Owner Response: Hi Dennis- Thanks for your thoughtful feedback. I'm glad the joist hangers are working out perfectly for you. To address the nails issue, there are a few things at work here. The 2-1/2' nail is the one officially recommended by Simpson for installation. However, as you mention, there are some circumstances where an 1-1/2' nail is appropriate. The shorter nail can be used when going directly into dimensional lumber rather than into sheathing. Know that you can always reach out to us when there are special circumstances and/or request mixed nails at the time of your order. We are happy to accommodate and are also available to chat with you about a job to make sure you get the right fasteners for the project at hand. Thanks again for your experience and we will make sure to indicate above that mixed nails are available by request.