I was in a woodworker’s warehouse store today, the guy said that clipped head nails are not to code in many towns.
Anyone know the specifics for Mass, CT, and VT? Can I use clipped head nails? for non load bearing walls only? not at all?
Was considering the Senco FramePro 601, but wanted to see if it would make more sense to buy a full head nailer such as the 602
thanks…
ps. I’ve never bought anything from Woodworkers Warehouse, but have browsed at them. The people who work there don’t seem to be overly eager to help. Figured they would be as their prices are higher than elsewhere (HD, Amazon). Figured you pay extra for friendly chat and knowledgeable folks, but the three guys who I have interacted with at this store are
guy 1: Grumpy, unhelpful. Said he would not help me because it was 6:28 and he leaves at 6:30. Put me in contact with guy 2.
guy 2: Grumpier, even less helpful. unknowledgeable about product. Reluctant to let me handle floor samples. Another customer came in to look for table saws, and he was of no help to the other guy either.
guy 1, different day: a little more helpful. did offer to match amazon’s price.
guy 3: Helpful and knowledgeable, told me I should not buy the product they had (P-C air compressor). Said that I should go down the road to HD or Grainger and buy from there!
Replies
Clipped head nails meet the perscriptive codes.
You might look for a document called "NER-272".
The rumor that clip head nails are not code is just another internet rumor perpetrated by amatuers dispensing unqualified advice. There may be a few misguided towns that have banned them but I have yet to see any real documentation. Someone on this forum said they were banned in California but that was a complete crock of s---.
While they are not against code here, I know a few inspectors that have frowned upon them, fallen way short of failing an inspection because of them, but they always comment, lawrence ks.
But I suspect its the new inspectors getting on a power trip
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Edited 4/22/2003 2:10:54 PM ET by CAG
Well, if you're worried about it, paslode does make roundhead nails (Roundrive brand) that fit into their clip head gun as well as any other 30 degree clip head gun.
They are required in some places, but mostly not.
What is going on with the Senco thing is they have a promo, and their sales pitch is round heads are code all over. My brother just fell for this. He called and asked me what was a good framer, and before I got back to him he had bought the Senco.
Too bad, I am done buying Senco anything, but he got a "free" brad nailer. Too bad he won't be able to buy nails around here to save his life...
According to the amazon / toolcrib website, you can buy the 601 clipped head (really it's more notched than clipped) or the 602 round head and get the brad nailer free with either. That's what I originally wanted to do. However, the brad nailer they give you "free" only shoots 1.25" brads, which is too short for me.
I did a little more research on the NER 272 document that was mentioned in this thread. It's available at Senco's website.
My question is, this whole clipped head / full head dispute, if it even exists, does it pertain to structural sheathing only, or to all manner of stick framing as well
Alecs:
The bottom line is ask your building inspector how he feels about clipped head nails. It really should not be a problem since nails are mostly used for shear, not pull out strength. Over-penetration is the problem with sheathing. Another topic of discussion with the building inspector is nail guage vs # penny. Shank diameters of nails driven by pnuematic nailers are not the same as hand driven nails.
If I recall, toward the bottom of NER-272 there are perscriptive nailing schedules for your typical framing situations. (I like the cute pictures.)
If you need to do more extensive engineering the NDS for Wood Construction is a good source.
Teller and Elpaso counties Colorado. CH no. FRH yes.
Our local code in Savannah, GA calls for round heads for new construction and authorizes clipped for anything else.... It's sillier than it sounds... But we are some 15-20 years behind on normal thinking here in Savannah..... Someone had too many mosquito bites I guess.... Call the inspections office in the city / county. They will let you know what they are looking for... Probably not why !!
Ken in Savannah.
There is such a thing as a offset round head nails that can be loaded in Senco and Paslode.
Ordered a box of stainless ring shank 30-deg nails from Swan Secure.
I can't answer your question about the nail head type code.
But I can tell you that the experience I had at a Woodworkers Warehouse was similar to yours and at 2 different locations! Moving forward, they would have to be the only game in town for me to ever step foot in one again.
Bill
On the nail head issue, I recently picked up a new framing gun and chose a round head type so I wouldn't have to worry about some inspector's idiosynchrocies.
On the Woodworkers Warehouse (Treadlines prior to reorganization) issue, we have 2 of them within 20 miles of my house and I visit them, more frequently than my DW would like. The salemen (never any saleswomen, BTW) are always available and willing to help; I've never had the experience you described. They are willing to lower their price if presented with a ligitimate offer from somewhere else. My wife shops there at Christmas using a list I give her, and she has talked them down in the past. But then, my DW could talk a glass of ice water from a person frying in he!!.
I think you`ve gotten your clipped head nail question answered....as for the Woodworkers Warehouse....I`ve been very disapointed with them lately....seems all they are interested in is competing with HD. The one in my locale no longer carries Bostich tools because they claim returns are a problem when dealing with Bostich. Overall their selection seems to have diminished....couldn`t purchase a "pistol grip" cordless drill there recently. They didn`t carry the Supersawzall. They used to concentrate on the pro.....not so any longer.
Most of the power tools I buy now, I get from Amazon...prices are good and they seem to have everything. Unless I need it today, I order it online.
J. D. Reynolds
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