What Size Finish Nail For Exterior Fascia Trim

How to Use a Trim Nailer Gun

Updated: Oct. ten, 2018

Avoid common mistakes with a pneumatic blast gun.

finish nail gun Family Handyman

Learn to use a trim gun and you'll never want to pound another stop nail. A trim nailer will give you superior results with less effort

Learn to use a trim nailer

The first fourth dimension I used a pneumatic trim gun, I was hooked. It'southward non just that information technology was lightning fast. I loved being able to install hardwood moldings without predrilling to prevent splitting, and I was happy to leave my boom set mostly in my toolbox. But even meliorate was the fact that nail guns permit you to concord a molding in exactly the right spot with one hand while you instantly nail it in place with the other. And small-scale nail guns called brad nailers permit you to quickly and easily secure thin, fragile moldings without ruining them. That's a job that otherwise requires the dexterity of a surgeon.

Only things can go incorrect. In this commodity, we'll bear witness you the about common issues you'll encounter when nailing trim with a finishing blast gun and the techniques you lot can utilise to prevent them.

Avoid blowouts by watching the angle

Photograph 1: Problem: Nail blowout

If you're not conscientious the boom will come up out where you don't want information technology.

Photograph 2: Solution: Angle the gun in

Angle the gun toward the unseen side.

Once you lot principal this angle technique, you'll take no problem shooting nails exactly where you want them. Start by positioning the heart of the stop boom gun tip exactly where you want the nail to enter the forest. Then carefully align the nail gun with the path you lot desire the nail to accept, just like when you line up a pool cue before striking the ball. Photo ane shows what can happen if you get devil-may-care and angle the gun wrong. When you're nailing into door jambs or other areas where only ane side shows, point the finishing smash gun slightly to the subconscious side where it won't show if the smash pops through (Photo 2).

Occasionally nails hitting a knot or follow the grain—and pop out despite your best effort. If this happens, break or cutting off the protruding nail with a nipper and employ your nail set to recess the remainder.

Avoid separate ends by placing nails accurately

Photo 3: Problem: Split trim at the ends

Be careful. If you smash also close to the cease of the trim, it'll separate.

Driving nails with these finishing blast gun tools is and so simple that information technology's easy to become carried away and put nails where they don't belong. (Ask any painter who has to putty all the extra holes!) With practice, y'all'll get a experience for where the nail comes out of the finish nail gun and be able to drive a nail precisely. Photograph iii shows the event of placing a boom too close to the end of a molding. The same thing will happen if you boom likewise shut to the end of a baseboard, specially on brusk pieces. Make certain to keep nails a few inches from the stop of moldings to avoid splitting the forest. Brad nailers, which drive thinner and shorter nails, are the exception. With these, y'all can commonly smash within 1/two in. of ends and 1/8 in. of edges without splitting the wood.

Utilise the right size boom

Photograph four: Problem: Exposed boom

If the boom is too large it can come up out where you don't want it.

Photo 5: Solution: Employ a smaller nail

Brad nailers are better for work that's close to edges

Different nail sizes

Exist sure to get the right size nails for the job.

Irresolute blast sizes in the middle of a chore is bothersome. It's tempting to use the nails that are loaded and hope for the best. But it'due south a bad thought.(Photograph 4). We should have used a 3/4-in. brad or at almost a ane-in. 16-gauge boom on this miter. A good rule of pollex is to pick a nail long enough to get through the material you're fastening and penetrate the underlying wood almost iii/4 in. to 1 in. Allow more penetration for heavy-duty jobs like nailing door jambs, and less for fine piece of work like securing miters.

I own a 15-gauge nailer and a brad nailer and keep them both connected to dissever hoses while I work. (Install a T-fitting at the compressor to connect two hoses at one time.) With this setup, it'southward an easy matter to pick up the brad nailer for intricate jobs like pinning.

Buying or Renting Boom Guns

If you lot can afford information technology, buy both a 15-estimate finish nailer and an 18-gauge brad nailer. The two guns make a winning combination. The xv-gauge nails, ranging in length from nigh 1-1/iv in. to 2-1/2 in., are strong enough to secure door jambs and other heavy trim materials. Plus, the angled nose on about fifteen-judge nailers allows you to smash in corners and drive toenails more hands. Prices for 15-gauge nailers range from $230 to $350.

15-gauge nails are too thick for many fine nailing tasks. And this is where the xviii-gauge brad nailer excels. They shoot very skinny v/8-in. to ane-one/2 in. long, xviii-guess brads. These are perfect for nailing miters (Photograph 2), nailing the skinny department of door or window casing to the jamb (Photo iii) and other nailing jobs where a larger boom would split the wood or protrude through the other side of the material. Prices range from $lxx to $200.

Having both guns connected to your compressor with dissever hoses means you can nail the inside and exterior edge of casings without having to change nails. And you'll always have just the right size smash for the chore at mitt.

If y'all don't do plenty trim work to justify the expense of two nailers, a 16-gauge blast gun is a skilful option. The 16-approximate nails are a fleck skinnier and not quite as stiff as fifteen-judge nails. But they're less probable to split thin pieces of wood. Most 16-gauge smash guns will shoot nails ranging from 1 in. to 2-1/4 in. Prices range from $200 to $300.

Avert underdriven nails

Photo half-dozen: Trouble: Nail won't set flush

Nails that don't set must exist driven in or removed. Utilise side-cut pliers to pull protruding nails. Or utilise a nailset and hammer to bulldoze them in.

Photo 7: Solution: Increase the air force per unit area

Increase the air pressure level on your compressor, or use a smaller nail if the nails aren't being driven in completely.

Nails that don't set, or that are left sticking out (Photograph 6), are usually the result of force per unit area that's likewise low, a nail that's likewise long or an improperly adjusted nail gun. If the nail is sticking way out like the i in Photo 6 try increasing the air pressure level to the maximum commanded for your terminate smash gun (xc to 100 lbs., or check your instructions). If the nail still won't set, effort loading shorter nails or brads.

The nosepiece on some finish boom guns is adjustable to help command how deep the nail is set. Use this in conjunction with pressure adjustments (Photo 7) to fine-tune your finish nail gun until the head of the nail or brad is slightly recessed. Continue a boom set handy for the occasional protruding nailhead.

Don't bother pounding in nails that beetle more than ane/4 in. They'll but bend over and dent the trim. Instead, grab the shank and bend it back and forth until it snaps, or use a side cutting pliers (Photograph 6) to cut the blast well-nigh the surface. Then recess the rest with a nail gear up.

Finish Blast Gun Safety

Pneumatic nailers are unbelievably fast and powerful. One devil-may-care 2d is all information technology takes to lose an eye or put a nail through your finger. Here are condom precautions you should take with a end boom gun:

Disconnect the air hose from the gun when you lot're loading nails or immigration a jam, or when you lot're not using the boom gun.
Article of clothing prophylactic glasses and have your helpers and bystanders wear them too.
Keep children away from boom guns. Disconnect the gun and put it out of achieve when you're not using it.
Keep your fingers well away from the nail's path. Apply clamps if necessary.
Never residuum the gun on top of a ladder.
Continue your finger off the trigger when you lot're not firing the gun.

Other issues yous might encounter

Cease smash guns can exist a little finicky. Here are a few mutual problems and possible solutions:

If the finish nail gun fires but no nail comes out fifty-fifty though yous can run into nails in the prune, the nail feed mechanism may be sticking or the nails may be binding in the magazine. Remove the nails and lubricate the magazine and spring feed with spray silicone.
If the finish nail gun doesn't fire even though information technology'south loaded with nails (you lot won't hear or feel the piston and commuter motility), it's probably not getting enough air. Make certain the compressor is plugged in and that the fuse or circuit breaker isn't tripped. Then cheque the estimate to be sure the pressure level on both gauges is prepare high plenty.
If a smash jams in the nose, disconnect the hose from the gun before y'all do anything else. Remove the nails from the gun. Then open up the nose (check your instruction manual if you're non sure how) and remove the jammed smash.

Required Tools for this Project

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined upwardly before you start—you'll save time and frustration.

Required Materials for this Project

Avoid final-minute shopping trips past having all your materials ready alee of time. Here's a list.

Originally Published: Oct 10, 2018

Source: https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-use-a-trim-nailer-gun/

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