Construction Stapler on Arauco Plywood?

[xplizt]

I hope this is in the right forum area.

So I was on another site and one of the other guys told me NOT to use a brad nailer with Arauco plywood. I am wondering if this is correct and if so.. does it also apply to a Construction Staple gun? Such as.. http://www.bostitch.com/default.asp?TYP ... RS%5FTOOLS

I don't want to have to drive countersinks into all the locations followed by a screw gun especially if the PL is really doing all the work.

On a side note/question since I am here.... Do I have to use PL or can I use liquid nail or other brands of construction adhesive? PL is usually the most expensive.

[Tom Smit]

Yes you have to use PL. And don't try to use something else or I'll have to send you to your room. (haha). Seriously though, PL fills voids to help keep the cab air-tight, and that is very important.

[DJPhatman]

PL is usually the most expensive.

So what? Do not cut corners when it comes to the wood, drivers or adhesive (PL). You will be putting your hard labor into anything you build. Make you project from the best plywood, Baltic Birch, use the best driver and the best adhesive (PL). Miss a few meals, a few beers, ride the bus to work for a month. Do whatever it takes to obtain the best of everything and you will never regret it.

[WB]

does it also apply to a Construction Staple gun?

I have both and find a 1/4" crown stapler much better than a brad nailer.

Do I have to use PL

Yes.

[AntonZ]

PL is usually the most expensive.

So what? Do not cut corners when it comes to the wood, drivers or adhesive (PL). You will be putting your hard labor into anything you build. Make you project from the best plywood, Baltic Birch, use the best driver and the best adhesive (PL). Miss a few meals, a few beers, ride the bus to work for a month. Do whatever it takes to obtain the best of everything and you will never regret it.

+1
And if I may add to that: xplizt, be glad you have PL available. Over here the only PU adhesive that is widely available comes at €14 per tube.

[LelandCrooks]

There is nothing else like PL Premium. Liquid nails is not even close.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I hope this is in the right forum area.

So I was on another site and one of the other guys told me NOT to use a brad nailer with Arauco plywood.

And what does that site have to do with our cabs?

Do I have to use PL or can I use liquid nail or other brands of construction adhesive? PL is usually the most expensive.

You may use another brand of polyurethane based construction adhesive that expands when it cures.

[bzb]

Sorry, that was me. I advised X to come here and ask Bill, since he supports using Arauco.

I said that I, personally, wouldn't use those fasteners in Arauco, considering what I know about it: it's pine and only 5 plies. Without clamps or guideboards, I wouldn't trust the gripping power in pine plywood - but again, I've never used Arauco.

Think we might have a bit of confusion here, as well. There's differences between brad, finish, and pin nailers and construction staplers. What gauge and style of nails does it use?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I said that I, personally, wouldn't use those fasteners in Arauco, considering what I know about it: it's pine and only 5 plies.

I use an 18 ga. brad shooter and 1.25" brads for most joints, 1/4" crown staples on 1/4" and 1/8" plywood sheathing. The only thing the fasteners do is hold the wood in place while the adhesive sets.

[bzb]

I said that I, personally, wouldn't use those fasteners in Arauco, considering what I know about it: it's pine and only 5 plies.

I use an 18 ga. brad shooter and 1.25" brads for most joints, 1/4" crown staples on 1/4" and 1/8" plywood sheathing. The only thing the fasteners do is hold the wood in place while the adhesive sets.

But you clamp all your pieces before shooting the fasteners, correct? Or use the guide boards that are screwed into the edge of the panels?

What I was concerned with in xplizt's case was the Arauco warping somewhat, and if it's warped enough it may pull the brads out because of the warpage.

On the Titans, I shot 16ga 1.25" finish nails while just holding a square up against the panels. My only issue I ran into was the longest interior panel, I had a couple of misfires since I was shooting from underneath.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I said that I, personally, wouldn't use those fasteners in Arauco, considering what I know about it: it's pine and only 5 plies.

I use an 18 ga. brad shooter and 1.25" brads for most joints, 1/4" crown staples on 1/4" and 1/8" plywood sheathing. The only thing the fasteners do is hold the wood in place while the adhesive sets.

But you clamp all your pieces before shooting the fasteners, correct? Or use the guide boards that are screwed into the edge of the panels?

Of course. It's In The Plans.

[xplizt]

Why is everyone answering my PL question and not my staple question?

That was a "side question" like as in Second question.

Yes you have to use PL. And don't try to use something else or I'll have to send you to your room. (haha). Seriously though, PL fills voids to help keep the cab air-tight, and that is very important.

Well thats why I was asking. I didn't know if the other ones expanded and thought that since PL brand stands for Polyurethane... others would be acceptable.

PL is usually the most expensive.

So what? Do not cut corners when it comes to the wood, drivers or adhesive (PL). You will be putting your hard labor into anything you build. Make you project from the best plywood, Baltic Birch, use the best driver and the best adhesive (PL). Miss a few meals, a few beers, ride the bus to work for a month. Do whatever it takes to obtain the best of everything and you will never regret it.

The only corner that I 'Cut" is the wood because I am building 8 total cabs. Right now.. Arauco is going to cost me $528 for all 8 cabs.. BB is running $55 for a 5X5 in my area... so BB would cost me about $1540. Thats a $1000 difference in just wood.

I don't drink & my job is mobile so If I miss a few meals it would take me well over a year before I saved up enough for the baltic. I'll stick with the wood that Bill has recommended as an alternative... unless I find cheaper BB around here. But so far no such luck.

So I was on another site and one of the other guys told me NOT to use a brad nailer with Arauco plywood.

And what does that site have to do with our cabs?

everything

Do I have to use PL or can I use liquid nail or other brands of construction adhesive? PL is usually the most expensive.

You may use another brand of polyurethane based construction adhesive that expands when it cures.

If I stumble across it, I guess I'll pick one up. But there are so many choices of construction adhesive that it would probably take me forever to find one that explains it expands in the label. So for the $2 difference... I'll stick with PL brand.

Think we might have a bit of confusion here, as well. There's differences between brad, finish, and pin nailers and construction staplers. What gauge and style of nails does it use?

Just looked it up... i'm using a Ridgid Finish Staple gun R150FSA. similar and probably identical to this one http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/r150fsarvu.html

It can drive in 1 1/2" staples that look like these http://images.orgill.com/200x200/6820187.jpg

The staples tend to move a bit (cross or spread out from each other) when they are pushed into wood. So I usually notice that they grab better because of that. I would glue, clamp and then staple into place.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

It uses staples like these http://images.orgill.com/200x200/6820187.jpg

The problem with those is on the edges, where you want to round the corners. With 18 ga. brads a carbide roundover bit goes through them like nothing, with 1/4 crown staples the crown is a PITA. You can get a brad shooter for 30 bucks or less, the time it saves pays for itself with the first cab. With Arauco brads go through much more easily than with BB. The toughness comes when you coat it with DuraTex.

[xplizt]

Awe man. I totally bought the stapler for this build too. I should have asked a long time ago. Maybe I can try sticking them in at an angle so the bit doesn't really catch it. You really think that it would Ef up my round over bit?

I do understand that we are talking about a $30 solution.. but I already have this one and like the way it holds. Just trying.

This is a problem only for the outer panels anyway. Don't most people use screws there? What do they do when they want to round over the edges?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Don't most people use screws there? What do they do when they want to round over the edges?

Remove them. Once the adhesive has set they're dead weight.