staple gun vs. nail gun?

[vabeeguy]

   I put together alot of equipment, and though I'm pretty darn fast with a hammer, it's time to move into the 21st century. Anybody out there with suggestions on what type of automatic fasteners I should use. Would there be an all around gun to use for both frames and bodies (etc.) staples, vs. nails? What do you prefer to see your preassembled equipment put together with? Thanks for any input on this Subject.

[tlynn]

Yea, air tools rock!  Not sure if you can do a one size fits all gun.  I use a stapler with 18 ga 1" staples to put together frames and manually hammer 7d galvanized nails for the boxes.  I personally wouldn't use a nail gun to put together the boxes.  You really need to be precise with your nail placement, letting the nail go straight into the pilot holes properly.  I glue every joint.

[malabarchillin]

I do exactly at TLYNN does. The Harbor freight cheap air brad/staplers work well for me on frames and I have gotten my $ worth many times over from them. I use a framing square to keep the bodies square,glue (titebond 3) and hand nail them. There are a lot of nails in the box joint bodies. The placement of the frame staples may be hard to do with a nailer large enough for bodies.
Mike

[Robo]

Air stapler all the way, I use it for everything (frames, boxes, covers, bottom boards).

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,16842.0.html

search on "harbor freight" and you'll find more discussion too.

[Michael Bush]

I use a 1/4" crown stapler.  I use 1" long staples on frames, 1 1/2" on boxes and 1 1/4" when I want to go through cleats and not stick through on the inside.  I also use 1/2" long when doing screen or hardware cloth.

[Kathyp]

the most fun you'll have with a ....tool.... :-D

i use the long staples on the frames and the long nails on the boxes.  i nail the boxes from both directions and they hold well, but gorilla glue would add strength.  i may try that with frame tops this year.  i don't think the boxes get the stress that the top of my frames get.  a little glue would not hurt.

[JP]

Hooray for air tools! Got mine from Sears, love it! I use nails, brads and staples.


...JP

[tlynn]

So you guys use staples for the boxes too?  Think I'll give it a try.  I have a couple of supers to put together.  Makes sense.  The resin they coat the staples with makes it really hard to pull them out once they get fired into the wood.  Wondering if that compensates for the shorter penetration (1.5" staples vs. 7d nails which I think are 2.25 inches).

[Kathyp]

i use the long nails for boxes.  the staples were not long enough for my comfort.  mine come like this    http://bee-outside.com/unassembledhivebodiesandsupers.aspx
so i nail from both sides and they  hold well.

[johnnybigfish]

Im a "REAL MAN"! I use hammer and glue and nails!!
But...Thats because I do it at work where theres sometimes nothing else to do!!
But.....Hmmmm....I have looked at nail guns and stapler guns.....Maybe I'll convert in a couple weeks..I'll have to order more frames and boxes though...and, maybe I'll even get a big metal buildfing to put my bee stuff and compressor in for my stapl;er!!
I guess I better go out back and water my "Money Trees"!

your friend,
john

[Brian D. Bray]

Now days I use a pneumatic staple gun with 1 inch staples on frames and 2 inch staples on boxes, top, and bottoms.  Everything else is custom made for specific uses so the fastener varies.

[Michael Bush]

If I could find 2" staples and a gun to shoot them...

[BMAC]

I use a framing gun for the boxes, lids, pallets, etc... I make sure I use the ribbed nails.

Frames and more delicate wood work I use the crown stapler and only run it about 50 PSI.  works great to ensure all wood is not destroyed.

[Brian D. Bray]

If I could find 2" staples and a gun to shoot them...

Pallet staples.

[EasternShore]

I too use all air tools...
Also learned it's not a bad idea to soak me old frames in water for a bit when renailing them, keeps them from splitting. The down side is I can't use any glue on those. I've been useing porter cable guns for years. Hard to find nails at times tho.