Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Nail gun will shoot through a metal truss connector plate

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Modesto, CA, USA
    Posts
    9,811

    Nail gun will shoot through a metal truss connector plate

    I am in the process of adding rafter ties in my garage. I just got a small compressor and switched from hand to my placement nailer. Unfortunatly They have to be attached over the rectangular mending plates holding the trusses together right above the top plate. By hand I had to predrill the plate using the tie down holes as a guide. No way to drive a nail through the metal. I did the same for the gun then went and tried without. It shoots the 1.5" nails right through the plate. No drilling needed! Most of them need to be seated by a big hammer into the 50 year told dry, old growth doug fir 2x4's.
    Bill D
    I am wearing a loggers helmet with face shield just in case. Also prevents shingle nails from tearing up my scalp.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Dickinson, Texas
    Posts
    7,655
    Blog Entries
    1
    Have you considered using wood screws with a battery powered drill? It would be less risk.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Medina Ohio
    Posts
    4,513
    When we were building trusses we used a truss nail gun. We had 1/2 inch steel plates on the bottom to cinch the nails when we shot them through the steel connecting plates.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Longview WA
    Posts
    27,312
    Blog Entries
    1
    Quote Originally Posted by lowell holmes View Post
    Have you considered using wood screws with a battery powered drill? It would be less risk.
    There are screws made for this with a drill bit on the end ahead of the threads. A drop of oil on the tip of the screw helps immensely when installing these screws.

    jtk
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
    - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by lowell holmes View Post
    Have you considered using wood screws with a battery powered drill? It would be less risk.
    I don’t think you’re allowed to use screws for this. Nails only, by code, as I recall. Screws have relatively poor shear performance.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Highland MI
    Posts
    4,508
    Blog Entries
    11
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Koepke View Post
    There are screws made for this with a drill bit on the end ahead of the threads. A drop of oil on the tip of the screw helps immensely when installing these screws.

    jtk
    My experience is that those screws work best when securing wood to steel, not the other way around. The little drill bit at the end of the screw predrills the wood so much that there is little wood left for the threads to bite into and they strip out easily.
    NOW you tell me...

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Modesto, CA, USA
    Posts
    9,811
    update. About 10% the nails would not penetrate. The gun bounced but the nail just stayed in the gun. Did not even rip the tape so no movement. Always at a awkward location with not much down force on the gun. the gun just bounced.
    Seemed to work pretty well in a open location with good pressure into the gun.

    My loggers helmet is pretty ratty and the face screen holder broke so I ordered a new one. I bought it used 10 years ago. They are very nice for work like this since the screen does not fog up from sweating. Good sun protection outdoors like mowing and striming.
    Bill D

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Medina Ohio
    Posts
    4,513
    The truss guns we used sounded like a shotgun going off. Hearing protection really needed

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    NE Ohio
    Posts
    6,960
    Could you pre-drill the plate & then use a palm nailer to run the nail(s)?
    My granddad always said, :As one door closes, another opens".
    Wonderful man, terrible cabinet maker...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Modesto, CA, USA
    Posts
    9,811
    Quote Originally Posted by Rich Engelhardt View Post
    Could you pre-drill the plate & then use a palm nailer to run the nail(s)?

    Waste of time when I can predrill and use my positive placement nailer instead. I will use the palm nailer for the longer nails on the post hold downs. Placement nails are either 1.5 or 2.5 inches only.
    Bill D

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •