Hand Nailing Shingles

I wonder how many roofers today have the skill of 'rotating nails', that is using your feeder hand to get another nail ready while driving down the previous nail. This skill used to make the difference between whether a roofer made money or was just wasting time.>>>

We used to send the new guy home with a pouch of nails to practice,Would tell `em just flip it into position and drop it into the bag ,till you don`t need to think about what you`re doing,feel for the head of the nail,and flip it into position between your fingers--Heck,Today if the compressor goes down,things get really sloww,,,,,>>>

Help. There was somebody on RCS, a few years ago selling this trough that hung around your neck, and it would spit out a row of nails between your two fingers, that was pretty slick i missed placed mine some time ago but it really did improve my speed i'm no slouch when it comes to hand nailing, look at the time you spend setting up your compressor, hoses, oiling them then at the end of the day put everything away ok so how much time do your really save? :blush:>>>

Ottawa -

I'm still around - and we still have nail strippers. Just sold one to Canada last week.

Everyone needs a stripper or two for those days when only hand nailing will do.

www.nailstripper.com

Give me a shout. http://www.nailstripper.com

Jack>>>

Arrrr, ahoy ther cuz , well shiver me monays ther, an all this time ole Jack be athinkin he was a loner ther he did for shuuuuure.>>>

JED.....It started out @ $30 a sq, they never bid a hand nail job.....it was not worth it though. I am humble enough to tip my hat to all of you "hand bangers" out there. It is hard work for a "non-HB", lets just say that I am retireing my hatchet and going bqack to my claw hammer!>>>

Robby Every time i see a roofer using a claw hammer,it makes me laugh. Or are you sinking 3 1/2" ? ie( framing)>>>

I think hand nailing brings out the animal, or the primeval tendencies in you, once you have that groove on, you can really fly. the only thing i can say about hand nailing, is not to grab too many nails @ one time, ultimately you should only try to grab no more than 5 to 6 nails @ time, and when your step shingling you don't have to lift up that last tab.(not that i like to step shingle) i usually go from eve to ridge.Today if the compressor goes down all the newbies are lost, i'll say so let's hand nail, and they all shake there heads, what's up with this new generation of roofers i think there such puzzies, in my day you hummped it blood sweet and tears, and if you went home at the end of the day in one piece that was a good thing. :woohoo: P.S oh ya H.O.P. you may most certainly charge more for hand banging, it's an easy sell. It's all in how you throw the pitch.>>>

Quote...Robby Every time i see a roofer using a claw hammer,it makes me laugh. Or are you sinking 3 1/2" ? ie( framing)

I have a framing hammer for those....nah...I use a light wieght claw hammer to pull nails and such, use a banana knife. I have no use for a shinglers hatchet or East-wing.

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Nailing by hand is grand. Nailing by gun is fun. Nailing by rock is primeval. I did that once. When I was over half drunk. By the time it was over It stunk. But so did I. Oh me oh my.

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I nominate egg for RCS poet laureate. :P>>>

An estwing sheetrock hatchet is ideal for shingling primarily due to it's balance and length, the angle of the head allows you to "tap and bang" far more easily than with a claw hammer. If you gotta use a claw, try a straight one.>>>

I've built my business on hand nailing. The last time I ever used a gun was in 1996. My prices are probably the highest in the city per square and and for the past 3-4 years have had a 6 month wait list. Just completed a 570 square re-roof, 1 layer off and 40 year GAF Timberlines on at $412.00 a square. I use a 22oz Estwing claw hammer to nail with. :laugh:>>>

I use the Stanley fat max sheetrock hammer for shingling,and a red handled 22 oz estwing straight claw hammer for sheathing/framing>>>

since i'm a slater, i'm used to hand nailing so i hand nail everything. i believe it makes for a much better job. especially with wood shakes and shingles. in a place where asphalt is more prevalent i'm sure you could get someone to appreciate hand nailing but no-one expects much out of an asphalt roof down here.>>>