Nails for nail guns

[greenleaf]

Wondering what kind of nails do you guys prefer? I just got an 18 guage gun and need to get some nails for it. I'm planning on some 2" and 1 1/4"
Are the harbor freight nails just as good as the name brands?
Thanks.

 

[Guilliaume woodworks]

Not sure about harbor freight, but most of the big name brands have always been good. Grex,senco, porter cable. My experience is that it's more the nail gun than the nails, at least with brad nailers that is.

 

[Alan m]

i have 2 bostitch nail guns. and a cheapo one. i have only used bostitch nails in the bostitch  exept once when i ran short. i use one strip of the cheapo nails. never again. they were constantly jambing and bending. i scraped them and went and bought more.
i only keep the cheapo one because it can fire staples

 

[Mauri Motti]

I second Alan,

I have a 18 gauge Senco nailer and only use Senco nails. Alternative brands get stuck frequently, way too frequently.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I've got Senco guns, I mostly use Porter-Cable brand nails in my 18 ga. brad nailer.  They are reasonably priced at Home Depot.  You didn't ask but in case anyone else is reading, I almost always use Senco nails in my 15 ga. gun, and Grip-Rite in the framing nailer.

 

[peter halle]

Personally I don't think that it will make a whole lot of difference with 18 g nails - unless for some reason you are using them outside and are counting on the galvanized coating for any sort of rust "protection".  If that were the case I would spring for a name brand versus a cheapy.  Like Brice I just grab mine from a big box store.

Peter

 

[Old School Carpenter]

Senco, Porter-cable, or Paslode are all good choices.  I don't think you will save enough with off brand to be worth the headaches of inferior fasteners.

Mike