[F]I am adding a chair rail in my dinning room, my question regards nailing into the studs, living in Florida the studs are metal (I think steel or aluminum). The nail gun does not have the power to penetrate this kind of stud. Should I just nail into the dry wall or should I use a product such as Liquid Nails? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Jim D.

[F]I am adding a chair rail in my dinning room, my question regards nailing into the studs, living in Florida the studs are metal (I think steel or aluminum). The nail gun does not have the power to penetrate this kind of stud. Should I just nail into the dry wall or should I use a product such as Liquid Nails? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Jim D.
A nail gun should penetrate those easily. Make sure you use a finish gun and not a brad nailer.

You should be using 2 to 2 1/2 nails, if you use a nail gun make sure the pressure is set to 90psi or 100psi, I don't know of a gun that want nail through these thin metal studs. Instead what I have found is that the nails just don't hold well.

What you can do is one of too things, first you can use power grab or a liquid nails on the back and still use the nails to hold it in place till it sets up. Or you can use finish scews, these will hold into the metal studs, you can get them at Lowe's or home depot,
The difference in this screw than a regular screw is the head, it's a small round head that you'll need to use a square bit to drive them in,

If its paint grade you can use wood screws . If not I would glue it and scissor nail it with brads