Way Cool Tool for the Seismic Framer
I have spent my career framing in Earthquake Central. (Southern California). And nothing strikes fear into the heart of a SoCal framer like the idea of a structural engineer with a brand new Simpson Strong-tie catalog. I have recently wrapped up a 5,000 square foot house that contained the following goodies from said catalog. 68 HPAHD 22’s, 15 MST 60’s, 28 MST 48’s, 300′ of CS16, 200 H1’s, 200 LS30’s, 100 H 2.5’s, 100 A35’s all of which have to be nailed on with care. I have been searching for the last few years for a positive placement nailer that we can rely on. I have tried the stuff from Paslode including an Impulse version that was really over the top on the crap-o-meter. Then we tried the Senco, too bulky. And for you boys who are considering the Locator system to bolt on to your NR-83a nailers, don’t bother. Then my supply house convinces me to try the Hitachi NR65AK. This is a real honey of a tool. I have had it for about 6 weeks and my guys have run at least 20,000 nails through it of all the different sizes available. It is a real job-site favorite. The only trouble we had was nailing the .162 X 2-1/2” nails into a Parallam beam. Not really enough power to set them all the way. I feel that it paid for itself on the first job and we will be getting another one soon. My hardware slave, aka “Captain Earthquake” has told me that this gun is “the bomb”. Could there be a higher recommendation than that?
Replies
Marshall, Thanks for the heads up on the Hitachi. I've been having my son hand drive 10ga Teco's for me for the past few years. I'm sure he wouldn't mind a break from Tecoing this coming season.
It amazes me that all those houses that were built before Simpson Ties came out are even still standing. :-)
Dave
Marshall,
I've been putting off buying a positive placement nailer for years, I'm not in earthquake country. I could never stomache buying the paslode version because its mounted on a gun that I can't pay someone to take.
'Bout time hitachi came out with one, thanks for the good info.
Tom
All Hitachi nailers are the bomb.
Sounds like as winner. Still probably gonna be a lot of spots where the only choice is the palm nailer........ Sometimes putting on the Simpson stuff seems to never end. And it will only get worse as Simpson comes up with new designs, engineers and code officials will latch onto them as usual. I'm somewhat out of earthquake country (Western Washington), but it sure seems like each project I've done there is more and more of this hardware to install. Carpenters I know are always blown away by the sheer numbers of these things on any given project, it's almost a joke. Increasing use of engineered stuctural components will surely give rise to even more of them IMO.
Ken Hill