I have some U-shaped brackets that I'm nailing into a 4x4 post.  The
brackets will hold a 2x4 stringer.  The nailing hole in the bracket is
in the base of the "U", and it's hard to nail the nail without
damaging the surrounding legs of the bracket.  I've been using a
nailset.  Is there any technique to make this easier or any piece of
equipment that will help?  I'm wondering if a framing nailer could
drive a nail right through the metal into the wood.

Any thoughts appreciated.

>I have some U-shaped brackets that I'm nailing into a 4x4 post.  The
>brackets will hold a 2x4 stringer.  The nailing hole in the bracket is
>in the base of the "U", and it's hard to nail the nail without
>damaging the surrounding legs of the bracket.  I've been using a
>nailset.  Is there any technique to make this easier or any piece of
>equipment that will help?  I'm wondering if a framing nailer could
>drive a nail right through the metal into the wood.

A framing nailer will *possibly* drive a nail through the metal. Most
likely, the nail will curl up into a coil, then bounce back and put out
your eye. (Your mom did warn you that you could put out an eye, didn't
she? :-) )

Get yourself a palm nailer. You'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

I've seen ads for bracket nailers that let you put the nail accurately
through the holes, but I've never used one.

-- 
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX USA

On Fri, 29 May 2009 02:07:34 +0000 (UTC), "SteveBell"
<r...@newsgroup.invalid> wrote:

>Get yourself a palm nailer. You'll wonder how you ever lived without it.


YES!!!  That's exactly what I need.  I will order one today.  

Thank you!!!

On Fri, 29 May 2009 02:07:34 +0000 (UTC), "SteveBell"
<r...@newsgroup.invalid> wrote:

>
>>I have some U-shaped brackets that I'm nailing into a 4x4 post.  The
>>brackets will hold a 2x4 stringer.  The nailing hole in the bracket is
>>in the base of the "U", and it's hard to nail the nail without
>>damaging the surrounding legs of the bracket.  I've been using a
>>nailset.  Is there any technique to make this easier or any piece of
>>equipment that will help?  I'm wondering if a framing nailer could
>>drive a nail right through the metal into the wood.
>
>A framing nailer will *possibly* drive a nail through the metal. Most
>likely, the nail will curl up into a coil, then bounce back and put out
>your eye. (Your mom did warn you that you could put out an eye, didn't
>she? :-) )
>
>Get yourself a palm nailer. You'll wonder how you ever lived without it.
>
>I've seen ads for bracket nailers that let you put the nail accurately
>through the holes, but I've never used one.

AKA "positive placement". Down here where they order Simpson clips by
the pallet they are very common. You can convert Hatachis (and I
assume other framers) with a kit. They don't "bump nail", there is a
point that you put in the hole to align then one shot per trigger
pull.  

My NV83 (without the kit) will shoot through a clip if you miss the
hole but it isn't pretty. That was shooting 2.5" nails into 4x12 PT
(SYP).

On May 28, 5:51=A0pm, Greg Esres  wrote:
> I have some U-shaped brackets that I'm nailing into a 4x4 post. =A0The
> brackets will hold a 2x4 stringer. =A0The nailing hole in the bracket is
> in the base of the "U", and it's hard to nail the nail without
> damaging the surrounding legs of the bracket. =A0I've been using a
> nailset. =A0Is there any technique to make this easier or any piece of
> equipment that will help? =A0I'm wondering if a framing nailer could
> drive a nail right through the metal into the wood.
>
> Any thoughts appreciated.

If you angle the nail you should be able to hand drive the joist
hanger nails....use a milled face hammer

Steve's suggestion of a Palm nailer is a good one but hand nailing is
doable.

cheers
Bob

On May 28, 9:07=A0pm, "SteveBell"  wrote:
she? :-) )

>snip<

> Get yourself a palm nailer. You'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

>snip<

Absolutely the best way to go. Just finished putting up a dozen joist
hangers with my palm nailer and it's like "Braaaappp!!" and they're
done. Get the Senco palm nailer if you can find one. It's a sweetheart
of a tool. You'll use it more than you think because it is more
controllable than swinging a framing hammer. Installing solid bridging
between joists is one good example where the hammer in a 14" space
seems to take forever and framing nailers can be too clumsy in
confined situations.

Joe

On Thu, 28 May 2009 19:51:12 -0500, Greg Esres <n...@spamproof.com>
wrote:

>I have some U-shaped brackets that I'm nailing into a 4x4 post.  The
>brackets will hold a 2x4 stringer.  The nailing hole in the bracket is
>in the base of the "U", and it's hard to nail the nail without
>damaging the surrounding legs of the bracket.  I've been using a
>nailset.  Is there any technique to make this easier or any piece of
>equipment that will help?  I'm wondering if a framing nailer could
>drive a nail right through the metal into the wood.
>
>Any thoughts appreciated.

What about using a drift or something wider than a nail set.  I have a
rod from junior high school.  My project was to use a lathe to make a
nail set, but the 12 weeks ended before I finished.  So it is knurled,
but other than that, unchanged.

In article <h...@4ax.com>,
 mm <N...@bigfoot.com> wrote:


> 
> What about using a drift or something wider than a nail set.  I have a
> rod from junior high school.  My project was to use a lathe to make a
> nail set, but the 12 weeks ended before I finished.  So it is knurled,
> but other than that, unchanged.

It took you 12 weeks to knurl a rod?

On 5/29/2009 11:22 PM Smitty Two spake thus:

> In article <h...@4ax.com>,
>  mm <N...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
> 
>> What about using a drift or something wider than a nail set.  I have a
>> rod from junior high school.  My project was to use a lathe to make a
>> nail set, but the 12 weeks ended before I finished.  So it is knurled,
>> but other than that, unchanged.
> 
> It took you 12 weeks to knurl a rod?

Boy, I thought *I* was a perfectionist.


-- 
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

On May 30, 2:22=A0am, Smitty Two  wrote:
> In article ,
>
> =A0mm  wrote:
>
> > What about using a drift or something wider than a nail set. =A0I have =
a
> > rod from junior high school. =A0My project was to use a lathe to make a
> > nail set, but the 12 weeks ended before I finished. =A0So it is knurled=
,
> > but other than that, unchanged.
>
> It took you 12 weeks to knurl a rod?

In the shop class I was in that sounds about normal. One tool 40 kids
wanting to use it. Fifty minute class 10 minutes to take roll and get
to the shop another 10 or 15 minutes every day cleaning up before the
end of the period. If you needed to use something that took some setup
time forget it.

Jimmie