Hand Nailing Shingles

We genraly get a small hailstrom somewhere within a fifty mile radius of here every year, and a large strom about 5 or 6 years, so most people who have lived here for any length of time come to expect to have their roof done at some point. We do get some of the old timers asking us to hand nail, which we will do at no additonial cost.There is just me and 2 others who work full time for this company that can thumb nails , and nobody standing in line to learn. The rest of the guys are subs and they refuse to handnail, compressor breaks or their gun breaks,their done for the day! We also don't charge or get paid for for the safety crap we are suppose to setup and use! The guy in the field eats that one. :angry:>>>

My suggestion is buy a new hammer. They really aren't that expensive compared to the benefit you get. I use the rubber butt end of my hammer as a rubber mallet to adjust tiles and tend to wear them out every 18 months. The one exception is a little curved claw 16 oz-er that my Mother gave me for Christmas back in '72. I give it to new guys to use to humiliate them into buying their own. For years we called it the Playskool hammer, now it's the Bob the Builder autograph model hammer.>>>

10" OF Snow, and 3 degrees, no roofin today! still have my first estwing when i started in 73, use an ajc now, but the last three i've had after about a 100 sq the head loosens up, i've tried soaking in water, new wedges and roofin nails nothing seems to work any suggestions?>>>

AJC fixed guage or Vaughn for me. Plumb for wood. Vaughn for tile. Guns are good.

>>>

seems to me the anti vibe comes in most of the styles,I have the sheetrock hammer with it,feels the same as my old estwings did>>>

i hand nailed for 25 yrs before i got a gun. it was a real adventure at first, a lot slower and many nails in the wrong placess. i am not into speed , rather have it done right the first time. i average about 2 1/2 sq an hour on a straight roof and thats ok by me. never liked the anti-vibe hammer-that head seams of to me, changes your point of aim. i still like a 20 oz eastwing the best>>>

I been hand bangin since 1988 " Good Year" thats my nickname round here, I believe a good hand nailer makes for a good gunner! gotta crawl before ya walk! no what i mean vern!!!!! >>>

The anti-vibe is a steel hammer supposed to reduce carpel tunnel. http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?TYPE=CATEGORY&CATEGORY=FRAMING+HAMMERS&PAGENUMBER=1&VIEW=ThumbView

I have found that the nailability of some kinds of tile variable. It is affected by the cure time and if it gets too old, the likelyhood of getting splitting or fractures can increase. An experienced tiler will be able to assess and adjust to the tile more by hand nailing than he would with a gun.>>>

Wywoody What is anti-vibe ? Back in the day and still going I have seen installs with a gun on cement tiles. worked out great . The gun as opposed the hammer set the nail in safer straighter and without cracking or touching the tile. The hammer would break loose the battens if to bouncy. The battens were installed over no decking and thermal layer . When using the gun you were assured a good grip and no splits.>>>

I use a Senco stapler for installing battens and lath. Have never nailed a tile on with a gun. I've seen pictures of people doing it but the likelyhood of creating stress cracks makes me avoid even trying it. I like Stanley anti-vibe.>>>

Just a hand nailer here. :cheer:>>>

cough cough so ahh what be dooh problems. :S :S>>>

Real Slater I've gained an understanding of your perspective . It is a good one . One of the things I admire about you is the quality and concentration. An in depth perception of your craft . I don't necessarily attribute craft to shingles. I does deserve that title at times in defence . I can understand why you hate to reply to my post. It is not everyday I get threats that someone is going to come to my office and drag my arse out and well you know what shock and awe imagination you thought you were going to do in front of my family......... I can only guess as to why you reacted with such hostility . Was it when I turned the light on you not having a Roofing lic. I was only trying to protect you . I hope you have fixed that . I'm a really patience guy . I think I've had a real break through concerning .. your perspective . That is cool to me . So maybe you don't have to be so aggravated . Get over it man. Slater don't be such a hater. That supposed to be humor , in case I'm not being clear again. Just being square with ya.>>>

RS, That was just a cold snap you ran into. I was down there for the holidays and just got back, we spent xmas eve paddling in the gulf. Wish I had of known you were there, we could have knocked back a cold one together.>>>

jed, i'm only talking about the tri county area where i live. palm beach, broward and dade county. there is not much asphalt down here. i wasn't trying to talk down about shingles again, just stating fact. i'm from mi and i remember how much people think of shingles when you're in an area covered in mostly asphalt. people actually expected 30yr shingles to last 30yrs! i'm just saying as someone who installs roofs every day down here that i have never met anyone here with those same expectations out of an asphalt roof. folks here are used to a ten to fifteen year lifespan out of asphalt based on experience. they don't feel ripped off though, everyone here knows asphalt is the cheapest, most temporary roof allowed by code here. probably not everyone but like i said, the majority.

ciak, i hate to even respond to you. looks like we still can't get along. i'm not going to argue with you cause there's no point. i just finished a slate roof in tampa and i got a chance to look around and talk to neighbors. i can see how you don't see my point of view. tampa reminded me and my partner of mi, asphalt everywhere! and i talked to a few people who are about to re-roof, a couple were going shingle and a couple going metal. both were convinced of everything they were being sold. i didn't even attempt to discuss life-cycle costing cause it was obvious that was going to be impossible when there's beautiful homes all around them covered in asphalt. context ciak, take what i say into context. the average roof-replacement in my area is 800-900 per square. these folks don't shop for shingles and i'm not too far off convincing them to go permanent. i have no expectations of ever doing another slate roof in tampa, didn't even see very many clay roofs! i salvaged 80yr old slate from a home in palm beach for that job and the homeowner lives here. you can talk all the crap you want about slate and me but i'm still installing slate every day and my work is flawless. someone like yourself should respect quality craftsmenship but we all know that has nothing to do with production.btw tampa is cold as #%&*!>>>