First Nailer?

Dec 05, 2004 27 Replies

I like working with wood, but I am the first to admit that being in the IT industry doesn't give me the practice I need to nail with missing the nail and dinging the wood, drywall, my thumb, or whatever. I guess if I nailed for years and was a pro, a hammer would suffice. Nailing in awkward corners is much easier, too.

I guess like the Colt 45 (the pistol, not the beer), a nailer is the great equalizer.

On Mon, 06 Dec 2004 03:50:16 GMT, patriarch calmly ranted:

"I escaped before they had me entirely nailed to that crucifix.", eh?

I had my finger in the wrong place nailing a bird house back together for my neighbor. The brad hit a knot and went sideways into my finger

1/4". Those sting, so I have a renewed respect for the little buggers.

========================================================== CAUTION: Do not use remaining fingers as pushsticks! ==========================================================

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it's either a difference in skill level (most likely) or number of hands, but I use my brad driver mostly for holding stuff while the glue drys... and I have enough trouble being coordinated enough to hold the clamp or work with one hand and nail with the other.. If i had to hold a nail in one hand and a hammer in the other, I'd have to promise to never chew gum in the shop.. lol

Larry Jaques wrote: [snip]>

There is an old Swedish saying that goes something like "Don't get buggered by a brad nailer". Good advice any time. mahalo, jo4hn

My brad driver is an ancient gadget called a "pushpin". Screwdriver-like handle, with a telescopic brass tube nose and a magnet inside. You drop a panel pin down the tube, place the nose on the moulding and push the handle. For things up to about 1" moulding pins it's great - I can either drive them flush, drive them nearly in and finish with a cross-pein hammer, or just half drive them so I can easily pull them later.

I have a 15 ga finish nailer, 18 ga brad nailer, 23 ga pin nailer, and a narrow ga crown stapler and love them all.

My advice is to start w/ the 18 ga brad nailer. It is most flexible, i.e. can do the most jobs.

Actually, my favorite is the 23 ga pin nailer. I love tacking moulding on furniture while the glue dries. The pins are invisible.

Most important rule: keep your non-trigger hand at least one fastener length away from the action, otherwise *bad* things can happen.

Rex

FMB wrote:

A good "rule of thumb..."

Sorry....

damn, I actually have one of those around somewhere... not as fancy as yours, but I remember it working for brads in soft wood..

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