In the last 25 years, carpenters and woodworkers have seen a lot of changes in the tools that help them do their jobs. The advancement of nail guns is one of the tools that have undergone dramatic changes.

25 years ago the majority of carpenters and woodworkers were still using a handheld hammer to drive nails into position. Nail guns had been invented, but they were costly, and most people could not afford to own one.

Today the nail guns are more affordable, and they are also more advanced. There are many different guns available, and each of the guns has a strength that makes it best for specific types of work.

We asked our expert carpenters which is better a straight finish nailer or an angled finish nailer?if they would prefer to use a straight or angled finish nailer.  They gave us the following information.

Straight Vs Angled Finish Nailer

We need to exam the two nail guns and see what their strengths are before we can make the determination of which gun is the best.

The straight finish nailer differs from the angled finish nailer because of the alignment of their magazine. On the straight nail gun, the magazine is straight. On the angled gun the magazine is at an angle.

Straight Finish Nailer

Strengths:

The straight gun is capable of nailing thinner nails. These benefits people doing finish work like hanging trim or detailed carpentry. The smaller gauge nail is driven deep into the wood without causing damages like splitting to the wood. The smaller nail can be driven into thin woods.

These guns cost less than the angled versions. This is because the thinner nails for the gun cost less to produce and the straight magazine guns have been on the market for a longer period of time.

Weaknesses:

• This tool is heavier than the other version so you do not want to have to carry it when you are nailing boards over your head.
• If you are doing remodeling work and have to nail the nails in areas that provide you very little working room this gun is larger and harder to maneuver.
• The thinner nails may not have the ability to hold the boards you nail in position as well as the thicker nails the other tool can drive.

Angled Finish Nailer

Strengths:

• The angled gun can be used to drive thicker nails so when you are doing framework or heavier construction work you want this tool. This tool can fasten thicker boards like 2×4?s together with more strength than the thinner nails would have.
• This tool can drive nails in tighter areas due to the longer nose. If you are working in a place that has little room for movement then this gun will allow you to place the nail where you need it. The longer nose and the angle of the magazine make this the perfect gun when you are doing remodeling projects.
• This tool is lighter and has less bulk than the straight versions. Reducing the weight of the tool means that you do not get as tired as quickly, and you do not have the same amount of hand strain that you would have had carrying the heavier tool. This tool is better when you are working in elevated places or when you have to hold the nailer over your head in order to work.

Weaknesses:

• The nails driven by this tool will often cause the board to split or pieces of the board to break away. The nails are thick and the pneumatic tool drives them in with a lot of force which can cause thinner boards to break. If you are doing finish work you want your nail gun to be able to secure the boards without damaging them.
• These nail guns cost more than the straight nail guns do.
• You may not be able to find the angled nail gun as easily as the straight version. There are fewer manufacturers that produce the angled version of this tool.

Final Thought

When considering whether to buy a straight or an angled nail gun you must consider what type of work you will be doing with the tool. You must also consider where you will be working. And last but not least you must consider how much you are willing to pay for the item.

Some people say that the shape of the heads on the nails driven by the different tools makes one nail hold more securely than the other. The angled gun shoots a nail that has a head shaped like a D. The straight gun shoots a nail with a head shaped like a T.

The shape of the head of the nail may add to the strength, and this may simply be a preference issue. Either way, both of these guns types are beneficial and faster than using a hammer.

In order for you to do the best job when you are framing you need the best tools and supplies. A nail gun is a great way to nail boards together. The nail guns uses air or electricity to force the nail out of a chamber much like a normal gun forces a bullet out of the chamber.

The nail is forced out of the chamber so quickly that it drives into the material it is aimed at and only stops when the head of the nail reaches the surface of the material.

Using a nail gun is much faster than using a traditional hammer. Often people ask what nail size they should use for framing. There are many different sizes of nails. To decide which one is best you will take into consideration:

• What materials you are nailing together
• What type of nail gun you are using

Nail Sizes for Framing

Understanding Nail Sizes

The first thing you may want to take into consideration when choosing the nail is the length of the nail. The length of the nail is specified by a system called the ?penny? system. The penny system derives from the old English penny. These pennies were marked with a d. The d stood in representation of the denarius, or Roman coin.

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In the early days of carpentry the penny denoted the cost of the nails. If you purchased a 10d nail the by the penny system you could get 100 nails for 10 denarius or 10 pennies.

Today the penny system is used to refer to the length of the nail not the cost of the nail. A penny refers to ? of an inch. The measurement systems starts with the 2d nail that measure one inch in length. Then each penny represents an increase of ? of an inch. A 16d nail measures 3 ? inches in length.

Nails and their lengths

• 2d nails are 1? long with a 0.072 diameter; not normally used for framing.
• 3d nails are 1 ?? with a o.o83 diameter; not normally used for framing
• 4d nails are 1 ?? long with a 0.109 diameter; not normally used for framing
• 5d nails are 1 ?? long with a 0.109 diameter; not normally used for framing
• 6d nails are 2? long with a 0.12 diameter; only used for special framing like the joiningg of sub and finish flooring
• 8d nails are 2.5? long with a 0.134 diameter; frequently used for some framing purposes
• 10d nails are 3? long with a 0.148 diameter; frequently used for some framing purposes
• 12d nails are 3 ?? long with a 0.148 diameter; frequently used for some framing purposes
• 16d nails are 3 ?? long with a 0.152? diameter; frequently used for some framing purposes

What Nail Size for framing

• 16d nails are best for joining materials creating wall plates or even rim joints
• 10d nails are 3 inches in length. They measure about 0.148 inches in diameter. These nails work great for nailing two boards that are lying flat against one another, like when you are doubling wall studs. They are also great when you are nailing floor joists that overlap.
• 8d nails are best used for projects like laying subflooring. They can be used to attach your studs to wall plates, or when you are attaching your rafters to the top of your wall plates. The 8d nail is 2.5 inches in length and has a diameter of about .134 inches. You will find the 8d nail perfect for attaching furring strips.
• 6d nails are 2 inches in length and have a diameter of about 0.12 inches. They are used when you are doing things like nailing together the finish floor and the sub-floor. They are shorter and have a smaller diameter so they are less likely to damage the boards they are nailed into. They are not used for any other type of framing work.

Smaller nails

The smaller nails are less likely to cause the board they are nailed into to split. You should always choose the smaller nail when you are working.

Remember that the nail must go through the board and connect into another board so consider the thickness of the board, and the thickness of the board you are attaching to.

Final Thoughts

When you go to buy the nails to use on your project you have to consider what materials you are going to use those nails on. You will likely have to buy more than one size nail to do a good job on your framing project. Most contractors keep several different nail sizes on hand so they are always prepared no matter what issues they face.

You probably thought that you would never use the algebra you learned in school, but when you go to figuring out what nails to buy you just might need it.

There are several different nail guns available on the market today. The nail gun is a tool that makes fastening construction materials together easier to do, faster to do, and because you have less bent nails, cheaper to do.

A brad nailer is a specialized type of nail gun. A brad nailer is not used for typical house construction, for those purposes you will need a framing gun. A brad nailer is used for the purpose of installing trim work like crown molding, baseboards, and window casings.

These tools are specialized, but they do make trim work easier, and more aesthetically pleasing. The trim is like the icing on a cake. It does not have to be put up, but when it is put on the project looks better.

There are several things to consider about cordless brad nailers. They are not all exactly alike, so it helps to know as much about them as you can before you decide to purchase one.

What is a brad nailer

A brad nailer is a specialized nail gun that shoots 18 gauge fasteners. They are primarily used to hold small pieces of board like trim boards in place.

The small diameter of the brads is preferred for delicate wood or small wood pieces because larger nail diameters can cause damages to the wood, or even cause the wooden pieces to split.

The smaller diameter nails are driven into the board and the only thing that tells you a nail is there is a small hole that can easily be filled with wood putty if you desire, but this is usually not necessary. If you are painting the wood you may not even need wood putty because the nail holes are so small that the paint is capable of filling in the hole.

The average brad nailer can shoot a nail that is in the range of 5/8? long and 2 2/8 inches long. It is a wise idea to choose a brad nailer that will shoot the right length of brads for the type of wood working that you do the most often.

How to use brad nailer

Basically you employ the same usage techniques for using a brad nailer that you would apply if you were using a framing gun, or any other pneumatic nailing system.

You need an air compressor and an air hose with a hose adapter that will allow the hose to properly connect to the brad nailer. These items are easily purchased at your local hardware supply store.

You may also want to buy a roll of Teflon tape so that you can be certain that the connection between your air hose and your nail gun is secure.

Secure the Connection

Using the Teflon tape; wrap the connector fitting on the hose adapter. Connect the adaptor to the nail gun and tighten it as much as you can by hand.

Then use an adjustable wrench to further tighten the adaptor. You have to get this adaptor in place snugly so that you have no air leaks.

Oil the Tool

You will need to use pneumatic tool oil to lubricate the tool. This lubrication is vitally important to help the gun function properly. One of the side effects of NOT properly oiling these tools is the jammed nails. Oiling the tool reduces the possibility of nail jams occurring.

You only need a few drops of oil. Clean up any excess oil with a soft cloth.

Load the Nails

Your brad nailer will hold a specific number of nails. The manufacturer instructions will tell you exactly how many brads the unit will hold at one time.

Connect the Air Compressor

When the air compressor that you are using is pressurized connect one end of the air hose to the compressor and the other end of the air hose to the nail gun.

Nailing with the Brad Gun

You are now ready to shoot the brads into the wood you are working with. The tip of the brad nailer should be at a 90 degree angle to the surface you are nailing.

When the tip is in position you pull the trigger on the device and allow the brad to be driven into the wood.

Types of brad nailers

You basically have a choice between two types of brad nailers.

The Pneumatic Brad Nailer

The pneumatic brad nailer is powered by the force of air being pushed through the air hose that connects the unit to a pressurized air compressor.

The pneumatic nailer is very easy to use, and most people who own other pneumatic nail guns like framing guns, finish guns, or pneumatic staple guns, will choose to use the pneumatic brad nailers.

These tools are very powerful and you should always handle them with care. The brad may be smaller in diameter than the nails shot by a framing gun, but those brads can still do a great deal of bodily damage to you.

The Electric Brad Nailer

The electric version of these tools does not require an air hose or connections to an air compressor. They are simply powered by electricity and have an electric supply cord that plugs into a standard 120 Volt electrical outlet.

The electric brad nailer is not quite as powerful as the typical pneumatic gun is. The pneumatic version drives the brad in with a greater amount of force so the head of the brad is rarely seen. The electric version does not have the same driving power so the heads of the brads may still be visible.

Brad Nail Sizes Chart

The size of the brad nail that you will buy will be dependent on the size of brad your tool can accommodate, and the materials you are working with.

Length of Brad

The length of the brad that you will be using is dependent upon the material you are nailing with it. You want to choose a brad nail that is three times longer that the thickness of your material. Your desire is for the brad to go into the material at least three quarters of the way without completely penetrating the material so that a portion of the brad nail sticks out past the back of the board.

Nail Sizing

When you shop for brad nails the nails will be labeled according to the penny scale that is used with most nail varieties. You can buy an 8d, or 12d, or 16d, and so on. This sizing is in reference to the length of the nail.

Nails are also measured according to their thickness. The thickness is the diameter of the nail shank and this is referred to as the gauge of the nail. You can buy brad nailers that use brads that are thicker or thinner than the 19 gauge nails but the 18 gauge is the most common. The 18 gauge is versatile and can be used on many different types of wood, and thicknesses of wood.

Other than the length and gauge of the nail you also consider the type of shank the nail has. The all-purpose brad has a smooth shank with nothing special about it. The ring shank is perfect for holding something in place because the nails are very hard to pull back out of the wood, so the sun will not draw the nails out.

The spiral shanks are used with hardwoods. The spiral shanks will spin as they are shot out of the gun so they enter the wood in a similar manner to a screw. They have extreme holding power and you can use smaller diameter nails thus preventing wood damage when the nail enters.

How to load a brad nailer

Loading a brad nailer involves a little more than just sliding the brads into place in the gun. You have to consider all of the nailing elements and make sure that everything is set for the application you will be doing with the device.

You must adjust the air pressure dial to the proper setting so that the brads will be driven properly into the wood. The greater the air pressure the deeper into the wood the brad will go.

You must adjust the depth gauge on the nailer so the gun will be held the appropriate distance from the material.

You press the magazine lock and gain access to the magazine where the brads are held. Load the magazine and slide it closed.

Final Thoughts

A brad nailer is a handy tool that helps you apply the decorative trim pieces to your building projects. These guns shoot various lengths of nails, but for the most part the diameter of a brad is an 18 gauge.

A brad may have a head that is off to one side of the nail, or they may have no head on them. The choice of brad styles will be based on the type of work you are doing with the nail gun, and the type of wood the nail is being driven into.

Nail guns are excellent tools that save you time. These tools allow you to drive a fastener into materials efficiently, effectively, and easily.

In the last decade, the cost of air nailers has dramatically decreased. More homeowners are able to have one, or more of these devices in their toolboxes.

There are different types of nail guns. The main difference in the guns is the fasteners they can be used to drive. When you are working on trim, or on delicate projects you will want to consider a gun that can shoot shorter and thinner fasteners.

When you are comparing the pin nailer Vs brad nailer you will consider the fasteners these tools can be used to drive; as well as, the manufacturer recommendations for the tools.

Pin Nailer Vs Brad Nailer

The pin nailer and the brad nailer are both finish guns. Finish guns are designed to use when you are installing trim like crown molding, baseboards, window casings, and such. They can also be used when you are building jewelry boxes, furniture, dollhouses, and delicate craft items.

The Pin Nailer

A pin nailer shoots the smallest and thinnest of all fasteners. They can shoot a 23 gauge pin nailer.

They are perfect for:

• The most delicate pieces of trim.
• They are perfect when you are applying a very thin veneer.
• You can use them when you are trimming furniture, or crafting small and delicate items.
• Lightweight items

The fasteners, or pins, that these guns apply are very thin, but that does not mean they are not strong. These pins are straight and thin. They have no arch to them. They have no head.

When these pins are shot into materials you rarely need to use putty to fill the holes they leave. These pins are primarily used along with adhesives. You put the adhesive on the back of the item you are installing and then use the pin nailer to hold the item in place until the adhesive dries.

Pin nailers are specialty items and that causes them to be harder to find. The price of the pin nailers is slightly more than brad nailers because fewer companies make the guns, and fewer companies make the pins that they shoot. If you have a pin nailer buying replacement pins may be more difficult because not all hardware stores will carry them.

The Brad Nailer

A brad nailer is a versatile tool that anyone who works with wood will benefit from owning. The brad nailer shoots brads that are as small as 5/8? and as long as 2?. These nail guns shoot an 18 gauge brad nailer. This makes them ideal for many different trim applications.

The brads shot through a brad nailer are strong and they do not leave a large hole in the material. They can be used to install window and door casings, baseboards, beadboard, crown molding, decorative trim, veneers, and more.

Brad nailers are used by commercial and professional woodworkers. They are used by homeowners. They are used by people who do woodworking hobbies and crafts. They are excellent for beginners and for experts.

You do not have to apply adhesive to the back of trim boards that are being hung using a brad nailer. You can apply adhesive if you want to, but the brads will hold the board in place without it.

Brad nailers are more common than pin nailers. You will find brad nailers in all stores that carry pneumatic nail guns. You will find the brads that the brad nailer shoots readily available in almost every hardware store.

Conclusion

When comparing the pin nailer vs brad nailer the differences between the tools are great. The pin nailer is primarily used to track items of lightweight trim in place until the glue dries. Brad nailers are designed to be used with just about any trim you are putting up.

If you are a homeowner and you are going to have nail guns then you need to have a brad nailer, and you should have a framing gun also. These two guns will allow you to do the majority of carpentry work that you need to do.

Nail guns like the brad nailer, finish nailer, and framing nailer is excellent tools. They take the work out of driving nails. They allow you to nail up more boards because your arm and shoulder do not get as tired as when you hammer in nails.

The nail gun is not a perfect item. There is a chance when you are using a siding nail gun or framing nailer, or any other type of nail gun, that you will experience a nail jam.

When the gun gets jammed it is frustrating, and it can slow you down. You must remember to stay calm and follow the proper procedures to unjam the gun. Remember that in instances like this safety is the most important thing.

How to Clear A Jammed Nail Gun

Put on the Proper Safety Gear

If you do not already have safety gear on, then you need to put on the proper safety gear before you address the jam.

Eye Goggles

The nail can pop up when it is coming out of the gun and hit you in the eye. Eye injuries are serious business. We know that goggles are not the most comfortable items to wear, and most people think they are unattractive, but for your eye safety put on a pair.

Hand Gloves

There is a risk of you sustaining a hand injury while you are getting the nail gun unjammed. You can cut your hand pretty severely when doing this, so go ahead and don a pair of heavy-duty gloves and reduce the risk.

If you do not wear the gloves you are likely to wind up with stitches.

The Basics of Unjamming Your Nail Gun

Now that you are properly protected from accidents you need to:

Step 1: Disconnect the nail gun from the power source

Turning the nail gun power source off is the first step. You want to go ahead and disconnect the air hose or remove the batteries from a battery-powered nail gun to be certain that the gun cannot accidentally be activated. Even though the gun has been disconnected from the power source be sure that it is pointed away from you while you work.

You also need to make sure that no other worker, animal, or breakable object, is in the direct line of fire. If the nail gun suddenly kicks the nail out you do not want to injure anyone else. Tell everyone that you are working on a jammed gun and ask them to stay out of harm?s way.

Step 2: Clean Under the Gun

Take a clean cloth and clean beneath the nail gun. You want the area beneath the gun clean so you can see the nail when it gets ejected.

You want the nail gun to be positioned on a flat surface that is stable and does not rock. Do not try to unjam the gun while you hold the gun in your hand or balance the tool on your knee.

Step 3: Open Up the Gun

Look to see if the gun has a release lever. You will need to open the barrel of the nail gun to find this lever. If it does have one this lever will help you to eject the jammed nail. This lever is not on every gun.

If you do not see a release lever then look closely and find the nail or nails that are out of line, or positioned improperly.

Step 4: Pull the Nail Out

You need to get a pair of needle-nose pliers to help you grab onto the jammed nail. Grip the nail firmly and try to pull it out with the pliers. You will more than likely have to work at this for several minutes. Stay calm, remain as patient as possible and just keep trying to work the nail loose.

Step 5: Refill the gun

After you have removed any nail that is not in the proper position you are ready to reload your nail gun. Make sure that you put the new rack of nails into the gun precisely as they should go.

You are now ready to restore the power to the tool and go back to work.

Final Thought

A jammed nail gun is frustrating, and it can cost you valuable time on the job. You must remember that these tools can be dangerous, and take your time when you are unjamming them. It is far better to lose a little time than to lose an eye or be severely injured.

The best way to prevent nail jams from happening is to keep the nail gun properly oiled and maintained. When you finish your job do not store the gun without taking the nails out and properly oiling the tool. The few minutes you spend doing that may save you from doing hours of nail removal when the gun gets jammed.