Can a 15ga nailer be used to nail 3/4 thick trim to the door jamb outside edge? Or will it split the jamb? I have read that most use a 16ga or 18ga for this, but I am trying to get away with using just one gun. And the gun that I have is 15ga. Thanks.
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It’s overkill but it’ll work as long as it isn’t splitting the wood
You should be fine. As you get closer to the end of the board/trim piece as well as the edge of the piece, you'll be more likely to split, so be more strategic/don't just shoot willy nilly like people do with 18ga. 15ga leaves a pretty big impression. The fewer nails you shoot the less you'll have to caulk or cover.
Got it. Thanks!
look at the tip of the fastener to see which direction the wedge point is going, either parallel to or perpendicular to the axis of the gun. Be sure to shoot the nail so that the wedge is not parallel to the grain of the piece most likely to split. The idea is to cut wood fibers rather than spread them apart.
Just did casing on 5 doors with a 15ga nailer last week. Make sure your nail head is perpendicular to the grain and you’ll be fine. I prefer a larger nail for casing instead of long brads. Seems to firm it up a little better.