A NEWSLETTER FOR THE PROFESSIONAL BUILDER AND REMODELER
Your Pneumatic
Nail Gun
Wish List
1.) Your nail gun should have enough power to
BRAUN BUILDING CENTER
3303 MENASHA AVE. MANITOWOC, WI 54220
PHONE: (920) 682-0143
drive a nail flush into engineered lumber.
2.) A well designed nosepiece with teeth that
MainStreet™ siding
really bite into the wood.
Offers consistent quality, good
looks and is the ideal choice for
homeowners looking for value with
the benefits of a premium panel.
FEATURE-RICH SIDING
WITH FLEXIBILITY
TO MEET ANY BUDGET
3.) A higher nail capacity and range saves
time and creates greater efficiency.
Available in
11 colors
4.) Reliability means replacement parts should
be readily available. Jams should clear
easily and safely, and the gun should work
with a variety of manufacturers’ nails.
Investigators in California
recently broke up a ring where
thieves rented U-Haul trucks
to transpor t stolen materials to
storage units. The investigation,
funded by the U.S. Depar tment
of Justice, covered 14 states in
the Southwest and Southeast.
NOVEMBER 2011
In this issue:
Pneumatic Fastener Safety
5.) Find the lightest nail gun available with all
6.) Check the ease of operating the trigger
Small size fits easily into tight spaces.
All metal thumb wheel depth of drive
adjustment. Model GT90CH
and depth-of-drive, and how easy it is to
Maximizing Battery Life
reload nails.
25OFF
7.) Size matters – your nail gun should fit
between two joists spaced 16” on-center.
Tool Bags (Of Tricks)
Talk to us if you’re looking for new tools.
Braun Building Center
Coupon Expires 11/30/2011
“The investigation,
funded by the U.S.
Department of
Justice, covered
14 states, in
coordination
with construction
companies...
investigators
attached tracking
devices to pallets
of shingles.”
Not responsible for typographical errors.
Thefts At The
Job Site On
The Rise
Perhaps it’s a sign of the
times, but more construction
companies are repor ting stolen
building materials and tools
from the job site. Roofing
shingles, in par ticular, seem to
be a favorite target of thieves.
Money
Saving
coupon
Braun Building Center
3303 Menasha Ave.
Manitowoc, WI 54220
See page 4
11-0011 LMC ©Circulars Unlimited/LMC
➤
$
COUPON
Low Cost Marketing Tips
the features you need.
Clipped Head Cordless
Gas Framing Nailer
In coordination with construction
companies, investigators
attached tracking devices to
pallets of shingles. Investigators
are still determining who
purchased the stolen materials,
and whether the purchasers
were aware that the materials
had been stolen.
We recommend to all our
building and remodeling
customers that you secure
any building materials or
tools left at the job site. One
suggestion is to lock materials
and tools inside a house or
garage. If possible, storing
materials and tools on a second
floor is preferable so that
would-be thieves can’t easily
look through an uncovered
window. Keep a register of
serial numbers for your tools
as well, and use metal fencing
for any materials that must be
stored outside for any length
of time. Talk to us if you need
additional security features.
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 102
HAMBURG, PA
www.braunbuilding.com
NOVEMBER 2011
Low Cost Builder
Marketing Ideas
Tips For
Maximizing
NiCd
Battery
Life
Here are some marketing tips
that don’t require much time
or money:
Keep hands and feet a safe
distance from entry point.
Rule of Thumb: multiply the
length of fastener by two.
A three inch fastener requires
a six inch safe distance.
❑ Par tner with another noncompeting tradesman at a Home
Show. Split the cost and use the
oppor tunity to meet potential
customers. Most of the people
attending a Home Show already
have a project in mind.
Avoid fastening too close to wood
panel edges, which could result
in splinters flying into the air and
entering the eyes. An exception
here, of course, is toe-nailing,
which requires working close to
the edge. The trick here is not
using too steep or shallow of
an angle.
❑ Adver tise in your local high
school spor ts, ar ts and music
program guides. Adver tising
rates are typically much cheaper
in these publications. Plus, your
ad isn’t competing with countless
other ads as it would in a
newspaper. Also, suppor ting
your school is just good PR.
Wear safety glasses, use
regulated compressed air only,
and check tool daily before
operation.
150
250000
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700
600
500
❑ Host a one-day seminar for
DIYers. Okay, maybe this sounds
self-defeating, but you can offer
simple tips (say for caulking and
sealing to save energy). But
when the big project comes
along that the DIYer knows he
can’t do, you’ll be the first
person he calls.
Regional Housing Starts In thousands of units. September 2010 - August 2011
Market Trends
800
❑ Volunteer to assist in the
construction of a community
event. Builders are often needed
to build a temporary stage, raise
scaffolding, or provide lighting
at local festivals. In return,
you get your name listed in
the program book, and often,
you get acknowledged onstage
for your effor ts. Again, good PR.
120
200000
80
90
150000
60
60
100000
40
350
300
150
120
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200
0
60
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50000
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100
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"Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there."
– Will Rogers
4.) Avoid storing the battery in
temperatures that exceed 120
degrees Fahrenheit. This will
reduce battery life; instead, store
the battery in a cool, dry place.
Maximizing the life of your Nickel
Cadmium (NiCd) batteries not only
makes good business sense (getting
the most for your money) but it’s also
good for the environment. It ensures
you get maximum life out of your
batteries before sending them to a
recycling center.
1.) Avoid charging the battery in
temperatures below 40 degrees
Fahrenheit or above 105 degrees
Fahrenheit. The battery will not
charge fully under these conditions.
It’s best to charge the battery at
room temperature.
5.) If applicable, periodically
charge the battery overnight to
take full advantage of the 3-Stage
Charging System for optimum
runtime and battery life.
2.) Do not set the battery in the
charger if the battery is hot. This
will reduce the charging capabilities.
Instead, let the battery sit out of the
charger for at least two hours until
the battery is at room temperature.
Tool Bags (Of Tricks)
We know tool bags are on your holiday wish list.
But what do you tell the person shopping for your
tool bag who may not be well versed in what
features to look for? Here’s a guideline:
15
10
150
EEN
GR
20
90
400
G
IN
Pneumatic Fastener
Safety Tips
ILD
BU
Okay, so you don’t have a lot
of money allocated toward
marketing, and besides, you’d
rather use your extra money for
new tools anyway. Fair enough.
3.) Do not discharge the battery
beyond the point where the tool no
longer performs with the power and
torque needed for the job. This may
result in permanent damage to the
battery and prevent it from taking a
full charge in the future.
5
0
Flexibility – probably the most impor tant
feature. You want the ability to add or subtract
components as required.
Talk to us when you have questions
about types of batteries. There are
different technologies for different
tools, including Lithium Ion and
Sealed Lead Acid. We have the
answers to your questions.
Simplicity – nothing too complicated. You don’t
need hidden compar tments. You want everything
visible and within easy reach, and you don’t want
to be digging around looking for what you need.
Durability – another key feature. You want to
avoid plastic par ts or small components that
might fall off, and you want a tool bag that is
going to last as long as you do.
Portability – more an option than a feature. This
depends on your use requirements. Wheels may
be an impor tant feature for you.
"Give me a stock clerk with a goal, and I’ll give you a man who will make history.
Give me a man with no goals, and I’ll give you a stock clerk."– J.C. Penney