Expert: Jamie Yocono - 11/28/2006

Question
I am presently looking for a nail gun to use for furniture building and general home improvement work such as installing molding, etc.. would you recommend a 18 or 16 gauge gun? thanks

Answer
Hi Jack,

Right off the top of my head- and 18 gauge. But... keep reading......

I feel like choosing between a 16 or 18 gauge gun is more or less like looking at the same gun... meaning they're pretty close in terms of what they can do. Now- if you're talking about a gun that shoots both staples and brads, like a Senco FinishPro 2N1 - 18 Gauge gun, then I think you're getting more bang for your buck. Staples and brads....cool.

Let's talk about nail guns for a minute. I have a few, like a construction gun that shoots 3" nails, for putting 2 x 4's together. This is great for doing things like deck building, or rough construction. I had a stapler, but found that I almost never used it, so I sold it on eBay. It wasn't versatile enough for my needs, I need to be able to shoot a variety of staples and it didn't really do that. And then I have 2 smaller trim nails guns- an 18 gauge brad nailer, and a finish nailer, not sure what gauge. I think the one that gets the most use is the 18 gauge. It's light, small (so I can get into some tight areas) and fits very nicely in my hand.

You can't beat the fact that the 18 gauge brad nailer shoots such a small nail (headwise) and I can use it in a variety of situations- furniture making, light trim work around the house, etc.  I use the finish nailer less and less because it shoots a nail with a bigger head, and I don't like having to go back and fill the nail holes. So to me- an 18 gauge works best.

If I were starting out all over again, and buying my tools for the first time, I would probably go with an 18 gauge brad/pin gun, and a big construction gun. I feel like those two pretty much cover all your bases, but that's only if you do some bigger stuff with 2 x 4's. Another thing to think about- the newer guns are cordless, meaning they don't require a compressor to shoot nails. I like that A LOT and would definitely consider going with one of those, especially for the smaller gun. It's nice to not have to worry about a hose when you're up on a ladder shooting some crown molding in place. I guess it all depends on what you plan on building around your home.

Two last thoughts- I pretty much only use Senco nail guns. Two of my guns are probably getting close to 20 years old and they still work great, I've probably made 2 small repairs. I don't like buying off brands and having to worry about getting parts a few years down the line. So look for a brand that has been around for a while.

And finally- I just saw an outstanding deal, I think it was from Porter Cable. I got a flyer from one of my suppliers, and their sale was for a compressor, hose and 18 gauge gun for about $90. That's an unbelievable price, I nearly bought it because it was such a good deal, but I didn't. Anyway, look around for a good deal, they should be out there. Some of the woodworking magazines might advertise them, or go to the actual websites of the toolmaker and look around.

OK, good luck, I hope this helps. Please feel free to write back if you have any further questions after reading this. And if this answer was helpful... please take a minute and rate my service. Thanks!

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com