Had to put downsome Z-bar the other day, and those darned little 1/2inch nails gave me one heck of a time. I bet I burned 25 befor eI could get 10 in. Either the crete would chip or the nail would take off to the side. It become almost comical. What is the secret to nailing those things. I think the concrete might have been unusually hard. It burned up three of my bosch masonry bit ( could have lit a cig with one of them. It looked like a glowing cigarette lighter).
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have a cup of water next to you. Put drill bit in water every 20-30 seconds of drilling. Makes a "wet" cut and bits live longer.
Spashing a little water on the concrete helps with concrete nails too. It seems to lubricate. Turtleneck
If your sitting at a poker table and can't tell who the sucker is... its you. Paul Newman
What is z bar?
I'm glad someone else asked that question. I didn't want to be the dumb one that asked................(-:Our motto is to give our customers the lowest possible prices and workmanship.
Z bar is the carpet strip used to fold the carpet under itself . It is a transition method. C'mon you know. when the carpe tis tucked in well, you just beat it down with a hammer. The nails used to set it are 1/2 inch and you have to hit it just right to sink them.
Have you looked at using powder actuated fasteners? Ramset is the brand name that has become the generic name for them. I bought one a couple years ago because I didn't have enough stuff in my basement. :) Haven't used it yet, but it looks a lot more fun than drilling holes and bending nails.
I don't use many concrete nails but the few times I have used stubbbies they seem to go in easiest, at least for me, using an 3lb engineers hammer and holding the nail with a plastic pocket comb. That way I can take a full, square hit and sink it in one after a solid starter hit and still be able to count to ten.
Plastic pocket comb?
Man, if I wasn't already grateful to you for your good advice, good humor, and good conversation here, that little gem would do it.
Besides, I gotta do something with those things. I don't have enough hair left to comb anyway. <G>
DRC
I have a tool made specifically for stubbies. All it is, is a 6" length of round stock with a small magnet embedded in the end. Stick the head of the nail on it, whack the other end once to get it started and then whack the nail once to set it. If you hit the nail more than twice you have an excellent chance of spalling the concrete causing the nail to bounce out. If the space for nailing is tight you could also just hit the tool twice.
Cost was about $12 for the tool but I haven't damaged any fingers in a very long time.