Finishing driving masonry nail into skirting

boardtc · 22-02-2021 09:11PM #1

I've a short bit of skirting on an internal masonry wall that popped out. The opposite is glass so I can't use No More nails and prop. I opted for a masonry nail. It's hard to drive and sparks were flying so next time I'll wear eye protection, lesson learned! The issue is getting the nail flush and in a couple of mm so I can backfill. I tried a nail punch but it's awkward and it's slipped off a couple of times as you can see in the picture. Any ideas on how to get it in, please?

policarp · 23-02-2021 12:33AM

boardtc wrote: »

I've a short bit of skirting on an internal masonry wall that popped out. The opposite is glass so I can't use No More nails and prop. I opted for a masonry nail. It's hard to drive and sparks were flying so next time I'll wear eye protection, lesson learned! The issue is getting the nail flush and in a couple of mm so I can backfill. I tried a nail punch but it's awkward and it's slipped off a couple of times as you can see in the picture. Any ideas on how to get it in, please?

Don't understand the glass scenario but try an angle grinder to cut the head off the nail and then fill.

Tokyo · 23-02-2021 05:31AM

You're not going to knock that in with a punch. My advice would be to simply hit it harder, with a bit of accuracy in the hammer arm. Board is going to need a skim of filler anyways, so a hammer dent isn't going to be an issue.

I wouldn't cut the head off the nail myself - the board may simply pop off the remaining shaft of the nail, with no nail head to keep it in place.

GrumpyMe · 23-02-2021 07:32AM

boardtc wrote: »

I've a short bit of skirting on an internal masonry wall that popped out. The opposite is glass so I can't use No More nails and prop. I opted for a masonry nail. It's hard to drive and sparks were flying so next time I'll wear eye protection, lesson learned! The issue is getting the nail flush and in a couple of mm so I can backfill. I tried a nail punch but it's awkward and it's slipped off a couple of times as you can see in the picture. Any ideas on how to get it in, please?

https://tinyurl.com/4nxn7so8

stoneill · 23-02-2021 07:37AM

Take the nail out and use Tec7 grip adhesive.
I don't get the glass reference.

23-02-2021 07:37AM

Something I've noticed about my 1970s block built house.
Every thing was nailed on, Architraves, skirting and even saddle boards nailed down.
How were they so good at driving steel nails back in the day ?!

Tokyo · 23-02-2021 07:52AM

stoneill wrote: »

Take the nail out and use Tec7 grip adhesive.
I don't get the glass reference.

I presumed there was a glass wall or panel directly across from the skirting board, therefore the OP didn't want to use no-more-nails and wedge a timber between the skirting board and the glass until it set.

listermint · 23-02-2021 08:33AM

BrownFinger wrote: »

Something I've noticed about my 1970s block built house.
Every thing was nailed on, Architraves, skirting and even saddle boards nailed down.
How were they so good at driving steel nails back in the day ?!

Stronger folks back then. No social media :P

jack of all · 23-02-2021 08:45AM

listermint wrote: »

Stronger folks back then. No social media :P

And no fancy glue available either! I think you will be able to drive that head in a tad more, you just need a bigger punch and use a lump hammer, I've done similar many times with a stubborn nail!

Roadtoad · 23-02-2021 08:56AM

BrownFinger wrote: »

Something I've noticed about my 1970s block built house.
Every thing was nailed on, Architraves, skirting and even saddle boards nailed down.
How were they so good at driving steel nails back in the day ?!

The carpenter was nailing into 'young' block/plaster. Fifty years later, its not young.

I dowel and screw (DIY) when replacing stuff. I noticed a tradesman lately using a powered nailer. He had some, but not many duds fired into old plaster/ block.

jmBuildExt · 23-02-2021 11:25AM

Did mine using rawl plugs.
Use a narrow drill bit to make a mark on the wall through the skirting.
Take skirting away, drill the holes for the plugs.
Screw on the skirting burying the heads.
Optional step: take pictures so you can find the screws in years to come.
Filler over the screw heads.
Paint.

boardtc · 23-02-2021 11:50AM

stoneill wrote: »

Take the nail out and use Tec7 grip adhesive.
I don't get the glass reference.

I would normally glue and use a prop to hold it in, but the opposite side is 4m away and glass so using a prop to hold the skirting in while glue sets is difficult. @Mike_ie probably summarised better!

boardtc · 23-02-2021 11:53AM

jmBuildExt wrote: »

Did mine using rawl plugs.
Use a narrow drill bit to make a mark on the wall through the skirting.
Take skirting away, drill the holes for the plugs.
Screw on the skirting burying the heads.
Optional step: take pictures so you can find the screws in years to come.
Filler over the screw heads.
Paint.

Nice idea and good thinking re the pictures. In this case, it's a middle section of about 3m skirting that popped out a bit so removing the skirting completely would be overkill.

tabby aspreme · 23-02-2021 12:06PM

BrownFinger wrote: »

Something I've noticed about my 1970s block built house.
Every thing was nailed on, Architraves, skirting and even saddle boards nailed down.
How were they so good at driving steel nails back in the day ?!

Hatefull yokes, steel nails, you would have them nailed in, and then a few minutes later they would start breaking , lads who couldn't hit them accurately were known as clover leaf carpenters

RandRuns · 23-02-2021 12:29PM

Back in the day we used to use hammer-actuated ramsets, haven't seen one in years. Were just the job for driving masonry nails.

mloc123 · 23-02-2021 12:59PM

listermint wrote: »

Stronger folks back then. No social media :P

And no impact drivers to put in screws. Imagine driving screws by hand :eek:

RandRuns · 23-02-2021 01:05PM

mloc123 wrote: »

And no impact drivers to put in screws. Imagine driving screws by hand :eek:

I was that soldier. We developed very strong wrists.

23-02-2021 01:09PM

Roadtoad wrote: »

The carpenter was nailing into 'young' block/plaster. Fifty years later, its not young.

Thats probably it alight!

wait4me · 23-02-2021 01:33PM

boardtc wrote: »

I would normally glue and use a prop to hold it in, but the opposite side is 4m away and glass so using a prop to hold the skirting in while glue sets is difficult. @Mike_ie probably summarised better!

A couple of concrete blocks and prop would do this - just a suggestion.

stoneill · 23-02-2021 01:54PM

boardtc wrote: »

I would normally glue and use a prop to hold it in, but the opposite side is 4m away and glass so using a prop to hold the skirting in while glue sets is difficult. @Mike_ie probably summarised better!

Using Tec7 is almost instant, won't need a prop, just hold it in place for about 20 seconds

23-02-2021 02:33PM

stoneill wrote: »

Using Tec7 is almost instant, won't need a prop, just hold it in place for about 20 seconds

If you walls are straight:D

Pataman · 23-02-2021 08:09PM

That doesnt look like a masonry nail, they are usually shiny.
Are you sure its not a standard wire nail?

tabby aspreme · 23-02-2021 10:06PM

mloc123 wrote: »

And no impact drivers to put in screws. Imagine driving screws by hand :eek:

Yankee screwdriver and slot headed screws

boardtc · 28-02-2021 09:14PM

jack of all wrote: »

And no fancy glue available either! I think you will be able to drive that head in a tad more, you just need a bigger punch and use a lump hammer, I've done similar many times with a stubborn nail!

Thanks, that worked perfect! I picked up a great blue set punch set on Amazon for 6 euro, lovely case too, real solid build. Never knew about different size ones, I used 2 of the other ones for other jobs today, great bit of kit. Cheers!

FionMc · 28-02-2021 10:16PM

Pull the nail out. replace with smaller nail in same hole

Mango Joe · 01-03-2021 09:36AM

BrownFinger wrote: »

Something I've noticed about my 1970s block built house.
Every thing was nailed on, Architraves, skirting and even saddle boards nailed down.
How were they so good at driving steel nails back in the day ?!

This was all possible in the days before vaccines and 5G.

Finishing driving masonry nail into skirting

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