oldnewbie

I am thinking of getting a brad nailer. What size do I need for most small woodworking projects, like boxes, etc.? What do I look for as far as pressure needed, etc. Very vague about this. Please help. Thanks

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bobj3

Hi oldnewbie

If you are just going to get just ONE I would recommend getting one that can do brads and staples in the same gun. 18ga.

But I would also recommend getting a 16 ga. one also, most can put in 1/2" to 2" long brad nails.

The staples work best for plywood backs on cabinets the etc. then the small brads are great also because the head will be set in under the top of the board top.

I have many of the them and the one I like best is the Dewalt but I also like the Craftsman model also.
I should note I have many Grizzly/Harbor Freight ones also and they are OK but just for a small shop (hobby shop) but they work great and at great price.

Most air compessors will do the job you don't need a big one.


Bj

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challagan

If you want the gun to do fine finish work, I personally would not get a combo nailer/stapler. Reason being it has to have an anvil that will cover the stapler and brads so it leaves to big of a whole or at least the ones I have seen do. I recommend buying them as you need one. Get a brad nailer that can shoot upwards of 2 inches like BJ says. If you don't have a compressor yet then look at one of the PC or Bostitch combo units. I ended up getting a PC pancake with a 16 ga finish nailer, 18 ga brad nailer and I got a rebate for a free 1 1/4 inch stapler BJ is right the staplers are great for cabinet backs and that kind of stuff but I wouldn't recommend a nailer/stapler if you want as small of hole as possible. If you want to do frames and real small boxes with nails consider a 23 ga pinner.... grizzly has some nice guns for the money as well. Typically these brad and finish guns use between 80-90 PSI. Hope this helps.

Corey

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oldnewbie

Thanks for the help, guys. Lots of info I hadn't even considered. I have a small Craftsman compressor, probably more the inflator type, but it does say up to 150 psi. Maybe I just need to add the hose extension and gun?

bobj3

Hi oldnebie

You will need more than just hose and gun. if it's a real small one for tires.
Tank below
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40057

BUT they the tank is 40.oo bucks and if you just out just a bit more you can
get the one like below that will do just fine.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90168

I have one like the one below that I drag around the yard when I need to use a air nailer or other air tools to far from the shop.

They put them on sale all the time I got the one I have for 69.oo bucks on sale from HF... , I did rework it a bit and put on bigger wheels so I could pull it easy in the grass and weeds and without falling over, air tires from HF for 5.oo bucks ea.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90385
here's one for 70.oo bucks they have all kinds.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94291
10" Tires and wheels
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=30900

More toys for big boys at HarborFreight

Bj

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Bob

Good info from these guys and just a little tip if you go the pancake route. I throw my set up in my yard wagon which has the inflatable tires. The set up then follows me around like a well trained puppy

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Mike

Here is some more food for thought. If you are building furniture you will often need the strength of finish nails. If you are adding trim you do not usually need the strength of a brad. If you plan on using this where it will show then a 23 gauge pin nailer will do the trick for trim leaving a hole so small you dont even need to fill it. When attaching backing materials a stapler is worthwhile, and they come in both wide and the more common narrow crown versions. Let me suggest you consider individual brad and stapler tools so you don't have to unload the tool to shoot the other fasteners. Harbor Freight makes very good quality air tools under the Central Pneumatics name. Their air drills and die grinders out perform American made brands like Ingersol Rand at a fraction of the price. I got a super price on my PC pin nailer of $120 and was pleased with it, right up till the time I saw a Central Pneumatics model for under $30. At HF you should be able to buy a finish, brad and pin nailer for under $100 and have enough change to buy some fasteners, if there is a good sale running you might get a stapler too.
Let me add to this by mentioning an idea I saw in a magazine. Find a way to mark a color on each of your air tools, perhaps colored vinyl tape around the handle. Then make a box for each type of fasteners and paint it that color. When using the tool with the yellow tape go to the yellow box for refills, blue tape the blue box. Since most fasteners come in the same colored boxes you will save time by grabbing the correct refils every time. I know this to be true because I have on more than one occasion grabbed the wrong box when thinking about the next step in a project.

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Lefty Lucy

OMG! LMAO!!

Joe Lyddon

I got an 18ga brad nailer from Harbor Frt for about $17 ON SALE and it works great... for my casual use... I use 1-1/4" brads mostly.

I also got the HF two tank compressor, normally abt $150... ON SALE for abt. $100...

I bought their hose and brads for very reasonable prices...

I think your 150psi will work just fine...

I use mine like Norm of NYW uses his... ... just for the glue to set...

That's what I'm doing and it works great and not costing me an arm n a leg.

Mike

Lucy, I'm glad you found humor in my statement. Working in heavy industrial maintenance and doing pipe fitting and machine building over the years I can tell you that IR tools have gone so far down hill that I will no longer purchase them. They break under normal usage and cost 4-5 times as much as the Central Pneumatics tools. This opinion is not only my own observations, 90% of the professionals where I last worked felt the same way. Mind you I still own an IR 810 impact wrench and a ratchet from the days they built quality tools. Their new products shame the company name. Now perhaps you can tell me what you find funny about that?

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