Crofter

At the moment I am using two different nail guns: a Hitachi gas gun for framing, and a Clarke coil nailer that runs off a compressor and fires full head nails up to 70mm. initial impressions are that the gas nailer is handier in many ways, no hose to drag around behind you, but overall I don't think it's any faster to use as it has more issues with jams, cold gas, and of course needs reloaded more frequently. I have been surprised by how temperamental it can be below about ten degrees celsius. The coil gun has the option of sequential firing which can make scarily rapid progress on things like sheathing. Even running it off a cheap little 12l compressor it is faster than I am. The main thing that drove me to get the coil nailer was that I was able to buy stainless full head nails for a fraction of the price of the Paslode-type ones for the gas gun. I will need these for my timber cladding and the relatively cheap coil nailer has probably already paid for itself just through the difference in cost of the nails. Plus, no more taking out fuel cells and sticking them in your armpit until they are warm enough to work!

Thanks, Ed, that's really useful. My timber-buying tip for the day: When you order 30 full lengths of C24 timber, before the lorry driver heads off check the markings stamped on the end grain of every single stick in the pile, so that you can spot the two cheeky C16s that they have hidden in there. Don't assume the whole bundle is what you actually ordered and leave it until a fortnight later before you spot it. Grrr!

Hi everyone, I'm half way through a tiny self build up on the Isle of Skye. It is about as DIY as can be, in that I have designed, drawn, and so far built the whole thing from scratch. the learning curve has been steep but satisfying. At the time of writing I am cutting rafters for the roof buildup, and hope to be wind and watertight within a couple of weeks. I hope to be able to pass on some of the many things I have learned thus far, and of course I am going to have many, many questions on the road ahead...