Q:
Is there any difference between DA and FN nails for my 15-ga. finish nailer? What do these names mean?
Jason P., None
A:
Regardless of which brand of 15-ga. finish nailer you own, it has been designed to accept only one of these two nail styles. Senco pioneered the DA style, which fits a wide variety of tools. Bostitch then introduced the FN style, which is compatible with its nailers, those from Makita, and perhaps one or two less common brands. Each company claims that its nails have particular advantages over those from its competitor—the size and shape of the nail heads and the method of collation are the two most notable points—but in my opinion, the differences are largely negligible.
As for the naming conventions, despite popular belief, DA does not in fact stand for “drive angle.” According to Senco, this name stems from an internal system used by the company that started 60 years ago and then was adopted by competitors because it was recognizable to buyers. The first letter designates the wire gauge (D = 15 ga.), and the second letter designates the head/shank form (A = a brad nail with a smooth shank). Bostitch’s FN-style nails aren’t as mysterious in their naming convention. In this case, FN just stands for “finish nail.”
