Could use some advice re buying a nail gun.
Expect I will get an 18 gauge although am open to any suggestions/recommendations re 16 gauge. Would like to be able to use up to at least a 2″ brad. Use will be at “hobbiest” level not a production or heavy volume situation.
Mostly interested in others experience with reliability,durability and ease of use.
Many thanks in advance.
Replies
This Bostitch 15 ga. is the finest finish nailer in the whole wide world and takes a nice range of lengths. I can't recall a misfire in several years and its extreme light weight belies the fact it carries a serious punch, not to mention it seems to enjoy being regularly bounced on a concrete slab.
I bought mine for nailing exterior house trim, but i've just used it for the shelving trim in the pantry. Except for its being a bit large to maneuver in tight spaces, i prefer it over dealing with my 18-ga. that i seldom use now except for the eensiest trim pieces. I like that it's easy to change the exhaust direction without tools, too, bec i use it ambidextrously.
and prman
Thanks for the feedback.
Since posting, have been doing some research on the net and my awareness of my ignorance has grown accordingly. Some additional info for your consideration.
Up to now I have been using a Campbell Hausfeld electric compressor with a gun that uses brads up to 1 1/4 inch. It works fine except for the incredible amount of noise the compressor makes. Also, at 1 1/4 inch max, I don't get either the penetration or the holding power I want.
Over the last hour, I have come to realize that I don't know the distinction between a "brad" nailer and a "finishing" nailer. Is it simply the size and shape of the "nail" as it were? Also, am I correct in assuming that a "finishing" nailer is of a lower and therefore wider gauge?
I am looking at a Senco compressor/18 brad nailer set at Amazon. Its specs describe it as 1 gallon so I assume it is gas driven. It is very highly rated by some purchasers except the compressor is considered disposable for some reason and is only guaranteed for 90 days. One buyer really got burned on this point.
My thought is that since the Cauldfield compressor's noise REALLY annoys me,perhaps I should go the whole way and get a new compressor as well as a gun. An 18 gauge "nail" 2 inches long would I think meet most of my needs. A 16 gauge capacity sounds like it would be quite handy to have on occasion. My thought is that a 15 would be overkill for say shop storage projects, outdoor furniture and the like.
Any thoughts on the Senco set? Also, any ideas re a compressor from vendor A and a gun (either brad or finishing if you would explain the difference) from vendor B. Any recommendations greatly appreciated.
Edited 12/26/2003 8:58:37 PM ET by MikeE
I own the Senco 18 g. and 1 gallon compressor combo. I have used it to run a good deal of trim; base and window/door casing. The 2" brads hold baseboard on just fine, in fact, well beyond the minimum required.
Generally I make (assemble) my base from 3/4" stock, with a base cap molding, and occaisionally a base shoe. The shorter brads work great for this.
I recently used that "disposable" compressor to install ~300 ft of hardwood floor, a super hard South American wood. That sucker powered a Bostich floor nailer that punched 2" staples with the greatest of ease. It cycled more than when brad nailing, but even when cycling it drove those staples with no problem.
I have also used it to power a 15 g. Senco finish nailer, face nailing 2 1/2" nails through the same floor. Performance there was marginal. I did need to wait for the compressor to finish cycling before nailing, and it cycled every 5 or 6 nails. Still better than hand nailing, at least with that crazy hard wood.
The 1/4" coil hose supplied with the combo is junk. Serviceable, but junk.
I have also used it for gluing up cabinets, again with no problem. I would recommend it, although if you plan to do heavier work, you may not like the compressor.
Hope this helps
Many thanks for the very helpful info.
TO ALL
Just noticed the article in this months FW re Brad Nailers. It gives me plenty of info re the gun itself. Still would like to hear from anyone on preferences re air compressors. Would very much like to replace the Campbell Hausfeld.
Thanks again.
Edited 12/26/2003 10:43:05 PM ET by MikeE
The Senco PC1010 mini-air compressor you are considering runs on electricity. The 1 gallon refers to its compressed air tank capacity. As a general rule, oil free compressors like the PC1010 are louder than oil lube compressors. I have a 1-hp Porter-Cable oil-free compressor which requires me to wear hearing protection when I turn it on.
Senco for the most part makes a quality line of nail guns, but I don't know enough about their compressors, as I believe they are a relatively recent entrant into this area. The one-gallon tank does seem small even by brad-nailer standards, though I think they are focused on portability. If you are only going to be using it around the shop, then it might be worth considering a pancake or sidestack type compressor. They typically have four to six gallons of air capacity, thus reducing the number of times the compressor will need to kick in and replenish the air supply.
Great info. Many thanks.
I was around HD this A.M. and got some education re the maning of "gallons" in the description.
Thanks again.
Mike
sounds like your first buy should be a new compressor. One that can keep the air up to your gun without running all the time. Only then will you be able to judge whether you need a new nail gun
Ian
I bought the brad nailer combo pack from Porter Cable (via Amazon) (BN125, I think). Love it. I'm looking to get a 22 ga. pin nailer next. That probably won't help with the hickory, however.
Here's the problem, though. The compressor works fine with the brad gun and would probably work fine with any nailer. But then your eye starts to wander to the other air tools that are available, and you soon realize that the compressor can't deliver the volume needed at the higher pressures for those tools.
This especially becomes a problem when you start to consider spray finishes. Something I would like to try is a high-gloss lacquer finish -- something with no brush marks at all. So that kind of project goes back into the wish-list area of my brain until I have room for a larger compressor (and a dedicated finishing area).
Just a caveat to keep in mind. Small compressors <10 gal. might not have the ability to do everything you might want. But I can't fault the PC setup for brad nailing -- works like a charm, and the tool itself has a nice feel.
Many thnaks for the info
Making sawdust, There is a depth adjustment on your gun the regulates how deep the nails will be set in the wood. You will from time to time have to adjust it, depending on the type of wood you are using, Soft woods you will have to lighten it up and the reverse for the hardwood.
On the face piece your hails come out, there should be an allen head screw. Loosen that screw up and push it towards the gun just a little. The try a nail or to to check for depth setting.
I would agree with Splintie in that an 18 ga can be a bit light weight for items other than small pieces. However a 15 gauge can be to much for all around work. Both Dewalt and Paslode have an excellent 16 ga nail guns that are fairly inexpensive.
I have sold both guns and have heard nothing but good from the owners. Both will shoot nails from 3/4 to 2 1/2 " in length. That woll cover just about anything you may want to use a finish nail on. Because they are a heavier gauge than the 18ga, they will perform better in going though the thicker hardwoods as well.
I have the Porter Cable 18 gauge brad nailer that takes many lenth brads up to 2 1/2 inches, and use it extensively with 3/4 inch and 1 1/4 inch brads, primarily tacking glue blocks and backs as I make furniture. It can do light interior moulding work, but is useless for heavier wood - the thin nails bend into a Z shape rather than holding heavy boards. 18 gauge is too light to even hold larger boards aligned while screws are added.
Therefore I bought the Bostich 15 gauge finish nailer. Fine unit, but the nails are far too big to use in making cabinets and furniture. Since I am into furniture making rather than house construction, the finish nailer is rarely used. (I have only shot a few hundred nails doing minor repairs around the house, with absolutely no complaints.)
I have often wondered if the 16 gauge would be enough smaller to be useful for both purposes, but I doubt it.
Something I didn't notice until later. The 18 and 16 gauge nailers are straight - the nails are even in the clip, and the clip is perpendicular to the driven nail. The 15 gauge nailers have a clip that is at an angle (22 degrees?) to the nail, so the gun can presumably get into some funny positions more easily. I have heard that the angled nailers are practically necessary for cove mouldings, but haven't compared them.
With so many choices, I procrastinated for years about getting a nail gun. That was a mistake. I now will get it and the compressor out for even a few nails, since the hammer bounces things out of alignment, while the gun puts them in straight at the instant the pieces are in perfect position. Whichever one you get, do it!
Good info. Many thanks.
I was at HD this morning and saw a Porter Cable combination set that included 2 nailers (an 18 and a 16) plus a 6 gallon compressor for $ 300.00.
If the quality is there, it seemed like a good deal to me. I am going on line to see if Amazon has that package for a better price.
Thanks again.
I have never heard anything bad about the PC nailers, and their compressors are apparently also ok. I love my PC 18 gauge brad gun. My Bostich 15 gauge finish nailer works great, but has a very different feel than the PC, so there may be some advantage to having two nailers of the same brand.
If I were in the market for brad and finish nailers, I would jump at $300 for both plus a small compressor, from PC.
Charlie:
I did go for the PC combination set (at Amazon - no tax or shipping, so it was $ 300 flat). I feel well pleased.
Many thanks to you and to all who responded.
Amazon has Senco 15ga and 18ga combo for $249.99.
Search: Tools and Hardware - Senco FinishPro 41XP
I have PC 16 ga. and a PC narrow crown stapler. I am a high end remodeler and hang a lot of trim and make built in cabinets. I really like this combination. THe 16 ga. wont split quarter round but hold a lot better than 18 ga. Weather you use 18 or 16 ga. you will still have to fill the holes, so Ive yet to see the use of an 18 ga. If I am attaching real delicate moulding like screen moulding or 3/8" (or less) plywood I use the stapler. The stapler dosent split small trim and resists pulling through trim and thin plywood better than any finish nail can. I keep thinking about getting a pin nailer for attaching shelf nosing while the glue dries so I dont have to go back and fill the holes from my 16 ga. gun.
P.S. Every time I use my nail guns I think that they are the best tool to be be invented this century!! I can't imagine having to countersink the 50,000 or more nails I've driven the last 4 years.
What ever you get you will love it!
Mike
I want to use my PC 16 ga nailer for installing some 3/4" hickory base boards. I am using 2" nails and I can't seem to get them to go past flush with the surface. Am I using the wrong nail, the wrong gun, the wrong material, or the wrong method?
try more pressure, like 115 PSI.
Its already set at the max rating of 120 psi.
I agree with RICKY, the gun should be able to set base boards of any wood with no trouble. Mabey it needs a rebuild.
MIke
Should of used a Bostitch SB1664.
http://www.stanleybostitch.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=BOS%5FFINISH%5FAND%5FTRIM%5FNAILER&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=SB-1664FN&SDesc=Industrial+16%2DGauge+Straight+Finish+Nailer+Kit
The problem sounds like the air getting to the gun is at too low a pressure or there is insufficient volume. check for restrictions, or an excessively long length of hose, between the compressor and the gun. try and measure the air pressure at the gun.
Thanks - I should be able to find a pressure gauge and put it in the line at the gun - I'll try it.
Make sure the nail depth control is at an adequate setting. Also, if you detect no pressure loss in the supply line, the cause could be in the gun itself. Porter-Cable sells maintenance kits to remedy this.
The depth control is set to maximum, and the gun hasn't delivered 200 nails yet - its basically brand new out of the box. I'm gonna contact Porter-Cable.
When you talk to Porter cable find out how much driving power the unit has.
There are two things to use to compare pneumanics nailer to other brands
1) Driving power
2) power to weight ratio
Its like comparing amps to electric tools , and voltage and torque to battery tools
Good luck
I haven't heard that term before. What is driving power? What units is it measured in? I assume you would look for a high power to weight ratio - is there a guideline or minimum that lets you know you are about to buy junk?
The driving power of pneumatic tools are measured in inch lbs. the higher the number the more power it has to drive a nail into the wood. The same principle as torque as measured in foot lbs. of a pneumatic drill/driver to tighten a bolt. The power to weight ratio is found by driving power divided by the tool weight. I hope this answered your question. BTW, Bostitch always gives the power to weight ratio and driving power of all their pneumatic tools, it makes a good comparison to other brands, if they give that info at all. Question is, why don't all pneumatic nailers manufactures give that information out? Are they hiding something?
Yeah - makes me wonder. I've been searching Porter Cable for this info and there is not a word about it. The closest they come is some specifications on noise levels. Thanks for the info.
Mike,
Don't buy a Finish nailer (16-gauge), the holes in your woodwork will resemble gunshot wounds. A Finish nailer is also big and heavy. Buy a BRAD nailer (18-gauge). The holes are much smaller and easer to putty, and the gun is easier to work with. It used to be that only a Finish nailer could deliver a nail 2" in length. Nowadays, Brad nailers with a 2" capacity are available in nearly every major brand. With the exception of a few specific uses, Finish nailers will probably become dinosaurs. Senco makes a winner. No oil needed. Available at Lowes, but not Home Depot.
Joe
Rol aire compressors or a thomas compressor. Oil-lube. Accept no others.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled