Finish nailers
- Thread starter Pack Rat
- Start date
astroracer
Well-known member
I have a couple, both are straight and I have never ran into a situation where they didn't work for me...
Mark
Mark
rlitman
Well-known member
Straight uses T headed nails. That's probably what you want for these jobs. Angled has a bigger head that's stronger, but leaves an ugly impression on trim work.
gsmith22
Well-known member
Choose the nail size you want to use first and that will dictate which nailer you end up using. Generally, the following is true:
15ga finish nails use a nailer with an angled magazine and come in either DA or FN (Bostitch only?) versions. DA have a round head, FN have a "t" head
16ga and 18ga finish nails use nailers with a straight magazines
I would use 15ga for exterior trim and/or large interior trim,
and a mixture of 16ga and 18ga for interior door or baseboard trim. For what you are describing, I would probably use either a 16 or 18ga nail. May want to go look at some nails first.
15ga finish nails use a nailer with an angled magazine and come in either DA or FN (Bostitch only?) versions. DA have a round head, FN have a "t" head
16ga and 18ga finish nails use nailers with a straight magazines
I would use 15ga for exterior trim and/or large interior trim,
and a mixture of 16ga and 18ga for interior door or baseboard trim. For what you are describing, I would probably use either a 16 or 18ga nail. May want to go look at some nails first.
in most cases an 18 g nailer is fine, unless you're doing heavy trim. I use 15g for door jambs , heavy casing & base. angled 15g are nice but not necessary . I have 15g angled & straight but honestly, they don't get used 1% of what my 18g do
Empty Pockets
Well-known member
I have both, the one I use for a particular job is determined by the size/type of nail required, as someone else said
The T&G planking I'm installing is 3/4 inch thick. The trim will also be 3/4 inch thick.
This for a rustic interior of a room I'm remodeling for a craft and hobby room.
I'm using cedar car siding and installing it vertically. I'll need nails that can be used with cedar.
This for a rustic interior of a room I'm remodeling for a craft and hobby room.
I'm using cedar car siding and installing it vertically. I'll need nails that can be used with cedar.
I am thinking 15ga for what you are doing. 16ga would be good too, but 18 is probably a little light for your uses. And for a small driver impression foot print in any size look at the Bostitch Smart Point line. Which is available in both DA or FN type for 15ga. Or if you go a different size I would still look at the Smart Point line. The features are really good.
Seth
Thanks Seth, that's the information I was looking for. I've been looking at the smart point nailers.
I agree with looking at the nails first. I thought about pre-drilling and hand nailing, and using a nail set.
But as careful as I am I always leave a few hammer marks somewhere.
I agree with looking at the nails first. I thought about pre-drilling and hand nailing, and using a nail set.
But as careful as I am I always leave a few hammer marks somewhere.
tom-ky
Well-known member
We are doing the same thing but just not cedar. Friend did the same as us a few years back and use a 15 gauge nailer and it has held up.
We got this one:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Bostitch-Smart-Point-2-5-in-15-Gauge-Finish-Nailer/50413020
RickP
Well-known member
15g nails would be the right size for pine, but I might go with 16g for cedar. I have an angled 15g Porter Cable gun, and it would be overkill for your job. Interior trim will be okay with uncoated nails - don't use galvanized because they turn the cedar black.
Todd.Brock
Well-known member
I had a HF 18 ga brad nailer. The piston left a big divot in the surface. I used it for years and filled it/painted. Finally tired of compressors, I bought a new 16ga angled Paslode nailer from EBay. I have never looked back. It has a no mar tip. The hole is smaller than the 18 ga nailer and there is no divot. Make sure whatever you get has replaceable no mar tips.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Mr Ratchet
Well-known member
I'd go with an angled one that shoots 15 or 16 gauge nails. I like Senco the best but, there are some other brands that I like a lot and are well made. Bostitch, Hitachi, Maxx, and Paslode all make great nailers in this category. I like the angle magazine that helps get into tight sports. My brother has a straight 16 ga trim nailer and he's borrowed mine a few times because he could not get his into some spots on past projects.
I've nailed all kinds of cedar with this gun. Last was T&G cedar planks on the ceiling of my pool houses sitting area. Most of them shoot up a 2 1/2" nail making them good for some medium duty projects.
The thinner nails are better suited for lighter projects.
I've nailed all kinds of cedar with this gun. Last was T&G cedar planks on the ceiling of my pool houses sitting area. Most of them shoot up a 2 1/2" nail making them good for some medium duty projects.
The thinner nails are better suited for lighter projects.
trainer
Well-known member
I've installed a couple thousand feet of white pine t&g wall and ceiling panelling and red pine t&g flooring with an 18ga. Prime straight brad nailer. Most of it blind nailed with 2 or 2-1/2 inch brads. No issues and everything is still in place, some of it 15+ years later.
Aah, yup I overlooked the T & G part. Duh. You might end up needing to go 18ga if nailing at an angle through the tongue. Larger might split it especially on cedar. And the narrow nose on the smart point would be especially good for this.
Just get a 15 and an 18 you will be all set
Seth
Just get a 15 and an 18 you will be all set
Seth