Deck builders- the joist jaw - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Dustball · 04-09-2008, 04:44 PM

I saw this in one of the trade magazines I get and I thought it would be handy for the one-man operations.

The Grabber Joist Jaw

Video- http://www.grabberman.com/Media/TechnicalData/403.wmv

mickeyco · 04-09-2008, 04:54 PM

Simple but brilliant.

RobertCDF · 04-09-2008, 06:27 PM

$50 for a pair.... I think they are worth it. If they were $25 a pair I would have 2-3 pairs.

TempestV · 04-09-2008, 06:53 PM

I'm guessing that you would end up finding a lot more places where that comes in handy than just setting joists.

neolitic · 04-09-2008, 07:05 PM

I've been doing that with a couple of
QuikClamps and two wood scraps.

Greg Di · 04-09-2008, 07:38 PM

They kick butt.

I have a set, but only use them when I need them (ie working alone) or if we are doing a flush girder job.

At $50, they are under priced. They are probably worth $150 in labor, time and accuracy savings.

If they sold a device that carried wet 2x10's I'd buy that for $1000 tonight.

neolitic · 04-09-2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Di

If they sold a device that carried wet 2x10's I'd buy that for $1000 tonight.

Amen!

buildenterprise · 04-09-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

If they sold a device that carried wet 2x10's I'd buy that for $1000 tonight.

One of my local lumberyards recently switched over to EcoLife treated wood. It's not soaked like ACQ wood, and it's very light in color. I think I will use it from now on, sure beats those 75 pound 2 x 10 x 16s. Can be used in direct contact with aluminum as well. Not rated for ground contact though.

http://www.treatedwood.com/products/ecolife/

azgardener · 04-09-2008, 08:49 PM

I have to preface this by saying I was a journeyman carpenter from 86-92. I specialized in subfloors and roofs untill a wall was dropped on me and my leg was broken. After that I elected to stay on the ground and look for a safer occupation. Since then I have been in the green industry.

I would have been laughed off a job had I used such a device. If you don't have enough sense to put your hangers on before you set your ledger board you have no business in the business. I can probably come up for a simpler, faster solution for any other use they have for that thing.

I guess times have changed or maybe there are no old timers participating. No disrespect for those of you who want to use one just not for me, not back then or this summer when I get started on my new home. Just my .02

RobertCDF · 04-09-2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azgardener

I have to preface this by saying I was a journeyman carpenter from 86-92. I specialized in subfloors and roofs untill a wall was dropped on me and my leg was broken. After that I elected to stay on the ground and look for a safer occupation. Since then I have been in the green industry.

I would have been laughed off a job had I used such a device. If you don't have enough sense to put your hangers on before you set your ledger board you have no business in the business. I can probably come up for a simpler, faster solution for any other use they have for that thing.

I guess times have changed or maybe there are no old timers participating. No disrespect for those of you who want to use one just not for me, not back then or this summer when I get started on my new home. Just my .02

Then you must have been in the business before lumber varies 1/2" from board to board. Seriously a 2x8 PT now can be anywhere from 7" - 7 1/2" in width. If you want to tear all the hangers off to reset to lower the joist then go ahead.

RobertCDF · 04-09-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Di

They kick butt.

If they sold a device that carried wet 2x10's I'd buy that for $1000 tonight.

They do... But we ethical contractors dont use them... Summer is coming... I had a 16 year old last summer for $8 an hour that would dig holes and move lumber. Was he as fast as me and a carpenter?? NO but at that price who the hell cares. As long as I dont have to carry wood.

JumboJack · 04-09-2008, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azgardener

I would have been laughed off a job had I used such a device. If you don't have enough sense to put your hangers on before you set your ledger board you have no business in the business.

That is a rediculous statement.Ever hear the saying "Work smarter,not harder"?I am sure every framer/carpenter here knows how to put a joist hanger on first.And it is a pain in the butt.
Did you say the same think when nailguns first hit the market?
"If a carpenter can't hack swinging a hammer all day he has no business in the business!"

azgardener · 04-09-2008, 11:24 PM

Hey if joists now vary 1/2" I would put a sinker in the end of the top of the joist about 1"-1 1/2" deep then bend it over to hang on the ledger temporairly. Then toe nail the joists in place with that newfangled nail gun

then deal with the hangers. I used to have to do that when the general didn't have the hangers on site in time. I wouldn't spend 20-30 seconds per end per joist to attach and remove a temporary hanger.

Do they now have tico's that you can shoot with a nail gun? I saw on the video they were nailing the hangers with a gun which was not possible in my day.

I always worked smarter but that just looks slow to me. Looks like something a weekender would buy.

mike backman · 04-09-2008, 11:35 PM

50 bucks is pretty steep

neolitic · 04-10-2008, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azgardener

I have to preface this by saying I was a journeyman carpenter from 86-92.

I have to say, I got my Journeyman's card in 1972.
I have been clamping a block to one end of a joist
to hold it on a ledger or rimmer since before
you started to work.
On high decks I'll clamp a block to both ends,
since that will allow it to hang unassisted while I
position it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by azgardener

I guess times have changed or maybe there are no old timers participating. No disrespect for those of you who want to use one just not for me, not back then or this summer when I get started on my new home. Just my .02

No disrespect to those of you who don't
give a damn about how the work turns out,
but I've never seen a floor or deck that
didn't have humps when the hacks set
the hangers first (for their own convenience)
and ignored the variance in joist height.

Chris G · 04-10-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobertCDF

They do... But we ethical contractors dont use them... Summer is coming... I had a 16 year old last summer for $8 an hour that would dig holes and move lumber. Was he as fast as me and a carpenter?? NO but at that price who the hell cares. As long as I dont have to carry wood.

john5mt · 04-10-2008, 11:23 PM

they seem kind of useless to me. I usually just tack a chunk of wood to the top of the joist hanging out further than the end and once it is all together just peel off the chunk of wood.

Although... getting one of those $8hr tools sounds pretty nice.

jproffer · 04-11-2008, 08:14 AM

Quote:

I wouldn't spend 20-30 seconds per end per joist to attach and remove a temporary hanger.

But you would spend at least that putting in a sinker, bending it over the edge, lining it up, then pulling it out when your done???

Not to mention, you now have one bent, worthless sinker less than you had before.

Looks like a useful product, in certain circumstances.

Also looks fairly easy to make your own if you're at all handy with a welder and a torch...but of course those gentlemen (or ladies) have the patent so...ahem...

**BuiltByMAC** · 04-11-2008, 08:30 AM

Guess I haven't had a job yet where I've seen the need - I'll start two screws at a toenail angle on the joist sides, lift the joist up, set the outer end on the support beam, and run the screws home while holding the joist flush with the ledger top. I set all my joists w/ 3 screws each so I can walk on the structure.

Then, hardware day comes and I pull out all the air tools (compressor, hoses, filter, PP and framing guns - install all my joist hangers, H1s, any straps I need - drop the PP gun, set up the Hitachi and run 3" galvis in the framing.

It would only take once with those joist jaws where I didn't clamp that sucker down tight enough and the joist slipped out of position to darken my day! They oughta put a spike in the center of the clamp to minimize slippage.

Mac

mickeyco · 04-11-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuiltByMAC

They oughta put a spike in the center of the clamp to minimize slippage.

Mac

I have got to assume, and did, that the clamping area has something more than just a smooth surface, if it didn't I'd share your concerns. I didn't see any good pictures on their website (nothing about it in the description).

.