I finally switched from hand nailing to a framing nailer after 15 years
Been doing decks and basic frames by hand since I started with my uncle back in '09. Always figured nailers were for guys in a hurry who didn't care about accuracy. Last spring I got a job building a pergola in Scarborough and the customer wanted it done in 3 days. My arm was toast by noon on day one so I caved and rented a Paslode from the hardware store. Finished that thing in 2 days flat and the nails were straighter than I expected. Been saving for my own ever since. Anyone else hold out on a tool way longer than they should have?
Is it really that big of a deal though? I mean, you got the job done with a rental and saved the cash for something else. Hand nailing never killed anyone and it kept my arms in shape for years.
Cora, you're speaking my language... hand nailing has this honest feel to it, like you're really building something with your own two hands. There's nothing wrong with saving a few hundred bucks on a rental when the job still gets done right. I remember framing out a shed years ago with just a hammer and a belt full of nails, took twice as long but my shoulders never felt stronger. People get too caught up in fancy tools sometimes, forget that a steady arm and some sweat can do the same work...
But would you trust a hand nailed roof on your own house over one done with a pneumatic gun though... I've seen some guys who claim they're fast but their spacing is all over the place.