Thread: paslode nail gun safety tips

I have a cheapo air framer and it doesn't like hardwood, either drives the nail about 20mm and kicks back off the work, or finds a way to split the timber and shoots the nail out the side of the wood and accross the room.

With noggins etc, the impulse is enough to flex the studs away from the gun and leave a part driven nail, so I resorted to clamping with a sash clamp before nailing to ensure secure joints.

Its also a big bulky sucker thats not easy to get into tight spaces, so I spent $30 on a palm nailer which is a nice civilised unit.

Your Paslode is hopefully better behaved, but I would consider more than just the left hand to be at risk. While I wouldn't suggest not wearing goggles, I'm not 100% certain that they would stop or divert a flying nail, and I don't want to set up a test to find out.

I would suggest being very cautious with the nailer, particularly if there are other people or animals within 10 m of you.

Just the ramblings of a hacker and first time user, I know that many tradies use these items all the time, mostly without casualty, but caution is still desirable.

I've been using the Paslode gear for years and they are no more or less dangerous than anything that fires a steel projectile at a force that allows it to go through 100mm or so of hardwood!

Safety rules, OK. As do most of us I occasionally grab the gun and use it for a few shots without using goggles (or a clear face mask helmet which I find more usable), but when using on large jobs and for long periods I try to use goggles at least. Have to admit that the lapses are common - as many of us find the safety gear is inconvenient at best and sometimes becomes a safety issue itself as visibility or movement etc can be restricted.

Like all power tools just do not become complacent and think each time you aim and use the gun. As my dear old dad used to say - the most dangerous time with any tool is when you are learning to use it and then when you become comfortable using it - a small window in between is when you are competent, but careful.

be especially careful if any one is in front of you or to the side a bit, if one of those deflected nails comes out they'll wear it. Probly best tip is one about your spare hand - get it outa there. Use pressure of gun nose to bend stud and hold nog in place.

In my experience skew nails are also very dangerous if you have the nose at an incorrect angle,i.e too sharp or too shallow.make sure the teeth on the nose are nicely dug in before you fire so it doesnt slip as you fire.
as i use mine on a daily basis i keep them sharp with a file.
Also if you are fixing down chipboard flooring, nails have been known to go straight through to the floor below if you miss the joist. cheers.
Also, if anyone is interested in a bosch gbh 4dfe rotary hammerdrill in perfect nick i have one on ebay at the moment under the name of jacqui888.

As the others have said especialy about lapses with safety, thats the very time you will need it, when I was an apprentice my mates laughed at me for using ear muffs now I have to shout at most of them so they can here me. The only scary thing with the paslode is when a gas cartrige lets go while you are holding it, no damage but gives you a hell of a fright

Watch out for knots .I had a mate who shot a nail ,it hit a knot and came straight out the side and hit him.

Don't get into the habit of holding the trigger down and using the safety mechanism to shoot the nail in. You only have to move around and bump your leg etc against the safety and you'll have a nicely nailed leg.

I'm told it doesn't hurt much going in, pulling it out reportedly smarts somewhat

Hi all

A few years back I dropped a Paslode framing gun off to be fixed, the service guy (who should have known better!!!!) removed the battery and tried a dummy firing into the palm of his hand, the result... Bang!!!! it had a charge in the firing system, which fired a 3" nail into his hand in front of me... YUK!!!

He took off to the doctors rooms next to his shop, I left the gun to be fixed with his wife who was still swearing at him about being careless. The next day I got a call to say it was fixed, the guy handed it to me and said that the nail missed everything as it passed through leaving him with what was just a flesh wound.

Moral to story.... treat these like any firearm, don't point them at anything you don't want shot.

Regards

The Woodworker

they are good things if yer get a nasty dog hanging around

I service paslode guns & you have to be careful around them.
No more so than with any power tool mind you.
I have seen guns fire with the battery in them & the gas cyclinder out. What happens is that if you pump the gun up & down without firing it--ie when you test them, they build up gas inside the chamber. With the battery in the fan should discharge the gas (once you have removed gas tube of course). The trick is to make sure that all the gas is gone before you squeeze trigger.
But if I were you stick to some easy rules
-Never leave nails inside tool when finished or storing tool
-never leave gas inside tool-it leaks & you should always pop the cap on the gas when storing in case slot.
-never leave battery in tool when storing
-always point at the ground when walking or standing around
-always assume that there are nails in the tool--youd be suprised that when you pop off the nose that a nail is always sitting there that hasnt slid back down the magazine.
-never fire gun with people beside or in front of you
-never put any part of your body in front of what you are nailing-the guns pack a lot of punch very quickly and if the material is not thick enough it will shoot through further than expected.
I am not sure how the gun will fire with out the battery in it , but anythings possible with a paslode.
cheers --calculator

Thanks very much for all the tips
Ive shot about 300 nails now without error and all seems well.
Its very interesting to hear about the gun that fired without the battery!
Mental note:Must remove all the nails and gas cartridge and battery from now on...
cheers Rileyp

the only problem i've had with the gun is forgetting to take the black cap off the gas cylinder they seem to leek over a period of time .so you end up with lots of nails and no gas .Any tool without a lead or hose hanging out the back is the grouse.