Nice breakdown, pretty much matches my experience. Upgrading tools always feels great, but yeah...sometimes it's smarter to wait until your current gear really starts giving you trouble or there's a sweet deal. Good call.
I held off upgrading to a nail gun for ages, thinking my trusty hammer was good enough. Then one weekend, building a deck turned into a wrist-killing marathon...finally caved and bought the nail gun. Worth it, but yeah, timing matters.
"finally caved and bought the nail gun. Worth it, but yeah, timing matters."
Totally get that—deck projects can really sneak up on you! If anyone's still on the fence, consider this: for smaller tasks or quick fixes, a hammer's fine (and eco-friendly since no power needed). But if you're tackling bigger builds regularly, a nail gun saves your wrists and sanity. Just remember to choose low-VOC lubricants and maintain it properly—keeps things greener and extends tool life.
I was skeptical about nail guns too at first...seemed like overkill for my DIY shelf project. But after bending like the 20th nail with a hammer, I borrowed a friend's gun. Gotta admit, saved me some serious frustration and probably a few curse words.
Totally get that shift in perspective...I used to think nail guns were just for contractors building houses or something. But once you experience the ease and clean finish, it's tough going back to the hammer. Glad your shelves turned out frustration-free!
