framing or sheathing work; finish nailers are used for paneling or trimming. There is also a wide variety of staplers that you can use for jobs, such as fastening sheeting, decking, or roofing. These tools are often driven by compressed air. The amount of pneumatic, or air, pressure required to operate the tool depends on the size of the tool and the type of operation you are performing. Check the manufacturer's manual for the proper air pressure to operate the tool.
The power nailer and power stapler are great timesaving tools, but they are also
very dangerous tools. Observe the following safety precautions when using them:
Use the correct air pressure for the particular tool and job.
Use the right nailer or stapler for the job and also the correct nails and staples.
Keep the nose of the tool pointed away from your body.
When you are not using a nailer or stapler or if you are loading one, disconnect the air supply.
MATERIALS
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Upon completing this section, you should be able to identify the types, sources, uses, and characteristics of the common woods used on various construction projects.
Of all the different construction materials, wood is probably the most often used and perhaps the most important. The variety of uses of wood is practically unlimited. Few Seabee construction projects are accomplished without using some type of wood. It is used for permanent structures as well as concrete forms, scaffolding, shoring, and bracing, which may be used again and again. The types, sources, uses, and characteristics of common woods are given in table 3-1. The types of classifications of wood for a large project are usual] y designated in the project specifications and included in the project drawings.
Table 3-1.-Common Woods
| TYPES | SOURCES | USES | CHARACTERISTICS |
| ASH | East of Rockies | Oars, boat thwarts, benches, gratings, hammer handles, cabinets, ball bats, wagon construction, farm implement. | Strong, heavy, hard, tough, elastic, close straight grain, shrinks very little, takes excellent finish, lasts well |
| BEECH | East of Mississippi and southeastern Canada | Cabinetwork, imitation mahogany furniture, wood dowels, capping, boat trim, interior finish, tool handles, turnery, shoe lasts, carving, flooring | Similar to birch but not so durable when exposed to weather, shrinks and checks considerably, close grain, light or dark red color |
| BIRCH | East of Mississippi River and north of gulf coast states, southeast Canada, and Newfoundland | Cabinetwork, imitation mahogany furniture, dowels, capping, boat trim, interior finish, tool handles, turnery, carving | Hard, durable, fine grain, even wood texture, heavy, stiff, strong, tough, takes high polish, works easily, forms excellent base for white enamel finish, but not durable when exposed. Heartwood is light to dark reddish brown in color |