Nail sizes hammer vs gun .. help?!

44623 Views 12 Replies 8 Participants Last post by A Squared, Jun 20, 2011

beachfront71

Discussion Starter · Jun 17, 2011

Hi and thanks,

Remodeling a bedroom and turning into a bath and I have to frame approx 14 feet of walls ... California requires 8d or 16d nails for the framing ..

I broke down and bought a harbor frieght framing nailer with a box of nails today .. (I know .. piece of **** but I will never use it again)..

Here is the problem ..

The nails I purchased are 2.5" x .113 smooth shank 10g galvenized ...

I can not figure out what that means in english?

This is going to be inspected so per CA building code I know it mentions specifics for sill plates, studs, etc .. but it is all for 8d and 16d sizes ..

Can someone tell me how to make sure I am using nails that will pass inspection? How do gages and D/pennys compare?

Thanks for any help and apologies if confusing .. which is why I am here in the first place..

Will post again once I nail my foot to a stud ...

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Bud Cline

· #2 · Jun 17, 2011 (Edited)

The nails I purchased are 2.5" x .113 smooth shank 10g galvenized ...

You're shure?

A 2-1/2" nail is an 8 penny nail not a 10.
The "g" represents the "galvanized".

This chart may help you. Why can't you Google this yourself and get the information you need.

http://www.tpub.com/content/engineering/14069/css/14069_239.htm

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hayewe farm

· #3 · Jun 17, 2011 (Edited)

Here's a chart that shows the penny size at the bottom of the nails and the gauge at the top http://www.helpcharts.com/images/NailSizeChart.jpg

a 2.5" X .113 would be a 7d nail, you need a 10¼G to be an 8D

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hayewe farm

· #4 · Jun 17, 2011

Bud Cline said:
You're shure?

A 2-1/2" nail is an 8 penny nail not a 10.
The "g" represents the "galvanized".

This chart may help you. Why can't you Google this yourself and get the information you need.

http://www.tpub.com/content/engineering/14069/css/14069_239.htm

Actually the "G" stands for gauge.

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Reactions: 2

jschaben

· #5 · Jun 17, 2011

beachfront71 said:
Hi and thanks,

Remodeling a bedroom and turning into a bath and I have to frame approx 14 feet of walls ... California requires 8d or 16d nails for the framing ..

I broke down and bought a harbor frieght framing nailer with a box of nails today .. (I know .. piece of **** but I will never use it again)..

Here is the problem ..

The nails I purchased are 2.5" x .113 smooth shank 10g galvenized ...

I can not figure out what that means in english?

This is going to be inspected so per CA building code I know it mentions specifics for sill plates, studs, etc .. but it is all for 8d and 16d sizes ..

Can someone tell me how to make sure I am using nails that will pass inspection? How do gages and D/pennys compare?

Thanks for any help and apologies if confusing .. which is why I am here in the first place..

Will post again once I nail my foot to a stud ...

Is that all the code requires of the nails, the size? Some places will specify the shank type also, Some places specify hurriquake nails which have the head marked so the inpector can identify them after being installed.

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Bud Cline

· #6 · Jun 17, 2011

Actually the "G" stands for gauge.

Hell I thought it was galvanized.

The Duo-Fast nails I used to buy for government work were always coded "G" for the galvanized copy.

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NASCAR9

· #7 · Jun 17, 2011

What type of nails does your gun shoot? Full head or Clipped(I think that's what they are called)? I know CA building code is very picky about nailing, we live in earthquack country.

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beachfront71

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 17, 2011

thanks for the info .. and yes I did google some of these charts but there was still some confusion .. the biggest being that the box of nails I bought seeems to be mislabled with 10d when it should be 7 ..

Never really had to think about it before until I had to go out and buy the supplies myself knowing the inspector would be looking ...

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Bud Cline

· #9 · Jun 17, 2011

It surprises me that the state of California doesn't have a law against Harbor Freight.

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Tizzer

· #10 · Jun 17, 2011

The 2.5 X .113 galvanized aren't going to cut it either. You paid more by buying galvanized and .113 is not a "D". You need something like a .131.
Are you allowed to use clipped head nails? For your 16D, you need a 3 1/2".

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beachfront71

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 17, 2011

thanks to all .. returned all this crap and bought a hitachi with a box of 2.5 x .131 and 3.5 x .131 nails ..

The good news is I do not think I will ever run out of nails again ...

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Gary in WA

· #12 · Jun 20, 2011

Some accurate reading for you:

2-1/2” nail is an 8d (penny), never capitalized. http://appaltree.net/aba/nails.htm

An easier chart to read: http://www.sizes.com/tools/nails_common_wire.htm

2009 IRC nailing guide: http://publicecodes.citation.com/icod/irc/2009/icod_irc_2009_6_sec002_par005.htm Be sure to read the footnotes…..

CA exceptions to that guide (as of 2008): pp.#5---- http://www.codecheck.com/cc/images/Code_Check_5th_ed_CA_References_2-5-08.pdf

8d (length) come in many diameters for different applications, pp. #6: http://www.paslode.com/uploadedFiles/ESR-1539.pdf

Gary

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A Squared

· #13 · Jun 20, 2011

GBR in WA said:
Some accurate reading for you:

2-1/2” nail is an 8d (penny), never capitalized. http://appaltree.net/aba/nails.htm

An easier chart to read: http://www.sizes.com/tools/nails_common_wire.htm

2009 IRC nailing guide: http://publicecodes.citation.com/icod/irc/2009/icod_irc_2009_6_sec002_par005.htm Be sure to read the footnotes…..

CA exceptions to that guide (as of 2008): pp.#5---- http://www.codecheck.com/cc/images/Code_Check_5th_ed_CA_References_2-5-08.pdf

8d (length) come in many diameters for different applications, pp. #6: http://www.paslode.com/uploadedFiles/ESR-1539.pdf

Gary

The last document Gary linked has a very useful section in it. Usually the code for framing will tell you how many 16d (or 8d) nails are required. The thing is, actual 16d nails for a nailer are not common. Starting at page 30 on that report, it gives the equivalent of other nail sizes for various framing applications. IE; if code calls for 2 16d common nails to end nail a plate to a stud, you'll need 3 10d common (or 3 12d box) nails to do the same thing. Another nice thing about that report, if you don't know what "face nail top plate to stud" means, they also have a diagram that shows it.

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