Finish Nailer 15g vs 16g

[FourOneTwo]

Looking for a new Finish Nailer mostly for interior trim work (crown, base, casings, etc.), but also for some woodworking I'm getting in to. I'm simply a DIY cat and outside of specific projects that call for its use this isn't necessarily a tool that I'd reach for every weekend. That said I have been doing lots of woodworking lately (benches, tables, etc.) and have some molding projects coming up.

My ? is should I look for a 15g or a 16g finish nailer? I understand that eventually it'd be useful to have a variety of nailers/pinners (15g, 18g, 23g) but if you were to go with (1) to start for the above mentioned projects what would it be and why? Thanks!

 

[Toolfool]

I'm a finish carpenter, so my viewpoint might be a little different, but the gun I use most often is the 18 gauge brad nailer. It handles brads up to 2" long and makes smaller holes than 15 gauge nails (the painters love that). I've probably gone through a dozen or more brad nailers over the years, expensive ones and cheap ones. For a DIY'er I'd recommend the Ridgid R213BNE.

 

[djjsr]

I agree with Toolfool. My 18 ga nailer gets the most work. I also like a pin nailer for small things.

 

[FourOneTwo]

I'm a finish carpenter, so my viewpoint might be a little different, but the gun I use most often is the 18 gauge brad nailer. It handles brads up to 2" long and makes smaller holes than 15 gauge nails (the painters love that). I've probably gone through a dozen or more brad nailers over the years, expensive ones and cheap ones. For a DIY'er I'd recommend the Ridgid R213BNE.

Awesome, thanks. Do 18g brads have enough holding power for crown?

 

[1990 Grand Wag]

Looking for a new Finish Nailer mostly for interior trim work (crown, base, casings, etc.), but also for some woodworking I'm getting in to. I'm simply a DIY cat and outside of specific projects that call for its use this isn't necessarily a tool that I'd reach for every weekend. That said I have been doing lots of woodworking lately (benches, tables, etc.) and have some molding projects coming up.

My ? is should I look for a 15g or a 16g finish nailer? I understand that eventually it'd be useful to have a variety of nailers/pinners (15g, 18g, 23g) but if you were to go with (1) to start for the above mentioned projects what would it be and why? Thanks!

You should have both in your arsenal. A 15 will save your *** when installing crown molding, a 16 will suffice for almost everything else that requires more holding power than a brad can provide. Brad nailers have their place, but in no way do they replace finish nailers.

 

[KenC]

I've been using nailers for a while. And, have accumulated a collection: senco 2" and 2 1/2" nailers, 1/4: crown stapler, 7/16 crown stapler, Porter cable 1/4 stapler, brad nailers in two lengths, and Harbor freight 1/4 stapler and pinner.

The harbor freight models are fairly recent purchases and I'm impressed with them. They work great, especially for the price..

If I where starting out knowing what I know now: I'd go to harbor freight and buy one of each of their finish guns. the total cost would be less than on Senco finish gun. If one failed due to heavy use, that one would get replaced with a senco or other premium brand. Only pay big money for the one that you use most.

 

[KnurledNut]

My go to is 16ga.
18ga. for a little more precision.

 

[UpNorther]

I have a few.
16 ga is my most common used.