If you need to drive a nail through a piece of wood down into concrete as part of your DIY home build, I’m going to explain how to do exactly that.
This type of project requires a special tool called a Ramset Hammershot. Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds! As always, however, I’ll guide you through everything you need to know to help you use this tool safely and effectively.
ALWAYS CHECK YOUR BUILDING CODES before starting a new DIY home building project.
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What Is a Ramset Hammershot and What Is It Used For?
A Ramset Hammershot – formally known as a power-actuated tool (PAT) – is a type of nail gun used to drive nails through wood into masonry. (Later in this article, I’ll guide you through how I use it to anchor a sill plate to a concrete foundation.) Its driving force is a 0.22 caliber load. When you use it, it literally sounds like a gun going off!
You can buy the Hammershot at any home improvement store; I purchased mine at Lowes several years ago for about $25. There are other brands and versions of it (DeWalt has one), but the Ramset has always worked well for me.
Safety Tips for Using a Ramset Hammershot
Because of how powerful a Ramset Hammershot is, it’s important to be as safe as possible while using it. That’s why I recommend you follow these tips.
1. Wear protective eye and ear gear
Before you start using your Hammershot (or any other power-actuated tool), make sure you’re wearing the proper protective gear: safety goggles and ear plugs.
Now, you may wonder why you need ear plugs, but just remember that this tool uses 0.22 caliber loads. It’s going to be as loud as a gunshot when it drives the nail into the masonry. That last thing you want to do is damage your ears, so get plugs or headphones or whatever ear protection you prefer.
2. Don’t hit the top of the Hammershot until you’re ready to drive the nail
After you load the Hammershot (which I’ll explain how to do in a moment), handle it carefully. Don’t hit or put any significant amount of force on the top of it until you’re ready to drive the nail.
The Hammershot does come with a safety feature that should prevent it from discharging unexpectedly. Basically, you need to hold the nail end of the barrel tight against a surface in order for it to go off. If you’re just holding the tool in midair and accidentally trigger it, a safety mechanism halts the shot.
With that said, it’s always best to be as safe as possible, particularly with a PAT. Don’t play around with this tool or treat it lightly.
Tools and Supplies Needed To Use a Ramset Hammershot
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Below are the tools and supplies you’ll need to properly utilize a Ramset Hammershot tool. (If you want to know which brands I use for each item, head on over to the Excellent Laborer Amazon store.)
- Hammer
- 22 caliber loads
- Nails (I prefer the kind with washers attached, as they prevent the nails from countersinking too far into the wood)
Step By Step Guide To Using a Ramset Hammershot
Step 1: Load the Ramset Hammershot with a 0.22 caliber load.
To do this, pull the end of the barrel out and open up the chamber. Inside the chamber is a slot. Slide the load cartridge into that slot, and then slide the chamber shut again.
At this point, the Hammershot will not go off until you hit the head of it with a hammer. Still, make sure you follow all the safety tips I recommended earlier in the article.
Step 2: Slide a nail into the end of the barrel until it sits snugly inside.
Step 3: Set the end of the nail where you want it on the wood above the concrete or masonry. Hold it down tight with one hand, and with the other hand, hit the top of the Hammershot with your regular hammer. The PAT will make a loud pop sound, like a gunshot.
Step 4: Finish driving the nail into the wood with your hammer.
Step 5: Slide open the barrel like you did in step one. The empty load cartridge will automatically eject from the Hammershot.
As you can tell from this tutorial, using a Ramset Hammershot is not difficult. Just stay safe, use common sense, and keep making excellent builds!
Want to see more DIY home building tutorials? I have a lot more of them over on the Excellent Laborer YouTube channel. Check them out!