Rebuilding the garden shed/workshop, I thought, this time, lets have a crack 
at a nail gun, instead of all that hammering of nails, and save the 
backache. Norm (of New Yankee workshop fame) makes it all look so simple.

Off to the hire shop, I asked all the questions a newbie would, and had a 
go. They gave me advice on how to use it, and the model given was assured to 
me, was ok for the job. I have never used one of these things before.

Disaster, it was so powerful it not only punched the nails way below the 
surface, but also left an ugly "hole".

I think I must have been given a first fix gun.

Question is: what should I have used, a brad nailer (American?) second fix, 
or framing gun? Model number would be an advantage, so I can converse with 
the seemingly ignorant hire shop.

To be honest, the gun was great and as expected for speed and ease, just 
need a more delicate one for fixing 16mm shiplap to a framework, that 
doesn't damage the surface.

Bob

Emimec wrote:
> Rebuilding the garden shed/workshop, I thought, this time, lets have a crack 
> at a nail gun, 

<snip>
> Disaster, it was so powerful it not only punched the nails way below the 
> surface, but also left an ugly "hole".

<snip>

> To be honest, the gun was great and as expected for speed and ease, just 
> need a more delicate one for fixing 16mm shiplap to a framework, that 
> doesn't damage the surface.

I think you can alter the power of the gun with the compressor
regulator, or sometimes with a dial on the gun itself?

The difference in the guns is more to do with the size of nail it fires.
If the gun you are using will fire the right size of nail, then it
should be adjustable to just fire it correctly.

-- 
bigegg

Was it compressor fed or standalone gas/battery powered? Sounds like
you've got a first fix, IM350 if standalone and that's what you should
use for knock up a shed, preferably with some nice galvanised annular
ring nails. I've got a second fix IM250 which I've used to make some
feather edge fencing, OK but the brads are pretty slim (16g IIRC) and
I wouldn't think they've be up to much more structural requirements.
You should be able to adjust the depth the nail gets bosched in though
but even saying that my IM250 seems to do whatever it feels like.

Cheers,
Rob

For a gas gun you need a first fix nailer such as the IM350 as the
second fix ones don't have large enough heads to the nails. The depth
the nail is driven on these is adjustable and you can also get a cover
for the end that stops the spikes marking the wood

Having said that the "clipped" head of this type of nail is still not
ideal, you really need an air powered gun which uses coils of collated
nails as these have a full head which will hold the feather edge board
better.

http://www.expresstools.co.uk/shop/nailers-staplers/nail-guns/bostitch-n66c-2e-coil-nailer-633232.html

Jason


-- 
jasonballamy
------------------------------------------------------------------------
jasonballamy's Profile: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?u=203943
View this thread: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1124158

"Emimec"  wrote in message 
news:BKCdnWyHO91Se03XnZ2dnUVZ8uCdnZ2d@bt.com...
> Rebuilding the garden shed/workshop, I thought, this time, lets have a 
> crack at a nail gun, instead of all that hammering of nails, and save the 
> backache. Norm (of New Yankee workshop fame) makes it all look so simple.
>
> Off to the hire shop, I asked all the questions a newbie would, and had a 
> go. They gave me advice on how to use it, and the model given was assured 
> to me, was ok for the job. I have never used one of these things before.
>
> Disaster, it was so powerful it not only punched the nails way below the 
> surface, but also left an ugly "hole".
>
> I think I must have been given a first fix gun.
>
> Question is: what should I have used, a brad nailer (American?) second 
> fix, or framing gun? Model number would be an advantage, so I can converse 
> with the seemingly ignorant hire shop.
>
> To be honest, the gun was great and as expected for speed and ease, just 
> need a more delicate one for fixing 16mm shiplap to a framework, that 
> doesn't damage the surface.
>
> Bob
Thanks all, I've learnt a few things now, contrary to the hire shops advice.

I asked if the nail depth was adjustable, and was told no. By the way, it is 
a gas gun, the IM30 mentioned in some replies. So thanks for the advice. I 
studied  some paperwork that came with the hire gun, and found how to adjust 
depth, and duly did. Much better to say the least. pity there is no sign of 
the mentioned shoe, to protect the wood surface. I was not aware of this 
protective shoe, could have done with it !!

The nails (2.8mm X 51mm) are too aggressive for shiplap, they split the wood 
near the edges. A much finer pin would be better, and the ugly row of nails 
heads would not show up so much. I recall using aluminium nails on the last 
workshop, bend easy, but almost invisible from a distance.

Thanks for all the advice, gun to be returned, and back to hammer and nails, 
and backache !!
Bob
>

"Emimec"  wrote in message 
news:RNydnXhq9Y0Rs0_XnZ2dnUVZ8iWdnZ2d@bt.com...
>
> "Emimec"  wrote in message 
> news:BKCdnWyHO91Se03XnZ2dnUVZ8uCdnZ2d@bt.com...
>> Rebuilding the garden shed/workshop, I thought, this time, lets have a 
>> crack at a nail gun, instead of all that hammering of nails, and save the 
>> backache. Norm (of New Yankee workshop fame) makes it all look so simple.
>>
>> Off to the hire shop, I asked all the questions a newbie would, and had a 
>> go. They gave me advice on how to use it, and the model given was assured 
>> to me, was ok for the job. I have never used one of these things before.
>>
>> Disaster, it was so powerful it not only punched the nails way below the 
>> surface, but also left an ugly "hole".
>>
>> I think I must have been given a first fix gun.
>>
>> Question is: what should I have used, a brad nailer (American?) second 
>> fix, or framing gun? Model number would be an advantage, so I can 
>> converse with the seemingly ignorant hire shop.
>>
>> To be honest, the gun was great and as expected for speed and ease, just 
>> need a more delicate one for fixing 16mm shiplap to a framework, that 
>> doesn't damage the surface.
>>
>> Bob
> Thanks all, I've learnt a few things now, contrary to the hire shops 
> advice.
>
> I asked if the nail depth was adjustable, and was told no. By the way, it 
> is a gas gun, the IM30 mentioned in some replies. So thanks for the 
> advice. I studied  some paperwork that came with the hire gun, and found 
> how to adjust depth, and duly did. Much better to say the least. pity 
> there is no sign of the mentioned shoe, to protect the wood surface. I was 
> not aware of this protective shoe, could have done with it !!
>
> The nails (2.8mm X 51mm) are too aggressive for shiplap, they split the 
> wood near the edges. A much finer pin would be better, and the ugly row of 
> nails heads would not show up so much. I recall using aluminium nails on 
> the last workshop, bend easy, but almost invisible from a distance.
>
> Thanks for all the advice, gun to be returned, and back to hammer and 
> nails, and backache !!
> Bob
>>
> Error.
Previous post should have read IM350
>