That 60 year old framer I met last week changed how I think about nail guns

He said 'I've never owned a nail gun and my houses are still standing after 40 years.' Made me wonder if I'm relying too much on speed tools instead of just getting the job done right.

3 comments

3 Comments

tarabell1mo ago

That line "my houses are still standing after 40 years" really sticks with me too. I read a blog post where an old carpenter said the same thing about hammers and saws, and it made me think about how much we lean on battery powered stuff to save time instead of skill.

the_linda1mo agoMost Upvoted

Ha, I gotta push back a little. Battery powered tools save time but they also save your body. I spent my 20s swinging a hammer all day and my elbow still clicks when it rains. Speed isnt just about being lazy, its about not wrecking your joints so you can actually keep working past 50. Plus a framing nailer sinks a 16d nail perfectly every time, no matter how tired your arm is at hour 10. Old timers talk about "skill" but they also had a crew of apprentices to fetch coffee while they checked their work.

the_jennifer1mo ago

Oh man, this hits home. There's something to be said for taking your time and learning the basics before plugging anything in. I'd say keep using your speed tools for the big stuff, but save the hammer for the small jobs where you can really feel if a nail is going in straight. It's all about knowing when to slow down and when to speed up.