While bump firing may be suitable in controlled areas, EN792-13 says that bump fire nailers should not be used in situations where operators are using scaffolding, stairs, ladders etc – a description which most certainly covers most UK construction sites.  A bump fire tool could easily be picked up by users who do not necessarily realise the risks involved.

Very rapid bump firing is simply not accurate enough for trim fixing or most site-based applications where sequential firing is safer and easier to control. Sequential operation, which can drive up to three nails per second, is fast enough to satisfy efficiency requirements but safe and controlled enough to fulfil health and safety regulations.

As a responsible manufacturer, ITW provides the majority of its tools with sequential firing mechanisms and does not supply any bump fire mechanisms in tools intended for use on a building site.

The Paslode Impulse range of cordless nailers is virtually ubiquitous on UK building sites. It has become an indispensable tool for a wide variety of finishing trades on site, handling a diverse range of second fix tasks on site. 

ITW is a multi-national corporation operating in over 40 countries worldwide. As one of Europe's leading manufacturers of wood and steel & concrete fastening systems, anchors, cartridge tools and drilling equipment, ITW Construction Products offers the construction industry and allied trades a range of products specifically aimed at the professional user.

The capercaillie is a large woodland grouse once plentiful in the Highlands but now on the RSPB’s endangered list. One reason the birds are becoming scarcer is that they were becoming entangled in the 1.5 metre high fences erected to protect wooded areas from destruction by deer. Scottish Woodlands worked with Balmoral Estates and the RSPB to devise a solution to this problem. This involved fixing thousands of one metre-long wooden droppers made from local, sustainable softwood to the fences to make them much more visible to the capercaillie.

“Because we needed to fit so many of these droppers, we needed to find a way to fix them quickly, safely and economically,” comments Ken Taylor, Scottish Woodland’s Senior Forest Manager “Using an old-fashioned hammer would simply have been too slow and, given the volume of work to be carried out, could have represented a potential risk from RSI. We purchased ten Paslode Utility Staplers and literally thousands of staples.”

The weight of the wooden droppers also made it necessary for Scottish Woodlands to carry strengthening work on fence posts and struts to make them able to cope with the weight of the droppers and potential snow loading. “For this heavier work we used Impulse IM350 cordless nailers – the perfect solution in such a remote location. Clearly no electrical supply was available and some of the sites were so inaccessible that men and materials had to be brought in by helicopter,” concludes Ken Taylor. “The Paslode tools certainly enabled us to carry out this project for Balmoral Estates much more quickly, efficiently and safely than would have been possible using traditional fixing techniques”

The Impulse IM350 Cordless Strip Nailer is so versatile that it has long been a standard tool on almost every building site in the UK. Popular with tradesmen due to its low weight and convenient cordless technology, the Paslode Impulse IM350 drives up to 2 nails per second and up to 1000 per hour. Perfect for a wide variety of rather less unusual first fix building tasks, the Impulse IM350 tackles timber frame erection, floor boarding, roof battening, decking, flat roofing, stud partitioning, shuttering, panelling and a multitude of other tasks.

The Paslode cordless nailer is just one of the many first and second fix tools, anchors and fixings manufactured by ITW Construction Products. Part of the vast international ITW group  of companies, the firm’s  products, all aimed at the trade professional, are designed to make fixing and fastening tasks quicker, easier, safer and more efficient.

The Paslode IM250A, from ITW Construction Products, is one of the most popular tools in the construction industry; beloved by carpenters, joiners and many other trades for its excellent performance, convenience and unrivalled low weight – just 2.3kg. Its angled magazine makes it easy to access corners, tight spots and for overhead use making the IM250A the perfect tool for a wide variety of second fixing tasks: fixing architraves, doors and window casing, dado rails, door stops, MDF and skirting boards to name but a few.

The Paslode IM250A will give contractors massive time savings and vastly improved productivity on site thanks to its hassle-free set-up and speed of operation. The nailer will deliver up to two or three nails per second with a maximum cycle rate of 1000 per hour. The user-friendly, slimline battery pack will achieve around 4000 fixings before it needs recharging – a process which takes a maximum of two hours. The tool is easy to service on site and has a handy Quick Clear feature allowing easy access to the nose for clearing blockages. ITW also operates a national service centre and a network of local regional workshops via its distribution network that can offer a 48 turn around on Paslode tool repairs.

“Following the close analysis of our source of supply and with the introduction of some efficiency savings, we are pleased to be able to announce a reduction in the list prices of our Paslode IM250A Brad nailer and complementary consumables,” comments Ben Henson, Head of Marketing at ITW Construction Products. “These new prices of our angled brad tool mean that now the best second fix tool on the market – and its associated brads – are even more affordable than ever before.”

The Paslode IM250A is available from fixings specialists and builders merchants nationwide. Contractors can find their nearest Paslode stockist by calling 0141 342 1660.

ITW Construction Products is the world specialist in fixings, fastenings and fixing tools. Part of the international ITW group of companies, ITW’s brands of Spit and Paslode are synonymous with quality and performance in the construction industry.