It’s impossible to enter a construction site today without encountering the same fundamentals you would encounter some 1,000 years prior. The technology is very different, the materials are sometimes different, and the techniques have developed significantly in the intervening millennium – but the principles that underpin the practice of construction and joinery are very much the same.
These principles are taken for granted once they’re learned, but actually speak to an incredible wealth of knowledge, expertise and practical experience – knowledge, expertise and practical experience that isn’t often recognised. Here, we’ll take the opportunity to do just that, by drilling down (so to speak) into the world of fastenings and fastening tools, and how trade professionals evaluate fastening solutions based on performance, control, and application needs.
The Role of Fastening Tools in Workflows
Fastening tools, for those unfamiliar with the term, are simple the tools by which fastenings are installed – fastenings being everything from screws and nails to nuts and bolts, to staples and beyond. These are the staples, if you will, of any and every construction environment. And tools make them possible to utilise effectively.
Naturally, fastening tools designed for their respective fastenings have positive impacts on speed, accuracy, and job quality. Where once the humble hammer was a practical tool for nailing frames together, cordless nailers have trivialised larger-scale framing and fastening operations. Likewise for the drill driver, against the screwdriver.
Performance And Precision Expectations
Even with such tool-based technological leaps, not just any tool will do. In order for a given fastening tool to pass the figurative sniff test, it needs to do more than assist with installing fastenings. It needs to be safe to use; it needs to perform reliably, consistently and with a base level of quality and convenience; and it needs to be precise. All of these things, together, make it safer, easier and faster for professional contractors to complete their work – as well as cheaper for the overarching job, due to reduced rework and material waste.
Cordless Options And Site Flexibility
Cordless fastening tools are a not-so-new standard for job sites, having been perfected through improved battery design and operating life. Cordless fasteners enable easier mobility for on-site professionals, and make it both quicker and easier for workers to reach and tend to difficult areas (including roofs). The speed and efficiency that cordless tools inspire is considerable enough to make for serious on-site savings, both in time and materials.
Reliability, Safety, And Maintenance
The most important aspect of modern fastening tools is their reliability. With unreliable tools, workers face higher risks of personal injury relating to equipment failure – besides which, more durable tools are less likely to need replacing during a project, keeping costs to a minimum. The repairability of the equipment is also key here; job sites are dusty, which presents issues for motorised equipment. Easy maintenance makes for less downtime, and increased results on-site.
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