You’ll need to provide more info on what you are going to be using the nailer for. Are you going to be doing casings around windows and doors, hanging doors, baseboard, crown or small finish work? I’ll give you a quick answer but you should also post a question of What is the best choice for a nail gun. I will be doing _______, ______, _____. And what you want to pay. Post this or a similar question in the “breaktime” forum which is in the middle of the screen at the top. Knots is the woodworking forum, breaktime is carpentry, general contractors and building in general, thats were all the house builders hang out. Just click on that link and all the other stuff is the same as this board, your name, etc all carry over.
The 18 gauge nailers are brad nailers. Brads really don’t have very much holding strength. You use brads for small trim like base caps and the like. You have a much smaller hole and less chance of spliting the wood but it will only hold small trim that doesn’t need the holding strength.
The nailer you should get for doing casing, crown, doors, baseboard, etc is the 15 gauge angle finish nailer. The nail is bigger and will hold the doors, casing, base, etc very well. The angle is nicer than the straight 16 g nailer. The angle helps get into area’s sometimes. The best of these is the Senco 41xp. The hitachi NT65 is right up there and some like the stanley (I think they take a slightly different type of nail then most). The best prices and selection will be amazon.com.
It sounds like your somewhat new to carpentry. For a good intro book, either check it out from a library or you can buy it for $20?, try “finish carpentry” by Gary Katz http://www.jlconline.com/cgi-bin/jlconline.storefront/423cd2f8002a39e327177f000001059c/Export/products/FC121 he talks about all the tools, nailers, saws, routers, etc and will go through all types of finish carpentry, techniques, etc. Also, check out his website. http://www.garymkatz.com/About-T1.htm
Replies
I've been toying with the idea of buying an air nail gun, but given the cost, am thinking that I'm being dumb to spend the $$$ there. I've plenty of decent hammers which will do the trick.
Any major advantages of the air over a hammer other than ease and speed?
nailers make everything faster, easier and cleaner. The speed is unquestionable, especially if you nailing sheathing or building walls, etc. Using a nailer will at a minimum cut the time in half. Also for finish work, the nailer is much faster and always sets the nail perfectly, so no more marred wood. You need a hammer but I would never build without a nail gun. I have a brad, finish, framer and siding nailer and can borrow a roofer when I need it and I'll never do anything without having my nailer accessable.
Yes, there are big advantages of having an air nail gun just like the message posted earlier says. Nail guns and compressor combos are cheaper than ever now a days. I picked up a compressor, Cambell H Double Tank, with a 2.5 in finish nailer for less than $170, not bad. It's not that you don't need it, its when you might need it!
Edited 4/4/2005 2:46 pm ET by Jay1
the big question is what you need it for. are you talking framing or finishing? for framing i suggest the paslode impulse. thats the airless one. there expensive but the convenience is amazing. if your framing houses then air is probably better but i do renos and its nice to not have to drag the compressor up for small jobs. also the cost of a good compressor and a good gun is close the the impulse. i also build climbing walls and airlines are a nightmare. we only use cordless on these now.Tmaxxx
Urban Workshop Ltd
Vancouver B.C.
cheers. Ill buy.
air nailing is a one handed operation ,hand nailing is a three handed operation .
using power nailers is like driving a car to get someplace rather than walking on bare feet.
I recently did a renovation for a couple who supplied all material including nails . I at first refused to do the job because they wanted me to use their nails , i told thm i either power nailed or get someone else .
The thing was i hadent hand driven nails in years aand i was working alone . in the end they agreed especially after i told them i would give them a whole whack of my old redundent hand driven nails
Another thing to consider is the size of the hole left by the finish gun; it's alot smaller than the hand nail. And often has less damage from a nailset sliding off! While I like the hoseless guns, I sense your a novice and so would recommend you go with a compressor. Once you do, a whole world of tools appear as you need them;air sockets,air chisel,paint sprayer,etc. Stick with a name brand and get as much C.F.M. (cubic feet per minute ) as you will ever need (and then some!) and you will find yourself LOOKING for things to fix!
One of the things I like about a nailgun is you don't shake whatever your nailing the way you do when you use a hammer. It's instantaneous and accurate. Things can move when you hand nail.