So I finally got up the nerve to use a circular saw...

[BWKatz]

I priced nail guns the other day and after finding out I'd have to get a framing one and a trim one at $300-$400 each I decided I'd stick to screwing everything with my drill. Out of my price range for just one project.

 

[Judy]

As a nurse, I can tell you that it's table saws that typically take off fingers. I'll use one but refuse to push anything through by hand, don't care how big it is. My son makes me nervous doing it with his hands, but I admit he handles tools well. Circular saws are easy. I learned on one that had a broken blade guard so learned not to depend on it. Have never hurt myself on one and have used one for years. Yes, female here. We've been through some nail guns here. IMO unless you are building a house it's a waste of money; you do save time by shooting them, but not really that much, for something like a coop. You'll have a drill, anyway, and often can just use a screw. Screws come out a LOT easier if you change your mind, too.

I'd save the smallest one, in the first pic, for a broody pen/isolation pen. It will come in VERY handy.

The store bought coop, IMO, has an awfully small run, even for just one chicken. I'd anchor it mostly by adding on a much larger area, sinking fence posts (or 4x4's or whatever) at the corners.

 

[funnybirds]

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Thats good stuff. I will see if I can enlarge the run area. I was thinking about placing a run between the rabbit hutch cages. About 8 feet give of take...

 

[Happy Chooks]

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That's for sure! I can't tell you how much I worked trying to get some nails out!

 

[funnybirds]

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I'm a nurse also. Hence my tremendous fear of power tools. I've known a few seasoned construction workers missing parts of fingers. My own BIL filleted his hand and spent about 6 months and several surgerys trying to get it partly useable again. These guys are pros too, so I factor in that when dealing with electric anything. If the pros can do it, I can do it...


And don't get me started on ladders...

 

[funnybirds]

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That's for sure! I can't tell you how much I worked trying to get some nails out!

Hehe. I managed to find those nails that they use for roofing. They have burs on the side I assume for keeping them in place. Those suckers will really make you thin about where you put your nails! I had to pry em up with a screwdriver and then jaw the hammer claw all the way in to even get them to budge. Trashed the wood around them removing them. Ahhh, the learning curve.

 

[funnybirds]

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Have you seen that Craftsman "Hammerhead" yet? I wonder if that puppy is any good?

 

[sharol]

We had a kid at the HS take off a finger with a table saw last year. One of his tablemates said he was adjusting his iPod with his left hand while cutting with his right hand at the time.

I'm scared to death of the table saw. I've used it a couple of times, but DH takes pity on me for any of the longer cuts on bigger pieces of plywood or OSD. It has been a learning experience.



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[cmom]

Please keep us updated on your project. I use many power tools. Just be safe and use the tools with caution and care. I need to make a couple of gates. One for my brooder run and one for one of my big girls runs. I will use the table saw but I have push sticks to push the wood so my fingers don't come anywhere near the blade.

 

[funnybirds]

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That is smart...
I wish I had a table saw....