powder actuated tools

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mdshunk

mdshunk

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What brand and model of powder actuated tool are you other guys using for fixing 4 squares and jiffy clips? I'm about to buy one, as I've never bought one for myself. I want to be sure that I buy the "normal" one for electrical use that most guys seem to use, and just not the one that will do.
 
Shop I used to work for had a hilti that they no longer make, I think it was like 20+ years old. But the key is to use the right shot for the pins and material you are using them on. They now make ones that are more adjustable than just picking the shot, and I have used them too and will tell you that it is a much better way to go. On the non-adjustable, too much, and you blast the material away, too little and they will leave the pin up. And if you leave the pin up a little bit the next shot to put it down will blast through - costly trial and error. With the adjustable ones you get it dialed in and you can go for the rest of the day with no hassle.

I believe the adjustable one I used was a Hilti DX 351E

http://www.us.hilti.com/holus/modules/prcat/prca_navigation.jsp?OID=-11707

Another factor will have to be if the one you pick has consumables readily available near you.

All the other brands use different clips to hold the shot on the automatic versions. Hilti is a strip, Remington is a disk, etc. (I think) Ramset has both, but the shots for the strips are interchangable for Hilti in .27 cal. (Ramset shots are cheaper than Hilti brand.)

Anyway, I can only vouch for Hilti guns, and say that you will pay more... They have great quality stuff though. Around here nobody uses anything else professionaly. Simpson just started making them I think, (saw rep at supplyhouse) but I dont know anything about them.
 
Hilti is the gun of choice for my company. The 351 is the best for electrical. I shoot all my EMT runs using Hilti preloaded clips. For 4 by's Hilti has preloaded nails that work great. Everything on the truck is Hilti.
 
Sorry, but I dislike powder actuated tools for electrical work. I've never had good luck with them, especially the cheap ones that you hit with a hammer, they're completely worthless in my opinion. Lets say you're lucky enough to find a shot that's not too strong or weak, now, for example, you discover you need to change your box to a deeper one or that pipe you just ran is not level. You must then pry the box or strap off the wall reducing the item to a mangled mess. Now when you go to install the correct box you have two gaping holes from where you ripped the nails out, and you can't move the box up or down or to the side as you are dedicated to that spot. But okay you manage to get the thing back on the wall. Now look, you forgot to put the ground screw in, once again you must pry that box off the wall and good luck getting another box in that location. I'll stick with plastic anchors and tapcons.
 
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e57 said:
Oh... And if in California you need an operator card from the manufacturer....
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That doesn't surprise me. Cali seems to be so regulated, I'm not sure what you guys have left that doesn't require special permission from someone.

It looks like the 351 is preferred so far.

Mark32, I appreciate your opinion on the use of powder actuated tools, but I am resolved to use them. I never had any special problems in the past. For this reason I asked for model recommendations, and not whether it was a good idea or not. I just want to make sure that I buy the right one, so that I'm not stuck with a gun with lesser functionality than I need. I wish that I would have written more stuff down (like tool models numbers, part numbers for neat fittings, and such) when I worked for other shops.
 
Marc, it's true my post had nothing to do with the recommendation of a particular brand or model, I just wanted to get what I said off my chest, sorry I got a little carried away. The only recommendation I can give at this time is before you buy from a store I would check out Ebay. I've bought a number of tools on there saving me hundreds of dollars and not once have I had any problems with the seller or item. Of course I can't guarantee you the same results but it's worth a look. Good luck

Mark
 
mdshunk said:
That doesn't surprise me. Cali seems to be so regulated, I'm not sure what you guys have left that doesn't require special permission from someone.
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If you look your state may have the same.....

Not un-like other regulations, some are written by agencies with little or nil authority and only enforced when it suits the needs of thier benefactors.... Not unlike that same agencies Electrician Certification Program. Not that either are a bad idea, but completely unenforced outside of a rare few working conditions on certain high dollar public works projects....... :rolleyes: Although I have a card from Hilti which consituted a salesmen handing me the instructions, and acknowledging that I read them - I have yet to be ever asked for it...

Mark32, I agree, but in certain situations it would just be plain unproductive to do it any other way. Like cieling wire for drop-in lights for T-grid - it would be a waste of time any other way. BLAM - BLAM - BLAM - BLAM from a pole mount unit is the difference between you winning or making money from your bid.

And, E-bay has become a bastion of stolen goods - on top of this is a GUN, you do not want one of questionable quality, worn or damaged. New is the only way I would buy one. If you choose right it will last longer than you work in the trade IMO.
 
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LarryFine said:
I use the trigger-actuated Remington the orange store sells.
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I use the same one and it has never failed me and has taken alot I mean alot of abuse.

I did find an easy way to take panels, boxes etc. off a wall that have been mounted by shot pins on a block or cement wall, just put another load in the gun minus the pin and center the tip over the pin that is installed .Push down and pull the trigger.pushes the old pin right through the metal .If I need to remount the panel or box I just use a 1/2 in ko and shoot through it to hid the hole .Works like a charm.
 
e57 said:
...E-bay has become a bastion of stolen goods ...
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While this may be true, there is a paper-trail involved with every transaction. I mainly deal with those who have respectable feedback, and only use PayPal for payment.

Not quite the same as buying a tool off the tailgate from someone who shows up at a jobsite, looking for ca$h only.
 
Hello e57, now that I think of it I did use a "Ramset" successfully a couple of years ago to install a bunch of rod hangers. So yes a powder actuated gun can come in handy in certain situations.

As far as Ebay goes, I always bid/buy name brands tools. What I meant for Marc to do was once he finds the brand and model he wants, find out the retail price, then check on Ebay. And in addition to what kbsparky was saying, if a seller has a lot of positive feedback you should have no troubles as he/she has already demonstrated they are selling quality items, if they didn't it would certainly show up in their feedback.
 
I`ve made almost 50 transactions through Ebay , including tools.I always check the sellers feed back ratings and history.To me Paypal is the only way I purchase.Right now there are a bunch of new fastening guns available.

I use the remington 496 gun and they have it cheaper even with shipping then I bought mine for at the big O.
 
allenwayne said:
I use the remington 496 gun ....
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Interesting... They have a batch of those 496's at a local close-out store chain (Ollie's Bargain Outlet, if you're in central PA) priced at 99 bucks for the kit. I did examine it briefly, but was underwhelmed from a visual standpoint.

On a related note, are all these shot strips (of the same caliber) pretty much interchangable among brands? Is there one certain brand that must use that brand's loads? If so, I don't think I want that brand.
 
mark32 said:
Hello e57, now that I think of it I did use a "Ramset" successfully a couple of years ago to install a bunch of rod hangers. So yes a powder actuated gun can come in handy in certain situations.

As far as Ebay goes, I always bid/buy name brands tools. What I meant for Marc to do was once he finds the brand and model he wants, find out the retail price, then check on Ebay. And in addition to what kbsparky was saying, if a seller has a lot of positive feedback you should have no troubles as he/she has already demonstrated they are selling quality items, if they didn't it would certainly show up in their feedback.
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If you look at some of the Hilti guns with bids starting at $.99 :roll: you have to wonder, and many are company tools... who sells a $500 piece of company equipment for a dollar? Apparently these guys... CMC Electric... I doubt it..

45f4_1_b.JPG
 
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allenwayne said:
I use the same one and it has never failed me and has taken alot I mean alot of abuse.

I did find an easy way to take panels, boxes etc. off a wall that have been mounted by shot pins on a block or cement wall, just put another load in the gun minus the pin and center the tip over the pin that is installed .Push down and pull the trigger.pushes the old pin right through the metal .If I need to remount the panel or box I just use a 1/2 in ko and shoot through it to hid the hole .Works like a charm.
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I use the orange store trigger type one as well

great tip
 
e57 said:
If you look at some of the Hilti guns with bids starting at $.99 :roll: you have to wonder, and many are company tools... who sells a $500 piece of company equipment for a dollar? Apparently these guys... CMC Electric... I doubt it..

45f4_1_b.JPG
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You have to understand how ebay listings work.Reserves being met multiple listings, max bids etc.I`ve found that you can save up to 40% over regular retail if you bid correctley.
 
allenwayne said:
You have to understand how ebay listings work.Reserves being met multiple listings, max bids etc.I`ve found that you can save up to 40% over regular retail if you bid correctley.
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My point was - this 'company' marked tool is being sold at a fraction of its value for one day of use in the hands of its employees. What company would do that? You also have to wonder when you see listings for high dollar company marked tools, collectable dolls, and household appliances offered by the same person.

BTW - I had my house B&E'ed more than a year ago, cop told me - "the only real chance to ever see any of it ever again is to check E-bay regularly."

Have you ever seen the show 'To catch a thief'? Routinly mentions the Ebay fencing... Sell directly to the end market - no middle man. Trusting E-bay or Paypal to police themselves is fooling yourself.... Relying on copy and paste "feedback" from non-persons to make a seller seem more reliable or for that matter credable is silly IMO. Sure there are many credable reputable people doing buisiness on E-bay and Amazon - but not all...

Articles are everywhere about it:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1833032,00.asp
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12129449&BRD=1399&PAG=461&dept_id=173065&rfi=6

But eBay isn't about to start watching its site for sellers who might be listing stolen merchandise, said Hani Durzy, a corporate spokesman. "We can't do it and we won't do it," he said.
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http://www.oregonlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news/1134798908252870.xml&coll=7

The rest of that article is great....
 
I have used the single-shot remingtons, both hammer-struck and trigger-actuated. The trigger was getting sticky on the one I used, making it more difficult to use. The hammer-struck version is more reliable, IMO, but trying to maintain a level box, hold the ramset against the surface and swung a hammer is sometimes a lot to ask.

I've recently used a Hilti multiple-shot gun (I can get the part # today if I remember), and was impressed. I ran into another of the same model that was in sore need of repair, so that leads me to wonder how much maintenance it had received. I imagine if you're buying the tool for yourself and take care of it yourself, then it will probably last a long time.

I've never seen a remington on a pole, allowing you to shoot into the ceiling from the ground - but that doesn't mean they don't make it. I have used the hilti on a pole and it was devine.
 
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