Is 16 Gauge Brad Nailer Actually a Finish Nailer?

The missing piece of information is that there's a difference between brads and finish nails. A 16 gauge brad nailer will most likely not be able to shoot 16 gauge finish nails.

IMHO brads are not structural nails. They should be used with a secondary fixative, like glue. We used 16g finish nails for all the moulding in our house.

You might be able to answer your own question if you look at the brads themselves. In my opinion, the 16 gauge look the same but just a little bigger than 18 gauge brads. 15 gauge look just like standard finish nails, so, yes, I'd say the 16 is a larger brad nailer and not a finish nailer.

I put up 7/8" thick poplar door trim, baseboards and header trim recently and am glad I went with a 15 gauge over the 16. The condition of much of today's lumber being what it is (slight twist, bow, etc.) needs a secure nail to help hold it in place. I used an 18 g. to put up a frame & panel section on the same wall - here the wood was at most

Thanks for all the helpful info that I have received here.

Seem like 16 gauge brad nails are not the same as 16 gauge finish nails. Therefore, a 16-gauge brad nailer is not the same as a 16-gauge finish nailer. OK, I get it.

Also thanks for another newsgroup member who has warned me the possibility that a 16-gauge brad nailer may only support up to 2" nails and I need to use 2-1/2" nails in order to go through the wood trim, the dry wood, in order to reach the stub. Indeed, that 16-gauge brad nail in HF can only support up to 2" nails. This means it is not appropriate for my need. I will need to look elsewhere.

Thanks again.

Jay Chan