Totally get where you're coming from with the hammer preference, especially on reclaimed wood. I'm pretty new to this whole custom home thing, and at first, I was all about the nail gun—figured faster meant better. But after splitting a few beautiful antique boards (painful lesson learned), I started doubting my trusty compressor setup. Tried your method of gently tapping nails in by hand, and honestly...it made a noticeable difference. Still skeptical if it's always worth the extra time, but for delicate or irreplaceable pieces, I'm starting to see the wisdom in slowing down and feeling things out manually. Maybe it's not just habit—maybe there's something genuinely intuitive about using a hammer that no compressor setting can replicate. Either way, thanks for sharing your perspective; it nudged me to reconsider my approach.
Totally relate to your experience with reclaimed wood—been there myself. I used to swear by nail guns too, mostly because I was impatient and figured quicker meant smarter. But after ruining a gorgeous old barn board (still hurts thinking about it), I realized there's something almost meditative about hammering nails by hand. Sure, it's slower, but it gives you control and connection to the material that no power tool can match. Glad you're finding value in slowing down...sometimes craftsmanship really is about patience and intuition rather than speed.
Interesting perspective, but do you find hand-hammering practical for larger projects or tight deadlines? I totally get the appeal of slowing down and connecting with the material, especially with reclaimed wood—it's beautiful stuff and deserves respect. But realistically, when you're juggling multiple projects or working on-site, isn't the nail gun just more efficient overall? I've found a decent compromise by adjusting the pressure settings and using smaller gauge nails to avoid splitting delicate boards. Have you tried tweaking your nail gun setup or technique to get a bit more finesse without sacrificing speed? Curious if anyone else has found a good middle ground here...
