When you are tackling a larger DIY project, a nail gun can be your saviour as if saves you from having to hammer in the countless nails you would otherwise wear out your arm doing. Nail guns take care of the brunt of the heavy work for you. Nail guns allow you to speed through any construction or carpentry project no matter how big or small… if there are nails to be hammered in, a nail gun is your go-to power tool. A nail gun or a “nailer” will also improve your nailing consistency. All the best electric nail guns are cordless, but you will also find nail guns powered by corded electricity, compressed air, or combustible gas. However, just like other power tools, a Nail Gun can be very dangerous if used without proper care for safety. If you have only just started using Nail Guns, or are contemplating using one, read on to learn how you can use a nail gun properly and safely.
READ THE MANUAL: I have often seen people who don’t bother to look through the instruction manual that comes with their electronics. Don’t be a dweeb and DONT’ skip reading through the manual, and I don’t mean just flipping through the illustrations and then tossing it aside, you should read through the manual to get a clear ideas of how to operate your tool and understand how it works, as well as any precautions you need to take. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, claims that around 37000 visits to the Emergency room are because of injuries cause by incorrect handling and usage of nail guns.
KNOW YOUR FIRING MODES: Most nail guns have two different firing modes; sequential mode and bump mode. It is in your best safety interests to stick to sequential firing mode. The sequential firing mode ensures that the user completes a few specific steps in sequence before the gun fires the nail. The sequence usually is depressing the safety tip and then pulling the trigger to fire the nail. Employing this two-step sequential process is the safest way to fire a nail gun. However some guns have a bump firing mode. This mode is for professionals who want to save time. The bump mode allows the user to keep the trigger pressed down and move the nail gun from one spot to another, and every time the safety tip is pressed down, a nail fires out. This is how professional carpenters can shoot nails quickly one after the other You should avoid bump mode unless you’re a professional as there is a high accident risk.
PROTECT YOUR EYES AND EARS: Larger nail guns can often be quite noisy with a threshold of over 100 decibels!!! This can leave your ears ringing for quite a while afterwards so it is best to use earplugs when using a nail gun. Additionally there could be splintering and the occasional misfire, so it is advisable to always wear protective goggles to ensure no flying debris land in your eye.
REMEMBER TO UNPLUG: Even though modern nail guns are built with safety in mind, however misfiring accidents are not unheard of. When handling a nail gun for any other purpose like loading nails, cleaning, or removing a jammed nail, Always disconnect the nail gun from its power source. Cutting power while you handle the gun for any other purpose is the only guaranteed way to avoid accidents. If you are using a corded gun then you should simply unplug it; remove the battery if you are using a cordless version, and disconnect the compressor air hose if you are using a pneumatic nail gun.
STAY OUT OF THE LINE OF FIRE: The most common of all nail gun accidents happens when the user accidentally shoots a nail through his hand or fingers. This can happen if your free hand is too close to the place where you are driving nails. Keep your free hand away and protected from the line of fire. Instead of holding two pieces of wood together with your hand for instance, use a clamp. This doesn’t just apply to your hands, keep your body (and the bodies of others) out of the line of fire. Sometimes a nail will go straight through your piece of wood and shoot out the other side, so you must make sure that no one is standing on the other side in the line of fire.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN: This one is a no brainer really. Kids and power tools don’t mix. Any idiot with half a brain knows that. But kids are curious and kids are fearless, and kids are seriously fascinated with big boy toys like power tools. Make sure you lock your workspace if you have tools lying around mid-project. Even when you store the tools, make sure you put then in a place kids won’t be able to access easily.
