Put simply, you’re better off shooting 18 gauge brads with an 18-Gauge Brad Nailer while using the 16 gauge finish nailer exclusively for projects that require 16 gauge finish nails. The exception, as we had mentioned, is when you own a multi-purpose 16 and 18 gauge nailer such as this.
What is a 16 Guage finish Nailer used for?
The most common type of nail gun that utilizes 16-gauge nails is the finish nailer. This gun is mostly used to install boards and crown molding where the workpiece is directly attached to drywall. You will need extra holding power of thick 16-gauge nails to keep your pieces in place.
What diameter is a 18 gauge nail?
Nail Gauge: 18 gauge only: 15 or 16 Gauge: Hole Size mm / inches: 1.41 mm / 0.055″ 15 gauge: 1.41 mm / 0.055″ 16 gauge: 1.68 mm / 0.066″ Nail Length mm / inches: Up to 51mm / 2″ Both shoot up to 63.5mm / 2-1/2″ Recommended Uses: Finishing lighter trim work: Thicker finishing like baseboards
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.
What do you use a 18 gauge Brad Nailer for?
Brad Nailer Basics
- Gather Your Supplies. Recognizing how to use a brad nailer takes a little preparation to ensure you are ready for your wood molding or trim project.
- Choose Your Brad Nailer. You have two options when it comes to using brad nailers. ...
- Know Which Nail Gun You Need. Brad nailers are quite different than pin nailers, but are often confused. ...
Will an 18 gauge brad nailer shoot 16 gauge nails?
Nails. Finish nail guns use nails of 15-gauge or 16-gauge. A brad nailer shoots nails of 18-gauge. However, a finish nail of 15-gauge uses a nail length of 0.720-inch.Feb 10, 2022
What is the difference between 16g and 18g nails?
The 16-gauge finish nail has a 0.0625-inch-thick shank and is typically supplied in 1 to 3½-inch lengths. Because it is thicker, it holds better than 18-gauge brads. Also, it can be used to fasten thicker, denser pieces of wood.Jan 10, 2022
What size nails does a 16 gauge nailer use?
16-gauge nailers shoot nails that are a little thinner than the 15 gauge and have a smaller head. Depending on the brand, these shoot nails from 3/4” to 2-1/2” inches long. They have good holding power and are a good general use gun.
Can nail guns use different length nails?
Different types of nail guns can be used with different nail lengths. A typical brad nailer, for example, shoots nails that are 3/8 inch to 1 1/4 inches in length, while a larger framing nailer typically shoots nails from 2 to 3 1/2 inches in length. For woodworking projects, a brad nailer is a good choice.
Which is bigger 16 or 18 gauge wire?
The gauge is the size of the wire. The higher the number the smaller the wire. If your stereo is high power you might want to use 14 or 12 gauge wire for better power handling. Smaller wire 16 gauge or 18 gauge can get warm or hot with high power amps.
Can you use 16 gauge nails for framing?
Though you can drive your 16d nails by hand, framing nailers speed up the job and is the way to go for wood framing in buildings and heavy construction. What is this? As you'd expect, a 16d nail gun shoots up to 3½-inches nails to fasten 2x4s and there are tons of models to choose from out there.
Can I use 18 gauge nails for baseboard?
What gauge nails to use for baseboards? Based on nail size, you should be looking for anything between 15 gauge and 18 gauge. With these gauges it you can easily find nails up to 2.5'' long which is an ideal length for baseboard nails.Dec 2, 2019
What kind of nail gun do I need for 2x4?
A pneumatic framing nailer can make quick work of joining 2 x framing lumber. A nail gun is an automated tool that uses plug-in electricity, a battery, or pressurized air to drive nails into wood.
Can you use 16 gauge nails for baseboards?
Simply put, baseboards you install with a 16-gauge nailer tend to hold better thanks to the bigger trim nails than those you attach with an 18-gauge nailer.
Will a 16 gauge nail gun shoot 15 gauge nails?
Like 15-gauge nailers, most 16-gauge guns shoot nails up to 2-1/2 in. long and are suitable for thick trim. The main advantage of a 16-gauge gun is that it's smaller and lighter. If you're shopping for a finish nailer, I'd recommend the larger 15-gauge gun, simply because the fatter nails provide more holding power.Feb 24, 2022
What does 18 Gauge Brad nailer mean?
Brad nails are formed from a fine, 18-gauge wire, which means they are smaller in diameter and typically have less holding strength. The benefit 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.Feb 1, 2017
Can you use finish nails in a brad nailer?
Brad nailers use smaller 18-gauge nails. They vary in length from ½ to 2½ inches. By comparison, a 16-gauge finish nail is 0.0625-inch thick. While the difference doesn't seem like very much, the shorter length is a good indicator that a brad nail won't hold material of the same maximum thickness as finish nails.Sep 2, 2021
What is the difference between 16 gauge and 18 gauge?
The higher the gauge the smaller the head. 16 gauge has a larger head and most guns can shoot up to 2 1/2" nails. 18 gauge has a smaller head but not vey many guns will shoot the 2" nail. The bigger the head the bigger the hole but also better hold. Herein, what are 18 gauge nails used for?
What is the gauge of nails?
The common gauge sizes for nailers are 15, 16 & 18. Simply put, the higher the gauge number, the thinner the nail. The number stands for how many nails per inch. For example, an 18 gauge would have 18 pieces per inch which are going to be thinner than 16 gauge nails, which would have 16 nails per inch. Secondly, what does 16 gauge nail mean?
Is 18 gauge or 16 gauge?
While it might seem intuitive that nails increase with gauge, the opposite is true. An 18-gauge fastener is smaller than 16-gauge. This is pretty important to keep in mind because the basic choice it presents is whether you want a fastener that leaves a smaller hole to fill or a bigger fastener in the wood.
What is the difference between 16 ga and 18 ga?
The 16 ga. is good because it fires 2 1/2” thicker nails, good for v grv siding, outside edge of casing, base and crown. The 18 ga. only fires 2” or smaller, fine for most lightweight trim like skinny base, shoe, inside edge of door casing, 1x glued edge nailing, prefinished trim, etc. Crown staplers are not really for finish trim.
How does an 18 gauge stapler work?
The 18ga nailer/staplers work by using a wide piston with two prongs on the edges. If you load staples, the piston hits over both legs, when using nails, one side of the piston hits the nail and the other usually leaves a dent in your project, as MTStringer mentioned.
How thin are 18 ga brads?
18 Ga brads are too thin. You can get them up to 2” long, but when you drive them, they will bend, especially in hard wood. 16 or 15 Ga is the right size nail to use and they each have their own dedicated gun. For reliability, use the nail the gun is designed to use. JayT.
Do 16 gauge guns have nails?
Yes, the nails are specific to the size of the gun. The 16ga and 18ga refer to the diameter of the wire the nails and brads are formed from and the drive piston in the gun is sized accordingly, as well as the aperture through which the nail shoots.
Can a 16ga piston hit a nail?
Since the 18ga brad is narrower, the 16ga piston will hit the full head of one nail and part of the nail behind it., see cranks’s experience above. Nothing good can happen from this, at best it will prematurely wear the gun, at worst, it could easily break in your hand spectacularly and send metal shrapnel flying.
