Brad Nailer vs Finish Nailer Comparison
| Brad Nailer | Finish Nailer | |
| Type of Nail | Brads are thin 18-gauge nails. | 16-gauge and 15-gauge nails |
| Hole Size | Approximately 0.0475 inches | Up to 0.0720inches |
| Capacity | Less holding power | Ability to withstand higher payload. |
| Recommended Nailers | DEWALT Brad Nailer Click to See Price | MAKITA Finish Nailer See Latest Price |
Full Answer
How big are brad nails?
They’re available in collated strips for nail guns or individual pieces. Brad nail length ranges from 1/2-inch to 2 1/2-inch. Their slim profile reduces wood splitting. They leave small holes that often don’t need to be filled. Common brad nail uses include decorative trim, picture frame and paneling.
What size is a 18 gauge brad nail?
The 18 gauge brad nails are usually between 1/2 inch to 2 inches long and 1.207 Millimeters thick. In terms of nails, the higher the gauge number the thinner the nail. Hence, an 18-gauge nail is a little thinner than a 16-gauge. The 16 gauge finish nail is 1.588 Millimeters thick and is available in lengths ranging from 1 inch to 2-1/2 inches.
How to choose a finish Nailer?
Things to Consider While Deciding Between 15g vs 16g Nailer
- Nailing Types. First of all, recognize your project type and decide which type of nailing would fit your work the most.
- Dimension of the Nail. The nail dimension is a significant factor to consider while choosing between 15g and 16g as it can directly affect the surface and even sometimes the ...
- Weight. ...
- Finishing. ...
What is a Brad Nailer used for?
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Which is better brad nail or finish nailer?
In general, go with finish nails for thick wood and brads for thin wood. Finish nails are stronger than brads, so choose them if your project needs to be durable. Brads are thin, 18-gauge nails made for more delicate woodworking jobs. They're available in collated strips for nail guns or individual pieces.
What is the difference between a brad and a nail?
Brad nails are formed from a fine, 18-gauge wire, so they are smaller in diameter than finish nails and typically have less holding strength. They're better suited for tasks like light decorative trim and molding, panel installation and crafts.
Are Brad nails Finishing nails?
Most brad nails are made from a very thin 18-gauge wire. Finishing nails typically range from 16 to 10-gauges and are much more robust than brad nails. Finishing nails also come in a wider variety of lengths than most brad nails do; some can be upwards of 3” in length.
Can a Brad nailer be used for finishing?
For delicate finishing touches, a brad nailer is best. It might be used for adding narrow decorative moldings to plain panels or under stair treads. These tools are popular with crafters and model makers. They are often used for making birdhouses and bat boxes.
Can I hammer in Brad nails?
Luckily, you can definitely use a hammer with brad nails! But there's also a reason many people prefer brad nailers. Hand nailing brad nails comes with a lot of challenges and is rarely the right solution. It's easy to scuff or damage the wood swinging a hammer, and it can be tough to use a hammer on brad nails.
Do you use a brad nailer or finish nailer for trim?
For detailed woodwork and trim, where you need more holding strength than a micro pin can provide, a brad nailer is typically the top choice among contractors and weekend warriors alike. Brad nails are formed from a fine, 18-gauge wire, which means they are smaller in diameter and typically have less holding strength.
Can I use a brad nailer for baseboards?
Q. Can you use a brad nailer for baseboards? Brad nailers are suitable for baseboards. Most fire brads as long as 2 inches, which is enough to penetrate a 3/4-inch thick molding, 1/2-inch thick drywall, and bite into the framing lumber in the baseplate or wall studs.
Can you hammer in finishing nails?
Avoid scratches or hammer dents by using a nail set to finish driving the nail. Use a nail set that is the same diameter as the finishing nail. Center it on top of the nail and hit it with the hammer. Continue hammering until the nail is about 1/8-inch below the surface of the wood.
What are the best nails for baseboards?
What size nail should I use for baseboards? As we discussed earlier with nail guns – the best baseboard nails are probably going to be 6d (2'') or 8d (2.5'' for baseboard). These can easily accommodate 15 gauge or 16 gauge nails, giving you a long, durable nail for thick baseboards and studs.
Should I use brad nails or finish nails for baseboards?
In terms of best uses, brad nails are better suited for tasks like light decorative trim and molding, paneling, picture frames, and crafts such as birdhouses. Finish nails are better suited for larger trim, such as baseboards or crown molding.
Why are they called Brad nails?
In conclusion, a brad is called a brad because of its nature and its use in both paper and wooden projects. Brads are excellent choices when you want to conceal the nail in your work, unlike finished nails that have a bigger head. Brads have smaller heads and all these qualities are what make a brad a brad.
Will a brad nailer split wood?
As noted earlier, a brad nailer is commonly used when one needs to affix a small or thin board or piece of trim to an assembly. Using a finish nailer (with a heavier gauge nail) would likely split the board, but splitting can also occur if you place the brad too close to the end or edge of a board.
Why do they call them Brad nails?
In conclusion, a brad is called a brad because of its nature and its use in both paper and wooden projects. Brads are excellent choices when you want to conceal the nail in your work, unlike finished nails that have a bigger head. Brads have smaller heads and all these qualities are what make a brad a brad.
Can I use a brad nailer for baseboards?
Q. Can you use a brad nailer for baseboards? Brad nailers are suitable for baseboards. Most fire brads as long as 2 inches, which is enough to penetrate a 3/4-inch thick molding, 1/2-inch thick drywall, and bite into the framing lumber in the baseplate or wall studs.
What are brads used for?
Brads are commonly used to attach shoe moldings and small ornamental parts on furniture. Brads are also useful when gluing delicate wooden parts together. It's often helpful to apply glue to a joint and then drive a few brad nails into your project to hold everything while the glue dries.
What's the difference between 18 gauge and 16 gauge nails?
Gauge is actually the number of nails that are lined up. This indicates that 16-gauge nails are thicker and can hold better when compared to 18-gauge brads. You will have to keep in mind that a low gauge number will have a thicker nail.
What are the benefits of a brad nail?
Brad nails are formed from a fine, 18-gauge wire, so they are smaller in diameter than finish nails and typically have less holding strength. They're better suited for tasks like light decorative trim and molding, panel installation and crafts.
Why use 18 gauge brad nails?
One of the benefits to an 18-gauge brad is its size. Thanks to a smaller head and diameter, brad nails are easier to conceal in small pieces of wood trim.
What is a finish nail?
Finish nails are made from heavier 15- or 16-gauge wire, which means they can handle a greater payload. For larger trim, such as baseboards or crown molding, a finish nail is more suitable. A finish nail offers increased support and withdrawal resistance versus the brad nail, making it the better choice when installing larger trim and woodwork.
Do brad nails need wood putty?
With a smaller head size, it's possible that the insertion point may not even need to be concealed with wood putty. In other words, 18-gauge brad nails provide a cleaner look than a finish nail without extra touch-up involved.
Can you use a hammer to drive brad nails?
Most who have used a hammer to drive small brads know the frustration when these nails bend - not to mention the possibility for damage if using too much force. The brad nailer makes these small trim jobs a breeze, with high-quality results.". The fact is, most carpenters use a combination of finish and brad tools.
What gauge is a brad nail?
For example, a 10-gauge nail is actually bigger than an 18-gauge nail. Most brad nails are made from a very thin 18-gauge wire.
What is a finish nail?
A finish nail is far more suitable for things like crown molding, paneling and cabinetry. Finish nails are much harder to remove than a brad nail, so they’re especially good for things like doorway trim that gets a lot of abuse. Finish nails also have the advantage of length.
Why do nail guns need to be different?
Because of the difference in sizes and lengths, both nail guns need to operate at different strengths to allow for the nails to be driven neatly and safely. Both electric and pneumatic nail guns are available for each type of nail, and they’re widely available in local home stores.
What is a nail punch?
A nail punch is usually needed to drive the nail head just below the surface to allow for concealment. While this extra step adds some difficulty, the finish nail remains the preferred choice for larger trim and woodworking projects.
What gauge wire is used for brad nails?
Most brad nails are made from a very thin 18-gauge wire. Finishing nails typically range from 16 to 10-gauges and are much more robust than brad nails. Finishing nails also come in a wider variety of lengths than most brad nails do; some can be upwards of 3” in length.
Can a brad nailer drive a nail?
Absolutely, and a brad nailer or a finish nailer is a great place to start! Nail guns aren’t strictly for professionals, but it’s understandable why they might seem frightening. They can drive a nail with a tremendous amount of force, and the sound they make can be intimidating.
Can you use finish nails on drywall?
Finish nails also have the advantage of length. It’s possible to hang paneling over drywall and hit the studs with a finish nail of an appropriate length. Finish nails do require some extra attention because they almost always leave a small visible dimple in the surface.
Brad nailers and finish nailers look very similar, so there is understandable confusion about which does what. Our concise guide has the answers
Put a brad nailer and a finish nailer side by side, and it might be difficult to tell one from the other. Plus, when it comes to evaluating the nails—brad nail vs. finishing nail—there are similarities, too. Yet clearly there must be differences; otherwise, why would both be so popular?
Finish nailers are designed to shoot larger 16-, 15-, and even 14-gauge nails
Nails are specified by gauge, which is the wire diameter used to make them. Higher numbers are thinner, and lower numbers are thicker. The thicker a nail, the more holding power it has.
Brad nailers use smaller 18-gauge nails
Brad nails (often just called brads), are 18 gauge, which is 0.0475 of an inch. They vary in length from ½ to 2½ inches. By comparison, a 16-gauge finish nail is 0.0625-inch thick.
For delicate finishing touches, a brad nailer is best
The easiest way to look at the difference between a brad nailer and a finish nailer is perhaps to focus on the practical aspects of these tools and the jobs for which they are best suited.
Reach for a finish nailer for trim carpentry projects
The finish nailer takes over when things get too big or too tough for the brad nailer: The finish nailer has the power needed for denser materials. It gets its name from being the tool that applies the finishing touches to construction tasks and is used for installing baseboards, crown moldings, window trim, and door casings.
Finish nailers offer two options when it comes to magazine designs
While there’s little difference when looking at most finish nailers vs. brad nailers in physical terms, there is one type of finish nailer that is easy to identify. The angled finish nailer’s nail magazine isn’t at 90 degrees to the gun, it’s at either a 21-degree or 35-degree angle.
Both finish nailers and brad nailers come in cordless and pneumatic options
Having read about the brad nailer vs finish nailer question in some detail, you may now have a better idea of which tool is right for your upcoming projects. Keen DIY enthusiasts and remodelers might find they need one of each.
What is the difference between a brad nailer and a finish nailer?
The primary difference between a brad nailer vs a finish nailer is that the brad nail gun shoots 18-gauge nails whereas 16-gauge or 15-gauge nails are used in the finish nailer. The small 18-gauge brad nail helps you to attach delicate trims without splitting the trim. In contrast, finish nail guns that drive thicker nails offer more holding strength.#N#With a brad nailer, you can attach thin trims and moldings without the need for using putty. On the other hand, a finishing nailer is what you will use for most of the carpentry and woodworking jobs though you may need to putty the hole.
How thin is a brad nail?
For those unfamiliar with what brads are, they are essentially a thin nail. Your average brad nail has a gauge of 18 and is generally only 0.0475 inches in cross-section. As you can see, that is quite small for a nail. Brad nailers are perfect for fixing molding and trims.
What is the diameter of a brad nail?
The brad nails are 18-gauge nails which have a diameter of 0.0475 inches (approximately 1.2mm). Your finish nailer is designed to use either 16-gauge (Ø0.0625 inches) or 15-gauge (Ø0.0720inches). I have seen people do this by mistake and caught their error only after noticing that the nail gun was shooting 2 nails per shot.
How to use brad nailer for shoe molding?
For shoe molding, use the brad nailer with 1-1/2 long nails. Tips: Here are two important tips for you. 1. The brad nails are not round and they have a chisel edge. Position your nailer such that it is across the grain of the molding. This is to avoid the chisel edge splitting the molding. 2.
What is the best nail for crown molding?
15-gauge and 16-gauge nails are bigger and offer higher holding strength. Excellent for woodworking, building furniture, fixing large baseboards and plywood and attaching large crown molding. Finish nailers are more versatile and are handy for various types of work.
What is a finish nailer?
A finish nailer serves a very similar role to a brad nailer. Much like a brad nailer, you won’t be using a finish nailer for the majority of a job or a project. Instead, you bring it out for very specific situations. If you need to put up trim or molding, you would use a finish nailer as opposed to a regular nail gun.
How long nails should I use for baseboards?
Use the 1 ½ inch long nails for the best results. However, if your baseboard is large and heavy consider using a finishing nailer. When using a finishing nailer close to the edge of the baseboard, I usually predrill a hole to avoid splitting of the board. I highly recommend you do the same.
What is a Brad Nail?
Brad nails, or brads, are made of 18-gauge steel wire. Nail gauge sizes indicate the thickness of the nail. Thinner nails have higher gauge numbers. The small diameter of brad nails makes them easy to mask in wood trim or paneling. In addition to being thinner than standard nails, they also feature a smaller head.
What are Finish Nails?
Finish nails, or finishing nails, are generally made of 15- or 16-gauge steel wire, making them slightly thicker in diameter than brad nails. The added thickness means that finishing nails create a stronger hold than brads. This makes them useful for heftier applications with thicker material, such as cabinets or baseboards.
Brad Nails Vs. Finish Nails
When it comes to choosing brad nails vs. finish nails, it depends on your project and the type of wood you’re using. In general, go with finish nails for thick wood and brads for thin wood. Finish nails are stronger than brads, so choose them if your project needs to be durable.
What is the difference between brad and finish nails?
Brad nails have a smaller gauge than finish nails making them suited for detail work. Finish nails are also small gauged nails; however, they are more robust than brad nails and pack more holding power. Brad and finish nails may appear to have inconsequential differences; however, there isn’t much room for error when working with more delicate ...
What is a brad nail?
A brad nail is a small gauge nail typically loaded into a nail gun and driven with an air compressor. Most brad nails are listed as having an 18 gauge diameter. A note on gauge: the higher the number, the smaller the nail. It’s a little strange, but that’s how it works.
What are the pros and cons of brad nails?
Pros and Cons of Brad Nails. This section will help you decide where brad nails excel and where they fall short. Pros: Brad nails are small and leave a tiny imprint. Their thin gauge allows them to give you some holding power without causing an ugly mark in your project.
How to position a nail gun while using a brad and finish nail?
Most woodworkers recommend you position your nail gun perpendicular to the board you’re driving the nail. This will keep your nails traveling straight into the wood. You want to give your nails the best holding power possible.
Why use brad nails?
Most people will use a brad nail for securing a project that will also be held with wood glue, like picture frames. Brad nails leave a very small print, making them ideal for more delicate work where you want to avoid splitting your board. Now let’s go over finish nails.
How to fix a nail?
Let’s go over several common mistakes people make when using these nails, and how you can fix them: 1 Too much angle when driving the nail 2 Overshooting the nails 3 Improperly positioning your nail gun 4 Denting or bruising your wood
How to nail a nail with a hammer?
Instead, use a steady hand, position the nail gun, and fire the nail. You don’t want to bang the nail gun around. If you use a hammer for your finish nails, be sure to focus and don’t rush. Aim to strike the center of the nail and use appropriate pressure.
What's the Difference Between a Brad Nailer vs Finish Nailer?
The main difference between these two different nail guns is the size of the nail they shoot. The lower the gauge number, the thicker the nail. The brad nailer fires 18 gauge nails, and the finish nailer fires 16 gauge nails.
What is a Brad Nailer?
A brad nailer is a pneumatic, gas, or battery-powered nail gun. Brad nails are more like thick wires rather than actual nails, and you can bend them easily with your fingers. You couldn't use a hammer to drive in these tiny nails, but a brad nailer does the job without cracking the wood or leaving a huge dent!
When Should I Use a Brad Nailer?
Brad nailers are a great choice for projects that require mild holding power, particularly in woodworking projects. It's great for attaching thinner pieces of wood to a frame, like the slats on this umbrella stand side table. The slats are purely decorative, so they just need a few small nails to hold them in place.
What is a Finish Nailer?
A finish nailer looks very similar to a brad nailer; however, a finish nailer uses thicker nails with larger heads. Since the finish nailer uses a larger nail, it can handle more robust tasks with more holding power than a brad nailer.
When Should I Use a Finish Nailer?
Finish nailers open up some possibilities when it comes to projects. The thicker nails can drive through hardwoods and thicker materials more easily, and provide more holding power. It's more commonly used for home improvement projects rather than woodworking.
How to Use a Brad Nailer or Finish Nailer
If you don't know what you're doing, a lot can go wrong with a nail gun! In this section, we discuss some safety guidelines to follow. Both types of nailers operate the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you cannot use brad nails in a finish nailer. Be sure to follow the recommended sizes for your nail gun. Using the wrong sized nail can result in damage to your tool.
What is the appeal of a brad nailer?
The big appeal of the brad nailer is that it has lots of securing power, without leaving a big mark. The eighteen gauge nails of the brad nailer are low profile, and still strong enough to get the job done right. They are very versatile but they do come with some built in cons.
What is a finish nailer?
Finish Nailer. Finish nailers are aptly named for their ability to help you finish a project up. They use nails that are a little bit more heavy duty. Because of their nature, they aren’t really removable. However, the good news is that they are made to blend with your wooden workpiece.
Is it a good idea to invest in a nailer?
In the market for a nailer? That’s a good choice. Investing in a nailer is an excellent way to open yourself up to a wide variety of do it yourself projects.
Can brad nailers split wood?
For one thing, you are going to be able to able to see the holes this nailer leaves behind. They also have the capacity to split wood, which is an obvious problem for woodworkers that demand perfection. Still, most find that the utility of the brad nailer makes it an invaluable asset.