My new favorite tool

[Tidybuoy]

I have a new favorite tool.....well, it's actually my 2nd favorite.

I bought a palm-nailer and it effortlessly pounds in a 3" construction nail. I can't believe I had never heard of this. Anyway, I highly recommend everyone having one in the tool box. This is my 2nd favorite tool only second to my self leveling laser.

[masraum]

I've heard of those, but never used one. Why better than a hammer, more precise and more control?

[craigster59]

C'mon, can't be better than a Sawzall!

[Baz]

I tend to use Deckmate brand screws for most of my projects but that palm nailer looks like it would be a great alternative if for whatever reason I wanted to go the nail route.

I like the screws because you can remove them so easy and also with my Ryobi cordless impact driver it's a cinch to screw them in.

I'd like to hear more about your self-leveling laser at some point, Vern.

Thanks!

[Eric Hahl]

Originally Posted by masraum

I've heard of those, but never used one. Why better than a hammer, more precise and more control?

Can get into tighter spaces.

[look 171]

Just in time for this. My nailing skill has never been good. I started out doing lots of finish work, so swinging a big hammer isn't my thing. Plus, there are nail guns for that sort of donkey work. Without the palm nailer, I am dead meat. My finger would have been hit 10 times in a day. My kids use those nailers to drive all the joist hanger nails home. The big orange is a Bostitch that's been very reliable. The little is our favorite. Its light and can get into tight corners. I think its a Griptight.

Nailing all that from bellies was not fun.


Oh man, self leveling laser are the bee's knee. Makes life so much easier.



Pic of my boys working together tightening the bolts

[look 171]

what happened to my last pic? Here's are my boys burning some covid time after school

somehow, pic doesn't load.

[URY914]

I wore my palm nailer out when I built my garage addition. Great tool to use on Simpson hangers and clips.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by URY914

I wore my palm nailer out when I built my garage addition. Great tool to use on Simpson hangers and clips.

We have a nailer made specifically for shooting joist hanging nails into the perfect slot. Cutting down labor by hours. Speaking of that, I haven't seen it for some time.

[908/930]

Thanks for reminding me, need to dig mine out. Building frame for a deck soon.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by look 171

We have a nailer made specifically for shooting joist hanging nails into the perfect slot. Cutting down labor by hours. Speaking of that, I haven't seen it for some time.

I bought one of those for a job. The guys with the palm nailers were faster. A lot more noise, but they are great.

You know what else you can do with a palm nailer? Make tools for the shaft and you can do metal forming work. Just like having a small, portable hammer machine like a planisher or stationary power hammer.

I usually start out with a carriage bolt with the round head and go from there.

[porsche930dude]

Definately. I have two and often forget I have them. I used them pretty heavily on a few progects. I ran out of nails for my nail gun and since i have half a million nails from doing cleanouts and such its a good way to use them up without hammering.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I bought one of those for a job. The guys with the palm nailers were faster. A lot more noise, but they are great.

You know what else you can do with a palm nailer? Make tools for the shaft and you can do metal forming work. Just like having a small, portable hammer machine like a planisher or stationary power hammer.

I usually start out with a carriage bolt with the round head and go from there.

Whaaat? Hows your hearing?

[ckelly78z]

I have pretty much given up on using nails for projects...screws work so much better at holding, and can be removed later.

[porsche930dude]

They do but more expensive and screws tend to snap. If you are using them on framing thats no good. A little story about a guy i was working with used screws to hold a staircase up at the top and they snapped as he was on it the whole thing came down with him on it. He learned

[Zeke]

Screws are not to code on framing and shear panels.

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by masraum

I've heard of those, but never used one. Why better than a hammer, more precise and more control?

I'm framing for a pocket door and the cripple wall above the door has very tight space for nailing everything together. I happened to see someone using this on YouTube and I thought this would be perfect. In addition, I recently installed a support beam as part of my kitchen remodel and the vertical supports are nailed 2x4's (lots of them). This made it very easy to nail all the supports together as well as nail in from the back side that was also a tight space. After using this nailer, I followed with a traditional hammer just to make sure everything was tight.

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by Baz

I'd like to hear more about your self-leveling laser at some point, Vern.

Thanks!

My laser is a Dewalt and it sits on top of a tripod or has a magnetic bracket that lets you stick to any metal surface. I've used it for marking post heights on a fence, hanging pictures in the house, installing a picture rail in my living room that is basically a form of crown molding but is lower than the ceiling. I used it last night when framing the pocket door in my kitchen remodel. I also used it for setting the height of all my outlet boxes and light switches. When I did my garage a few years ago, I two-toned the paint and used the laser for marking the paint lines and I also used it for setting counter & cabinet heights. When on a tri-pod, you can swivel it so you can get a perfect height around the whole room. The laser self levels and if out of level, it blinks until you adjust the tripod (handy when using on slanted floors, etc). BTW, it does both vertical and horizontal, separately or at the same time.

I still check things with a traditional level as a double check.

[GH85Carrera]

As a teenager I was at a buddy's house and we were nailing a dog house together. We were typical kids that never swung a hammer much, and we would miss the nail regularly and then bend it over when we hit it more than drive it in. It was a comedy of errors.

My buddy's dad was on the back porch smoking a nasty smelling cigar. He finally could not stand watching us bend nails and beat on the wood from the missed swing at the nail.

He came over and one tap to set the nail, bam, it was driven in. He never missed and had it done is no time. I commented you have done that before, and he said he was a professional roofer. His right arm was noticeably bigger than his left. I guess they did not have nail guns back then, or his company did not use them. It was the difference of an experienced pro over a total amateur.

[flatbutt]

Oh I need one of those. Having lost the use of my right arm I learned to swing a hammer with my left but it's not my natural hand and it is rather weak. I usually drill pilots for each nail since I cant hold the nail with my right hand. That tool would be great!