I bought a new Ridgid plam nailer, because a few places I need to add braces
between studs there is no elbow room, there is no room and the block wall is
to my left, and I am right handed, with copper pipes and rigid elecrtrical
conduits in the way, so no way to use a hammer. Also needed to use those
Simpson ties on some roof and ceiling pieces.

I opened the box and tried six nails (8d) and each one I tried I bent the
nail. I was not even pushing real hard.

Any special tricks?