Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: madscientist on March 07, 2010, 12:02:51 PM

Title: Problem with nail gunning frames
Post by: madscientist on March 07, 2010, 12:02:51 PM
I bought a pneumatic nail gun to make assembling frames faster.  It's not going faster because the nails keep coming out the sides of the verticals. It doesn't seem to matter how straight my aim is - some fraction of the tip of the nail ends up coming out the side...
I'm using 18 gauge 1 1/4 inch nails. Should I switch to a thicker or shorter nail? Would staples work better?
Title: Re: Problem with nail gunning frames
Post by: b reeves on March 07, 2010, 12:13:37 PM
Staples work great
Bob
Title: Re: Problem with nail gunning frames
Post by: madscientist on March 07, 2010, 12:16:01 PM
Thanks! What size? Do they drift or bend and come out the sides?
Title: Re: Problem with nail gunning frames
Post by: hardwood on March 07, 2010, 12:19:20 PM
Try turning the gun 90degrees. The chisel tip on the nails tends to follow the grain of the wood and by turning the gun it will follow a different path.

Scott
Title: Re: Problem with nail gunning frames
Post by: Robo on March 07, 2010, 03:09:22 PM
I too have good luck using staples.

http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/frames-and-frame-assembly/ (http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/frames-and-frame-assembly/)
Title: Re: Problem with nail gunning frames
Post by: Kathyp on March 07, 2010, 05:24:08 PM
also check your pressure.  i have had that problem with the pressure was to low.  as said, the nail will follow the grain of the wood especially if there is not enough force to drive it straight.

i nail my boxes and staple my frames. 
Title: Re: Problem with nail gunning frames
Post by: JP on March 07, 2010, 05:28:01 PM
Staples on the frames or 1" brads. I use staples on all my frames now.


...JP
Title: Re: Problem with nail gunning frames
Post by: David LaFerney on March 07, 2010, 07:26:32 PM
Shorter or thicker or both will help.  I use 1 inch staples and glue. But if I didn't already have a stapler I would just use 1 inch nails.  It takes practice.  Get some side cutters and nip off the ones that split out.  The bees won't care.
Title: Re: Problem with nail gunning frames
Post by: CVBees on March 07, 2010, 08:34:38 PM
I have the problem periodically.. but I am using one inch 20g so that might be the difference.  How many are you putting in the bottom rail?  just curious  I put one on each side of the split plus a dab of glue of course.