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When it comes to differentiating between various nails, it doesn’t matter if you are a handy person around the house. You can still have difficulty in performing this task. Here is all you need to know about brad nails and finishing nails to distinguish one easily from the other:
These nails are made up of 18- gauge wire and are quite small in size. Their size lets them get masked in wood trim conveniently.
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Along with being thinner and smaller in size as compared to standard nails, they have a smaller head relatively. This makes them ideal for moldings and wooden surfaces to prevent them from cracking and splitting. If you are looking for a cleaner finish for your woodworking projects, then the appearance of these nails allows you to have it so.
They are also great to be used for thinner sheets of lumber, fiberboard, and even plywood. Moreover, after installation, you need to rarely cover them with putty due to their small size, which makes them ideal for handiwork and giving finishing touches.
Unlike brad nails, these nails are typically made of 14-, 15-, or 16- gauge wire. Their thickness is relatively greater and they are more noticeable once installed on wooden surfaces. Their larger size makes them ideal for securing bigger pieces of lumber. They are also great for projects that require the installation of larger crown moldings, door jams, and bigger baseboards.
Because they are denser, they leave a hole large and visible on a wooden surface. They require you to cover them with finishing putty to conceal any untidy spots and to give your handiwork a cleaner finish.
Now that you know all about brad nails and finishing nails, let’s talk about the two famous types of nailers; brad nailers and finish nailers.
Nailers are believed to be one of the most commonly used power tools by handymen, woodworkers, and DIYers. They are a must-have tool in workshops as their usage is extremely versatile.
However, choosing between the two types mentioned above for your project is a tough decision to make. Visually, they both appear quite similar and the fasteners they make use of also resemble each other to an extent, therefore you need to understand which nailer is the most suitable for you. Here is all you need to know about brad nailers and finish nailers to make your important decision:
The main difference between the two nailers is their size and the nails that they use. A finish nailer is just slightly bigger than a brad nailer and they also have different holding power.
Brad nailers make use of brad nails of 18- gauge whereas finishing nailers typically make use of 16- gauge nails also known as finishing nails. The lower the gauge number, the thicker the nails are. Each nail gun can perform specific tasks according to the nails they use, as mentioned earlier.
Brad nails have a smaller head and do not leave behind prominent holes; therefore, you don’t need to use wood putty to cover them, whereas with finishing nails, the case is completely opposite.
There are two modes that a brad nailer is designed with. One is the sequential mode and the other is the bump mode. The bump mode allows the power tool to nail at a faster pace, making any project less time-consuming and the sequential mode ensures extreme accuracy. Although these modes make any brad nailer mostly safe-to-use, there are still some safety precautions you need to take while you’re at it.
Finish nailers on the other hand also come in two different designs. One is the straight design, the other is the angled one. The angled design allows the finish nailer to hold nails perpendicularly and makes it easy for you to drive nails into objects with limited space. Once again, no matter the design, the following safety precautions are a must to take when working with any of the two nailers:
The following are some benefits of each nailer:
The following are some drawbacks of each nailer:
Although brad nailers have hundreds of applications, they are most commonly used for the following projects:
Although finish nailers have hundreds of applications, they are most commonly used for the following projects:
To choose between brad nails and finish nails as well as brad nailers and finish nailers, you will have to identify the task at hand and make the best choice that perfectly fits your needs!