Skew nailing with a nail gun

**Couso** · 4th January 2012, 04:57 AM

Hi All,

I'm trying to rebuild the 900mm tall railing on our front deck which is 23m x 3m to prevent our children from falling off. I've bought the timber (H4 pine 45x70 & 35x70) and have replaced the top and bottom rails without too many dramas.
The top and bottom rails are both 70mm wide and 45mm thick. My plan is to have the 35mm x 70mm pine run vertical between the top and bottom rails with a 70mm gap between each vertical sort of like a picket fence but sandwiched between the top and bottom rails.
I bought a compressor and a nail gun ( ??? 34degree) and have used 75mm nails through the top rail to locate the top of the verticals. I have used 50mm nails to locate the bottom of the verticals by skew nailing through the front face of the vertical into the top of the bottom rail at an angle. I have made a jig which I clamp in place to locate the verticals in the correct position during nailing.
My problem is nailing at an angle with the nail gun. I made a jig out of scrap pine to get the correct angle which quickly broke apart. I continued free style and found that some nails bounce of the timber leaving gouges and other nails just change direction and come through the back of the uprights.
I have installed 30 uprights leaving only about 230 to go and want to get this right before continuing and being a complete amatuer need all the help I can get. I would post pictures if I could but unfortunatly I can't.

Thanks in advance,
Couso
Alice Springs

**Stewie D** · 4th January 2012, 12:50 PM

Some tips here...
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f11/sk...ail-gun-71105/
Sometimes I've also found when trying to skew nail is to pre-drill where you want to nail in only about 5mm or so.
Of course then you have to be spot on with your aim - something that usually comes with a lot of practice.

Stewie

**China** · 4th January 2012, 10:27 PM

You may want to use a heavier gauge nail it sounds like the one you are using may be too small.

**Couso** · 5th January 2012, 07:04 AM

Hi guys,

Thanks for the great replies.
The pre-drilling idea is one I had thought of but I don't trust my aim. I will mock up some scrap and see how I go.
The gun is from a supercheap brand item, They only have 3 nails sizes available 90mm, 75mm & 50mm the 90's being the biggest gauge and the 50's being the smallest. I can't remember the gauges now but I think the 50mm nails are around 2.8mm or 3.08mm thick. I checked out Home Hardware and they had the same size nails availabe but only in bulk.
Maybe the Home Hardware nails might be stronger asuming they are better quality. Could be worth a try...
I started this project months ago and need to get it sorted soon as my wife is due with our second child in February and as we live on a 6 acre rural block we need somewhere for our toddler to toddle freely without being molested by the dogs. I've got 2 months off work starting next week and hope to get it done between wiping butts, reading books and playing with jumbo blocks. How smart am I for leaving this till high summer in Alice.???

Any other sugestions fell free to reply,

Cheers,
Couso

**Ben Dono** · 5th January 2012, 07:07 AM

I think it's just a practice thing. I know when I was an apprentice, I was all thumbs with nail guns.. Actually, I think I almost shot through my thumb on the first week fresh from school..

Maybe practice on scrap for a while.. A box of nails is cheap.. Sounds like your using 18 or 16 gauge c brads. I would probably be using the same gauge.

**Ben Dono** · 5th January 2012, 07:09 AM

Just re read you new post.. That sounds like a framing gun. Not a brad gun.

**ClintO** · 5th January 2012, 10:11 AM

I wonder how many appendages are damaged/amputated getting projects finished before the arrival of a child

**Couso** · 9th January 2012, 03:10 PM

Practice makes perfect - Well known fact... When I was working as a Mechanic many moons ago I could use a hammer like a precision instrument, now I can belt something with a hammer all day and acheive diddely squat besides maybe a sore thumb.. by the way I'm planning on keeping all my appendages on this one.
I haven't had a chance to have another go but I will post the results when I do..

Cheers from Alice,
Couso

**Robson Valley** · 15th January 2012, 05:42 AM

Is there a reason you chose to use nails instead of corrosion resistant deck screws?

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