Eastern Power Equipment
285 Route 9 PO Box 97 Barrington, NH 03825
Phone 603/664-7776 | Toll Free 866/664-7776 | Fax 603/664-7420 | email chuck@easternpowerequipment.com
Discover the power of powder-actuated tools
These tools add speed to attachment jobs, but users must be certified.
Powder-actuated tools (PATs) are a necessity for contractors and do-it-yourselfers for many types of jobs and projects. Before you buy, however, consider the savings offered by renting these high-powered tools only when you need them. You must be a certified operator to use PATs.
What is a powder-actuated tool (PAT)?
Powder-actuated tools use specifically manufactured steel pins and powder loads. There are a number of PATs manufactured in the industry. They range from light-duty, do-it-yourself models to heavy-duty models for contractors. Powder loads and drive pins generally are interchangeable between brands.
Powder-actuated tools offer contractors and homeowners major time-savings on the job. These easy-to-use tools eliminate the need to drill holes with a concrete drill bit and use anchors and screws for fastening applications.
You can use PATs to attach materials to surfaces like concrete, masonry and steel. Typical applications include:
Plywood
Framing lumber
Drywall track
Conduit clips
Electrical junction boxes
Low-velocity PATs are the most widely used in the rental industry. Count on your A.R.A.-affiliated rental expert to help you determine the best PAT for the job at hand. Professional rental houses typically stock the safest, most durable and long-lasting tools on the market. The PAT you rent should be UL listed and approved by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) and/or Miami-Dade County, Fla.
Features of low-velocity PATs:
The powder fastener, or pin, is driven into the work surface by means of a piston, which is actuated by the powder load.
The firing pin ignites the powder load, and the expanding gas in the barrel acts on the piston, which, in turn, drives the fastener.
The piston has the effect of slowing the fastener velocity to safer levels and, more importantly, prevents the fastener from being driven through the base material if it is thin or soft.
The piston has a built-in stop. When the piston stops, the fastener has nothing pushing on it and stops.
After choosing the correct load and fastener with assistance from your A.R.A.-affiliated rental expert, users should start by properly loading the PAT.
Insert the appropriate powder fastener into the muzzle of the tool, head first, until the plastic collar is flush with the muzzle. The plastic collar holds the powder fastener in the muzzle.
Then insert the powder load into the tool. Always insert the fastener first, then the powder load.
Once loaded, place the muzzle of the fastening tool against the work surface at a right angle.
Caution: Before the tool can be operated, the muzzle must be completely compressed against the work surface until the sliding action of the barrel stops. This prevents the PAT from firing into the air or accidentally shooting into the body.When the tool is in position to drive a fastener, pull the trigger to release a firing pin.
The pin then strikes the powder load around the rim.
The above action causes the powder load to ignite and burn, providing a release of expanding gases that drive the piston down the barrel of the tool, striking the fastener.
The fastener is then driven through the steel or concrete work surface.
After each shot is fired, manually pull the barrel assembly forward to reset the piston and discharge the empty cartridge from the tool.
The above action resets the piston and allows the user to load a new cartridge into the chamber for the next fastening.
Before using any powder-actuated tool, operators must obtain training and certification. Go to Becoming a certified PAT operator to find out more about licensing.
Improper use of a powder-actuated fastening tool can cause serious injury or death. Certified users should never attempt to operate a PAT until they read and understand the operating instructions. Your A.R.A.-affiliated rental equipment expert should review operating and safety manuals with you before you rent.
Always observe the following safety precautions:
Wear ANSI/OSHA-approved eye and ear protection.
Never use ordinary nails or concrete nails in any powder-actuated tool. The powder fasteners, or pins, are made of a special alloy steel with a very specific heat-treating process to have the right mix of hardness, toughness and ductility for PAT applications.
Refer to the owner’s manual or application chart to determine which color and level powder load should be used. Powder loads are available in single shot for .22-caliber tools, and in 10-shot strips for .27-caliber semi-automatic tools. Its color and number designate the level of powder for each load. Generally, the harder the base material, the more powder is needed.
Point the tool away from yourself and others during loading or handling.
Do not put hand/fingers in front of the muzzle.
Always clear the work area on all sides, and post appropriate warning signs to notify bystanders and co-workers.
Never fire a PAT in an explosive or flammable environment.
Before using a PAT, the barrel should be inspected to make sure it is free from obstructions.
Before starting a job, always know the thickness and type of base material into which you are fastening. Test fastenings should always be made starting with the lowest powder level.
Never make fastenings in spalled or cracked areas or too close to an edge.
A spall shield should be used to help reduce the amount of surface chipping when fastening directly into concrete or sparking from directly fastening into steel.
Always unload a PAT before disassembling, assembling, replacing the barrel or cleaning.
Becoming a certified PAT operator
ONLY qualified operators should use powder-actuated tools. Anyone using a rented powder-actuated tool must carry a valid certification card. You must contact a PAT manufacturer, or a sales representative, to achieve PAT certification. Your A.R.A.-affiliated rental expert can help you with this mandatory procedure.
The certification must be specific to the tool being operated.
The certification card verifies that the user has been thoroughly trained and tested on how to use a specific PAT and the safety issues associated with it.
Depending on where you live in the United States, two types of certification apply:
California has its own certification requirements. It lasts three years.
The remaining 49 states have a common certification. Certification lasts a lifetime.