Are "powder drivers" available in Blighty?

[M3 Mitch]

Quick question for you guys - are powder drivers, a device that drives a hardened nail into concrete or whatever, powered by what is essentially a .22 caliber blank cartridge, easily available in Britain, or are they considered to be sort of a "gun" and thus heavily regulated? I'm working on a variation on this type of tool to be used for sampling metals, and am wondering if it's even practical to consider using this technology outside the States?

[groucho]

Available as far as I know, I see lots of them around the building sites.

[docevi1]

you mean a nail gun?

Put it this way, someone managed to fire a 6" nail into his skull with one and wondered why he had a bad headache for a few days before heading to see the doctor.

[vixpy1]

Uk ones use compressed air i think

[Marki]

You can get a Hilti nail gun which uses a kind of 22 cartridge , ont know what restrictions there are on owning such a tool

[docevi1]

vixpy1 said:

Uk ones use compressed air i think

but what about the ones where you wander around on a building site - you don't carry a compressor with you...

Unless of course they have an inbuilt cannister or something?

[Incorrigible]

Can't you guys just google for a tool manufacturer

Nail guns, the ones used for wood are either canister os compressed air fed. These are used for nailing bits of wood to other bits of wood

Roof trusses and the like

Mitch is on about ones that use a cartridge to fire the bolt through just about anything, RSJs concrete etc

They are avaiable but not nearly as prevalent

[pesty]

There was a guy last night on grand designs fireing nails through steel girders impresive stuff. so you can get them yes.

[M3 Mitch]

Thanks, if anyone is certain what the restrictions are I'd like to know - for example could a Yank come over and buy the tool and cartridges off the shelf? If not, would a Brit collaborator be able to get them?

My real question is, are these pretty well accepted around the world as a "tool" and not a "weapon"? Figured I'd start with you guys since we more or less speak the same language.

I don't know if the compressed air type tools can provide enough velocity to the nail. But I don't know that they can't either. This is still a pretty new idea and in fact it may not work at all...

[pesty]

mmm don't know what the police would make of it.

try looking around the hilti site maybe ask them?

www.hilti.co.uk/holuk/modules/prcat/prca_navigation.jsp?OID=-19305

[SiH]

Looks to me like you can get 'em. Think one of those toys will be going on my Christmas wish list. Mmmmmm..... Shooting nails at pigeons. Nail them to a tree.
www.hilti.co.uk/holuk/modules/prcat/prca_navigation.jsp?OID=-19271

[Ferg]

Hilti is what you want, I used to use one all the time back in the early '80's. "Nail through steel?", "No problem!!"

The modern carpenters nail gun is powered either by compressed air - awkward or Butane - Guns need more servicing.

Butane guns by Paslode

[rsvmilly]

It is know as shot-firing. IIRC they cannot fire like a gun. They only activate when they are pressed against something.

[jolley]

The Hilti ones do indeed use a cartridge. From memory the regulations recommend the following:

• Proof of training before use (offered for free by Hilti)

• Operatives must be over 18 yrs old

• Operatives should not be colour blind (cartridge strength sometimes indicated by colour)

• Cartridges should be kept locked up

I haven't used them in about 5 years, but I am sure an e-mail to Hilti would get you the answers you require.