Router versus Brad Nails

[---k---]

I built a Tuba HT sub. I used a LOT of brad nails. I would like to round over all the edges. I'm scared of the brads. I swear I once read somewhere that someone said they just ran their router and roundover bit over the brads, no problem. I think they are nuts. But, if they aren't, it would be nice. So, I thought I would ask.

[Amphiprion]

I've done it before (not intentionally) and the router bit went right through the brads. Not sure I would do it again though, especially if I cared about the bit.

[technodanvan]

I would consider buying a cheapo bit locally if you do it...not worth dulling up a good bit for it.

[krips]

I've ran largeish ardox nails through my table saw, so I'm sure brad nails couldn't be as bad :P. Fooked my blade though.

[Bent]

just count on replacing the bit(s).
They won't last as long.

[Not2Evil]

I've never tried, but it sounds risky. I would think that a slight snag would try to pull the brad sideways and make a mess, or worse.

Now that the glue is dry, could you drive the brads deeper with a scribe and hammer without splitting the wood or MDF? Wrap a little tape around your instrument so you know how deep you have to tap each one to safety.

You said LOTS. If LOTS is less than a hundred, that's one thing.....

Did you have a build thread for your Tuba that I missed?

[Dennis H]

Get a nail set and drive the nails deep enough with a hammer that the bit can't hit them. This pic shows a big-diameter one but you can get them with a tip about the same diameter as your nail.

[David Meek]

Sharpened steel blades spinning very very fast + anchored steel protrusions = bad.

Ryan, I have to agree - they were nuts. If you deform/fracture the router bit badly enough you could score the material you are wanting to surface. If the contact actually shatters the bit (it probably won't but why take chances?) you could hurt yourself or damage some other item around you.

At a minimum I'd accept the possible risk to the mdf and drive the brads deeper than you plan to round-over the corners before routing. As always, just my 2 cents.

[Undefinition]

I broke my favorite upcut spiral bit on some brad nails not that long ago. Not only was it tragic because I really liked the bit (it was a CMT, by the way), but the projectile spun off and hit me in the stomach pretty fast... about the equivalent to getting shot at playing paintball, I suppose.

So... no more routers and brad nails for me. I understand you wanting to do a roundover... the smartest thing I can think of is using a nail set. But that depends on how many brads you drove in. Or... just use a cheap roundover bit because it's gonna take a beating.

[Not2Evil]

You've been so helpful to me in the past, I hope the naysayers win.

[kingpin]

You're gonna be okay.......................
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.if you wear one of these. :B

[Bent]

Ouch!
maybe I'll re-visit my suggestion.

[dlneubec]

I wouldn't try it. A lot of things can go wrong using a router to begin with. Add to that sudden metal on metal contact while moving through a soft material seems like asking for failure of the result, the bit or risking an injury from broken off bit parts or flying pieces of brad. Thumbs down from me! ;zx

[NyxOne]

I did it many times. It works perfectly but it also destroy your router bit very quickly.

Also, when it's time to finish your enclosure, you'll have to take care of these nails and it's not easy or fun ...

I don't recommend it unless you have no other choice.

Chuck

Edit : Just be sure to wear something to protect your eyes (always).

[---k---]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I agree with everyone who thinks its a bad idea. It never set well with me. But the positive of asking, I got some good ideas:

Get a nail set and drive the nails deep enough with a hammer that the bit can't hit them. This pic shows a big-diameter one but you can get them with a tip about the same diameter as your nail.

Yeah, that sounds like the way to go. The brads are ~4" - 6" O.C. , so a lot is relative. A 3/8" round over is probably good enough to look good, so I wouldn't have to drive them too deep. :T

[john trials]

Build thread...please! I don't have the space for a Tuba sub, but I love seeing photos of them in progress. They are so cool.

[---k---]

You know, there are so many build threads at AVS that I didn't think I needed to do one. That, and this sub wasn't my best work. I really slapped it together and of course learned from a few mistakes along the way. I did take a few photos, but you're much better off reading the build threads at the other place.

But, once I get it in the house I will work my way through my demo DVDs and see how it holds up. I will post those impressions... We'll see how long I can keep both subs in the house. I don't have the floor space for them!

[Dennis H]

Also, when it's time to finish your enclosure, you'll have to take care of these nails and it's not easy or fun ...

Good point. You're going to have to sink them anyway so you can putty the holes. You might as well do it before you route rather than after.

[john trials]

You know, there are so many build threads at AVS that I didn't think I needed to do one. That, and this sub wasn't my best work. I really slapped it together and of course learned from a few mistakes along the way. I did take a few photos, but you're much better off reading the build threads at the other place.

But, once I get it in the house I will work my way through my demo DVDs and see how it holds up. I will post those impressions... We'll see how long I can keep both subs in the house. I don't have the floor space for them!

I've never been to the forum at AVS. There are an awful lot of THT build threads there. Thanks for the tip. Enjoy yours. They seem like a fantastic sub.

[ThomasW]

Sort of depends on the gauge of the brads and how many were used...

Yes I've done it, carbide round-over, or bevel bits go through small brads from an air driven brad nailer easily

Has it ever pulled out the brads? No.

Did it break the bit? No but I never used the bit again.

Did I wear protective gear? Yep full face shield and heavy long sleeved welding leathers

Would I do it again? Yes if it was necessary to complete the project

[---k---]

Did I just inadvertently call Thomas nuts?

I think if it was one random brad, I wouldn't stress out over it. But, in this case nail sets are cheap.

[absolootbs]

sounds like you've already made up your mind, but i thought i'd share my experience anyway. i'm just finishing up a build on a sub where i got impatient and used brad nails even though i swore i was going glue only. 16 ga. 1 1/2". 3 - 5 per side. put a 3/4" radius roundover on the vertical edges using a cheap mlcs 3-flute carbide tipped bit. it sheared the nails off no problem. i was a little worried that it might knick the bit, but after doing all four edges i don't see a mark on it. and from what i could tell, the brads never even thought about budging, let alone tearing out or anything like that. did it do great things for the sharpness of the bit? i'm sure not. but at least it didn't actually damage it, or the box i was building. in your case though, it sounds like you were probably dealing with a lot more nails than i was, so your bit may not have faired as well. honestly the worst part was getting tiny metal shards shot against my forearm. sleeves probably would have been a good idea. oh well, hindsight is always 20/20, right?

i know this is also moot for this particular build, because you've already got all of your nailing done, but if you use brads in the future, and plan to do a roundover on them, you may want to spend some time prior to doing the actual nailing, playing with the air pressure and depth setting on the gun you're using (assuming you're using an air powered nailer). if it's a decent gun, you run it at its max pressure, set it's depth setting towards the deep end, and don't do a huge roundover... you might get them deep enough to not need the nail-set at all.

[DeathMonk]

Like other have said.. I've done it before not paying attention - with a whiteside chamfer bit. It buzzed right through them without me even noticing.

[ThomasW]

FWIW, my brad nailer uses 18 gauge brads...

[cjd]

I've done it on 18g brads. Accidentally. I DID prep first with the nail-set but didn't get them all deep enough for the round-over bit.

C

[Landspeeder]

I have done this 6 or 7 times on sub boxes.

I use a cheap double bladed roundover bit to cut 95% of the material away in small increments and finish the last little bit with a good bit. Never have I had any tearout with the brads.

I had 1 time that broke one of the 2 cutting bits off of the router bit and it flew across embedding itself into the wall. However the router did not become badly unbalanced, the bit stayed in place, and it did not ruin the project. I was forcing the depth cut too quickly (it would have been too much depth even without the brads present).

[nikbrewer]

i have built many boxes ( lets say in the hundres in the last 2 yrs) i am still usingthe same 3/4" roundover form 2 yrs ago, and i have hits hundres of nails. Will it cut bad in hardwood? probally, but since most my work is in mdf, it works fine