I would like to purchase my first nail gun and don't know whether to get a 15
or 16 gauge finish gun. I am renovating all the window trim installing crown
moulding in a 1920's house (yellow pine moulding, plaster and lathe walls) and
will be building bookcases, cabinets, etc. Porter-Cable has a very attractive
combo kit that includes a 16 gauge but I don't want to save a few dollars and
then realize I made a mistake. When do you need a 15 gauge vs the 16 gauge?
Archer Gravely
Asheville, NC
[email protected]
I agree, a 15g angle finishing nailer for trim work and even fence building
(not the structural frame), an 18g brad (get the 2" min. capacity one)
nailer for decorative work. I bought a 1/4" crown stapler for some plywood
backs but have found its superb holding power (where appearance does not
matter) is so usefull for so many jobs. Be sure to get the one that will
take long staples, it gives it more useability. I find the stapler is the
one I reach for for hidden nailing, all thin plywoods, hardboards and thin
woods where brads would just slip through the wood.
"Steve" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:j4stb.5083$Ro5.773@fed1read07...
> A 15-G angle finishing nailer was my choice over a 16-G tool. (The angled
> magazine makes it far handier to get nails punched into tight corners and
> the slightly heftier nail simply holds better.) I suppose that someday
> (probably long) after I get a framing nailer to use on the planned
shed/shop
> out back, I might find some reason to splurge on a 16-G nailer just for
the
> heck of it.
>
> I also agree that a 1/4-inch crown stapler can be handy (if you get one
that
> will drive staplers at least longer than an inch) as well as the 18-G brad
> nailer (again if you get one that will drive long brads).
>
> --
> Steve
> www.ApacheTrail.com/ww/
> Mesa, AZ
> Penury Is the Mother of Invention
>
>
> "Archer Gravely" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> : I would like to purchase my first nail gun and don't know whether to get
a
> 15
> : or 16 gauge finish gun. I am renovating all the window trim installing
> crown
> : moulding in a 1920's house (yellow pine moulding, plaster and lathe
walls)
> and
> : will be building bookcases, cabinets, etc. Porter-Cable has a very
> attractive
> : combo kit that includes a 16 gauge but I don't want to save a few
dollars
> and
> : then realize I made a mistake. When do you need a 15 gauge vs the 16
> gauge?
> :
> : Archer Gravely
> : Asheville, NC
> : [email protected]
>
I'd recomend the 1/4" crown stapler first! I bought one cause it was
$25 and I had the money to blow. Tried it at a fiends house and
immediately bought a compressor, 6-7 other air tools and now own
around 20!! You will LOVE it!!
On Sat, 15 Nov 2003 08:50:34 -0600, "J&KCopeland"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"Archer Gravely" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> I would like to purchase my first nail gun and don't know whether to get a
>15
>> or 16 gauge finish gun. I am renovating all the window trim installing
>crown
>> moulding in a 1920's house (yellow pine moulding, plaster and lathe walls)
>and
>> will be building bookcases, cabinets, etc. Porter-Cable has a very
>attractive
>> combo kit that includes a 16 gauge but I don't want to save a few dollars
>and
>> then realize I made a mistake. When do you need a 15 gauge vs the 16
>gauge?
>>
>> Archer Gravely
>> Asheville, NC
>> [email protected]
>
>This is becoming a common question on this NG.
>
>I have a 15 gauge, a 16 gauge and an 18 gauge nailer. (Home Use, only)
>
>My suggestion is to get the 15 gauge and plan on getting the 18 gauge,
>later. It's not the 16 gauge won't work, it's just that that for specific
>applications, the 15 gauge works just a bit better, while, at other times,
>the 18 gauge is preferred.
>
>Your mileage may vary.
>James...
>You might as well plan on a 1/4" crown stapler, too. In fact, for someone
>just starting out, I'd recommend a 15 guage finish nailer and the crown
>stapler, first!
>
>
You will find that the 16 gauge gun is usually a straight nailer and it is a
little cheaper to purchase and the nails are also cheaper. The 15 gauge is
generally an angle nailer. The nailer and nails are generally a little more
expensive. The angle nailer will get into tighter places easier than a
straight nailer. Also, I have found the 16 ga. follows the grain more than
the 15 ga. nailer which means that the nail will exit the wood to the side
more than the 15 ga. The 15 ga. leaves a larger hole. However, it is
generally a round head as opposed to the "T" head of the 16 gauge. That
means it tends to hide itself better.
What would I buy. BTW, I have 15 ga. and 16 ga. nailer, 18 ga. brad nailer,
23 ga. pin nailer, 1/4" narrow crown stapler and framing nailer. They all
serve a purpose for me. For a person just now purchasing a nailer for
cabinets and finer woodworking, I would purchase them in the following
order. 15 ga. angle trim nailer, 18 ga. brad nailer, 1/4" narrow crown
stapler and 23 ga. pin nailer.
Preston
"Archer Gravely" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I would like to purchase my first nail gun and don't know whether to get a
15
> or 16 gauge finish gun. I am renovating all the window trim installing
crown
> moulding in a 1920's house (yellow pine moulding, plaster and lathe walls)
and
> will be building bookcases, cabinets, etc. Porter-Cable has a very
attractive
> combo kit that includes a 16 gauge but I don't want to save a few dollars
and
> then realize I made a mistake. When do you need a 15 gauge vs the 16
gauge?
>
> Archer Gravely
> Asheville, NC
> [email protected]
Check out the stores around you for price and availability/selection of
15g & 16g finish nails for one, then go from there.
Archer Gravely wrote:
> I would like to purchase my first nail gun and don't know whether to get a 15
> or 16 gauge finish gun. I am renovating all the window trim installing crown
> moulding in a 1920's house (yellow pine moulding, plaster and lathe walls) and
> will be building bookcases, cabinets, etc. Porter-Cable has a very attractive
> combo kit that includes a 16 gauge but I don't want to save a few dollars and
> then realize I made a mistake. When do you need a 15 gauge vs the 16 gauge?
>
> Archer Gravely
> Asheville, NC
> [email protected]
A 15-G angle finishing nailer was my choice over a 16-G tool. (The angled
magazine makes it far handier to get nails punched into tight corners and
the slightly heftier nail simply holds better.) I suppose that someday
(probably long) after I get a framing nailer to use on the planned shed/shop
out back, I might find some reason to splurge on a 16-G nailer just for the
heck of it.
I also agree that a 1/4-inch crown stapler can be handy (if you get one that
will drive staplers at least longer than an inch) as well as the 18-G brad
nailer (again if you get one that will drive long brads).
--
Steve
www.ApacheTrail.com/ww/
Mesa, AZ
Penury Is the Mother of Invention
"Archer Gravely" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
: I would like to purchase my first nail gun and don't know whether to get a
15
: or 16 gauge finish gun. I am renovating all the window trim installing
crown
: moulding in a 1920's house (yellow pine moulding, plaster and lathe walls)
and
: will be building bookcases, cabinets, etc. Porter-Cable has a very
attractive
: combo kit that includes a 16 gauge but I don't want to save a few dollars
and
: then realize I made a mistake. When do you need a 15 gauge vs the 16
gauge?
:
: Archer Gravely
: Asheville, NC
: [email protected]
"Archer Gravely" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I would like to purchase my first nail gun and don't know whether to get a
15
> or 16 gauge finish gun. I am renovating all the window trim installing
crown
> moulding in a 1920's house (yellow pine moulding, plaster and lathe walls)
and
> will be building bookcases, cabinets, etc. Porter-Cable has a very
attractive
> combo kit that includes a 16 gauge but I don't want to save a few dollars
and
> then realize I made a mistake. When do you need a 15 gauge vs the 16
gauge?
>
> Archer Gravely
> Asheville, NC
> [email protected]
This is becoming a common question on this NG.
I have a 15 gauge, a 16 gauge and an 18 gauge nailer. (Home Use, only)
My suggestion is to get the 15 gauge and plan on getting the 18 gauge,
later. It's not the 16 gauge won't work, it's just that that for specific
applications, the 15 gauge works just a bit better, while, at other times,
the 18 gauge is preferred.
Your mileage may vary.
James...
You might as well plan on a 1/4" crown stapler, too. In fact, for someone
just starting out, I'd recommend a 15 guage finish nailer and the crown
stapler, first!
"Archer Gravely" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I would like to purchase my first nail gun and don't know whether to get a
15
> or 16 gauge finish gun. I am renovating all the window trim installing
crown
> moulding in a 1920's house (yellow pine moulding, plaster and lathe walls)
and
> will be building bookcases, cabinets, etc. Porter-Cable has a very
attractive
> combo kit that includes a 16 gauge but I don't want to save a few dollars
and
> then realize I made a mistake. When do you need a 15 gauge vs the 16
gauge?
>
> Archer Gravely
> Asheville, NC
> [email protected]
I have never used a 15 guage nailer, that said I do have a 16 guage nailer
and find it very adaquate for doing trim work.
Greg