Sawtooth hanger installation- better ideas?

[Scott Shepherd]

I have a large job right now that the customer requires a sawtooth hanger be installed on the back. The material is a hardwood. Having to put 2 small nails in there and manually hammer them in is very time consuming. I'm looking for a better method. The customer will NOT accept the nailless version because they said the small areas you drive in cause them issues. It's very close to poking through the back of the piece, and I think those wedges they use on the nailless tend to want to split the area open if the grain pattern is right. I don't really know, I just know they experimented with them a great deal and will not accept them.

Is there any more automated way to install them? An air nailer system would be great, but having to put them in that tiny hole in the hanger would be a challenge unless you could actually see the tip of the nail.

They are open to some change, but it would have to be a good solution, capable of being used on 10's of thousands of items, all ending up in the hands of a consumer. It also can't increase cost. So adding some fancy hanger that costs $2 a piece isn't going to fly with them either.

I know that's a lot of limitations, but I thought I'd ask. Nailing these manually is not much fun.

Thanks!
Steve

[Sam Murdoch]

The only option that occurs to me is to use something like this http://woodworker.com/framer's-brad-pliers-mssu-101-238.asp?utm_source=google&utm_medium=feed

[Pat Barry]

What is a sawtooth hanger? Have a picture of this thing?

[Sam Murdoch]

Here you go! 222375

[HANK METZ]

You'd be better off talking to a pneumatic staple or brad gun manufacturer's rep for a custom design. For the quantities you propose, they'd work with you on a foolproof system, possibly even a semi- automatic one which will self- feed and jig the components. For the longest time drawer slides were held in place by nothing more than staples, and we're talking a 35# working load or better.

- Beachside Hank

[david brum]

Scott- how long are the nails you're currently using?

[Rich Engelhardt]

I bet one of these would work.
http://www.amazon.com/SpringTools-32R12-1-32-Inch-Combination-Nail/dp/B000FK3W0U

[Scott Shepherd]

Scott- how long are the nails you're currently using?

1/4" long.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. All worth looking at.

[Tom Ewell]

Brad pusher.... wouldn't want to handle tens of thousands with it but it could get you started.

[Justin Luttrell]

Not a fan of the sawtooth hangers. If they would accept a substitute, keyholes are great. http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/bt_keyhl.html

[Bill ThompsonNM]

I found that CambellHausfield makes a brad nailer that will take 3/8 inch brads. If you can handle that size you could make a little jig that hold a saw tooth hanger in a slot on the bottom and has the wood shaped on the top so the nailer is positioned properly for the brad placement. Just bang, bang and you are done

[Tom Ewell]

I was thinking that a pneumatic brass escutcheon nailer of some sort might exist and found something that's not quite what you need for your hangers .... but there are some crazy (and expensive) nail guns at this site http://www.kingrichardco.com/DecoNailGuns.htm

PS here's a video of the escutcheon nailer in action, pretty cool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2dn4fhnU2Q

[Jim Finn]

I just screw those on. No nails.

[Michael O'Neill]

You might try an arbor press with a magnet stuck to the bottom of the press to hold the brad in place.... should be pretty easy to get a system going for production......

http://www.amazon.com/Panavise-502-PanaVise-Precision-PanaPress/dp/B000SOWF60

Michael

[Thomas Tukiendorf]

Second that, Arbor press. You can chuck a steel rod in your drill press just to see how it feels.

[Michael Wildt]

I'd just cut a angled slot or two using a router bit. Just big/deep enough to accept a nail. Even with an arbor press you still have to hold the nail unless you drill a hole to hold the nail. If real fancy make a steel piece that pushes in both nails simultaneously.

[Michael O'Neill]

Second that, Arbor press. You can chuck a steel rod in your drill press just to see how it feels.
Thomas, thats a great idea!!! You could even magnetize the rod....


Michael

[Frederick Krach]

Here is a possible solution:

Fritan Technology has a product called Framan Hanger. It is a sawtooth picture frame hanger that is easy to install. It is temporarily held in place with adhesive tape while being attached with screws. The screws are held in place perpendicular to the bracket and frame allowing simple one-handed installation. There are no little nails to hold and a hammer is not needed, so the frame and glass will not get damaged.Fritan Technology has a product called Framan Hanger. It is a sawtooth picture frame hanger that is easy to install. It is temporarily held in place with adhesive tape while being attached with screws. The screws are held in place perpendicular to the bracket and frame allowing simple one-handed installation. There are no little nails to hold and a hammer is not needed, so the frame and glass will not get damaged.

[Charles McKinley]

Use a rare earth magnet to hold the brads to the ram of the press. If I was doing this a lot I would want it foot operated.