Pneumati c Nailers for Ready to go for a gun? Before you pull the trigger, read this.

By Joe Hurst-Wajszczuk

Since their debut on The New jobsite. A woodworker armed restricted them to use by Yankee Workshop, pneumatic with a pneumatic gun can professionals. Today, a nailer nailers have been a popular easily outpace a hammer- and compressor kit costs about target for insult-hurling swinging counterpart. In as much as a good cordless woodworkers, but time has . The real question is not proven that guns aren’t going are thinner than hammer- whether or not to go for a gun, anywhere. Nails aren’t pretty, drivenaddition, nails. gun-fired This feature fasteners but which ones do you need. I’ll nor are they a substitute for makes them less likely to split provide a quick -by-gauge overview of the fasteners and nails, brads, and pins provide a nailers and offer suggestions to viabletraditional and convenientjoinery, but solution finish woodAt one and time, easier the to price camouflage of in the workshop and on the nailersunder a and tiny compressors spot of filler. that best suit the work you do. help you find the gun (or guns) 58 woodcraftmagazine.com June/July 2012 Know your nails

15-Gauge 16-Gauge 18-Gauge 23-Gauge 18-Gauge Narrow Finish Nails Finish Nails Brads Pins Crown Staples 1 1 3 5 3 1 1 2 ⁄2" - 1" 2 ⁄2" - ⁄4" 2" - ⁄8" 2" - ⁄8" 1 ⁄2" - ⁄2"

Familiarizing yourself with only about .02mm, nails that differ and 23-gauge headless pins are the fasteners you’ll need for by only a gauge or two are often much easier to hide, but offer less woodworking will help you select used for the same applications. holding power, requiring glue to Gauge also relates to the size give joints real strength. Staples by gauge, the thickness of the and shape of the head. With the belong in a different category, wirethe right used gun. to make Nails the are fastener. identified largest heads, 15- and 16-gauge but deserve mention because The lower the gauge, the thicker they are often used instead the . Because the difference of nails when holding power between one gauge and the next is conceal.finish nails Smaller offer 18-gaugethe most holdingbrads matters more than appearance. power but can be difficult to Know your nailer Gun prices vary widely, even within each gauge. Premium Features To Look For priced guns employ longer lasting Flip-top nose - Jams happen. Depth adjustment - Fine-tunes Easy access makes clearing fastener driving depth without fasteners quick and painless. adjusti ng pressure at the compressor. seefiring a discernible mechanisms difference and more until efficient pistons, but you may not fasteners. In a production shop, a gun has fired several thousand Thumb - so it makes sense to buy the F i tt e d acti vated bestperformance gun you canaffects afford. profit, For nosepiece - blowgun - Clears debris from part-time woodworkers, it Protects work while off ering workpiece so an unobstructed that you can see your target. enough fasteners to foul a less- line of sight. expensivemight take gun. several A cheaper years to gun fire might be a better investment if Dual-fi re modes - Switches the money saved can be spent from single- to bump-fi re Magazine (gun fi res when nosepiece is window - Easy- depressed, without pulling While less-expensive guns to-read gauge and releasing trigger). offeron a second some features, (or third) top-shelf nailer. indicates when nailers come with all the bells it’s ti me for a new clip. and whistles (see “Features Swivel couple - To Look For,” right). Because Improves mobility and nosepieces more a necessity than keeps hose from kinking. ajams luxury. happen, Also, I increasedconsider flip-top fastener Rear exhaust - Prevents length might warrant paying a air from blasti ng your few dollars more if it saves you eyes with every shot. the expense of another gun.

Photos: Brian Francis June/July 2012 woodcraftmagazine.com 59 15-Gauge or 16-Gauge Finish Nailer

Gun Cost...... $100 - $200 3 1 Fastener Length...... ⁄4" - 2 ⁄2" Fastener Cost/1,000...... $14 - $22 (15-g) / $9-$7 (16-g)

most woodworkers need, and most can get by with oneA 15- or or the 16-gauge other. Both finish guns nailer reliably is the shoot largest long gun nails into cases and face frames.

thicker shaft and larger head offer slightly more holdingCarpenters power. prefer This helps15-gauge when finish installing nails. caseworkThe and when attaching warped trim to walls. However, for general shop woodworking, less might be best.

16-gauge nailer weighs less than 3 lbs.; my 15-gauge Most 16-gauge guns are smaller and lighter (my nails cost less. A few dollars difference quickly addsgun tips up whenthe scales buying at 5.2boxes lbs.). of Also,5,000 16-gauge fasteners. finish 1 All 15-gauge nailers can use 2 2" long nails, 1 but many bottom out at 1 4 ⁄ 1" nails. In comparison, 16-gauge⁄ nailers also 1 3 shoot 2 2" nails, but a few shoot"; only 4 "-longa few can nails. fire Roundheaded⁄ 15-gauge and T-shaped⁄ 16-gauge

nails require the same amount of filling. 18-Gauge Brad Nailer

Gun Cost...... $50 - $200 5 Fastener Length...... ⁄8"- 2" Fastener Cost/1,000...... $3 - $5

A brad nailer is smaller, lighter, and less expensive

gun to keep at the . Resembling a to operate than a finish nailer, making it a handy brad’s T-shaped head provides good holding power but16-gauge is less finish visible. nail, The only nail’s smaller, slightly the thinner 18-gauge shaft tends to cause less splitting than 16-gauge nails, an asset when fastening drawers, face frames, and small moldings. In my shop, my brad nailer is my go-to gun for assembling one-time-use jigs. The average fastener range for brad 5 1 nailers spans 8" to 1 2 2"-long nails. If⁄ you plan⁄ on using one gun for everything, this may be". yourA few best guns choice. fire

60 woodcraftmagazine.com June/July 2012 23-Gauge Pin Nailer

Gun Cost...... $60 - $300 3 Fastener Length...... ⁄8" - 2" Fastener Cost/1,000...... $1 - $3

Firing pins about the same diameter as standard desk staples, pin nailers can tack together thin stock that larger guns would turn to splinters. Another plus is that pin nails don’tThe require downside filling. to these (A spot headless of CA glue, fasteners followed isby that a light they sanding, don’t offer can muchmake holdingholes disappear.) power. Unless the joint is reinforced with glue, the can easily pop off. But this easy removability can be an advantage too. For example, when template routing, pins can be easier to use and remove than double-stick tape. The wide price range relates to maximum pin length. The priciest guns shoot 2" pins, but 3 8" pins. Longer lengths sound appealing, but pins⁄ aren't you can find models for $100 that fire 1 material.perfect. Long And pins pins tend that tofail follow to sink the completely grain (and areblow impossible out an edge) to driveor crumple with a when nail set. hitting dense 18-Gauge Narrow Crown Stapler

Gun Cost...... $50-$110 1 1 Fastener Length...... ⁄2" - 1 ⁄2" Fastener Cost/1,000...... $4-$7

Staples aren’t pretty, but when function trumps form, this is the gun to go for. Like 18-gauge brads, the ’s thin prongs don’t split the wood. But the pair of legs offers more holding power than a single brad. The wider crown keeps the fastener from blowing through thin or unpredictable materials. For attaching cabinet backs, assembling utility drawers, and securing upholstery, this gun earns its keep. Most guns 1 max out at 1 4"-staples; for a few extra dollars 1 ⁄ 2" staples. ⁄ you can buy a gun that fires 1

June/July 2012 woodcraftmagazine.com 61 Gun Buyer’s Guide best describes you brand of woodworking. ReferTo use to this the flowchart, follow-up startquestions with tothe decide gun that on your next gun purchase. Two or three guns should meet most shop challenges. I

Carpentry/Casework General Woodwork Fine Woodwork If you split your ti me between If you primarily work at the If you mostly prefer dovetails the workbench and the job site. bench on various projects. and traditi onal joinery.

16-Gauge 18-Gauge 23-Gauge Gun Gun Gun

Looking for more Looking for a uti lity Looking for a nail less holding power? Long fastener to att ach plywood likely to cause splits and a nails veering off course? backs and drawer bott oms? head that's easier to hide?

Narrow Crown Stapler

15-Gauge Gun

Safety Finish nails and brads have wedge-shaped ti ps. When Here are a few ti ps to avoid a trip one encounters resistance, it to the emergency room. veers in the directi on of the • Never point a loaded gun at anyone. wedge. You can use this to • Pay att enti on to fastener length, and keep your advantage. When nailing fi ngers safely away from the ti p when fi ring. along an edge, hold the gun Thin-shanked pneumati c nails and staples perpendicular to the work to oft en are defl ected by dense grain and blow allow the fastener to curve out the side or make a complete U-turn. in either directi on without • When the gun jams, disconnect the air poking through the wood. Blow-out hose before fi ddling with the nosepiece.

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