Power nailer for plasterboard... advise please!

[Sarah_W]

Hi,

I've putting up 3 new lowered ceilings in sizeable rooms and now have the job of plasterboarding. I've started on one but it takes so long to hammer th nails in and is very tiring. I've used brad nailer before for wood which was superb. Is there a similar device I can purchase/hire for plasterboard nails?

Thanks,
S

[B17NNS]

You want to be using screws Sarah, not nails,

A quality drill/drive and a handful of drywall screws will soon see the job done.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/12984/Screws/Masonry...

If you really are hell bent on spending your hard earned on a powertool specific to the job this is what I use.

http://www.tooldirect.co.uk/product?url_id=18v_aut...

Oh and these are a godsend when boarding ceilings

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/14003/Hand-Tools/Bui...

Edited by B17NNS on Thursday 27th August 19:26

[Mr Fenix]

This probably needs to be in the DIY section but none the less...

http://www.toolmarts.com/mak6835dwd.html

Nailing plasterboard up is frowned upon by anyone who knows anything about construction, screws are the best solution as they reduce the likelyhood of breaking up the gypsum under the paper and creating a weak point in the fastening.

Having put up many acres of drywall/plasterboard in my time I can't fault these kind of machines. Once you get a good rhythm going its amazing how quickly things get done.

[Plotloss]

You can get plastboard screw holders that work with a normal cordless which will stop you overtightening the screws as well.

Edited by Plotloss on Thursday 27th August 19:29

[wakster]

B17NNS said:

If you really are hell bent on spending your hard earned on a powertool specific to the job this is what I use.

http://www.tooldirect.co.uk/product?url_id=18v_aut...

Get a corded one its cheaper

or depending how far you are from harlow you could borrow my drill/impact driver? (as long as its during the week)

Edited by wakster on Thursday 27th August 19:30

[B17NNS]

Plotloss said:

You can get plastboard screw holders that work with a normal cordless which will stop you overtightening the screws as well.

Edited by Plotloss on Thursday 27th August 19:29

Yep, these work a treat in a cordless drill/drive. Try a few test screws and adjust the torque accordingly, perfect fixing every time.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/83169/Screwdriver-Bi...

[B17NNS]

Mr Fenix said:

Having put up many acres of drywall/plasterboard in my time I can't fault these kind of machines. Once you get a good rhythm going its amazing how quickly things get done.

With the added bonus of enabling you to chase others round site Die Hard style pretending you've got an MP5

[deevlash]

let snoop from the wire tell you about nail guns...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JK8j0KNLl0

[The Moose]

deevlash said:

let snoop from the wire tell you about nail guns...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JK8j0KNLl0

Fantastic!!

Cheers

The Moose

[TheEnd]

Didn't catch a word of what the kid said, but that's the baby i use,
you can nail a shovel halfway up a steel girder...

[VxDuncan]

Agree with the above. Nails are for pikeys.

[Goochie]

B17NNS said:

Plotloss said:

You can get plastboard screw holders that work with a normal cordless which will stop you overtightening the screws as well.

Edited by Plotloss on Thursday 27th August 19:29

Yep, these work a treat in a cordless drill/drive. Try a few test screws and adjust the torque accordingly, perfect fixing every time.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/83169/Screwdriver-Bi...

I just cant see how that works! Is it a drill bit or a driver for the screws?

I always have trouble screwing plasterboard as there seems to be such a fine line between the head being proud of the surface and it pulling right through - particularly on a ceiling.

[p4pedro]

You can hire a crown stapler,basically its a powerfull stapler that fires staples 2" long,they fire at a rate of 2 staples per second.

peter

[WorAl]

B17NNS said:

You want to be using screws Sarah, not nails,

If you really are hell bent on spending your hard earned on a powertool specific to the job this is what I use.

http://www.tooldirect.co.uk/product?url_id=18v_aut...

Oh and these are a godsend when boarding ceilings

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/14003/Hand-Tools/Bui...

Edited by B17NNS on Thursday 27th August 19:26

He's hit the nail on the head here to that man

[Sarah_W]

Thanks ever so much folks - realy glad I asked before spending 2 days nailing in! I'm going to go with teh screwdriver bit and drywall nails, which will be much faster and easier. Oh, how far should I be spacing hte screws??? SHould it be the same distance as nails (I was ding about every 6 inches)

Thanks
S

[mrmaggit]

According to British Gypsum, who make the boards, screws should be on maximum 300 centres for walls, 230mm centres for ceilings with 150mm centres at board ends. You should be using 38mm screws (minimum) into timber.

HTH

[WorAl]

to be honest (correct me if im wrong everyone as its been a while for me) I would be putting them every 8-10 inches, but 6 inches, you know its not going to fall off, so yeah, its only a few extra screws per board. (suppose it depends on the size of the boards too)

[Davi]

Sarah_W said:

Oh, how far should I be spacing hte screws??? SHould it be the same distance as nails (I was ding about every 6 inches)

Thanks
S

easiest way to judge it is roughly the length of your cordless drill!

[B17NNS]

Goochie said:

I just cant see how that works! Is it a drill bit or a driver for the screws?

I always have trouble screwing plasterboard as there seems to be such a fine line between the head being proud of the surface and it pulling right through - particularly on a ceiling.

Its a regular phillps 2 bit with a little plastic shroud around it. Once the screw is at the correct depth, the shroud stops you from driving it in further.

Great little bit of kit.

[VxDuncan]

mrmaggit said:

According to British Gypsum, who make the boards, screws should be on maximum 300 centres for walls, 230mm centres for ceilings with 150mm centres at board ends. You should be using 38mm screws (minimum) into timber.

HTH

The British Gypsum site has a full technical spec to BS that explains the correct layout of boards for boarding out, noggin requirements, spacing of screws etc. Worth a read. Basic upshot is there shouldn't be any flex in the boards when pushed - the plasterer will use a resonable about of force, so any movement is a no-no.