Newbie Question re nailers

[gbutler]

Pardon my ignorance but I'm looking at buying an air nailer of some sort. What does everyone use for fasteners? I've seen brad nailers, finish nailers, and staplers but don't really know what to use or what the differences are.

Thanks in advance...

[newbie2wood]

Brad nails (18 gauge) are sufficent for most applications in woodworking. Finish nails are 15 and 16 gauge. They provide greater holding strength for larger projects and are usually use for crown molding. However, they leave a larger, more visible, hole in the wood. Staples are rarely used, the most common application is to use it to tack on a cloth or thin backing to something.
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[BobSch]

quote:Originally posted by newbie2wood

Brad nails (18 gauge) are sufficent for most applications in woodworking. Finish nails are 15 and 16 gauge. They provide greater holding strength for larger projects and are usually use for crown molding. However, they leave a larger, more visible, hole in the wood. Staples are rarely used, the most common application is to use it to tack on a cloth or thin backing to something.

I'll add to that: Don't waste your time with a combo brad/stapler gun like the one HF sells. Wait until HF has their 3/8 - 2" brad gun on sale for <$20.

[LarryG]

I have all three (brad nailer, finish nailer, stapler), and +1 on the brad nailer being the most useful in a woodworking shop.

But it really depends on what you're building. Brad nailers are good for oddball shaped moldings that would be difficult to clamp. If your projects are weighted heavily toward cabinets made out of 3/4" sheet goods, a finish nailer might be a better choice. And if you're making clean-lined contemporary stuff ala David Marks, you might not need a nailer at all. I've now seen roughly half the episodes of WoodWorks, and the only time he's used a nailer was when he built his torsion box assembly table out of MDF.

[gbutler]

quote:Originally posted by BobSch


I'll add to that: Don't waste your time with a combo brad/stapler gun like the one HF sells. Wait until HF has their 3/8 - 2" brad gun on sale for <$20.

Looks like I'm in luck. That HF 3/8 - 2" gun is 19.99 right now. I was wondering what kind of quality it is since it's so cheap.

[Jim-Iowa]

I bought a Harbor Freight Brad Nailer about 10 yrs ago.
Was doing a lot of finishing in my father-in-laws house.
I found it very frustrating to work to get a perfect miter on a window or door frame and even with pre-drilling have nails split that expensive molding ocasionally. On your question of quality, I have been pleased and in 10 yrs it has remodeled two homes, Dad has used it to rebuild two campers and I just got it back from a friend that had it for 5 months remdeling his home. I would replace it in a new york minute if i needed to!

As far as I am concerned that brad nailer is one of the smartest tool buys I have ever made. My only concern is every memeber of my family or freinds that have borrowed it have not wanted to give it back.

[John Hunter]

[quote]quote:Originally posted by gbutler

Looks like I'm in luck. That HF 3/8 - 2" gun is 19.99 right now. I was wondering what kind of quality it is since it's so cheap.

I have it, also the combo staple/brad nailer and a framing nailer I use all 3 it all depends on the project. One thing with the HF guns, be sure and use plenty of oil. Keeps them ticking along just fine.

Now what I need is their pin nailer.

[WoodRook]

Is this the "infamous" HF brad nailer for $20?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46309

Does it have (or need) a depth adjustment control?? Thanks.

[LCHIEN]

quote:Originally posted by WoodRook

Is this the "infamous" HF brad nailer for $20?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46309

Does it have (or need) a depth adjustment control?? Thanks.

yeah.

Regulate the depth by changing the air pressure (your air compressor should have a regulator.)

[sweensdv]

quote:Originally posted by John Hunter
One thing with the HF guns, be sure and use plenty of oil. Keeps them ticking along just fine.

Sorry John but I have to disagree with you on that. Over oiling is actually a bad thing. It can cause the rubber rings to become saturated and fail before their time. Also, if the nailer has too much oil in it, it will have a tendency to shoot the excess oil all over your work piece. One or two drop every 100 or so brads is all thats really necessary.

[John Hunter]

quote:Originally posted by sweensdv

quote:Originally posted by John Hunter
One thing with the HF guns, be sure and use plenty of oil. Keeps them ticking along just fine.

One or two drop every 100 or so brads is all thats really necessary.

That is what I meant by plenty of oil, don't put those drops in and after about 1,000 brads you can throw the gun away.

[monte]

I think it's the best bargain at HF. I've had the brad nailer for several years and it's never let me down.

[WoodRook]

Thanks for the reply Loring.

One other question for anyone's consideration. This gun weighs in at 4.25 pounds which seems hefty to me. I picked up a Tradesman brand 2" brad nailer at Lowes & it felt much lighter (but I don't know what it weighed). Is the 4+ pounds considered a light, typical or heavy weight for a 2" gun?

I ask because of rhuematoid arthritis in my wrists/hands (not because I'm a [Arnold] girlie-man [/Arnold].....)!

[Jim-Iowa]

within reason(only you can decide that) much like a hammer the weight can work in your favor. Driving brads into hard Wood the weight can help sink the nail rather than haveing the nailer recoil against your wrist.
Usually you can adjust air pressure to sink the nail, but have seen hard wood and knots that made it recoil rather than sink.

[WoodRook]

I found the Tradesman website; here's the gun I saw:

http://www.tradesman-rexon.com/power...1018g2brad.htm

2 lbs, 10.5 oz. - kit (gun, case, 1000 brads, oil, etc.) retails for $88.

Thanks Jim, I realize it's sort of a personal preference thing. I just wasn't sure if that weight was "average" or otherwise.