After way too many years of framing here in Sunny Solar Cal, a few of my employees have begun to complain in a polite way that my current crop of powder actuated tools is somewhat lacking. We have 3 Hilti DX36M’s and a really ancient DX 350. They as a group have had about a billion shots through them and before I call my Hilti rep for a dose of his “list plus 10%” pricing I thought I would ask you guys for any recommendations you may have. The only pins we use are the 2-7/8” pins and washers for attaching sill plate to the concrete slab. Hilti has a new tool out, model 460 that is supposed to be all that and a bag of chips. But I would like to hear from this learned forum first. What say you all?
Edited 5/7/2003 11:26:40 PM ET by FRAMERBOY
Replies
The DX A40 is a good gun. You can shoot it single-shot style, but it comes with a plastic magazine (DX A41) whereby you can shoot 10 shots in a row. However, using washers, I suppose all you need is a single shot gun. My gun is a DX451. It's a single shot, but I think it would be rather slow for you guys. The only nice thing about this model is it has a built-in muffler..it is real quiet compared to most. But for your workload, I wouldn't recommend this gun.
Normally, ( using the DX A40)we just fired pins (without washers) into our plates. they always held just fine. Only time we used washers, was if we were attaching plywood to masonry. The washer kept the pin from blowing out the plywood.
If you are still gonna us washers for each firing, I don't know what to suggest. Truth be told, all Hilti powdered actuated guns are extremely good.
Davo
Well Davo, thanks for the reply. I had hoped for more response but I have always felt that these tools just are not that commonly used other than on the West Coast. We also have a DX 451 and a 600N but they are a tad slow. For really good fastenings I liked the Ramset Jobmasters that we used to use. Now, out here in California anyway, those high velocity tools are just not legal. So I suppose we will re-up with Hilti. It is not that speed is an issue, it is just that we have to use the most powerful loads and sometimes it just isn't enough. With the old high velocity tools you always had a load available to handle anything. Ah well, no one ever said construction was easy. Thanks again.
Used a lot of different guns. Got a DX36M now and wouldn't go back to something else for anything. Mines been as reliable as they get. But I know what you mean. Paying for quality, it just stings a little more. Guess it goes away.
"The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb " lyrics by Roger Waters
East coast here and we use Hilti. Won't use anything else. "One measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions"
I don`t do much framing on slab....I`m just curious, are the pins the only means of attaching to slab? I`m assuming they are in addition to anchor bolts, no?
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Well since you asked, we only use those pins for interior non load bearing walls and to install temporary cleats to nail our plumb and line braces to. A typical house has 5/8'' anchor bolts usually between 16'' and 32'' on center that require a 2'' x 2'' square washer 3/16'' thick. These are backed up by lots of Simpson holdowns and shear panel. Any missing or misplaced anchor bolts are required to be replaced with 5/8'' all thread that is installed in an epoxy filled hole. Wedge anchors are a no no. Framing in Solar Cal is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.