Carpentry and Woodworking - paslode impact framing nailer into concrete?

I have a paslode framing nailer (angled) that shoots great into wood. I am getting ready for a job that requires shooting nails into brick and concrete.

I have heard that the paslode will do it if I buy hardened steel nails. Does this really work? They are not easy to find - have to buy online, I guess. With shipping costs, I wanted to find out first if they will work.

thanks

I'm sure someone else will weigh in, but I've never heard of that being true. No mention of it at the Paslode site either.

I wouldn't even think of it with my Bostich framer. I've always used a powder nailer for nailing to concrete. You can get a single shot cheap ( < $30) at a big box.

No way in a hundred years would I shoot a nail into concrete with a framing nailer. You may have those guys who brag that they can do it, but don't. If it makes an incomplete shot, the energy has to go somewhere, and that means a bent nail. Think about what it does to the inside of your nailer. Like CW says, a powder actuated gun is cheap, made for the job and sets the nails properly.

thanks -- I wasn't sure it was true -- and I guess it wasn't.

If it makes an incomplete shot, the energy has to go somewhere

Yeah, like in your EYE. Don't do it! Use a powder actuated nailer, and follow the safety instructions.

Speaking of eyes, always wear eye protection. My daughter is a doctor of optometry in Denver and she has showed me actual photographs of face damage of people not wearing them, and also the nail caught by the impact resistant lenses protecting the person's eye. Awsome.

No your 3 1/4 pasload nailer is not for anchoring to concrete, however pasload does make a pin nailer many of the drywallers around here use em to secure light guage steel track. It does exist. Its like a butane powerd ramset.

But it is a different animal than the OP wanted. The pin nailer is for steel studs, not fastening pins through studs into a monolith. Drop ceiling guys use them for their perimeter angle, too.

Call me a chicken, but those concrete nail guns scare the hell out of me. I used one years ago and did not have it exactly square and it ricocheted like a bullet. Luckily it did not harm anyone.

It may be slower, but I'll take a hammer drill and fasteners any day.

News flash. I just discovered (and I'm slow) that Bostitch has a concrete nailer just for the purpose the OP wanted. It will run about $400 and the nails won't be in common stock at any store, so they exist, just not practical for smaller jobs.
Iceracer, sort of like gun control, don't blame the gun, blame the holder. You are right, it must be held perfectly straight to your trajectory in order for the pin to be placed properly. Glad it didn't harm anyone. Tapcons do a great job, but as you said,.....sllloooow.

i have used a hitachi framing stick nailer and shot nails into block. you just have to have special nails. its been almost two years and i can not remember the name of nails for the life of me

I believe this was the tool I saw on Cool Tools a while back. Awesome ability to drive a nail through an i-beam. Hilti often too expensive to purchase, but you can rent about anything.

DX 460-F10 Tool - Hilti USA (http://www.us.hilti.com/holus/modules/prcat/prca_navigation.jsp?OID=-17108)

Thank you all for following up on this. I have given up on using the nailer for bricks or concrete. Unfortunately, the powder ramjet shattered all the bricks I tried it on, even with the lowest charge, so I plan to use tapcons or lead anchors.

Thanks again for your help.