate the need to change out a lot of the trim pieces & save quite a bit of time and money.

 

[highland145]

That works. You already know you have to leave a little nail gap. My guess would be that the nailer would slow things down trying to hit the expansion slot. Friend owns a siding company, I'll ask him when I see him.

 

[skyking]

I scored big time several years ago at Home Depot on black Friday, and got a rigid air compressor with two finish nailers for 200. Use the heck out of it.
Another really nice tool to have somewhere is the palm nailer. That will knock in a 16p nail with about 4" more room than the length of the nail. Great for tight spots like bringing walls together with a California corner, up inside stair treads, etc.

 

[Greenman]

Hardware nailers are handy as well if you do a lot of framing. Here in the land of fruits and nuts we use a lot of joist hangers and steel strapping by the mile. Saves hours of time not hand nailing them.

 

[echo4747]

Just as everyone has said, Pneumatic nail guns are very handy. I only have a framing and finish nailer. A palm nailer seems like it would be very useful too. I haven't used the framing nailer for a couple years (* this thread actually reminded me that I lent it to a friend who is remodeling his basement) I was wondering if stainless steel nails are available for the framing nailers? I was thinking it might be useful for building a deck.

 

[skyking]

Hardware nailers are handy as well if you do a lot of framing. Here in the land of fruits and nuts we use a lot of joist hangers and steel strapping by the mile. Saves hours of time not hand nailing them.

My carpenter friend has a framing nailer with a locator on it for teco nails. It is the absolute bomb for putting on simpson stuff. Every time I have to hand nail tecos I just start by hitting a finger or two to get in the mood

 

[Greenman]

My carpenter friend has a framing nailer with a locator on it for teco nails. It is the absolute bomb for putting on simpson stuff. Every time I have to hand nail tecos I just start by hitting a finger or two to get in the mood

I have two different types, a bostitch framing nailer with a locator like your friend has, and a Senco that's really a palm nailer with a handle and a strip feeder. I commonly have to wrap two bands of coil strap around the places I build, that often amounts to 3000 or more nails, do that with a hammer and you're crippled for next three days. Not to mention two broken and bleeding fingers.

 

[DrPizza]

Are the coil straps for earthquake protection?

 

[edro]

That works. You already know you have to leave a little nail gap. My guess would be that the nailer would slow things down trying to hit the expansion slot. Friend owns a siding company, I'll ask him when I see him.

I used my palm nailer to replace a large section of vinyl siding. I would bap it until it left a small gap.

 

[MrPickins]

I spent $90 on this cheapie when I built a shed last fall.

http://www.amazon.com/NuMax-SFR2190-Degree-Framing-Nailer/dp/B0032JTDPO

Well worth every penny, even if it dies prematurely.

 

[Greenman]

Are the coil straps for earthquake protection?

Yes. They're part of the sheer wall system. We generally use Simpson CS16 and put a band around the top and bottom of the windows. It makes the sheerwall work as if there wasn't a great big hole in it. We do a ton of seismic stuff, it's a major pain in the ass.