Teach me about Nail Guns

What kind of projects do you do around the house?

Most combo kits with the pancake compressor come with a 16 and 18 gauge brad nailers. Great for trim work, molding, small projects. Same size (gauge) nails are specific to nailers but length of nails can vary in same nailer. I favor Bostitch, but there are other good brands. For larger framing nailers Metabo (Hitachi) is a good brand. You also might find staplers to be handy.

Don’t have any cordless so can’t speak to that.

Stapler, brad nailers, intermediate nailers, and framing guns.

I have a stapler that I never use, but the brad and intermediate are used frequently. Probably need at least a couple in the middle for everyday projects.

I have Porter Cable products that use air.

The closest thing you’ll probably get to a do all gun is something like this LINK

Shoots couple different size brads and staples. I have one and it works for a variety of projects especially if you use it along with some strong glue. I also have a medium size nail gun and a framing nailer but nothing gets used as much as my combo nailer.

I have a few pneumatic nailers that are different gauges, but I really really like my Dewalt 20v 18 gauge nailer. It makes life so much easier than dragging the air hose all over the house.

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I have a few pneumatic nailers that are different gauges, but I really really like my Dewalt 20v 18 gauge nailer

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That gun has saved me so much time and so many dents installing trim it’s not funny.

I second guessed if it was was worth it when I bought it, now I use it all the time.

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I second guessed if it was was worth it when I bought it, now I use it all the time.

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Same here. I was very skeptical but I'm glad I bought it. I haven't fired up my compressor since.

I am an amateur at best, but I have three from Harbor Freight. I used them for an extensive remodel on our house and they did great. I did learn to add a little oil each day (as is recommended) and it will eliminate most problems.

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I have a Hitachi 15ga trim gun, a Hitachi 18ga brad nailer, Hitachi 1/4" crown stapler, Hitachi framing gun, Husky 23ga headless pin gun, and a Paslode 16ga angled fuel trim gun. For the vast majority of DIY projects you can get by with the 15ga and 18ga and a good crown stapler rounds it out to pretty much anything you'll run into. Hitachi is as solid as you need, excellent guns for the money. For compressor, it's a matter of preference. I have a 1-gallon CAT air compressor that is very quiet and I use it for most small jobs as its also a very durable unit with good recovery rate. I have a Makita 5-gallon oil-lube compressor, solid machine for bigger jobs and still not as loud as most pancake compressors. It is heavy though, you'll be glad it has wheels.

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Pretty much this plus a couple more - different brands.

Compressors come in oiled and non-oiled. IMO oil-less is the way to go to guarantee you'll never ruin a floor. Outside it doesn't matter; however inside it can make a difference real quick. If shopping be sure to compare CFM's.


Concerning brands (and coming from a family of GC's) - I've seen/used most all of them. Some are larger and more cumbersome, some louder than others, some oil less some not, and some mentioned here (whole thread - not this one) that are not worth owning. Haven't much knowledge of air-less except old giant Paslode 1st/2nd gen framing guns so I'll refrain any mention of their worth. And truthfully on the look for a small battery-style brad nailer . . . Where I'm heading, recently on a whim bought a two pack Rigid offer( 18ga and 23ga) as a backup for the pin nailer.... and they appear to be really good, quiet, oil less, and have some type of lifetime warranty. For the price I'd highly recommend for most homeowners.