Driving myself mad over nail guns.

[mickmick]

I'm mainly doing inside finish/trim work, kitchens, flooring, built-in wardrobes.
I had a 18 gauge gas nailer before and it was a total PITA - gas that would off really quickly, not warm enough blah blah. I got rid.
I am now in the market for another.
I have two questions that keep me going round:
-Should I stick to the 18 gauge or is 23 gauge ok for what I do? Will it hold skirting while liquid nail takes hold? Will it hold 18mm painted mdf trim on the side of a wardrobe? I know you can get both but...
-Should I go back to compressor air guns or try the new 18v all electric nailers? I see Makita have a new one Makita DPT353Z. Also Dewalt. Anyone using them?

I can't really afford 2 x electric nailers this month. I could buy the compressor and a couple of nailers though. Still if I could get by with a 23 gauge and it was reliable, that would be the dream.

Am I dreaming?

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

For trim carpentry I carry a 15 gauge, 18 gauge brad, 23 gauge, and a 18 gauge stapler.

A 23 gauge is a fabulous tool, but in my opinion it's more of a complement than a substitute for a 18 gauge. I typically use the 23 gauge when fastening directly to hardwoods, for instance applying moulding to cabinetry.

I've still never brought myself to buy a cordless trim nailer, primarily because I prefer to pick the best tool for a particular fastener size. I either carry a Makita AC001 (https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/AC001) or my Max AKHL1260 (https://www.maxusacorp.com/nailers_compressors/products/akhl1260e/) compressor, a Flexzilla hose, and have switched most of my air couplers to the Prevost safety couplers (https://www.amazon.com/Prevost-ISI061201-FNPT-Safety-Coupler/dp/B01MYNQ40K/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1ACLL4Q7CSF91&keywords=prevost+air+couplers&qid=1549724006&s=gateway&sprefix=Prevost+%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-6)

 

[tjbnwi]

I have;

23
21
18
15.

I don't use a 16.

Tom

 

[tekaddictnyc]

What size nailer is best for base and crown molding?

 

[tjbnwi]

What size nailer is best for base and crown molding?

Depends on the crown and where it's going. Cabinet crown I use the 21 to hold the crown to the cabinet, 23 to pin the corners. On a wall it would be the 18 or 15 depending on the length of brad/nail I need.

Baseboard 18 or 15.

Tom

 

[semenza]

I'm mainly doing inside finish/trim work, kitchens, flooring, built-in wardrobes.
I had a 18 gauge gas nailer before and it was a total PITA - gas that would off really quickly, not warm enough blah blah. I got rid.
I am now in the market for another.
I have two questions that keep me going round:
-Should I stick to the 18 gauge or is 23 gauge ok for what I do? Will it hold skirting while liquid nail takes hold? Will it hold 18mm painted mdf trim on the side of a wardrobe? I know you can get both but...
-Should I go back to compressor air guns or try the new 18v all electric nailers? I see Makita have a new one Makita DPT353Z. Also Dewalt. Anyone using them?

I can't really afford 2 x electric nailers this month. I could buy the compressor and a couple of nailers though. Still if I could get by with a 23 gauge and it was reliable, that would be the dream.

Am I dreaming?

The 23ga is not going to be all purpose compared to the 18ga.  If you are getting one then get the 18ga. If you are really doing this type of work much then get 15ga, 18ga, 23ga (or another pinner) as you can afford them. Get the 18ga first.

EX- the 23ga will hold skirting while glue sets , BUT only if that skirting is flat and tight to the wall. It won't pull it tight if the piece has any bow or the wall isn't flat.

Seth

 

[rst]

You'll find that an 18ga will be your most used style nailer for finish work.  I've been using air equipment for 50 years now and have quite a collection.  I have older Senco industrial grade stuff, an 18ga headless pinner, and a FN-40 I used for years with ringshank nails to hang aluminum shadowform.... heavy anodized storefront T & G made in different styles by Kawneer and others.  I later converted that beast to shoot 15 ga brads, it is a beast and weighs a ton.  I also have a narrow head 18ga Senco stapler, also a beast.  The air guns I use now are Grex, 18 ga brad, 23ga pinner, 23 ga stapler and the 7/16" 18 ga stapler.  I bought a 15ga Milwaukee 18v angled nailer to use and it's great for quicky jobs.

 

[ktb153]

there's no one size fits all nailer but a 23ga is really limited to cabinet crown and small moldings. 18ga definitely has more uses, i have this dewalt for pneumatic and the precision tip thing makes it by far the best brad nailer I've ever usedhttps://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-18-Gauge-Pneumatic-Brad-Nailer-DWFP12233/205647692
I also have the dewalt 20v 18ga and 16ga and I'd say they're just as consistent driving nails as pneumatic. The convenience is great but the downside is they're bigger, heavier and much more expensive. They're good enough that I probably won't ever set up a compressor in a house for those size nails again but in the shop I'll always use pneumatic.

 

[demographic]

Just to go against the flow I'm UK based and I hardly ever see finish nailguns other than 16 gauge.
I assume you are also UK based cos you used the word "skirting" instead of baseboard.

16 gauge is almost a standard over here, Dewalt do a nice all electric machine which fires angled nails and I have a Hitachi that fires straight nails that more building sites provide so I never have to supply nails onto the sites I work on.
If Dewalt did a straight nails version I would have bought that instead.
I'm not putting nails onto labour only jobs.

 

[RKA]

I use 18 with the most frequency, 15/16 when I need the longer 2.5” nails.  And a 21 for the little odds and ends because it has a little more holding power than a 23 ga pin.  If there was one size I would choose for cordless, it would probably be the 18 for little punch list stuff.  But the extra size and weight of cordless usually draws me to the lighter air nailer if the air line is readily accessible.

 

[peter halle]

Personally I use 16,18, and 23.  I have pneumatics in all those sizes and have a Paslode gas angled for 16 also.  This is my second Paslode model.  I also had an earlier Dewalt cordless.  I went to the Dewalt after I dropped my first Paslode off a ladder.  I really loved the Dewalt until it got old under the collar and got grumpy.  It was heavier than the Paslode and bulkier.  I then went back to using pneumatics for a while but found I had too many jobs where I didn't want that compressor around for small jobs.  So I sprung for my latest Paslode 16.  !6 and 18 gauge get used the most.  23 for trim corners, hold in place while glue dries, and sometimes cabinet trim.

Wouldn't want to be without any of them.

Not one size fits all.

Peter

 

[tjbnwi]

For those who have pneumatics and don’t want to lug around a compressor, there is the option of CO2. JacPak is the one that comes to mind.

Tom

 

[semenza]

For those who have pneumatics and don’t want to lug around a compressor, there is the option of CO2. JacPak is the one that comes to mind.

Tom

I have been using CO2 for a  long time. It works well for me. The JacPak is what I use to have but two of them went bad with very low usage. I have one left that is now a spare. I switched  to Interstate Pneumatics WRCO2 CO2 Regulator - Solid Aluminum Body 0-125 PSI. So far no problems. The Interstate is also  much  less bulky. 

  http://festoolownersgroup.com/festo...umatic-systainer-updated/msg549135/#msg549135

Seth

 

[mickmick]

thanks for all your replies.
I am going to go with a Senco PC1010 and 18 and 23 air nailers.
I really wanted the convenience of the 18v systems but the price of them (£400 each with batteries/chargers) puts me off. Also quite wary, as went through the "new tech" of a Bostich and Paslode gas nailers, both of which were a PITO - getting gas that was fresh  :
I had been sharing a workshop and would borrow the other guys 23 pin when I needed it, and had my own 18 brad. But have just got rid of the gas nonsense, so was looking at options.
Seth - thanks for the info on the CO2. I looked at it last week and was very interested but I don't have a supplier close to me. I may look at it a bit later.
People seem happy with the Senco PC1010, so hopefully it will be an Ok compromise. The old compressor I used years back was a lump, and I'm too old to be carting it up Victorian terrace stairs nowadays, but the Senco PC1010 looks manageable.

 

[semenza]

I have the PC1010. It is a very handy size and easy to carry.

Seth

 

[tjbnwi]

For those who have pneumatics and don’t want to lug around a compressor, there is the option of CO2. JacPak is the one that comes to mind.

Tom

I have been using CO2 for a  long time. It works well for me. The JacPak is what I use to have but two of them went bad with very low usage. I have one left that is now a spare. I switched  to Interstate Pneumatics WRCO2 CO2 Regulator - Solid Aluminum Body 0-125 PSI. So far no problems. The Interstate is also  much  less bulky. 

  http://festoolownersgroup.com/festo...umatic-systainer-updated/msg549135/#msg549135

Seth

Thanks for the info.

Tom

 

[tjbnwi]

I have a 1010 also, any air leaks and it won't fill. If you find long cycle times, check for leaks.

Tom

 

[semenza]

I should also say on my 1010 , I haven't used it very much so no idea on durability , etc.

Seth

 

[Master Carpenter]

I’m another 15, 18, 23, narrow crown stapler run off PC1010 user. I also have a cheapish porter cable battery power 18 but it’s only brought along for small job days. The 18 is the workhorse, the 15 handles heavy trim like window sills and hanging hollow core doors.  The 23 is for delicate trim and the stapler takes care of plywood subfloor, though I have a beefier compressor if I have a lot of subfloor to do.  My setup is pretty standard for trim guys around here.

I’ve been using Omer and Cadex and they seem to be descent guns. I found most of the cheaper popular brands weren’t reliable after a year of heavy use, they would start misfiring and jamming. I stay clear of Bostich, but that may be my bad luck with the brand.

 

[Mario Turcot]

I don't know much about the type of work you doing so I cannot comment on gauge size. About air vs 18v

Do you already use any 18v tools? If you don't just stick to air, if you do lookup for nailers reviews about the brand platform you use.
Personally I have two 18g nailers, Paslode air and Milwaukee M18. I don't use the paslode anymore because of the comp noise. The Milwaukee is effective but heavy and one thing I would like on it is a toggle switch to load it instead of holding an embossed thiny  switch ~3 seconds  [mad]