cutting diagram 3-ft bookcase

Powdettctuated
Hammer
strlkes
flrlng pln
nut.
Push and
Put a Gharge lnto Nailing
Carpenters and home builders have
known for years that a Powderactuated
tool (PAT) is the easiest
- not to mention the quickest -
way to anchor partition walls to a
concrete slab (see drawing at left). t
used to think these tools were
reserved for professionals only, until
I discovered they re available at
home centers for about $20 Gee
page 95 for more information).
A PAT works much hke a .22
caliber rifle. After inserting a special
hardened steel nail (power fastener)
into the rruzzle of the tool, you load
a gunpowder-filled blank cartridge
into the chamber (see below).A
hammer strike (or spring-loaded
trigger) sets offthe cartridge and
releases pressure inside the chamber.
This pressure forces a piston inside
the tool against the fastener, driving
it through the wood into concrete.
I'll adrnit the first time I used
one of these tools, I didnt know
what to expect. I soon discovered
\- --'/-
.22 callbet
power load
you have to keep your arm fullY
extended and your bodY balanced as
the tool fires because it does deliver
a recoil.
PATs can misfire, too. So it maY
take you a few tries before youre
hitting the firing pin just right. But
once you get the hang ofit, you
won't want to use anything else to
fasten wood to concrete.Just dont
ever plan on removing anYthing.
Of course, when you use a PAT,
be sure to follow the manufacturer's
instructions and safery precautions.
For example, always wear
safery goggles (not glasses) and
some rype of hearing protection.
Never use anything but the sPecified
fastener and proper charge in
the tool. And be sure to keeP the
tool and unspent Power loads
locked up away from children.