| Nail guns are highly useful tools for | | | | triggers. Be sure you are using the right |
| fastening wood and other materials together | | | | one for the right work. The Bostich catalog |
| quickly and efficiently. They have made hand | | | | has a good description of how each trigger |
| nailing virtually obsolete for professional | | | | works and when they should be used. |
| builders and now for do it yourselfers as | | | | |
| well. | | | | 2. When trying to accurately place a fastener |
| | | | with a contact trip nail gun, be as sure of |
| The biggest advantage of nail guns is their | | | | your target and the backdrop as you would if |
| ability to rapidly fire a fastener into the | | | | you were firing a pistol. There is always |
| substrate and to do so repeatedly. In high | | | | the possibility of a double shot that will |
| speed applications like framing and roofing | | | | not be contained by the wood. Keep body |
| nails, the nail guns are usually set to fire | | | | parts out of the possible line of fire. |
| a nail anytime the muzzle makes contact with | | | | |
| the surface as long as the trigger is pulled. | | | | 3. When using a pneumatic nail gun, be alert |
| They can fire rapidly almost like an | | | | to the added hazard of the air hose. |
| automatic weapon. | | | | Compressed air has its own hazards, but |
| | | | having an air hose stretched through a |
| Last week, while doing a minor carpentry | | | | construction site adds to the already |
| project in my barn, I was reminded of just | | | | hazardous environment. Watching roofers with |
| how fast a large framing nail gun can deliver | | | | pneumatic nail guns always reminds me of the |
| three inch framing nails. | | | | story about Mark Twain in the city: He said |
| | | | one day he saw a fellow on a ledge |
| While nailing in some bridging between floor | | | | threatening to jump. A large crowd had |
| joists, I was holding the bridging lumber | | | | gathered below but Mark Twain said he was the |
| with one hand and the nail gun the other. As | | | | only one in the group with the presence of |
| I was building some overhead storage to get | | | | mind to throw him a rope and pull him down. |
| some of the clutter off the floor, I was | | | | The air hose always looks like someone has |
| standing on some of the soon to be stored | | | | already thrown the roofers a rope. |
| clutter. Not exactly stable footing. | | | | |
| | | | 4. When holding a work piece to be nailed, be |
| When using a nail gun with a contact trip, | | | | aware that the force of the nail gun will |
| like most framing nail guns are set for, you | | | | drive through any obstacle in the wood like |
| have to have just the right touch to prevent | | | | knots or other fasteners. The path through |
| the gun recoil from causing it to fire a | | | | the wood is not always certain however. |
| second nail right on top of the first one. | | | | Nails have been know to come out the side of |
| Normally this is easy as you just swing the | | | | wood and in some cases even made a U turn and |
| gun and let it bounce off the work as the | | | | come back at the gun. Keep you hand at least |
| nail fires. | | | | the length of the fastener you are shooting |
| | | | away from the muzzle at all times when |
| However, if you are trying to put a nail just | | | | joining wood. |
| where you want it, you can also compress the | | | | |
| muzzle and then pull the trigger to fire the | | | | 5. Don't use rusty fasteners. Using old |
| nail. This works well when you develop the | | | | nails in a nail gun can not only damage the |
| right touch to let the gun recoil off the | | | | gun, but they can send rust and scale out |
| work piece. Experienced carpenters do it all | | | | toward the operator. Be sure to use new |
| the time. | | | | clean nails for safe operation. |
| | | | |
| However, if you happen to loose your balance | | | | 6. Wear your safety glasses or face shield. |
| just as you pull the trigger, I found it is | | | | Not only can the nail gun send errant nails |
| possible to fire not just two but three nails | | | | your way, but the force of the nailing |
| into the same hole. Only the first one makes | | | | operating can splinter the substrate as well. |
| it in - the other two go off in random | | | | And if you ignored number six above, rust and |
| directions. | | | | scale can be ejected as well. So protect |
| | | | your eyes. It is a lot easier to use a nail |
| Fortunately this time, I mostly missed my | | | | gun safely when you can wee what you are |
| body parts that were in line with the nail | | | | working with. |
| path and got by with just a minor scratch on | | | | |
| my thumb. It did swell up nicely and still | | | | 7. Maintain the nail gun properly. Regular |
| hurts a bit today. | | | | maintenance and lubrication will reduce the |
| | | | possibility of jams and misfires that require |
| So here are some nail gun safety tips to add | | | | potentially dangerous repairs and unjamming |
| to the list in the owners manual: | | | | procedures. |
| | | | |
| 1. Understand the difference between | | | | 8. Read and follow all the manufactures |
| sequential trip trigger and contact trip | | | | safety rules and procedures. |