Magic Nail Setting
 

Even in my half-blind old age, I can still hammer a finishing nail in with a regular nail set, but....

my problem is that I have ~~20 finishing nails that I put into an overhead facia board above my head (upside down). I used a slotted piece of plywood to hold the nail & prevent damage to the facia, but that leaves them all sticking out 1/2" or so.

The nice thing is that the facia is now up and the 3 2x12s cannot be told told from an actual (very spendy) beam.

The bad thing is how do I get the nails all the way in w/o putting any dents in the facia (which is already stained, BTW).

I need something like a real big spring-loaded brad driver, or...

needs to be cheap too...
(which is why I didn't wimp out and spend a bunch O'$$ for a gun & compressor)

Ideas?

I have a few nail sets but that will only work once the nails are flush - right now they are 1/2" proud.

And, to repeat, it is overhead and upside down...

And the Porsche technicle content here is..............

Have any scrap metal plate? Drill a hole and use the plate like you did the plywood - this will drive the nails close enough to the surface to use your nail set.

sorry - thought it was in OT

+1 to what Mark said, and use short taps on the hammer, keeping the head square to the wood surface.

Drift punch with a large dia. blunt end. Cut off a section from a used, NG shock absorber shaft. Usually high quality steel, not too brittle.

How far is the work piece from normal visual distance? You're not over-obsessing are you Webb?

Sherwood

...Um pics might help...and a move to OFF TOPIC!

Spring-Loaded Nail Set - Rockler Woodworking Tools

I have one of these, the best nailset I ever bought. But you are going to have to get the nails close to flush.

Next time beg, borrow or steal a nail gun.

Beautified many a untoward rafter using your same technique.
Upside down and backwards is all too frequently experienced while plying my trade.

As others have suggested, just get them flush and then countersink ‘em home. Fill, smooth and re-stain as required.
My Senco brad and finish pneumatic drivers make quick work of such perfunctory finish tasks. You’re welcome to borrow them next time ‘round.

Incidentally, where’s milt these days?

Hire a carpenter?

The guys that work for me just drive them in with a hammer, upside down or not. What size are these, anyway?

JR

I use a Paslode finish nailer, which uses a small gas canister and a battery. Not cheap, but a great tool!

call michealangelo, i hear he finished his last project.

Porter cable fn-250?

Harbor freight tools sells a spring loaded center punch that should do the trick, IIRC it's about $3.
I carry one at work to test hardness of metal and to punch mark certain components to make sure the mechanics put them back how they are 'sposed to go.

Don't think the FN nail drivers will complete the penetration already in place. I've got a feeling the nail locations are at an awkward angle, otherwise Mr. Webb would have made short work of this elementary project called "hammering a nail". And it doesn't seem to be cost effective to purchase a pneumatic finishing nailer AND an air compressor for the last nail he'll ever drive.

My solution? Leave the nails as is. Install more nails to match, then use them to support a string of blinking holiday lights and/or glittery decorations or paint them a matching color as the stained wood to camouflage them. Do you prefer climbing vine-type plants? Do you have any sports team pennants you want to display but never found the time or the occasion? Some 5 lb. test fishing line makes a fairly clean support system for the banners from the Newcastle Falcons (English Rugby) or the Washington Capitals (bball opponent of the Globetrotters). Who looks up there anyway besides you Webb? :)

Sherwood

ah - finally got moved...

thx for all the replies

I'd thought about the sheet metal thing but wondered if there wa something out there better. I'll do that, then sink them with my Japanese nail set, or swing by HF

they are required to not project downward by edict of the XX chromosomed...

yes, awkward angles & clearances...

RE: the HF spring-loaded center punch. I use one quite often. However, it's purpose is to create a divot to drill a hole, not to drive nails, with or w/o a hammer. It that's all it takes, a hammer blow onto a nail set or drift punch would suffice.

Sherwood

I'd really like to see pictures of this.

What's it holding up with these finish nails? How about cutting the nails off at the surface and just sink them in with a regular nail set. It's only 1/2 inch. What's so special about a Japanese nail set. I love their pull saws and hand planes but nail sets? Got a pic of this thing?

no pics - I doubt if it is magical just sitting in the tool box for 20 years or so

the nails are holding up the facia board - runs along the bottom of the 2x12's