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Need a nail gun for crown molding

GobBluth

GobBluth

Senior member
Any suggestions? I'd like a gun that I could use for more than just molding but there are a lot of different options.
 
There are a few different kinds of pneumatic nail guns, and they aren't really interchangeable. There are floor nailers, framing nailers, finish nailers, brad nailers. I use a brad nailer for doing trim work. You could probably use a finishing nailer too...
 
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Yeah I guess a brad nailer would be the way to go. it is rather large crown molding though and I need to shoot a 2" or longer nail. Shit, now I'm thinking I need a finish nailer.
 
GobBluth said:
Yeah I guess a brad nailer would be the way to go. it is rather large crown molding though and I need to shoot a 2" or longer nail. Shit, now I'm thinking I need a finish nailer.
Click to expand...

Brad would definitely be the cheapest. How thick is the crown molding? A 2" brad nail would work for most things.

Even if the trim is an inch thick, and you have half inch drywall, that's still a half inch of nail into the stud.
 
A brad nailer for trim work?

As far as I'm aware, these are the kinds of nailers:

Framing
Angled Finish/Trim
Staple
Brad
Pin (used to hold pieces together while glue dries)
Roofing
Flooring

You want a trim nailer. They will mostly be the same, so you could go with Bostich, Ridgid, DeWalt, etc. it shouldn't matter too much.

The other way you could go is with a cordless nailer. They use a fuel cell to drive the pneumatics and a battery for ignition. Unless you're doing a lot of volume that's probably what I'd do. I got my dad this gun for Christmas and he loves it (he's a professional contractor). He's used conventional bostich nailers for more than 20 years.

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hard...splay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

You can just throw it in your toolbox and you don't have to worry about compressors and air hoses and all that crap.
 
Are there any reliable electric platforms for these nailers. I'm gonna lay down a houseful of baseboard molding this spring and my 25 year old compressor is garbage.
 
Blackjack200 said:
A brad nailer for trim work?

As far as I'm aware, these are the kinds of nailers:

Framing
Angled Finish/Trim
Staple
Brad
Pin (used to hold pieces together while glue dries)
Roofing
Flooring

You want a trim nailer. They will mostly be the same, so you could go with Bostich, Ridgid, DeWalt, etc. it shouldn't matter too much.

The other way you could go is with a cordless nailer. They use a fuel cell to drive the pneumatics and a battery for ignition. Unless you're doing a lot of volume that's probably what I'd do. I got my dad this gun for Christmas and he loves it (he's a professional contractor). He's used conventional bostich nailers for more than 20 years.

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hard...splay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

You can just throw it in your toolbox and you don't have to worry about compressors and air hoses and all that crap.
Click to expand...

A finishing/trim nailer is the "right" choice, but if you've already got a brad nailer or don't want to spend the extra $50 on a finishing nailer, a brad nailer gets the job done just fine.
 
iRONic said:
Are there any reliable electric platforms for these nailers. I'm gonna lay down a houseful of baseboard molding this spring and my 25 year old compressor is garbage.
Click to expand...
If it runs at all, it will get a finish nail job done. Finish nailers are not the air hogs a framing nailer or stapler is. you are also dinking around making cuts and taking your time anyway, so it has time to recover.
 
I don't have either, this is going to be a new purchase. After driving a finishing nail by hand and damaging the molding :S I decided that I need a nailer. Thanks for the advice, I'll probably look into a cordless finishing nailer.
 
skyking said:
If it runs at all, it will get a finish nail job done. Finish nailers are not the air hogs a framing nailer or stapler is. you are also dinking around making cuts and taking your time anyway, so it has time to recover.
Click to expand...
I guess you're right but it's a big ol' bulky Craftsman, not a pancake. PITA to lug it upstairs and roll it around on the newer Pergo flooring. Not interested in buying 100' of hose either.
 
bignateyk said:
A finishing/trim nailer is the "right" choice, but if you've already got a brad nailer or don't want to spend the extra $50 on a finishing nailer, a brad nailer gets the job done just fine.
Click to expand...

It's worth a shot, I'd be surprised if it worked for crown molding though.
 
GobBluth said:
I don't have either, this is going to be a new purchase. After driving a finishing nail by hand and damaging the molding :S I decided that I need a nailer. Thanks for the advice, I'll probably look into a cordless finishing nailer.
Click to expand...

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...d=compressor+combo&storeId=10051#.URPZszkdnFI

I've seen these go for around $200 on sale on occasion. Pancake compressors are nice. Filling up air in the car tires, inflatable toys for the kids, using them to "dust" in the garage. Ect. That combo has a brad a finish nailer in it.
 
for large crown, the better technique is to install a nailing strip up first. usually a 2x4 cut on a bevel. That is screwed into the framing, then when you install the crown, you can nail anywhere you want.

on outside corners a brad nailer is handy to pin the two pieces together for a tight joint. Don't forget the wood glue as well
 
Few tools are more fun than a brad nailer 🙂

I bought a compressor kit from Home Depot last year with a free brad nailer attachment. Got pre-finished molding, and I swear I had the whole room done in 30 minutes. I think the kit was like $169, and I use the compressor all the time in the garage for car tires/basketballs/pool toys.
 
Blackjack200 said:
The other way you could go is with a cordless nailer. They use a fuel cell to drive the pneumatics and a battery for ignition. Unless you're doing a lot of volume that's probably what I'd do. I got my dad this gun for Christmas and he loves it (he's a professional contractor). He's used conventional bostich nailers for more than 20 years.

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hard...splay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

You can just throw it in your toolbox and you don't have to worry about compressors and air hoses and all that crap.
Click to expand...

These things are fantastic.
 
Blackjack200 said:
A brad nailer for trim work?

As far as I'm aware, these are the kinds of nailers:

Framing
Angled Finish/Trim
Staple
Brad
Pin (used to hold pieces together while glue dries)
Roofing
Flooring

You want a trim nailer. They will mostly be the same, so you could go with Bostich, Ridgid, DeWalt, etc. it shouldn't matter too much.

The other way you could go is with a cordless nailer. They use a fuel cell to drive the pneumatics and a battery for ignition. Unless you're doing a lot of volume that's probably what I'd do. I got my dad this gun for Christmas and he loves it (he's a professional contractor). He's used conventional bostich nailers for more than 20 years.

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hard...splay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

You can just throw it in your toolbox and you don't have to worry about compressors and air hoses and all that crap.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd probably go with this option too. Wheeling an air compressor and dragging hoses all through your house is kind of a PITA. I was doing the base molding in our master bathroom upstairs and had 25' of hose to get it upstairs and it was barely putting enough pressure to operate the gun.
 
JulesMaximus said:
Yeah, I'd probably go with this option too. Wheeling an air compressor and dragging hoses all through your house is kind of a PITA. I was doing the base molding in our master bathroom upstairs and had 25' of hose to get it upstairs and it was barely putting enough pressure to operate the gun.
Click to expand...

The one I have worked pretty well. I had to turn it down a bit in fact so it didn't go all the way through 🙂
 
Fritzo said:
The one I have worked pretty well. I had to turn it down a bit in fact so it didn't go all the way through 🙂
Click to expand...

The old Bostich framing nailer my dad had was a beast. Sometimes when I was using it, it would jam and send 2 nails through the chute. Usually the second one was backwards and it would drive the head all the way through the piece. D:
 
Bostich nailers are the best, but you don't need them unless you're using them 5 days a week for years. I got a set of Porter-Cable nailers at Home Depot on sale, and have beat the shit out of them for 10 years. They are still perfect.

For Crown a brad nailer is not going to cut it unless you hang up backers, which is a huge pain in the ass, and imo only necessary when doing complicated multi-layered trim, or working on metal studs.

You should get one angle nailer, and one brad nailer. A pinner is unnecessary for most people. The angle nailer is mush better for working in corners than any straight nailer.

EDIT: You may not want to hear this but, you should buy your trim (real wood only) at least a month in advance and let it shrink, twist, warp, cup, and bend. Buy 50% extra and take the crap back to the lumber yard. If you don't you will end up with gaps or worse eventually.
 
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OK, why don't we all just man up and start using an actuated hammer for the job :awe:

Any tool that uses bullets that you have to hit with a hammer is tops in my book.

FH00FEB_POWTOO_04.JPG


By far the most awesome tool I've ever used!
 
Agree, those things are hella fun. Any construction tool made my Remington is a win :awe:

edit: IIRC the nails those thing use actually have little plasic collars to absorb some of the force. We used one to put down the floor plate in a basement.

BANG!
 
Blackjack200 said:
A brad nailer for trim work?

As far as I'm aware, these are the kinds of nailers:

Framing
Angled Finish/Trim
Staple
Brad
Pin (used to hold pieces together while glue dries)
Roofing
Flooring

You want a trim nailer. They will mostly be the same, so you could go with Bostich, Ridgid, DeWalt, etc. it shouldn't matter too much.

The other way you could go is with a cordless nailer. They use a fuel cell to drive the pneumatics and a battery for ignition. Unless you're doing a lot of volume that's probably what I'd do. I got my dad this gun for Christmas and he loves it (he's a professional contractor). He's used conventional bostich nailers for more than 20 years.

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hard...splay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

You can just throw it in your toolbox and you don't have to worry about compressors and air hoses and all that crap.
Click to expand...

GobBluth said:
I don't have either, this is going to be a new purchase. After driving a finishing nail by hand and damaging the molding :S I decided that I need a nailer. Thanks for the advice, I'll probably look into a cordless finishing nailer.
Click to expand...

Get the Paslode, you won't regret spending the extra bucks!
After dragging around compressors & hoses for years, I borrowed a Paslode onc day. Liked it so well I bought my own that afternoon after work!

I have a Finish Nailer and a Framing Nailer, no way would I ever consider going back to pneumatic!
If either of mine ever die, I will replace it.
(Check Craigslist, always some good deals on used around here!)
 
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