In today’s fast-paced world, we want to get everything done quickly. That, of course, includes both personal and business-related construction jobs. The nail gun has all but replaced the traditional hammer in numerous areas for construction. While the nail gun has made projects much quicker to complete, there is the important factor of safety to consider. If a nail gun isn’t properly maintained, it’s condition can add further to any safety concerns.
Why Nail Gun Lubrication Is Good
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nail guns are responsible for an estimated 37,000 emergency room visits. In rare instances, injuries sustained from nail guns have been fatal. The majority of reports involve professional construction workers, but even those who use nail guns for personal projects at home are at risk. When it comes to the maintenance of these tools each will have areas that need to be properly oiled and maintained.
It’s vital for the life of your nail gun and your safety to keep it oiled and maintained. As you use the gun, the internal parts and components will develop wear and tear. More importantly, they will develop heat. If your gun isn’t properly lubricated, chances are the excessive heat will cause the gun to cease up. This can cause dangerous situations if you’re unfamiliar with the proper steps to take should this happen. Always be familiar with your nail gun, its operation modes, and what to do should it malfunction while in use. One of the most important things you can do to increase working with your nail gun safely is to familiarize yourself with the directions for use, and the tool itself.
Oiling Your Nail Gun For Safety
As with any type of machinery, proper maintenance is key to keeping it running smoothly and safely. One of the most important things to do is maintaining your nail gun to keep it well-lubricated. Oiling your gun is not only important for keeping wear and tear to a minimum, but also for it to fire nails properly.
For construction workers who use their guns regularly during the day, oiling should be done at least once a day. Even for those who use a nail gun infrequently, the amount of oiling will vary depending on the make of the gun. Just as there are different types of nail guns, there are also different types of oils.
Types Of Oils To Use
There are numerous brands of oil available for nail guns. Manufacturers include information as to what oil works best with their tool. If you should need to purchase more oil, do your best to find the oil they have recommended. It’s best to purchase pneumatic tool oil. This special oil is designed with no detergents. If you are unsure as to what type of oil to purchase, check your manufacturer manual, or ask a knowledgeable sales associate at a hardware store.
Another important thing to remember is that you’ll need to use different oils in different seasons. Pneumatic tool oil is made in two formats: regular or daily, and winter.
Always Use Proper Oiling Instructions
Just as important as it is to keep your nail gun oiled, you should not over-oil it. This can cause your hands or the tool to become slippery. The majority of tools only require one to two drops for proper lubrication. Depending on the length of time you use the gun for a set period of time will dictate how often you should oil it.
Taking just a few moments to maintain your nail gun can increase your safety when using it. It’s definitely time well spent.
