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An air or electric nail gun for building wood cages? I am a deck screw kind of guy myself but Christmas is right around the corner and my dear, dear wife told me about the new Arrow ET200 that uses 4 different types of nails. This would be great for around the house but could it be used for the construction of the cages and racks I plan to make?
My only other wish this year is for a small table saw. For those not in the know, my wife used to wrok at HOMEDEPOT, and has alot of contacts there still, and her best friend owns a contrators tool supply. Yep, it's a good life.

I've used a brad nailer on several cages. You just have to use glue which I always do anyway. (wouldnt build somthing without it)

Thanks! Just regular wood glue?

I use Titebond 2 it works real well but I'm sure any wood glue is fine

I also use a pneumatic nailer and wood glue.

However I use Elmers Pro-bond best glue I have ever used, outstanding!

Good Luck
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.10 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child -coming soon-

I don't use glue. When nailing brads, they hold OK. Several brads holds very well. Several brads from different directions lock each other in place and will not come apart without a fight. I wouldn't use brads for foundations or structural framing however I only build cages for a large burm where strength is paramount. If the cage is humid it will wear on almost any glue and weaken over time. What are you building?

Regardless, air tools are the only way to go. If you can afford them and have the space for a compressor, you should invest in air. There is no better way and man is it fast. If you do buy a nailer, don't scrimp on the money. Cheaper nailers will jam on you allot faster. Once you rely on an air tool and it no longer performs, you're worse off than before you ever used one.
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

The Titebond 2 is waterproof...It wont break down due to humidity. Its made for exterior use. It would be a good idea to seal all the corners anyway though.
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Jason

Interested in Boiga?? Check here http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Boiga/

I wouldnt go with a Arrow anything but staple gun , Likely it wont shoot anything long enuff to go through 1/2" - 3/4" wood and long enough into the other to hold.

For glue Tighbond II is good but if you are carefull Gorilla Glue is much better. Its a polyurathane based glue that foams & expands in the surface. just a TAD bit goes along way. With this you actually wet the surface to be glued ( dampen not saturate) and then apply it very thin and have a wet rag handy if you slather it on and be ready for lots of wipes as it expands making sure everything is coverd well.

As for joinery the best bond would be a mechanical screw joint, actually a Kreg Joint is MANY times stronger then a nailed joint evry could be. When nailing brads / trim nails etc you have to remember they are not coated like the hand drive or larger framing nails meaning they dont have a glue on them that melts when fired into the wood from friction. I would take a joint with three #6 /#8 wood screws over 6 16 peny nails of anykind. Nails even at oposing angels will work loose without glue on them not to mention leaking would occur.

Lastly even on a screwed joint ya want something glued or sealed between the pcs to seal it when built.
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__The Revolution has begun ... www.junglehabitatsplastics.com_

signature file edited, contact an admin 6/12/06

Great advice gents, thanks. Here's some follow up questions.
I was thinking of Gorilla Glue, I already have the industrial size bottle of it, but honestly, it scares me! I ruined a lamp I broke, it was like a bad sitcom!! I didn't know it was going to expand so much! All of the corners are going to sealed with silicone for this project - look in the posts down a bit where chris H was walking me through other issues.
On the nail gun: the one I was looking at wa the new Arrow ET200 , it's electric and it takes 4 types of nail, the largest being 1 1/4" long. Would that do the trick? If not what are some other options, and I'm still not opposed to just useing the screws like normal, I just figured this would be faster.
Capt. Hook, like your tag line! You sleep, I'll take care of the violence! at least for a few more months anyway.
Thanks again, Blue

How? R U in civil service or military? I just retired from the Air Force and none to soon. AF Security Forces are starting to take Army missions in certain areas. We are starting to see casualties rise in our career field now. I don't think many SF members REALLY think about what's ahead. Either way, someone has to do it! I have the utmost respect for anyone in the military, civil police, fire fighters etc. These people risk their lives every day so others can complain about the way they do it. I'm hoping to construct some type of memorial at the edge of my property for all to see and post. We'll see how things go. The flag pole alone is over $2K.

Gorilla Glue. My father-in-law used it all the time. It seems like a scam to me. Is it really that good?

An Arrow nailer??? My shop will never see one. I won't even buy their stapler. If your gonna nail brads, make it air driven. Then again, if you're only going to use it for this project...what am I saying! Tools Tools Tools! They're more important that breathing. DUDE! You gotta get air. It's the coolest! No-one should stand between a man and tools. They are what make the world go round. I hate needing a tool and having to borrow one, if someone has it, or making due with something less worthy! Buy air tools now! Your kids can pay for them once your gone! JK. Good luck and God bless!
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

Oh yea, active Marine in Iraq right now. I left my wife with a mess of animals and the most inefficient ways of housing them. Well, she finaly snaped and is "forceing" me to build better enclosures for them and I have to get rid of almost every aquarium I own. No problem there. I don't know if she will go for the air tools as there realy isn't going to be many applications for them after the racks are built, I could rent them from the local HD though. I'm sure that would be her reply to my request. Plus, I am asking Santa for a table saw this year. I don't want to push my luck. One day I will own some air tools and a compresser just to have them... I retire in 7 years!
Semper Fi, Blue

I know that more than a few people here will probably groan when I mention this, but harbor freight has a brad nailer air gun that thay usually have on sale for around $20. A friend has one and says that it works pretty well for him. If you have access to a compressor that you can borrow, maybe this will work for you.
Rob
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"I reject your reality and substitute my own" Adam Savage
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.0 Creamscicle motley corn
0.1 Creamscicle corn
0.0.2 Normal(?)corns
0.1 Black Pine
1.1 Bearded Dragon

I purchased my brad nailer from harbour freight for $20 on sale. YES, it works good....for awhile. But these tools use lower grade steel in their parts and they scratch, chip, and basically wear away to fast. Not to mention they are not good for hard wood. This is the exact tool that made me make my comments about buy a good nailer. No offense but you get what you pay for. When I need to rely on a tool, I need to RELY on it all the time.
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

Hence is why I stick to Bostitch!
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.10 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child -coming soon-

Get your butt home safe man! I can't even say anything that could express my appreciaition for the Corp and the job Marines do. Army too. I use these 2 branches as these are the guys on the ground where life is most dangerous. All branches sacrifice and do the job but Marines and Soldiers lives/jobs are not the same. It's because of you and yours we are able to enjoy our freedoms and for that...I thank you! Good luck. let us know when you return.
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

I only quickly read through the replies so I appologize if this has been mentioned.

Most wood glues do not stick well to melamine. So if you're building a melamine rack when the particle board interior of a shelf is toughing the melamine exterior of a side, you can't just use any old glue. I those cases I would probably use melamine glue, which essentially melts the melamine coating to the other piece. It is supposed to be stronger than polyurethane glues like Gorilla when used on melamine. I had some Gorilla glue spill onto some melamine once and it did pop right off.

Otherwise, I do like polyurethane glues, although they are probably overkill for most situations. In some cases they expand enough that they can pull brad joints apart slightly, which can be a problem.

Honestly, standard wood glue is probably more strong enough for most applications. But if there is any irregularity between the two pieces of material you are joining, the expansive properties of polyurethane glues can be nice.

The short version of all this - the type of glue depends on what you're gluing.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

I have built many melamine racks for several people and I usually will cut a groove in the side and then trim the end of the shelf to fit. It gives you a good place to glue and is very strong when finished.
Looks like this

I also do somthing similar when I build melamine cages so I am glueing to the wood not the melamine.

Blue, forget the Arrow nailgun. I have one and it's pretty lame. It uses an electrically-driven piston and barely has enough force to drive those brads into even the softest wood. Also as everyone has mentioned, poly glues are messy and often just not worth the extra mess and work. For most of my cage gluing needs I've used Liquid Nails for Projects. And lastly I'll get those caging pics emailed to you. I've been really busy the last few days.
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Matt Campbell

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." John Muir

Matt, thanks,I tried to get through your spam blocker but it wouldn't let me. Just send them to the email you have now, if I gave you the other one ( w/ my name in it) it has been disconected. Thanks again.
Gents,
I think I am going to have to bite the bullet and just use the deck screws. There is an advantage to that though. I will still need to get counter sink bits... So I still get to go to Home Depot so all is not lost... I am going to tell the wife to look into the table saw for Christmas this year.
Thanks again, Blue