I’m sure this is a stupid question, but….
….I’m trying to nail a 2×4 vertically on the flat to another board. I’m starting nailing at the bottom. Without nails it sits flush with the other board. When I’m nailing in at the bottom , either by hand or with a palm nailer, everything’s fine until the last 1/2″. Then the board pops out about 1/8″, and if I try to press it in flush the top part of the board starts bowing out. I haven’t tried driving the nail in all the way since I’m leaving the top out to pull it out and start again. The 1/8″ is important, it’s the difference between a corner being square and a wall plumb and, well, not.
I suspect the vibration is making it jump a bit towards the end and sit wrong on the nail, though the bowing of the board has me perplexed. When I take the nail out, it sits flush again. This has happened with both 8d and 10d nails.
I can’t toe-nail because there’s no floor underneath it. It’s sitting on plywood strips until I try to slide a floor underneath it later and shim (let’s just say, plumbing rough-in….). I’m nailing to blocking between two existing studs (about 2″ apart).
What is the obvious thing that I am doing wrong?
Replies
Try screwing it.
I'm having trouble picturing exactly what you're doing but it sounds like the last bit of driving the nail is jarring the board (Newton's Second Law? action and reaction...) and causing the "popping" you're referring to. Can you use screws rather than nails? As far as the bowing goes... maybe by working your way up (or down) you're tensioning the board? Maybe try going from one end to the other and working your way in? Like torquing down a cylinder head...
clamp it where ya want it, and screw or nail away.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Thanks everyone, I'm just back from the store with 3" #10 screws. Clamping was not an option, there's a plaster wall behind the existing studs.
Piffin screws??I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
Piffin screws??
Uh oh, now the new guy's in for it . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Deck screws....
another thing to make your screwing enjoyable,is use a screw guide,it's a device with a sleeve that goes over the screw and deadens the wobbling,(you can only go up to a#8 with this device)Scribe once, cut once!