Number one consideration above all else is safety - so be sensible and use your common sense.
Here are some things to watch out for:
1. A slippery hammer can cause nails to bend over or fly off the surface your hammering into. So always ensure that the hammer head is thoroughly cleaned and dried at regular intervals.
2. Hold the handle firmly at the end.
3. When delivering each blow, keep your eye on the nail.
4. Start off the nail by gently tapping into the wood until it is self supporting. If it is a particularly hard timber you may want to use a pricker to give the nail a head start.
5. Each blow of the hammer should be a rhythmical swing from the elbow. Wrist movement should not happen.
Posted by Peter Brady on Fri 27th October 2006 at 06:00 AM, Filed in Construction, Decor
This particular nail is used specifically for fixing floorboards to floor joists. The rectangular cross section, L-shaped head and tapered shape gives a high level of grip ensuring boards stay in place for many years.
The cut floor brad is particularly good at avoiding splits in timber - this is a crucial feature when laying floor boards!
Size varies from (13mm to 150mm).
Posted by Peter Brady on Thu 26th October 2006 at 06:00 AM, Filed in Construction, Decor
A general purpose nail for timber.
Mostly utilised for strengthening in carpentry. Should not be used in circumstances where appearance is an important factor.
Can split wood if used inappropriately.
Lengths vary from 20mm to 150mm.
Posted by Peter Brady on Mon 9th October 2006 at 06:00 AM, Filed in Construction
A masonry nail is simply a hardened, galvanised nail that is able to penetrate through blockwork and bricks. The slightly rough galvanised exterior also gives extra purchase to the nail when hammered into a masonry object.
Generally masonry nails are not suitable for hammering into concrete.
Masonry nails can be very useful when fixing timbers to brick walls or blockwork. When hammering in, ensure that you use short, punchy strokes and wear protective goggles.
Getting things level or in the right place can be tricky.
The Black and Decker LZR4 Laser 360 Self leveler is great for perfecting chair rail, moulding or drop ceilings. The Lzr4 projects an automatically level 360° horizontal laser beam around the room to ensure a consistently level project from start to finish.
Features include:
• 360° laser for total room levelling
• 120° laser for levelling on single walls
• Solid laser line with no flickering to provide accurate results
• Detachable head with hanging strap for higher applications
• Automatic laser line to 0.06° accuracy for perfect results every time
• Collapsible tripod for easy storage
• Ready to use, battery included
• Tripod height 1.5m
