Operation
Powder-actuated tool cartridges work similarly to blank firearm cartridges. In many cases, the charges are firearm cartridges with modified casings. The .22 Short, developed by Smith & Wesson is common. The powder is cordite. These charges may be hand-fed, or manufactured and distributed on a plastic strip. The charges are activated when a firing pin strikes the primer, which is an explosive charge in the base of cartridge. The primer ignites the cordite, which burns rapidly. The gases released by the burning of the propellant build pressure within the cartridge, which acts either on the head of the nail, or on the piston, accelerating the nail towards the muzzle.
Powder actuated tools can be variously classified:
- Direct acting (the charge acts directly on the head of the nail or high velocity), or indirect (using an intermediate piston or low velocity)
- Single-shot, or magazine-fed
- Automatic or manual piston cycling
- Automatic or manual feed of the charges
Color-coding:
Color-coding for the "rounds" or "single shots" (the three shot strengths or colors typically sold to the general public are brown, green and yellow in brass):
In brass casing:
Color-coding Velocity
- Grey 315 ft/s (96 m/s) - Brown 385 ft/s (117 m/s) - Green 490 ft/s (150 m/s) - Yellow 575 ft/s (175 m/s) - Red 675 ft/s (206 m/s) - Purple 755 ft/s (230 m/s)
In nickel (silver) casings:
- Grey 845 ft/s (258 m/s) - Brown 935 ft/s (285 m/s) - Green 1,025 ft/s (312 m/s) - Yellow 1,115 ft/s (340 m/s) - Red 1,205 ft/s (367 m/s) - Purple 1,295 ft/s (395 m/s)
Not all powder-actuated tools are rated for high capacity charges — the strongest charge (nickel - purple @ 1,295 ft/s (395 m/s)), for example, is dangerous in a tool not rated for its use.
Read more about this topic: Powder-actuated Tool
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