Brad nailer or finish nailer
 

On a whim a couple weeks ago, I bought a Makita 18 V LXT brad nailer. Or at least I thought I did. I picked up a pack of what I thought were brads.

And that was that. I had nothing that needed nailing, just a fleeting idea that it would be nice to be able to nail effortlessly. Ok, I guess I had a Consumer Moment. And I’m the guy who bends nails and whacks his thumb, when using a hammer, more than anyone who’s been on this earth for almost six decades should. So it was a safety thing, really.

My daughter needs to build a frame for a painting she’s starting - a commission, actually. You can buy ready-made frame pieces at art supply stores, but they only come in limited sizes. So we went to the lumber store, picked up some 1x2 and 1x3 pine, spent half a hour with the table saw and chop saw, and had ourselves all the pieces for a really sturdy 54” x 38.75” frame.

Ah ha, I own a brad nailer!

So we insert a battery in the nailer and get the glue, and assemble the frame. I’m thinking, hm, these brads seem pretty wimpy. It goes together fine, and the stretched canvas will hold it together, plus the glue - which is good, because really the more we work at it, the more these brads seem pathetic.

The frame is in the garage waiting for the glue to dry. I’m looking more closely at this brad nailer. I realize I didn’t buy a brad nailer. I bought a PIN nailer. It takes 23 gauge pin nails, max 1 3/8” long. They look like something from an office stapler, just straight. Well sh?t.

Ok, since I’m all into supporting our economy, I’m going to buy another nailer.

It’ll be a Makita 18 V LXT, since I have the batteries. Also, last time I checked, Makita makes more of their tools in not-China than most consumer power tool companies.

Question is, do I get a BRAD nailer or a FINISH nailer? The respective Makita models will both drive a 2 1/2” nail, the finish nailer is about $100 more.

Brad nailer are usually 18 Gauge. Finish guns normally shoot 15 or 16 gauge nails. We call those little 23 gauge micro pinners great for pinning up corners of crown moldings way up high to keep them from opening up. Other then that, its pretty much useless due to its small size. Depending what you will use this too for, brad and finish guns are needed for different applications. Just to have one gun, I buy a brad gun capable of shooting 1" to 2" nails.

This, but I often use a pin nailer, with glue, for small prefinished cabinet trim. You don't see the pins, no filler.

I really like this gun, all time favorite. No oil necessary.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-18-Gauge-2-1-8-in-Brad-Nailer-with-CLEAN-DRIVE-Technology-Tool-Bag-and-Sample-Nails-R213BNF/304530407

Our go to gun is GERX micro pinner. Unless its painted white, any other color requires no filling. It shoots a longish 1 3/4" pin. Yep, a little glue and a few pins, it ain't going nowhere. We found those 18 gauge brads still need to be filled.

Thanks, that GERX is nice.

Reading and taking notes...

I met the owner at the Vegas woodworking and furniture trade show (same week with International Builder's show) and he offered his guns for my crew to test out for three weeks including nails in return for feed back on his new guns. He's from LA so that makes returning the gun much easier. After a day, my guys and myself were sold. I think he mfg them in Taiwan?

Skipped IBS 2020 but was at 2019. Looks like the next one will be 2022

I try and go every other year just to see what's new. Can't keep up with all the latest. I missed 19 and didn't even think about this year. Plus, I hate Vegas.

2022 Orlando. After the show we'll to the keys....

I've got a Senco 23 gauge pin nailer - older model that I think shoots up to 1.5" pin, Porter Cable Brad nailer 18 gauge, Porter Cable finish nailer 18 gauge - max is 2.5" I think, Senco Framing nailer, Hitachi siding nailer and a Ridgid roofing nailer. They all have their uses.

I've done quite a few homeowner DIY projects - enclosed 2 decks as screened in porches - turning $1500 of materials and about $500 in new tool purchases into $20k screened porches as an example. The Hitachi siding nailer was bought when I installed about 400 pieces of Nichiha (Hardiplank type) siding.

I like the pin nailer when I assemble jigs for shop use. A little bit of glue and a couple of shots with it and the jig is assembled with no clamps and is ready to use in 10 or 15 minutes.

That will be interesting get away for a week or two. Not sure if I am ready to ride in an airplane across the country yet. We will see, 2022 is a long ways away, all Covid virus will die away as soon as Biden takes office maybe I should book tickets now. I haven't been to FL in a very long time. Last time I was there was back in college with my girlfriend.

So, are you guys pro electric or pneumatic for small mailers like this?

I used to have a pneumatic dewalt, I think it would accept nails just over 2", but not sure if it was finishing nails or brad, probably finishing?. It was nice, but if you could get the same performance out of electric, that might be easier than using a compressor

We run Senco finish nailers in the shop and the field exclusively due to no oil necessary to run them to eliminate messy oil leaks. My guys now run those fancy cordless finish guns now but all complain about it being bulky. We still have the old SFN Guns as well as the SLP20 brad guns, which they still make, in flashy red color. We have a bunch of the old boring gray ones. I noticed that many of the import guns are very loud and makes a much bigger hold then necessary compared to the Senco finish guns. If you have the SLP20, next time, look at the hole, its nice and round, small too. Those senco guns are very, very quiet, I noticed.

We run Hitachi framing guns. That guns can take a lot of abuse and a coupe drops of oil, it keep on going.

Off topic, sorry. What do you think of those Nichiha sidings?

So I’m thinking that since I have the pin nailer now, I should get the finish nailer next?

I’m sure I’ll eventually get other nailers, just looking for the next purchase.

Definitely 18 gauge. You can nail bigger trim with an 18 gauge nailer, but you cannot nail more delicate things with a 15 Gauge nailer. Make sure it shoots a 2'' nail as a few don't.

If you are using glue to hold a joint, and using pin nails to ''clamp'' it in place while the glue is drying, you can use a pin nailer on a frame, but a 2'' 18 gauge nail is a real nail.

When you go to look at guns, look at the nails too, and you will see the difference.

I have all pneumatic nailers, just cheapies, and I use the Harbor Freight brads/nails. No issues. I am sure the expensive electric guns are better and easier. I have several nail guns and under $100 invested.

And I have a long air hose so I don't have to listen to my compressor.

Oddly, I was just looking up cordless finish / trim nailers while thinking of replacing my Senco air one.

What think ye Look?

I keeping all my senco guns. Go hold one and see. Shoot a few nails through if you get a chance at those little shows put on by the mfg at Home Depot (fat chance now due to CV19) it if you ever get the chance. I find the cordless guns bulky, awkward to hold, and aren't balanced very well and very loud. For production work, I rather drag my old air hose. We buy the Goodyear air hoses so they are soft and we keep them pretty short to keep from tangling. In time, I only think they will get better and smaller like cordless drills compared to ten years ago.