Welcome

Welcome to the Ramset Powder Actuated Tool online training. This innovative approach to education combines interactive web-based training techniques and online testing with immediate feedback to provide you a rich learning environment

The course consists of approximately 30 pages of usage, safety and troubleshooting material. At the end of the course students are also given the ability to download individual Tool Manuals.

Upon completion of this brief course you will have the opportunity to take an online exam. Instructions for taking these exams are provided at the end of the course.

Manuals To enhance your learning experience, this course provides peripheral learning options. They are as follows:

Learning Bytes - click these buttons to launch a separate pop-up window which will provide additional information about the topic on that page.

Show Me - click these buttons to play animations which display content graphically. See the Learning Byte on this page for more information about animations.

To move throughout the course, use the following navigation options:

Next and Back buttons will move you one page forward and backward respectively in the course.

Table of Contents button will launch a tree view of the coure. Click a "plus" sign to expand a section and select a page to go there.

Glossary button will launch a glossary of terms used in the course.

Home button will take you back to the home page.

Note - It is highly recommended that you go through the course at least once from beginning to end – covering each page. The navigate menu option is useful for students that want to review previously covered material and then re-establish their position without using the forward button repeatedly.

You have completed the orientation information and are now ready to being the course. Good Luck!

If you experience any problems when taking this course, please reach out to Ramset technical support at:

Phone: (877) 489-2726

Email: CS@itwbrands.com

Safety practices are very important when using the Ramset Powder Actuated tools.

Always wear approved eye and hearing protection.

Failure to wear eye protection such as safety glasses may result in serious eye injury from flying debris.

Constant or repeated unprotected exposure to fastening noise may cause permanent hearing loss.

To be sure the tool is operating properly before attempting to use it, always perform a function test with an empty, unloaded tool. Click on the Show Me button for steps on how to perform a function test.

Serious injury could result from being struck by either a fastener or the tool piston should the tool be accidentally fired. Therefore, you should never place hands or body over muzzle bushing opening.

Safety considerations are not only important for yourself, but for the others working around you. Always post warning signs within 50' of the area where fastening is to be done. Failure to warn others of tool use may result in serious injury to them.

To prevent use of a powder actuated tool by unlicensed individual, always store the tool unloaded and keep the tool and the loads in a secure tool box.

Always read tool manuals before operating any tool. Tool manuals are an excellent reference for tool use, safety and maintenance. They contain the information you need to operate the tool safely and effectively.

Operator's Manuals will be available for download in Adobe PDF format upon completion of this course.

With all safety precautions reviewed and followed, you are now ready to use the tool. Click on the buttons below to begin learning how.

Loading single shot tool

To avoid injury, never load a fastener with your finger on the trigger. Even without the power load in the chamber, this safety practice is a wise one to acquire and will insure you keep your hands and fingers safe at all times while the tool is in use.

Always hold tool perpendicular to and firmly against the work surface.

Failure to hold the tool perpendicular or allowing the tool to recoil, could allow a fastener to ricochet, make a poor quality fastening and cause excessive wear to the tool. To get the best fastening, hold the tool with both hands.

The following animation demonstrates the proper placement of the tool against your work surface.

Always make a test fastening using the lowest power level recommended for the particular tool. The chart on this page represents the Powder Load Identification by both color and number. Later in this course you will be asked to perform an exercise demonstrating that you can identify these loads by color and number.

It is also important that the test fastening is made after being sure that the base material is suitable for powder-actuated fastening. To do this, perform a Center Punch Test.

The Center Punch Test is a manual test to check the base material before fastening. Failure to assure the suitability of the base material can result in serious injury to operator or bystanders.

Using a fastener as a center punch, perform the Center Punch Test by striking the fastener against the work surface using an average hammer blow. Check the results:

If the fastener point is flattened, the material is too hard.
If the fastener penetrates the material easily, the material is too soft.
If the material cracks or shatters, the material is too brittle.
If the fastener makes a small indentation into the material, the material is suitable.

Always use the spall guard whenever possible to minimize flying particles or debris. Remember to hold the tool perpendicular to the work surface before making the fastening.

When raising a loaded pole tool, be careful not to bump the tool on the end. An accidental discharge may occur and cause serious injury.

Powder loads should be stored in a secured, cool dry place. Failure to do so could result in deterioration of powder load levels due to excessive heat or dampness. Tools and loads left out could also result in their use by unauthorized persons.

Always extend the tool fully to reset the piston. Failure to fully reset the piston may cause a reduction or loss of power when attempting the next fastening. The most common cause of this condition is a dirty tool. To maintain your tool in good working condition, routine cleaning should be done on a daily basis.

To maintain your tool in good working condition, routine cleaning should be done on a daily basis. While tool models will vary, the following animation provides an overview of cleaning and maintenance techniques.

IMPORTANT!

Please remove powder load from tool prior to maintenance and cleaning.

Standard powder loads contain lead. Cleaning powder actuated tools may generate lead dust. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn when servicing tools.

A malfunctioning tool can be dangerous to the user or bystanders and should be immediately removed from service. In the event that you encounter a malfunctioning tool, remember:

Never disassemble a jammed, stuck or broken tool that contains a live power load. This may cause the tool to fire unintentionally.
Always point a jammed tool away from yourself and others.

It is extremely important that you be familiar with all sections of the Operator's Manual for each tool. Valuable information, including Tool Safety, Performance, Maintenance, Troubleshooting and Fastener Selection guides, can be found in the manuals.

Operator’s Manuals in Adobe PDF formats will be available to be downloaded via each tool’s product page. The links to the products will be provided upon completion of the course.

Never attempt to fasten into very hard or brittle materials such as cast iron, tile, glass, or rock of any type. These materials can shatter, causing the fastener and/or base material fragments to fly free and cause serious injury.

Fastening into soft base materials, such as drywall or lumber products can also cause problems. These materials allow the fastener to travel completely through and out the other side, endangering those in the path of the fastener.

When fastening into steel, always use a fastener with a shank diameter that is thinner than the steel. Typical steel thickness range is from 3/16" to 3/8". Improper base material (steel which is too thin or concrete which is not thick enough) could cause the fastener to travel completely through and out the other side, endangering those in the path of the fastener.

To achieve optimum holding power, it is recommended that fastener penetration be approximately:

1" for average concrete (3000 to 4500 psi) or hard concrete (4500 to 6000 psi)

1-1/2" in soft concrete (2000 to 3000 psi).

Minimum Shank Length = Thickness of Material (M) + Required Penetration (P)*

*approximately 1”

When fastening into concrete,always maintain a minimum spacing of at least 3" between fastening and 3" from any free edge. The primary exception can occur in a sill plate application where, by necessity, the edge distance is reduced.

When fastening into steel,always maintain a minimum spacing of at least 1½ " between fastenings and ½ " from any edge.

Note: A pre-drilled hole in the steel is considered to be an edge.

After being sure that the base material is suitable for powder actuated fastening (Center Punch Test), always make a test fastening. Begin with the lowest powder load level for that particular tool. If it does not fully set the fastener, try the next higher power level load until the proper level is found.

Failure to properly test fire to determine correct power level may result in overpowering the fastener, causing the fastener to fly free and possibly injuring someone. Premature tool wear can also result from this condition.

Many safety procedures have been identified and reinforced in this course. Be sure to follow all safety procedures when using any Ramset Powder Actuated tool. Safe use of Ramset Powder Actuated Tools is the responsibility of the operator.

Load power level is determined by color or number. In this exercise, you will be tested to determine your ability to distinguish color. If you are color deficient, you MUST be able to distinguish load power level by number.

Fill in correct letter for each color.

POWER LOAD IDENTIFICATION

Color

Letter

Gray

Brown

Green

Yellow

Red

Purple

Individual Tool Manuals are available online for your reference.

Click the button to launch the Ramset website where each tool will be displayed. Please click on your desired tool to download the corresponding Adobe PDF Tool Safety and Operating instruction Manual.

Please visit the following pages in order to move onto the exam