Which nailer to use

The below table shows the nail size difference between 16 gauge and 18 gauge nails. In terms of power, finishing nailers are the more powerful of the two kinds of nailers. You could try using a brad nailer, but you risk not having enough to keep the trim secure. If you use a brad nailer in the wrong situation, the trim or molding will eventually fall away from the wall.

If you need power, the finish nailer is hands down the best option of the two. On the other hand, if you are driving nails into thinner trim, then the power of the finish nailer becomes a hindrance. Another important difference and this one will especially be relevant for carpenters is how well each nailer does on corners. A lot of carpenters prefer to use brad nailers on corners because they cause less damage than finish nailers.

Determining when to go for a brad or finish nailer is not an easy thing to do. It will largely be determined by the weight and thickness of whatever it is that you are using the nailer on. On the other hand, if you are dealing with thinner pieces of wood, then you want to use a brad nailer; as a finish nailer could potentially split the wood.

In general, most people will get more use out of a finish nailer than they will a brad nailer. So, if you are debating which one to buy for your tool shed, I would recommend the finish nailer. By using this guide, you should be able to easily determine if you should use a brad nailer or a finish nailer on your next job or home project. If you are still confused, bring a sample of whatever it is that you are trying to nail to your local hardware store and ask an expert for their opinion.

They should be able to point you in the right direction if you are still confused. I will answer some of the most common questions related to brad and finishing nailers. If you have a specific question, feel free to email me.

You can use your gauge brad nailer for installing baseboards. When using a finishing nailer close to the edge of the baseboard, I usually predrill a hole to avoid splitting of the board. I highly recommend you do the same.

Just make sure that the pre-drill size is smaller than the diameter of the nail. You are asking can you use 18 gauge nails in a 16 gauge nailer or a 15 gauge nail gun? The brad nails are gauge nails which have a diameter of 0. I have seen people do this by mistake and caught their error only after noticing that the nail gun was shooting 2 nails per shot.

A finish nailer can also be used for finish carpentry work, and they are designed to be used with specific sized nails. A finish nailer differs from a brad or pin nailer in that it can handle larger and bulkier pieces of wood. These nailers are compatible with to gauge finish nails, which are a little bit bigger than a brad nail.

Staple guns are nothing like any of the other nailers listed above, but can still drive staples a type of fastener into a wide range materials. Staple guns are highly versatile tools, and they can be used for a wide range of applications, including:. While a staple gun cannot replace a power nailer in most projects, it does have its place and is a helpful tool to have in the home.

Having a better understanding of the types of nailers available will make it easier to select the right one for the job. Generally, the name of the nailer gives a good indication of the type of projects the tool can handle.

Thank you very much! Now I know what kind I need due to this very informative article. Glad it helped and congrats on your new home! Have fun and enjoy the process of DIY. But, what types of nails do they drive? Are these collated nails, box nails? What length and diameter, for an 8d, 10d, and 16d? Thanks so much, so informative, been meaning to get 1 to make a headboard, now i know which 1 to get and will use it for other DIY projects.

Thank you for this very information, as I now have positive knowledge of what I should buy for my project. Good article! The thing I was looking for was an explanation of all the different angles that these things work at and why one is better for which particular job.

Satisfied my questions about the different nail guns. Next, the different sizes of nails explained. Gauge, penny, etc. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Framing Nailer Framing nailers are the heaviest duty nailer, and their name is fitting. Hi, and thanks for your email. It's a degree framing nailer that drives plastic strip collated round head nails.

I am trying to repair my carport. What type of nail gun would I use to secure post to post. Hi Phyliss, Repairing a post like this requires a framing nailer. A great option is the Everwin FSN , an affordable tool with a degree-angle magazine.

Best of luck to you! Without knowing more about your project, it's hard to provide a recommendation. Please contact our customer service team for further information. You can email sales nailgundepot. I'm looking to purchasing a nail gun to put up ceiling plank over a popcorn ceiling. What type of nail gun is best suited for this particular project and can you recommend a good nail gun? Gary, It sounds like a 15 gauge finish nailer is going to be your safest bet, without knowing the thickness of the drywall.

Be sure to use wood glue when adhering the planks to your ceiling - in addition to nailing in place. As far as product recommendation, all of the tools we stock are intended for contractor-grade use. You can find our 15 Gauge Finish Nailers Here. I am looking for a air nail gun to do wood siding. I want to use the smallest nail heads efficient enough to do the job.

Do you have any suggestions on the gun and the size of nails to use. Are the nails in a coil? The nails listed below this tool are the smaller head size coil siding nails. Nail length is relative to board thickness. Hello I am shopping for a dewalt battery operated nail gun, I have a few 20V max batteries currently. There are a few options when it comes to how you're attaching the shiplap to your sub-surface.

Some installers prefer to use a lightweight flooring nailer, such as the Powernail 50F , which drives gauge cleat nails. It's also not uncommon for shiplap installers to use either a Gauge finish nail gun or a framing nailer, both of which Dewalt offers cordless models. If using pre-manufactured shiplap, consult the board manufacturer for fastener specific requirements.

I'm fixing up an old house to rent. I'm going to be sistering floor joists possibly replacing a rim band and sistering up studs in the walls and cripple studs under the windows. I'm also going to be putting up window and door trim, crown molding and nailing in hardwood flooring.

Is there any kind of nail gun package that would cover all these types of projects? I realize it may be best to end up just renting the gun for the hardwood flooring.

I also have small air compressor that has a 5 gallon tank and will do 2. The pneumatic tools I see you're considerably cheaper than other options, but I'm not sure I have enough compressor to operate them. Any feedback would be appreciated.

What type of nailer would you recommend? Answer: If you're going through 2x4's into 2x2's, and you don't want big nail heads or to use screws, I'd go with a finishing nailer, and use fairly long nails 3", ga. Question: I want to replace my old fence. So, what type of brad nailer do you recommend?

Answer: I would actually recommend a finishing nailer in this case. A brad nailer is for smaller, upholstery type of work.

Question: I'm getting ready to install quite a bit of exterior wood trim around windows and doors. I don't want a nail with a head; I want an exterior finish nail. What kind of nailer should I get? Answer: I would suggest a finishing nailer, using a 16 gauge nail. Most of these nails don't have much of a head anyway.

The nail shaft is coated with a glue that melts because of the friction as it goes into the work. The glue hardens again, holding the parts firmly, thus minimizing the need for a nail 'head' to hold the front piece.

The resulting small holes on the trim can then be filled with spackling, sanded and painted. Question: I am putting new insulation in the attic. Which nailer should I use for my roof without going through the shingles? Answer: You should first investigate the proper way of insulating your attic space.

This depends on some factors, including the expected winter temperatures in your region. The attic needs air circulation, so the insulation should NOT block the soffit vents, otherwise, in freezing cold weather, frost will form on the insulation and leak into the house when it melts. Question: I'm doing some work with old ceiling tin and wood. What nailer would work best to attach the tin to wood? Answer: Most finishing nails don't have a large enough head to hold metal.

This product is close to what you would need:. Question: I'm making blanket ladders using 2x3's. Would a ramset work for that or should I get a finishing nailer? It calls for 2. Answer: Most blanket ladders I've seen have 3 to 5 rungs. Depending how many ladders you're making, it may be just as easy to use 3 inch wood screws.

Nailers are only a time-saver if you've got or more nails to do. Finishing nails aren't going to hold 2x3's as solidly as either a framing nailer or regular 3" 8 wood screws. It also depends whether you want the screws or nails to be visible or not.

You might also consider using wood plugs over the screw holes, which adds to the rustic look of the blanket ladder as well. Question: Which type of nail gun is good for getting into small places that I need a nail to hold something together?

Answer: Your best bet would be a Brad nailer, since this is the smallest type available. Question: I'm using sawmill rough cut pine and hardwoods to cover the interior walls on 24 on-center studs of my shed. Some boards are a full 1 inch thick and up to 8 feet long. What size nail gun and nails should I use?

Question: I want to use a power tool to set nails in boards for string art. The nails need to be set above the wood, and the nails should have a head on them.

What power tool would be best for placing nails into boards for string art? Answer: You can try using a scrap piece of wood the thickness of nail protrusion you need. Then drill a hole in this scrap piece, twice the diameter of the nail head you intend to use, placing the foot of the roofing nailer over the hole, and fire the nail. You'll have to reduce the pressure to the nailer quite a bit, so the nail doesn't go any further than the face of the scrap piece.

You'll have to experiment some, of course. Making sure the nails fully penetrate the backing board, but no more than necessary. Answer: Apart from the question being too vague, it depends on the type of materials and density. For thin plywood, 18 gauge would suffice. For heavier plywoods or hardwoods, 16 gauge would do the job. You need to adjust the nailer air pressure for different densities so that the nail head ends up just below the surface.

A nail every 6 inches is usually enough to hold a panel, as long as the nail is long enough to fully penetrate into a solid surface underneath, like a wall stud 2x4.

Answer: This depends on the type of studs or sub-surface you're attaching the planks to. Answer: You haven't mentioned what the sheets are being attached to. I'm assuming floor joists. In this case, you can use the product I mentioned in a previous answer above see the homedepot link.

Which nail gun would work best for both types of boards? Answer: A finishing nailer will work for all these types of boards, although the baseboard and trim may need longer nails, depending on the thickness. By the way, true 'shiplap' boards have a rabbet joint on each edge, so they overlap.