brad nailer gun question - type of compressor?

[stinkynathan]

Return the brad nailer you purchased.

Buy a package that includes the compressor AND the brad nailer, etc. Those combo kits are generally FAR cheaper than purchasing the pieces separately. You often end up with 3 or 4 accessories for the compressor. You can craigslist the accessories that you don't want, and even reduce your final costs more.

Yes. There is a Stanley Bostitch deal like that for super cheap at Menards and Home Depot all the time.

Second, 1 1/4" brads are too short for what you're doing. 1/2" trim + 1/2" of drywall leaves you with 1/4" of nail in the stud and that's not including any mud, corner beads, or gaps that you might need to shoot through. You want to be shooting 2" brads on base trim.

<- trim carpenter

 

[slackerinabox]

Yes. There is a Stanley Bostitch deal like that for super cheap at Menards and Home Depot all the time.

Second, 1 1/4" brads are too short for what you're doing. 1/2" trim + 1/2" of drywall leaves you with 1/4" of nail in the stud and that's not including any mud, corner beads, or gaps that you might need to shoot through. You want to be shooting 2" brads on base trim.

<- trim carpenter

Emailed store to cancel the order, hopefully it hasn't shipped yet.

Added a slickdeals alert for 2" nailer kits, in my limited amount of time as a wanna-be handyman I've learned that it's crucially important to have the right tool for the job and much appreciate the advice. The craftsman kit for $75 seems like a great deal but I've bought cheap tools before and have regretted it every time, especially the time the cheap electric saw that I bought cracked while using it sending metal shards flying in the air! What's a good brand known for a good, unpretentious entry level kit? I'm not a professional and will not put thousands of hours on it so don't need grade A gear, but I don't want to lose an eye.

Question - if they can't do a return is there any harm in having a 1 1/4 nailer in the tool box? It was only $30 so shipping and restocking fee means I should probably just keep it, but would a 2" gun make it absolutely redundant and a waste of space?

Thanks!

 

[slackerinabox]

Emailed store to cancel the order, hopefully it hasn't shipped yet.

Added a slickdeals alert for 2" nailer kits, in my limited amount of time as a wanna-be handyman I've learned that it's crucially important to have the right tool for the job and much appreciate the advice. The craftsman kit for $75 seems like a great deal but I've bought cheap tools before and have regretted it every time, especially the time the cheap electric saw that I bought cracked while using it sending metal shards flying in the air! What's a good brand known for a good, unpretentious entry level kit? I'm not a professional and will not put thousands of hours on it so don't need grade A gear, but I don't want to lose an eye.

Question - if they can't do a return is there any harm in having a 1 1/4 nailer in the tool box? It was only $30 so shipping and restocking fee means I should probably just keep it, but would a 2" gun make it absolutely redundant and a waste of space?

Thanks!

b u m p

 

[amdskip]

Yes if you get a brad nailer that does 2", etc. I started with this: http://www.amazon.com/Bostitch-CPACK...5581699&amp;sr=1-1

but have since sold the brad nailer and upgraded to this: http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-B...5581750&amp;sr=1-6

 

[slackerinabox]

Yes if you get a brad nailer that does 2", etc. I started with this: http://www.amazon.com/Bostitch-CPACK...5581699&amp;sr=1-1

but have since sold the brad nailer and upgraded to this: http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-B...5581750&amp;sr=1-6

sexy! question, since a 2" can shoot smaller brads, is it really necessary to have the other ones?

 

[*kjm]

sexy! question, since a 2" can shoot smaller brads, is it really necessary to have the other ones?

Nope.... unless you want a back up or one to lone out.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

sexy! question, since a 2" can shoot smaller brads, is it really necessary to have the other ones?

Nope, the 1 1/4 model is worthless if you have a 2" IMHO


Actually for baseboard, trim and molding I wouldn't buy a brad nailer. The proper tool is a 2 1/2" finish nailer. Here is a quality Porter Cable combo for a nice price

http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Pc1Pak-...586361&amp;sr=1-24

2" Brad nailers will work for trim in a pinch, but aren't the best tool for the job and are really best for upholstry and small particle board cabnetry like doll houses. A finish nailer will be much more usefull for household and general carpentry applications

Actually this looks like the deal. Can't believe they have this combo for cheaper than the one listed above. Same as above except you get a 1 3/8" brad nailer and stapler also

http://www.amazon.com/Porter-PC3Pak-...ref=pd_cp_hi_2

 

[WackyDan]

Oiless versus oil. Oil lubrication lasts longer and runs cooler.

If you are nailing unfinished trim do not use an oil lubed compressor unless you also put in an inline filter to keep small amounts of the oil from getting on the unfinished wood. YES.. it happens- ask any woodworker.

 

[Squisher]

Generally you use a finish nailer for base molding and a brad nailer to put on quarter molding. I have an oiless pancake compressor, yeah it's noisy, but 100 foot of hose lets me put it in the next room over.

Generally speaking air tools that require an impulse of air to function like nailers don't use a lot of air. Those tools that use a constant stream of air; paint sprayers, air drills, impacts, and the worst are die grinders require much larger reserve tanks and compressors. You'd be surprised how much stuff I've done with my pancake compressor, but I'll admit I've spent time waiting for it to catch up.

 

[stinkynathan]

Nope, the 1 1/4 model is worthless if you have a 2" IMHO


Actually for baseboard, trim and molding I wouldn't buy a brad nailer. The proper tool is a 2 1/2" finish nailer. Here is a quality Porter Cable combo for a nice price

http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Pc1Pak-...586361&amp;sr=1-24

2" Brad nailers will work for trim in a pinch, but aren't the best tool for the job and are really best for upholstry and small particle board cabnetry like doll houses. A finish nailer will be much more usefull for household and general carpentry applications

Actually this looks like the deal. Can't believe they have this combo for cheaper than the one listed above. Same as above except you get a 1 3/8" brad nailer and stapler also

http://www.amazon.com/Porter-PC3Pak-...ref=pd_cp_hi_2

You may be confusing 22ga vs. 18ga and 18ga vs. 16ga.

I would use a 22 gauge gun (a "pin nailer") for small particle board stuff and upholstery. I was using our 18ga Paslode cordless guns to run some painted 3x7/8" MDF trim the other day and the MDF was splitting a bit around the nail holes. 22ga pin nails would probably work best in that case.

Some of the finishing crews we work with use 16 gauge brad nailers for everything. Personally, I've never had a problem with 18 gauge brads holding trim on _anything_ provided there is sufficient nail penetration. 16ga leaves a bigger hole and IMHO is slightly overkill for most people's base trim. Having the ability to shoot a 2 1/2" nail with a 16 gauge gun would be nice in some circumstances, but for most people it's unnecessary.

We could probably use a 16 gauge nailer in our truck, but it's not worth the $450+ to get set up for it for us.

 

[slackerinabox]

Nope, the 1 1/4 model is worthless if you have a 2" IMHO


Actually for baseboard, trim and molding I wouldn't buy a brad nailer. The proper tool is a 2 1/2" finish nailer. Here is a quality Porter Cable combo for a nice price

http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Pc1Pak-...586361&amp;sr=1-24

2" Brad nailers will work for trim in a pinch, but aren't the best tool for the job and are really best for upholstry and small particle board cabnetry like doll houses. A finish nailer will be much more usefull for household and general carpentry applications

Actually this looks like the deal. Can't believe they have this combo for cheaper than the one listed above. Same as above except you get a 1 3/8" brad nailer and stapler also

http://www.amazon.com/Porter-PC3Pak-...ref=pd_cp_hi_2

Wow, that's an insane amount of gear for the $$. Might be overkill for me but tempting. And I'll be looking for a finish nailer, as suggeste.

 

[slackerinabox]

You may be confusing 22ga vs. 18ga and 18ga vs. 16ga.

I would use a 22 gauge gun (a "pin nailer") for small particle board stuff and upholstery. I was using our 18ga Paslode cordless guns to run some painted 3x7/8" MDF trim the other day and the MDF was splitting a bit around the nail holes. 22ga pin nails would probably work best in that case.

Some of the finishing crews we work with use 16 gauge brad nailers for everything. Personally, I've never had a problem with 18 gauge brads holding trim on _anything_ provided there is sufficient nail penetration. 16ga leaves a bigger hole and IMHO is slightly overkill for most people's base trim. Having the ability to shoot a 2 1/2" nail with a 16 gauge gun would be nice in some circumstances, but for most people it's unnecessary.

We could probably use a 16 gauge nailer in our truck, but it's not worth the $450+ to get set up for it for us.

so, for baseboard molding, 2" 18 gauge the way to go?

 

[DrPizza]

I almost forgot - from what Squisher pointed out - I think I'd prefer a slightly larger compressor than one of those pancake compressors, so that I could use it for spraying paint. I used to have one of those Wagner power sprayers for painting things like fences - the sprayer attachment I got for my compressor was half the price of the Wagner paint sprayer & does a much better job. With the Wagner sprayer, I was constantly having to thin paint to get the consistency just right, straining it with panty hose, etc. PITA. Cleaning it was also a PITA. The new sprayer is stainless steel, cleans up in 1/4 the time, is more consistent, and requires a hell of a lot less fussing around with the paint.