Simple question about toe nailing studs for a wall
I have to build a couple of walls and the area does not allow me to build them and then stand them up, I have to put the top & bottom plate and then toe nail the studs in. The question is that I marked all the plates with 16″ on center but when I used my nailer which is a Senco shooting 10d nails the force of the gun when it shoots always pushed the board to the side a little bit knocking off center. How do I make sure that the stud stays in postion, the stud is a firm fit between the plates but I was practicing a bit and it always moved.
Thanks,
Mike
Replies
In my house, all the studs had an 8d nail toenailing the edge where the drywall would attach, then 10d shot from the sides. I suspec the 8d was the tack to keep the stud from drifting.
that makes sense, I have another nailer that shoots long finish nails and I could shoot one or two to tack it in and then shoot from the side, it is definetly something to try since the finish nailer will countersink and not interfere with drywall.
stand kind of between the studs lean forward, put your toe on the stud and nail through the opposite side. If this makes you nervouis put a small scrap on teh opposite side and stand on it.
Blocking or pocket screws.
Use the fire blocking as a stop temporarily. You will need it any how, so cutting it in advance, makes sense. And, since you are using it to maintian your stud spacing, you are sure it will fit.
The other option is pocket screws. They take a little longer. But, it sounds like you are workign in a finished space, and the fact that there isn't any impact to pop the mud off the top of old screws or nails can be a big advantage.
no pocket needed
No need for pocket screws/pre-drilling. Just screw construction screws (NOT drywall screws) as toenails. Use your foot to keep the stud from moving. Long enough drywall screws will snap going through the stud and plate(s).
Thanks to all, very good answers and this will help me!!!
Mike
8d's are all you need for toenailing. Just tack a nail in the middle of the 16" center mark and push the stud up against the nail. That will hold the stud in place when shooting the gun.
toe hold..
I would push the stud past the mark about how far I figure it will move, push with my foot, shoot the stud once, tune up the alignment with a hammer and finish off the rest of the nails with the nailer.
One hand for the nailer, other for the hammer and the work goes right along.
simplest answer i could think of
If you shoot your framing nail into the stud and it moves to somewhere you don't wanyt it to move to, beat it back into position, then finish nailing.
Or just leave it as an exercise for the rockers. So long as the stud is flush, being left or right 1/4" isn't going to cause the world to end.
Why do you think they call it "toe nailing"? You put your foot on the other side of the stud (and hope your aim is good). Or, of course you could cut a 14.5" spacer and stick it between the stud being nailed and the one previously installed next to it.
(Me, I just use screws and skip the whole adventure.)