Powder Charge Nailer - Newbie discussion

[budget76]

Picked up a used powder charge nailer off Ebay, Remingon 496. Came with a bunch of charges and misc nails, . Unfortunately apparently the dude had 2 guns and mixed supplies - got a bunch of .22 loads but this gun requires the .27cal strips.

Never used one before. Threw a yellow charge in with a 3" pin and tried to secure a 2x4 to the garage floor. It just fractured the floor and the nail stayed proud 3/8", didn't secure at all.

Questions:
1. pin length for 2x4 to concrete - 2.5" per the manual. my 3" test was too long and created an issue i guess?
2. Load power - yellows? any reason to not jump up to reds? Need to buy some, prefer to only buy one size, they aren't that cheap

planning on using mainly for 2x4 into concrete for basement framing

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

I'm only familiar with Hilti DX but they've got an adjuster to reduce the powder power. Maybe that one has one also and you can just buy reds and tune them back when needed?

 

[budget76]

I'm only familiar with Hilti DX but they've got an adjuster to reduce the powder power. Maybe that one has one also and you can just buy reds and tune them back when needed?

thanks. don't see any adjust, basically just load and shoot. its an older basic model

did a little more reading. hoping I didn't waste $$ and the concrete is too brittle to actually use the thing. I've got a SDS drill and plenty of anchors, maybe I should have just planned to use those

 

[FC4X4]

I'd use the shortest nail that works. 2 1/2" sounds right for a 2x4. Don't nail too close to the edge of a slab to avoid blowouts. I'd also suggest putting some construction adhesive on the plate; nails just don't hold the same way anchor bolts do. We will do temporary stuff with a Ramset, but have generally switched to DeWalt concrete screws. I've only ever used red loads; I can't think of a time I've needed less power/penetration.

 

[budget76]

thanks FC, I'll order up a pack of reds & 2.5" nails and give it a shot. good call on the adhesive, will slap some on

 

[_ogre]

I have the Remington22 version since 90. Big loads only. Mostly good for shear, don't resist pulling at all. Tapcons work better imo. You can drill a tapcon all the way down

 

[78bronco460]

Has it been cleaned and oiled?

 

[budget76]

Has it been cleaned and oiled?

if you mean taking the wire brush, pushing out the 1" pin with it, then doing a test fire - yes

i WILL give it some lube before it gets real use. though now I'm feeling more like I wasted $$ and should have just planned to use the SDS drill & anchors I already had

 

[78bronco460]

if you mean taking the wire brush, pushing out the 1" pin with it, then doing a test fire - yes

i WILL give it some lube before it gets real use. though now I'm feeling more like I wasted $$ and should have just planned to use the SDS drill & anchors I already had

I’ve shot thousands of slack wires into pan deck ceilings and found I can sometimes hear/feel when the gun is needing cleaned. I’ve never owned a PAT, they’re supplied by the contractor, but upkeep is on the operator. Sometimes you get one that’s just shot out and then you just get another one. They probably sell the worn out ones on eBay?

 

[kf4zht]

I have that same gun. Agree that 3" is longer than needed for 2x lumber. Use mostly yellows but that's due to the gun coming with a near lifetime supply for my needs

Keep like 2 sizes of nails. One for 2x and one for this stuff. I like the washered nails for 2x, keeps them from overdriving if you have a whimpy pine tree board

 

[arse_sidewards]

Depending on your concrete aggregate it may be hard to get consistent results. My 100yo basement has baseball sized granite in it along with the gravel. Hammer drill DGAF so that's what I use now.

 

[budget76]

Depending on your concrete aggregate it may be hard to get consistent results. My 100yo basement has baseball sized granite in it along with the gravel. Hammer drill DGAF so that's what I use now.

yeah i'm realizing now I should probably cut my losses and just use the inserts, instead of spending $30+tax on some red strips + a batch of 2.5" nails. I've only got to frame up about 15' of wall against concrete, plus another 15' of sill plate. though I planned on another project for this too, just can't remember what