Do you frame with a nailer or screws....

[mobiledynamics]

I'm going to buy a nailer just to switch things up.
I've never framed new...but just remodels on the various houses throughtout my lifetime. Always with a bucket of GRK screws..

What I hate is that the screw can veer off the placement just by the shear draw of things...

I'm going to switch it up with a Max or Paslode Nailer just to set things and then follow it up with my tried and true screws...

 

[pipsters]

I framed with nails. MUCH faster that way IMO. Probably not as strong but just throw a couple more nails in "pop pop pop" you're done.

 

[JeremyManning]

nails, screws shear

 

[toolmaker1]

nails, screws shear

+1 if you ever had to have anything inspected to meet code the screws won't fly. No shear strength.

 

[ChrisF250]

Always with nails. What screws would you use to frame anyway?

 

[mobiledynamics]

I'm not framing exterior walls. If I am, it's just remodel - so interior walls, soffits, etc.
GRK screws are the screws of choice.

 

[Alchymist]

Exterior - nails. Heavy construction I like pole barn nails. Interior partitions - torx wood screws:

 

[c_mccann]

Nails.

 

[MrMark]

If you watch Holmes on Homes they are all screws. Must be a Canada thing everything is a screw. I would NEVER use screws for anything framing. As stated they have no shear value and would never pass any inspection.

BTW, I've never learned anything from that show. All he does is bag on crapo contractors and then he goes and uses crapo contractors himself. Like his electrical guy and some of the plumbing guys. Pretty bad.

 

[z385488]

I used screws for about 95% of my pole barn/shop build inspector has seen it and didn't say anything about it,

 

[venturesomerite]

If you watch Holmes on Homes they are all screws. Must be a Canada thing everything is a screw. I would NEVER use screws for anything framing. As stated they have no shear value and would never pass any inspection.

BTW, I've never learned anything from that show. All he does is bag on crapo contractors and then he goes and uses crapo contractors himself. Like his electrical guy and some of the plumbing guys. Pretty bad.

I hate that show.


This is every episode-

"Ok Mr. and Mrs. home owner, seems you have a crack in your driveway and a leak in the hose. I'm going to have to demo the house and check for bed rock. I think that the shotty builder used concrete instead of digging to bed rock like you should. Also, I'll look like I do things, but really just hire people to come do things for me. Then with my limitless TV backed budget I'll use the most expensive finishes I can find. And also do alot of unnecesary demo and remodel, that if you actually had to pay for, would never get done. I'll be sure to waste as much materials as possible, by demoing lots of things that are actually salvageable, or fine. Then you'll thank me for all the hard over-all wearing work I did. Sound good? We can start aboot Monday."


Framing -> nails.

 

[Packard V8]

Have to define our terms. Sometimes framing is toe-nailing the **** of a stud perpendicular to a plate. Sometimes, framing is lapping one piece across another. Sometimes framing is attaching a galvanized steel hanger to a support and then attaching a joist to that.

FWIW, here in the northwest I've never seen a framing crew using anything but nails on wood. Screws are for galvanized stud framing.

jack vines

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Nails. It's way faster to use a nail gun then screws. I like inline magazines the best on a framing nailers and that what my Senco is. They fit in tighter places and have better balance. They don't hold as many nails so you do need to reload a little more often.

Any of the framing nailers fron Bostoitch, Hitachi, Paslode, or Senco would be a good choice. They to hold as many of side by side as you can to see which one is the most comfortable for you.

About the only time I use screws for framing is in really tight spots or to attach the base board to cement with anchors.

 

[2manytoyz]

Walls, workbenches, it doesn't care. Totally agree about screws lacking sheer strength. Put a couple of pieces of wood together with screws, smack it with a hammer. Do the same with nails. See which one comes apart first. I have, and was very surprised by the results. I never use screws in something that needs structural strength anymore.

 

[fury9]

I always use nails except on my work bench cause I might want to take it apart

 

[woody 73]

I always use nails except on my work bench cause I might want to take it apart

 

[fury9]

If you do get a nail gun KEEP YOUR DIGITS minimum 4 inches away from the nail entry point, the nail tends to sometimes shoot out the side and if you are holding the piece right close to the other piece with your hand close or touching the other said piece, Well then you will have a trip to the emergency room. And save your self another trip and put the trigger setting on single fire

 

[demographic]

Nails from a cordless nailgun or if I'm working at one timber framing factory its from an airline nailer.
Framing internal walls with screws won't do any harm at all though.

I disagree with the idea of nails being harder to pull out than screws.
How much shear are you expecting in internal walls?
I've done lots and lots of walls both ways and they are fine. Nails from a nailgun are far faster so that's what I use now.

I wouldn't hold a bench together with nails, especially one that's got a vice that things are placed in to be beaten, hacksawed or filed. Nice way to end up with one of those benches that walk across the floor when you saw on them.

Look up books on making workbenches, most will tell you to avoid nailing them up for that reason.
A possible exception to that is the ones that use building roof clips and so on nailed over a large area and maybe even gangnailed.

 

[slopecarver]

What screws are you guys thinking of that are bad in shear? Drywall screws are obviously horrific in shear but they are for drywall, not framing.

 

[Strouty]

I used coated deck screws for my framing around the shop, they are very strong and keep things together. If they can be used outside for decks why can't you frame with them? I agree that cheap screws or drywall screws would have no shear strength. A deck must have issues with shear, I don't know anyone who would build a deck with nails, at least not in this day and age.

 

[fury9]

I build decks with ringshank nails all the time. I only screw the decking and hand rails

 

[rlitman]

A deck screw is still NOT suitable for framing. Just look at the cross sectional area of the shank, and you'll see that it's way thinner than a 16D nail.

There are plenty of screws designed to replace framing nails. They are made for just that.
Not for drywall, not for decking, not for hanging pictures, etc.

 

[ishiboo]

If you do get a nail gun KEEP YOUR DIGITS minimum 4 inches away from the nail entry point, the nail tends to sometimes shoot out the side and if you are holding the piece right close to the other piece with your hand close or touching the other said piece, Well then you will have a trip to the emergency room. And save your self another trip and put the trigger setting on single fire

I was nailing with a 18 ga brad nailer, some wood round over trim over the edge of my boat's laminate countertop I had just re-laminated. The brad went into the countertop, turned around and came back out the top so it was "U" shaped. Always very careful with all the nailers since then

 

[fury9]

yup,there could be a knot or whatever, hard grain of wood,etc...

 

[ChrisF250]

I used coated deck screws for my framing around the shop, they are very strong and keep things together. If they can be used outside for decks why can't you frame with them? I agree that cheap screws or drywall screws would have no shear strength. A deck must have issues with shear, I don't know anyone who would build a deck with nails, at least not in this day and age.

What your talking about has nothing to do with shear strength. Nails on deck boards tend to pull out as the board expands and contracts with moisture and temperature. Deck boards are especially exposed to these extremes. Thats why everyone uses screws on deck boards. Shear strength has to do with how much load the nail or screw can take perpendicularly, nails are almost always stronger. Your talking about the amount of force needed to pull a nail out or a screw not shear strength.

 

[Ross]

You might check out the following chapter from the USDA Forest Products Labs "Wood Handbook, Wood as an Engineering Material"
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr190/chapter_08.pdf

 

[carbon]

For really tough nails try the twisted shank variety. I had a pallet laying around that was put together with those and WOW it was hard to pull them out.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

I use both. My friend and I built his entire 18x24 garage with #10x3.5" long construction screws and passed inspection no problems.

 

[wafrederick]

McFeely's does sell screws that are shot in with a nail gun.The deck boards on a deck,screws are best.Nails are prone to pop up and I have replaced them with screws in the back deck. http://www.mcfeelys.com/search/nailscrews

 

[Alchymist]

For really tough nails try the twisted shank variety. I had a pallet laying around that was put together with those and WOW it was hard to pull them out.

They are a smaller version of the pole barn nail. The pole barn nail wants to be driven correctly on the first try - he!! to pull!