Paslode IM45 GN & James Hardie work better together
Fibre cement building materials manufacturer James Hardie has formed a strong alliance with Paslode, as the IM45GN Lithium cordless nailer has become the tool of choice for fixing their HardiePlank® boards at several new build sites in the UK. On site in Heathfield, East Sussex, carpentry contractors Kent Carpentry Ltd have been using the IM45GN tool with 35 x 2.5mm stainless steel nails, fitting the 8mm thick HardiePlank® weatherboard to timber battening. In order for the board to be installed successfully, James Hardie have set specific requirements, namely a fixing point at a minimum of 25mm down from the top of the board, a 20mm gap minimum behind plank for air flow and a minimum of 6.5mm fixing head diameter. The IM45GN’s shorter nail option of 35mm (instead of the more commonly used 51mm first fix nails) means that the timber batten can be reduced itself, down to a 38mm thickness – saving both material and fixing costs. Brian Turner, Director of Kent Carpentry Contractors recently purchased two IM45GN Lithium coil nailers following a demo from Danny Palmer, Contract Specialist for Paslode. At the time Brian was unaware that such a tool existed for this application. Brian’s team were suitably impressed with the IM45 tool. The biggest benefit experienced has been in the increased speed and productivity that the end users are managing to achieve. The IM45 has proved to be much quicker than traditional fixing methods and, when used alongside the Hardie ‘Gecko Gauge’ fixing the boards becomes a one-man job. Another big advantage of using the IM45 GN on this application is that the fixing will not overdrive thanks to the 8mm clout head style nails and the relatively low power of the tool, an improvement on the sometimes aggressive first fix nailer or the miss-hit often experienced with a tradition hammer method. Despite the fact that the tool is less powerful than its siblings, the Paslode quality is still obvious and reflected in the handling of the tool and the cleanness of the finish. Brian says; “Paslode have offered us some great advice which ultimately convinced us to purchase the IM45 coil nailer. They are a great addition to our Paslode tool family on site. The biggest benefit is the amount of time that can be saved opposed to the traditional drill, and screw method.” “Many of our guys wouldn’t want to go back to traditional methods as the tool is so much quicker” The IM45GN tool has been approved by James Hardie for use with Paslode 35 x 2.5mm stainless steel nails.
Your Paslode fault finding check list
There’s nothing more frustrating than an unreliable tool. We’ve all been there – you arrive on site ready for a busy, productive day, take your much-needed tool out the van and go to use it and then…nothing. Immediately you mind races into overdrive, imagining the hassle of having to send your tool away for days, perhaps even weeks for repair, not to mention the lost hours and income that the unscheduled time-out will cost you. The good news is that many faults that occur with Paslode tools can be solved or avoided altogether with a little bit of TLC. Every Paslode tool case comes with tool cleaner and lubricating oil, and for very good reason, as a quick spruce up of your tool every now and then can help minimise the build up inside the tool and help to keep you firing better for longer. We have a collection of tool maintenance videos available on YouTube – for the 360Xi and PPNXi tools, IM65 and IM65A tools, the IM45 GN tool and the IM50 tool. There are also some quick fixes that can be checked when you experience a fault on your Paslode tool which could well save the time and money that sending your tool away to a repair centre would cost you. Here’s a step by step guide to what to do if you come across a problem with your tool. WHAT SHOULD I DO FIRST? 1) A good thorough clean of your tool should always be your first port of call if you experience any problems and want to fix your tool avoiding the hassle and expense of sending it away to a Service Centre. 2) Check for any nail or brad jams that might be preventing the tool from firing correctly. If that’s all clear, it could be the battery that is at fault. 3) It is easy to test the battery itself in the charger base that comes with your tool. Look at the lights on the charger unit – an alternating flashing red and green light means that the battery is faulty. In this instance take the battery back to the dealer that you bought it from and they should be able to help you. 4) Finally check the nails and fuel that you are using. It could be that the particular batch that you are using has an issue – switch both the nails and fuel cell independently to see if changing either of these solves your problem. Once you have made all these checks and eliminated your accessories and consumables as the problem, you can start to focus your attention on the tool itself. COMMON GENERIC TOOL GLITCHES There are some faults that are not specific to one particular tool model, most of which are easily solved with a bit of investigation work. CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING FAN This can occur when the tool probe is stick in a retracted position (as it would be when you press the tool down prior to pressing the trigger). If your probe is free moving, then that suggests that you don’t have a problem there. FIRING ISSUES The tool may be firing intermittently or not firing properly at all. First thing to do is to check the bottom of the fuel cell you are using. Fuel has a shelf life, so it goes without saying that if your fuel is out of date it won’t be working at its best, if at all! Another thing to consider is the external air temperature – we’ve all found ourselves warming fuel cells up in our pockets on a cold winter day. The current Paslode Lithium tools are much more adept to working in colder temperatures, but fuel temperature is still something worth considering before sending your tool in for a service. CHECK YOUR ELECTRICS Lastly, electrics can also play a part in your tool’s performance – makes sense when you think about. Damaged or disconnected cables can result in a whole host of tool faults, from lack of power to the fan and lights to the tool not firing or working at all. Sometimes you can also experience a solid red light – again this can be electrics at fault. It is worth removing the rear cap (where the air vents are) to check that the electrics and cabling all look in order. HELP! MY IM360Ci / PPN35Ci ISN’T WORKING! Each Paslode tool has its own quirks and therefore it makes sense that there are some faults that are specific to certain tools or tool families. The IM360Ci and PPN35Ci tools are similar in their make-up, and as such experience similar faults, some of which are easily fixed at home. IM360CI/PPN35CI FIRING ISSUES Perhaps you may find you have two nails firing at once or that the tool only fires nails intermittently. First thing to do here is to check that the magazine is properly located and tight to ensure the nails are loaded up correctly to feed into the tool. Here it is also worth checking that the nose lugs which are used to locate the magazine are in place and fastened tightly. Finally, check the nails strip – is it damaged or is the paper collation compressed? FLASHING LIGHTS OR LEAKING GAS If you find that your IM360Ci or PPN35Ci tool has a solid or flashing red gas light or appears to be leaking gas it will need to be sent back to a Paslode Approved Service Centre for repair. MY IM350+ WON’T FIRE PROPERLY As with the other First Fix tools mentioned, there are some nail related steps that can be taken to try and eliminate faults and save yourself service costs. If the tool appears to be firing blank shots with no nails coming out, firstly check the nose and magazine for any nail jams. Next, ensure the nail strip has not been damaged or the paper collation compressed (if you find the tool double firing it is worth taking this step to check
Introducing the Paslode brad packs
Due to popular demand, and as a result of end user feedback, we introduced fuel-free brad packs! Achieving the highest on-site standards It’s not uncommon to see several different trim tools in use on site, each firing different brads with varying levels of fix quality. On-site inconsistencies can, however, become problematic. In housebuilding it is crucial that standards are met for optimum build quality, so it makes sense to consistently use the best performing, best quality products. Paslode quality, whatever your tool Paslode have a reputation for producing high-quality, durable products, and the brad packs are no exception, with the added advantage that they have been manufactured to be compatible with all 2nd fix tools available on the market today. Carefully manufactured, Paslode brads are suitable for use with ANY 2nd fix tool, including the battery-powered trim tools produced by brands such as Dewalt and Hikoki, to name just a couple. It is now easier than ever for all 2nd fix tool users to benefit from Paslode quality. A brad for every application A range of brad lengths and collations are available, ensuring that no matter what type of brad nail is required, Paslode can deliver. Offering four angled and four straight sizes, Paslode brads are suited to complete a wide range of applications, from skirting boards and architraves to door stops and window casing. These brad packs make it possible to achieve a quality, long-lasting finish to projects of any size. Trim work can now be completed with total peace of mind that you can achieve the best possible quality and fix, whichever 2nd fix tool you chose to use. Find out where to buy your next brad pack
Achieve optimum attention to detail with the Paslode IM50
As part of the ever popular Paslode Lithium range, the IM50 F18 Fine Finish Gas Brad Nailer provides the expert user with the perfect tool for those times when only the finest attention to detail and cleanest finish is good enough and needs an even better finish than our IM65 F16 Gas Brad Nailer can achieve. The IM50 tool is the perfect Paslode trim tool for those intricate detail applications, providing consistently excellent and discreet finishing and enabling the user to produce seamless fixes without the extra time and cost of re-touching work. The tool boasts an optimum line of site, whilst the tool free depth of drive adjustment system and no-mar tip allow you to achieve the best possible accuracy, guaranteeing a near flawless finish, which is of course essential in fine finish work. Much like other tools in Paslode Lithium range, the IM50 benefits from the same quick charge long life lithium battery and a lightweight shell, designed to provide optimum balance and comfort allowing the user to manoeuvre into tight spaces and work all day long without fatigue. The IM50 Lithium tool is accompanied by a range of 18-gauge electrogalv straight brads in five lengths ranging from 16mm to 50mm, as well as a full range of accessories for all your daily on-site needs. The tool is ideal for use on beading and panelling as well as cabinet and furniture work, shop fitting and any other secret nailing application. Get more information about the IM50 tool