The Stiffy Tool has been around for a while, and we have just added it to our site. Let me share a few things that we really like about the Stiffy Tool and why you may want to consider it for your next powder actuated tool for overhead work.
When I say the Stiffy Tool (sorry that is its real name) has been around for some time, I am not kidding. The tool itself goes back decades. First it was red in it’s Steelcon version, then Ramset grabbed it and turned it orange. CEAS attachments has this old standby in gray. It is a time proven time-tested design that is quiet, lightweight and super easy to service in the field. So here is what we like about the Stiffy Tool.
First and foremost, the tool is time tested and reliable. The fact that it is lightweight, quiet, and easy to service when need are all real plusses. To see what I think are a couple of the big advantages of the Stiffy Tool, you have to look a little deeper. First, it is a bump fire tool. That means there is no trigger, you simply deliberately raise the tool up to the work surface and push up and the tool fires. It is a true bump fire tool as there is no trigger slide like on the Ramset Viper 4 or a lever like some other tools that can be adapted to a pole tool. That means you can mount the tool to a telescopic pole tool. The telescopic pole tool means you can collapse the tool to 4’ and fit it in your gang box. When needed, you can extend the pole tool up to 12’. Or you can get a 6’-18’ telescopic pole if you have taller ceilings.
We recommend the Lagmaster Plus pole tool that has interchangeable heads. So, while you would have a telescopic pole for your Stiffy Tool, you could change the head and now you can install eye lags into wood or steel, install and tie bar joist and purlin clips as well as Sammy Screws from the floor. The combination of the Stiffy Tool and the Lagmaster Plus will allow you to handle most any type of ceiling you are suspending grid wire. Of note as well is the manual load advance which will cut down on you skipped load count.
Shooting wood with the Stiffy Tool. By switching to the wood nose piece (sold separately) you can suspend from wood structure with the tool. The special timber clip and pin is ring shanked and is designed
specifically for this application.
Cons for the tool. I would be hard pressed to offer any complaints on the Stiffy. Yes, it is only an overhead tool, but that is what makes it so good at what it does. The piston is a gravity return so you will need to clean the tool a little more often, but it is easy to do. The load advance is manual which some see to not like but truly it lowers your skipped load count and really is a simple thing.
You can find the Stiffy Tool along with the Lagmaster Plus pole, clips, pins, loads and parts online at ConstrucgtionFastening.Net