Replies

1. 
   Dave45 | Oct 22, 2007 04:26pm | #1

   Ouch!!  I've done this too, and  it can be a real PITA.  Whatever else you may do, DON'T try to drive the brad back with a nail set.  It will just bend over and leave you with a circular hole right there in plain sight.

   How will you be finishing the piece?  I've found that it's easier to hide repairs to darker pieces.  In fact, I have had some success using a small nail set to drive the "nub" below the surface, doing some careful "distressing" with a utility knife, chisel, etc to disguise that neat little circle, then using a filler to fake some wood grain.

   Depending on the wood species you're using, you may be able to use a utility knife or chisel to lift a sliver of the wood from around the "nub" so you can cut it off (or bend it over) below the surface.  Glue the sliver back in place, fill and sand as necessary, and your "fix" should pretty well disappear.

   I've had varying amounts of success with these fixes and recommend that you use some scrap to practice on. 

2. 
   oldusty | Oct 22, 2007 04:37pm | #2

       jp,

                 Maybe you could put some square peg or round dowel type of pegged joint look . Yeah , you will need to do the same to each leg to match .

        Or possibly some form of inlay .

               good  luck        dusty

               "how good we are is how good we fix our mistakes"

3. 
   mapleman | Oct 22, 2007 05:26pm | #3

   When I have a mistake like that I have a small punch that I filed the tip to a rectangular profile to match the head of the brad nail. I would orient the rectangular profile parallel to the grain and tap the protruding nail lightly below the surface and then do 1 of 2 things:

   Putty the hole as is. A square/rectangular hole is less noticeable than a round hole (thus the reason for grinding the tip into the shape of the nail's head.)

   Take a sharp chisel and cut the top and bottom of the punced hole to a point, kind of like a skinny, sharp pointed football. This will really help to disguise the hole.

   Good luck and remember, it's how well you fix your mistakes that counts.

   Lee

4. 
   wiskytango | Oct 25, 2007 07:03am | #4

   Choice #1 Lighter fluid and a match, No one will ever see your mistake.

   Choice #2 If you want to keep this I would do the utility knife trick and try and make your mistake look like a fleck of the grain,

   What type wood did you use?

5. 
   md2453 | Oct 25, 2007 04:02pm | #5

   jpohja:

   Lee's approach has served me well and I've yet to have a client spy the repair.

   A suggestion on the brad gun.  When done with it each time, take out all the brads so that you have to load it the next time you use it.  I've found this works and is certainly cheaper than having to buy a new brad nailer because you threw one across the shop in anger after you drove a too-long-brad through a recently carved and fluted leg. 

   Why yes, we girls do have tempers, why do you ask?

   Madison2

1. 
   Dave45 | Oct 25, 2007 05:26pm | #6

   As Madison says, removing the brads after using the brad nailer is a good practice - particularly if you were using long brads.  I once managed to shoot a too-long brad thru my pieces and into my thumb!! 

   After I bandaged the thumb, my repair of the workpiece included cleaning up the blood.  I sure hope that the customer never gets murdered, or something.  Some CSI type might find the traces of my blood and I would wind up in the cop shop.  I'm too old to deal with rubber hoses and bright lights. - lol

   My brad nailer problems usually involve blow-outs rather than blow-throughs.  Using the correct brad length is important, but it's also necessary to pay attention to the grain of the pieces.  Brads want to follow the grain and I often shoot at an angle to prevent blow-out.

    

2. 
   jpohja | Oct 26, 2007 01:30am | #8

   Actually, i bought this gun several years ago off the clearance shelf at sears and i hadn't ever used it before. It looks brand new but i guess someone had returned it with a few brads in the magazine. Nevertheless, thanks for all the replys.   John

6. 
   bww_maryland | Oct 25, 2007 08:18pm | #7

   spackle and paint :)