Fixing flooring to steel joists

[namtrak]

Does anyone have any experience using a nailgun to fix a timber floor to steel (duragal) joists? I've got some of studleys 80mm hardwood flooring which I was going to use the secret nail profile to fix to timber battens fixed to the sides of the steel joists. However I have heard of nail guns which will fix timber to steel. The issues though are:

What sort of nail won't pull straight back out of the steel?

And what sort of nail can be used at around a 45 degree angle (secret nailing) and not 'bounce' off the top of the steel joist?

[Tommy]

There isnt any nails that will attach at 45 degress.The nails that are used are hardened screw shank nails that are intended for sheet fooring and are around $200 a box .Even these nails aren't perfect.The odd nail here and there will nail home too hard and will not want to live where it is supposed to..

[namtrak]

darn, thanks.

So they work vertically, but at 45 degrees is too much of an ask?

Cheers

[joe greiner]

I don't think even RamSet (explosive cartridge) would go 45 degrees.

Why do you need 45 degrees to fix the battens? Don't you only need that for flooring to battens? Or do I not understand your terminology?

Joe

[namtrak]

The boards are being secret nailed so thats goes in at an angle?

[joe greiner]

Ahhhh! Finally figured it out. You prefer to not use battens, right? In that case, I think the answer is "No" to nailing. In fact, I doubt self-drilling screws would work at 45 degrees either.

Joe